Revelation Series Lesson 1 1-22-23

We're firing up our series on the second part of the Book of Revelation. We did Revelation chapters 1 through 3 in the fall. And now we're picking up again and we're going to do a 13-part study through the rest of the Book of Revelation and in this Study that we're going to do. We're going to see difficulties, were going to see Warfare. We're going to see judgements. There's going to be some sort of. Looks like the world is imploding on itself. Kind of stuff that we're going to come across in the Book of Revelation. But of course, we're going to see God's good plan to and at the beginning of our study, the part that we're looking at today. God chooses. To first, before it gets into any of that detail to show us. This picture that I'm imagining, God was one to show us and this picture is important for us to know. In fact, if we don't get this picture in our head, we're not really going to understand what the Book of Revelation is about. This, this picture is what The Book of Revelation is really about, And I want to suggest that if you get this picture in your head, it will help you. When you look at this world with look, it's beautiful things and it's challenging things to understand what the state of it all is. Revelation today, chapters four and five. It's one picture, but it's comes in two parts. So we have someone who's going to read for us today. And we're going to ask that person to read Twice, first chapter 4. And then, we're going to think about that picture, and then chapter 5 and will think about that picture. So Deb snow, thank you for reading for us today. And please start us off with Revelation chapter 4.

After this, I looked and there before me was a door, standing open and Heaven and the voice. I had first heard speaking to me, like a trumpet, said, come up here and I will show you what must take place after. At once I was in the spirit.

And the one who sat there had the appearance of Jasper and Ruby a rainbow that Shone like an emerald encircled. The throne surrounding the throne were twenty-four other Thrones 24, elders and had crowns of gold on their has from the throne came flashes of lightning Rumblings and peals of thunder in front of the throne seven lamps for blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne. There was what looked like a sea of glass, clear, as crystal in the center around, the throne were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion. The second was like an ox, the third had a face. Like, a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings day and night. They never stop saying. Holy holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come whenever the living creatures, give glory honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the 24 Elders, fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship Him, lives forever and ever, they lay their crowns Before. The Throne and say, you are worthy of our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things. And by your will they were created and have their being

you asked God. Talk to us. Please about about what's going on in the world and where the world is going and and he shows us a picture as his answer. What would that picture have to say to us? And so, I think

Thanks, I think that. This is the first part of the picture at the center of all things. God, sits on a throne and receives worship. Explain that a little bit, the first verse that Deb just read first part, was that a Divine person who's in some sort of place, says to John, who's the author of the book of Revelation? Come on up here because I want to show you what's going to take place and we're calling this kind of literature. Apocalyptic literature that apocalyptic literature appears in outside of the Bible and other places. Of course, when it's in the Bible, it's about God and what God's revealing. But the idea of apocalyptic literature is a human being gets invited to some place where that human being can. Look at the world. From a different perspective in this case, God's inviting a representative human being the disciple John to a place where John can look at reality from God's perspective. That's what's happening here. And what is John C John. First sees a throne and on this Throne. The Bible says there is a person who has the appearance first of all of Jasper, this is what we call Jasper and it brings to mind that it's actually quite difficult to look at a text from 95 a.d. that describes gemstones and understand what of the gemstones we know is being talked about here so this is what we called Jasper but prom What he's thinking of is more like a diamond because let me read, this is revelation 21 verse 11. It Shone with the glory of God, and its Brilliance was like that of a very precious Jewel, like a Jasper clear as Crystal. So it must be that what John's calling Jasper isn't the same thing that we called Jasper. Because this is what we call Jasper and you wouldn't describe that as being clear as Crystal. So, Probably John's thinking of this gym that we call a diamond. At least, it's one of the gyms that we were described as being clear as Crystal. This person has the appearance of a gemstone like that end of a ruby. So here's what we call a ruby and around this person, there is a rainbow with the appearance of an emerald. So here is what we call in Emerald.

the Temptation is to kind of be literal about it, and to think there's some big Creature made out of gemstones sitting on the throne but I think what we should do is think about the fact that John's trying to describe something that's that really can't be described and he's using what's available in in his world. So he's aware of precious gems and he's aware of those few stones that are clear enough that light can radiate out of them and somehow this picture evokes, all of that. And in front of this Throne, there's a sea as clear as glass. So this happens to be a lake. That is absolutely Clear Water. You can describe it as a see that's as clear as glass and

yeah, and then there's some other parts when I first read this, not this week but when I first read it and try to understand it, I

I was picturing the movie, The Wizard of Oz, It's got like these Hollywood set. These old Hollywood sets looks her to plasticky like a plastic C and and coloring. I don't know the technology but maybe it was black and white first and got color later. I don't know. The colors aren't don't really look genuine. They they look fake right and somewhere along the line. I'm like, no, he's describing a beautiful Grand View. That is probably like something we've seen. So here's where my mind went. This is a lake that I went too often when I was growing up, this is Lake Tahoe at the intersection of the State of California in the state of Nevada and this is certain, this is my picture when I think about what John's describing this beautiful colorful awesome scene and here's God on a throne in the in the middle of it in there and he's surrounded by just just Beauty and Majesty. and then there's a couple of other parts there are Four creatures. That seem to represent the categories of creatures on the earth. There is one creature that looks like a lion. So if you think about the most powerful of the wild animals Alliance, there's one that looks like an ox. If you think about the most powerful of the domesticated animals, there's two knocks. One of these creatures has a face that looks like a human being. You think about the the strongest, most powerful of the creatures on the planet. There are human beings. There's one with a face, like an eagle, you think of the creatures of the sky and the most powerful among them, there's an eagle. So maybe these four creatures represent the created order and they have six wings and they have eyes, even Eyes under their wings, Which must be about. They're observing us, they they see everything. And what they see in this scene is the Holiness of God, because that's what they say when when it's, when they're crying out there saying. Holy holy holy is the Lord, God Almighty. And then in addition to those, four creatures around the throne there are 24 elders. 12 is the number of the tribes of the people of Israel. Twelve is the number of the disciples that Jesus called to follow him for all this sort of this, this Perfection kind of number in the Bible on. This is two times that there are twenty-four of them and and they have crowns and white clothes. We know about crowns. We, we were friends with Great Britain until we see their British Monarchy and those kinds of crowns. We Americans aren't really into crowns, unless it's like Miss Americas and and that's sort of made out of plastic and stuff. So, I think something more Crown like for us is trophies. I'm thinking about Tom Brady, I just seen that picture of Tom Brady with his Seven Super Bowl rings on his fingers, right? Are you might imagine Serena Williams with a collection of her tennis trophies, or some hockey players holding the Stanley Cup. Something like that. And what are they? They're symbols of like accomplishment or their symbols of Authority or power. These twenty-four Elders have crowns. But what they do with their crowns is they take them off and they lay them down in front of God as if to say I got nothing this this Crown is nothing compared to you or maybe it says everything. I am and everything I have I I lay in service of you. So here's God. Majestic. God on a throne and the creation is worshipping him. I wonder what you would draw if you took out a blank piece of paper and tried to draw this picture. Here's one example. I'm not an artist so if I drew something it would at best look like if it is. So I think this is why I like it just comes from a book by a theologian William Hendrickson. It's a commentary on the Book of Revelation called more than conquerors. And it what I appreciate about it is it simple and it gets onto a piece of paper. The things that are mentioned in Revelation chapter 4, there's an F on a throne, F stands for God. The Father, there is a circle number one that stands for the The Jasper. Or what I was suggesting is must be a diamond Circle. Number 2 is the Ruby Circle. Number 3 is the Rainbow that looks like an emerald Circle number for are those four creatures. Circle. Number 5, are those 25 elders? And then down at the bottom of the throne, this is little circle. That's his version of the sea. Of glass and then there's what we would call a menorah candle stick with seven candles on it. That's how he represents the seven candlesticks. And there is an L off to the side of the throne which is the Lamb who hasn't appeared yet. But in his mind the lamb is sort of waiting in the wings to come into the picture in the next part and there's a number 6 and there's a number seven and we're going to get introduced to those in chapter 5, but what you have At the center of Everything Is God on a throne and people worshipping him nobody's forced to be there. There isn't you don't see like guards forcing these people to worship their just doing it. Like people at a football game, like an NFL game or a U2 concert or I don't know, where have you gone to be in a big crowd of people who are just caught up in losing themselves in something ears? The creation of God losing itself in the worship of God. It's a two-part picture. So let's add now a few more layers and so dead, would you come and read chapter five for us?

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with Seven Seals and I saw a mighty angel, proclaiming in a loud voice who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. But no one in heaven or on Earth or under the Earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll and look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, do not weep. See the lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David has triumphed, he is able to open the scroll and it's Seven Seals Then I saw a lamb. Looking as if it had been slain standing at the center of the phone encircled by the four living creatures and the elders, the lamb had seven horns and seven, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the Earth. He went and took the school from the right hand of him, who sat on the throne, and when he had taken it, the four living creatures, and the 24 Elders, fell down before the lamb. Each one had a heart and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang, a new song saying you are worthy to take the scroll and to open it sealed because you were slain and with your blood, you purchased for God person from every tribe and language and people and Nation, you have made them to be a kingdom and Priests to serve, our God, and they will reign on the Earth. Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels number in, the thousands, upon thousands and ten thousand times since I was thrown and the living creatures. In a loud voice. They were Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom, and strength and honor.

Then I heard.

All that is. Him who sits on the throne and to the lamb. He praising honor. Lori.

Four living creatures. A man. And the elders fell down and worship.

So in part to, there is some more layering on this picture. So I'm putting it this way at the center of all things. God, the father, Jesus, the lamb in the everywhere Spirit, I'll explain why I'm calling the Holy Spirit. The everywhere Spirit, begin to carry out God's beautiful plans in all creation worships him. So let's walk through chapter 5. The first thing that happens is, John is crying. Why is he crying? Because he sees in the right hand of God a scroll, it's got a bunch of writing on it, on both sides. So it's it's it's some kind of important decree from God. And When God Says something, it happens like think of the creation story and God said, let there be light and there was light. So God's words. Bring things into being but it seal was Seven Seals and what John realizes is people are messed up and they don't have authority to put these plans into place and maybe maybe there, isn't anybody anywhere, who's good enough to put these plans of God into action. So it's like God's got plans to save the world but no ability to implement those plans. And so he just weeping and Weeping at the Lost mess of that thought. But then one of those 24 Elders says wait a second, there is somebody the lion of Judah which is an Old Testament reference to this Messiah. Figured was going to come the root of David. Another Old Testament reference to the Messiah who was going to come and he's worthy to open the scroll. And so you expect then that you're going to look and you're going to see a lion or maybe a David sort of character like David and Goliath David was handsome and athletic and meet someone like that. But what you see is a land. You see a lamb that looks like it had been killed but it's obviously not been killed because it's standing at the throne. And so you have to think John has to think we have to think who is that And you remember John the Baptist saying about Jesus when he was with his disciples John's disciples and looking at Jesus saying look over there, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This is the Son of God and the way that the Son of God Triumph was to give himself to lay himself down for us, but when he laid himself down his father, raised him from the dead and his father brought him to his right side. And so now there is this land at the right hand of his father and he comes to the throne and he takes the scroll out of his father's hand which means he's got the authority to implement. These plans that God has and he seems like he's got the authority to remove the seals from the scroll. But that's, as far as the action gets in chapter 5 because just that, just that there is somebody who has the authority and the goodness to set these plans of God into motion. Just that fact gets the whole universe worshipping. So, if you've ever been at a big Stadium event where everybody was all in a concert or game at people are losing themselves in and being in, that's kind of What's Happening Here? The first In-N-Out built. So, the first part of it is those four creatures in those 24 Elders. Sing a new song because this is not a time for your favorite old song. This is something new happening, and a new song has been written for just this occasion and they sing it. They saying you are worthy to take the scroll and open it seals because you were slain and with your blood, you purchased for God person from every tribe and language and people and Nation, you have made them to be a kingdom and Priests to serve, our God, and they will reign on the earth. And that must be

But it's not the whole picture, it gets bigger than that. The next thing I happens is Angels start to sing or it says they say. So, are they shouting or are they singing? I don't know. But there are thousands of them ten thousand * 10000 which happens to equal, 100 million Angels, imagine a hundred million Angel and they say, or they sing Worthy, is the Lamb. Who was slain to receive power and wealth than wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise. And that would be awesome. But even that's not That's not the whole crowd. Then there's one other group and that other group is all of the creatures in heaven and on Earth, and under the year. So if you're wondering where you are, I think this is where you are. You're in, you're, you're one of these other creatures, but it's not just us human being. It sounds like it's the whole creature. So, I'm picturing if I'm there here. I am. And right next to me, is one of those deer that go running through our yard every once in awhile, and over here is one of those wild turkeys that goes walking through the yard and looking over my shoulder is a sandhill crane with its chortling voice that they have that that lives in the field next to where we live and somehow, We are all caught up in a message in what we're saying is to him who sits on the throne and to the land, be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever. And I guess those four living creatures in the 24 Elders, are there like the authority figure? So they get the last word. So we say that and the four creatures to amen. And the 24 elders. Get down on their faces again and take their crowns off again. And just do the whole worshiping thing over again because it's what they do. Here's that picture from William Hendrickson again. So he's got Circle Number 6, that's the hundred million Angels. If you're looking for yourself, you're you're somewhere along. Circle Number 7, that creation worshiping.

So I started with the question. What's, what's really happening is the world? Going to implode on itself or is it somehow predictable and safe and going somewhere. Good. And I said this answers it. But what's the answer? Serviette. That the world may well. Implode on itself people, Weiman beings May well. Implode on ourselves as we have before we, we met again.

But God is on the throne and all of those beautiful possibility. Are still a possibility. And the main thing is, God has a plan. And Jesus has power and authority to implement this plan and it's going. To God's good destination. And you should remember that you should. get that picture in your head and let it just kind of percolate there or or boil their the way scoop boils and you know, kind of Creed's aroma

Remember this picture the universe worshipping God, it is in a sense happening. Now, And it will be.

when we worship,

We're trying. To connect ourselves to this picture. in some little way, right there are in 100 million of us here, but there's a bunch of us here and when we worship, we're Focusing our attention on this picture so Karen and I were planning today like we always do and she had this in mind already about it, but I really like the idea that we would end the service singing, the song called the Revelation song, it's it's my favorite song, My Favorite Christian song, the reason is my favorite Christian song, is it kind of evokes this picture for me. All these people surrounding the throne worshipping God. So that's how we're going to end and I'm thinking you just maybe, maybe you want to do something different than you would normally. Do I would invite us all to come stand here in the front. Except that, no one would be able to see the screen. So How about if you feel like coming forward? Let's know. You can we can crowd up over there, and we can crowd up over there. And let's leave the middle open. So that it somebody who needs to see the screen. Can't see it. But I encourage you to try

to forget about yourself and an intravenous picture of the worship of God at the center of the universe. So let me pregnant. Lord, we thank you for this picture and we ask that you help us remember it and now help us did Livin do it as as best we can help us. Please to live into him through this song that we sing. Thank you. Amen.