Throne Room of God

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If you Google, “Throne Room of God”, you will find every man’s fancy with supposed narrations on their personal trip to heaven and back. Don’t believe them. God fills our curiosity by giving a glimpse in Rev 4-5 – Let’s not add nor take away from the revelation, but let us learn and apply.

Revelation is the Throne book, the word being used 45 times, as compared to only 15 other occurrences of the word in the entire NT.

There is one focus in heaven and that is God Himself. Our intent today is to see through John’s eyes the “throne of God”.

Do this in three parts:

A. Overview of the throne room of God

B. Observations on Pre-tribulation from the passage

C. Our Response

I General Overview

1) First things first in heaven

a) Vs 1: The first voice is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

i) How do we know it is Jesus Christ: Ch 1:10, 12.

b) It is the Lord who calls and He is the first thing/person in heaven who we meet – Not St. Peter at the gate.

2) Christian’s Hope

a) Vs 2 – And immediately… Our Advantage.

1 Cor 5:8 …absent in body, … present in spirit …

• There is no station on the way to heaven.

• There is no travel time. Christ is not just the first thing, He is also immediate.

• What we have here through John’s experience is what a believer in Jesus will experience at their death.

You can't fool the kids in Sunday school; they are way too smart...

"If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale, and gave all my money to the church, would I get into heaven?" I asked the children in my Sunday school class.

"NO!" all the children answered.

"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into heaven?" Again the answer was, "NO!"

"Well then," I continued, "how can I get to heaven?"

A five-year-old boy shouted, "You gotta be dead!"

b) Vs 2 -- I was in the spirit … Our Access.

Jn 3: 5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Though John did not die for him to have seen this vision. He demonstrates to us a principle that only in the spirit can we see God.

• A sinful man does not have a spirit that discerns God and it must be brought to true life in Christ.

• Natural birth is not enough to get to heaven.

• First birth made it possible to live on earth and the second birth (born again) gives access to heaven.

c) Vs 2 -- Throne set in heaven …Our Assurance.

This throne is never empty. He is in control – even now, though life seems to spin out of control.

3) Vs 3. One who sat on the throne…

a) Not compared to a man but compared to precious stones

i) Vs 3: Jasper and Sardius.

ii) Jasper is white and sardius is red. Representing the glory and grace of God

b) The last and the first stone on the breastplate of Aaron’s High priestly garment. Ex 28:17. Order is reversed.

i) Sardius represents Reuben: Behold a son.

ii) Jasper represents Benjamin: Son of My right hand.

iii) Representing the humanity and deity of Christ.

4) Vs 4:6 – And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal…

a) 1 Kings 7:23 – The laver is called the molten sea in the Temple built by Solomon.

i) Priests had to wash themselves DAILY before they could come to serve the Lord.

ii) What joy that there will no be a need to wash, for we will be presented perfect before Christ. No more in the presence of sin.

5) Vs 8: Holy, Holy, Holy.

a) Ex 26: 33 – In the tabernacle we see a Holy place and the Most Holy place.

i. Holy Place: Place of service

ii. Most Holy (or Holy, Holy): as the place of worship on earth

iii. Holy, Holy, Holy: in heaven when we worship Him, in a way that we can never worship Him here.

6) “And” connects Rev 4 and 5.

a) The very throne room of God.

i. Not an actual throne as we imagine or have seen; but the centre of governance, authority and control.

ii. We will see how Jesus brings all dominion and authority under Him so that it is visible to all.

7) Rev 5:1 Scroll. Picture of a Roman scroll.

a) Revelation is a book about books: Book of life, Book of works, Book of testimony.

b) Seven seals are not on all the outside. Roman Scroll: First portion was written, rolled up and sealed; second portion written, rolled up and sealed and so on.

i. The book unfolds the tribulation from beginning to the end. Rev 4-19.

ii. By the end, “The Kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of Our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.

c) Title deed of the Universe. It was important –(vs 2) ‘ Strong’ Angel couldn’t open and John weeps.

8) The one that prevailed (vs 5)

a) The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Rev 5:5 ( Gen 49)

i. John turned to see the lion but saw the lamb

ii. The root of David

• Jesus in His earthly ministry is the descendant of David (the Branch), here He is called the root of David – meaning it was David who came forth from Jesus.

• Mt 22: 41-46. Jesus asked the Pharisees, whose son the Messiah would be, they said Son of David. He then asked why David calls Him Lord, quoting Ps 110:1. They were stumped.

• John 8:58 – Before Abraham was, I am

- Jesus is both the ancestor and descendant of David.

- In his humanity, He was the descendant of David, but in His deity the “ancestor” of David.

9) Lamb who was slain. Rev 5:6

a) Lamb is standing.

i. Indicative of the resurrected Christ. (Heb 8:1)

ii. Jewish culture, judges stand to give their judgment

• Stephen saw Jesus stand up – an indication of the judgment upon those who stoned Stephen.

b) Lamb is slain.

i. Visible throughout eternity.

• The only basis of entering heaven.

c) Lamb is strong.

i. 7 horns indicate fullness of strength (5:6; cf 1 Kings22:11; Zech 1:18).

• Though He was slain He was not weakened.

d) Lamb is all-seeing

i. 7 eyes represent the all-seeing wisdom of the Lamb.

• He is both the Omniscient and the Omnipresent.

10) Contrasts in Lion and the Lamb

LAMB LION

• First coming • Second coming

• Meek • Majestic

• Saviour • Sovereign

• Judged • Judge

• Brought grace of God • Brings the government of God

II Ten reasons why I am a Pretribulationists?

There are other references to support – we are looking at only those referenced here.

1. Security of God’s Promise. Rev 3:10 - Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

- The seven churches are both perennial and progressive. All seven during the entire church age and each church history can be broadly categorized as representing on type of church. We are now in the Laodicean era.

- This promise is therefore applicable to us. The promise is “from” and not “through”.

2. Section three begins here : “After these things”. Rev 4:1 and Rev 1:19

a. Things which you have seen: view of the glorified Christ. 1:1-18.

b. Things which are: The Church age. Rev 1:19 – 3:22.

c. After these things: Meta Tauta. The focus is now in heaven. Rev 4:1

3. Silence concerning the Church.

a. The Church is referred to 19 times in the first three chapters, after which only in Ch 19.

4. Saying “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. Used 7 times in chapters 2 and 3.

a. Ch 13:9 – changed to “If anyone has an ear, let him hear”.

Spirit is no longer speaking to the Church on earth – rather there is an invitation to “anyone”.

5. Specific name as Father not referred. Ch 4-19

a. Referred to as the God, Lord, Almighty and other non-personal names by which He was known in the Old Testament.

6. Spirit and His presence.

a. Rev 2-3 – Holy Spirit is in the midst of the Churches on earth.

b. Rev 4-5 – He is now in heaven before the throne of God.

Triune Godhead pictured on the throne.

2 cor 1:22 – Earnest of the Spirit.

c. 2 Thess 2: 6-8 -- The Holy Spirit is the restrainer that restrains the lawless one.

d. Rev 4-19 – A time when all hell breaks loose upon the earth.

7. Similarity in verses. Rev 4: 1-2; 1 Cor. 15:51-52 and 1 Thess. 4: 16-17

a. A voice: Rev 4:1; 1 Thess 4:16.

There is a voice of the Lord

b. A Trumpet: Rv 4:1; 1 Thess 4:16; 1 Cor 15:52

There is a sounding of the Trumpet of God

c. A Change: Rev 4:2; 1 Cor 15: 52-53

There is a change from the physical to the spiritual

8. Symbolic presence of John in Heaven

a. Come up here. Rev 4:1, is symbolic of the Church being called to heaven.

9. Sitting around the throne are the elders.

Who are they?

Saints: (not clear from here if Church or OT/NT saints): But no one is missing.

a. 1 Chron 24:3-5; 18-19. These [were] the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him. We are the Royal and the Holy Priesthood.

b. Identified by the praise on their lips. Rev 5: 8-9

Elders are the redeemed because of the song that they sing.

Angels and the creatures can only say.

c. Identified by the clothes they wear. Rev 19: 7-8

Clothed in white robes (4:4 and 19:7-8).

Bride is clothed in white robes of righteousness.

d. Identified by the crowns upon their heads (Rev 4:4)

e. Elders wore the victor’s (Stephanos) crown and not the Monarch’s (Diadem)

10. Sounding forth from the Throne are lightnings and thunders and voices. Rev 4:5.

a. When the law was given on Mt. Sinai, there was lightening and voices.

b. Now we have the throne of grace.

c. Once the Church is removed from the earth, the throne becomes the source of judgment. (Rev 8:5; 10:3; 11:19; 16:18).

Paul: 1 Thess 4:18 – Wherefore comfort one another with these words – talking about the rapture. “Let no one take your joy or get you anxious.”

III Our Response

i. What the Lamb- Lion do?

a. Reclaims authority over all the earth. (5:7)

- Dan 7:13-14 One like the Son of Man, comes to the Ancient of Days and receives “dominion and glory and a Kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.”

b. Receives worship of Heaven

- Worship of the redeemed. Rev 5:8

Vs 9-10. the words of the song.

The redeemed are the closest to the throne.

- Worship of the angels. Rev 5: 1-12

- Worship of the creatures. Rev 5: 13.

Every creature in the universe will worship Him.

ii. Response of the redeemed

The newness of the song: Through eternity no redemption song was sung – now a new song.

a. The new quality not the words or the tune. Rev 5:9; 5:12; 5:13.

b. Only the redeemed can sing the redemption song.

c. Heavens will echo with this new song and it will be the privilege of those who have been redeemed.

iii. Response of the world

Open door will soon be closed.

• Rev 4:1 – The door will not remain open. Period of Grace will end.

o Jesus is not just a good man who lived, who taught good things and encourages men to live a good life on this earth.

o You don’t get Christ by going to Church; giving Cash; or following a Creed.

o Pray for:

 Revelation of the wretchedness our sin – Seeing wickedness from the eyes of Christ.

 Recognition that there is nothing you can do about it, and

 Response to the One and only One who loved you to die for you – Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our prayer is that you will be welcomed through that open door to behold the wonder of this Lamb presented as the Lion.

God Bless You.

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