The Seven Sealed Scroll

The Lamb and the Scroll

Book of Revelation Chapter 5 Verses 1 through 14

As we continue in our study, let us review.

We have seen it is Jesus Christ who holds the candlesticks that represent all those seven Churches.

We have seen it is the Lord Jesus who holds the Pastors or, (whatever he is called by denominations), in His hand and they are responsible to Him for every message and for how they lead the church, and how they live their own lives.

We have seen the seven types of churches and somewhat how they also represent the seven Church Ages.

We are in the last of the Church Ages today!

We have seen that immediately after the last Church Age, that the Church has been called into Heaven, so most of the remaining Chapters in this great and final Book of the Bible happen after the Church has been called out of this world.

Chapter five introduces us to “the Lion of the Tribe of Juda”.

*****Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

We should understand that the "Rapture" of the Church will have taken place.

The "Bema Seat" judgment (the Judgment Seat of Christ) has taken place and rewards for the work each Christian has done after salvation, have been issued. The question of salvation had already been answered and the Bema Seat judgment was only about rewards.

Those rewards have been tossed at the feet of our Savior as each Christian felt unworthy of any reward, but only shame for not doing more when they had the opportunity. We will all feel this way when we look upon the Lamb of God!

Then there is this book.

We should be clear that John is continuing to tell us about the scene in the throne room of God.

It is some man who divided chapter 4 from chapter 5 and added the verse numbers, which are a blessing in most cases.

As God sits upon His throne, He thrust this book outward, to see if any of the saints now fill worthy to open the book He has in His right hand.

None were! None of us are worthy even to be in Heaven!

What do we know?

The right hand is the symbol of "wisdom".

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

The right hand is the symbol of "power".

Job 36:5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

The right hand is the symbol of Divine operation. Our Holy God is Supreme in all His decisions!

Psa 118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

When Jehovah God thrust out His right hand that holds a book that He has written, then who does have the power and the knowledge to read this book.

The Bible is one of those amazing books that He has given to us and would have every Christian to have a copy of that book.

This book in His right hand is another book, a book in which we will find all the things that will happen after the Church is in Heaven and have missed out on the wrath of God.

We have heard a lot about executive orders, especially during the last two administrations and we could say maybe these things are executive orders from a Holy God who is not pleased with the actions of His own creation to rebel against Him.

Remember when the Church entered Heaven, the Antichrist was standing upon the earth with the answers to all the problems that were facing the earth in that day. A day maybe not so different as the day we have now as the world is facing a killer virus. Which by the way has many question marks!

The Angels knew that they were not worthy!

*****Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

Rev 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

John realized that this Angel that stepped forward had a voice that could be heard throughout all of Heaven and if need be throughout all God's creation.

This Angel could not have been Jesus Christ, Angels are created beings and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

All the Angels in Heaven are mighty Angels. This Angel could be the Angel Gabriel who is known in the Scriptures as an Archangel who stands in the presence of God or some other Angel whose name we do not know.

Luk 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

Some believe that Gabriel is the Trump of God, as do I!

What did this Strong Angel proclaim? It was a simple question but a question that only One person could answer.

" Who is worthy to open the Book that was projecting from the throne of God, which also had been sealed by our Heavenly Father"?

What did John realize?

There was no one in Heaven and no one upon this earth that is worthy to break the seals God had placed upon this book!

Sealing a document was equivalent to the signature of the Owner of that seal.

There were certainly one upon this earth worthy!

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Not one of the "Redeemed" would claim to be worthy.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Our worthiness comes only by Jesus Christ!

No Angel would even attempt to reach for this Book without the express permission of our Heavenly Father!

It did not take long to search in Heaven because all the Saints were still at the foot of the throne on their faces before God.

It did not take long to search on earth because all the Saints of God were in Heaven and no one left behind were worthy.

All these things caused the Apostle John to weep because he knew he was certainly unworthy to open this Book nor was he worthy to look upon this Book.

John knew what was happening to the Church that was still physically upon this earth and he knew they needed to understand what was written in this Book.

John understood he was having a vision of the future of the Church.

With all the persecution of the Church, John was craving for answers that he felt he could only get from this book.

John knew his days were short and the Holy Scriptures for the Church was not yet complete.

Remember Daniel was not allowed to write about these things.

Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

This time of increased knowledge would be also the time of the last Church Age or what we know is the Laodicean Church Age, which we are in today.

*****Rev 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

Not one of God's Created beings was worthy enough to open the Book that was in God's right hand.

One look at the throne and John saw just how much superior Our Heavenly Father is to all creation.

There was no one anywhere worthy to reveal what God had written in that book that He was offering.

Our heavenly Father wanted the things in this book to be revealed!

John was to write down everything he saw.

We could say that none of the Word of God was written without tears.

We already know that without tears not much of the Word of God can even be understood!

If this book could not be opened, then it would prove God to be false!

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, "and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter".

You see, if this book that contained all the things that we now know was written in the Book of Revelation, (the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ), that would happen after the Church was in Heaven, then God would have told John a lie.

John wept because of this!

Remember no one could approach God if they had sin, so no one on earth could be worthy. What did Jesus say?

Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, "that ye may be accounted worthy" to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

God has no secrets about His plan of salvation!

God will never hide the truth from us!

Are there things about God's creation that we know nothing about? Sure, but these things do not affect our relationship with our father in Heaven.

Those elders (the church) already knew the truth and as we all should do, one of those elders came to John with the truth.

You see the Book that God held was a book of destiny.

It is a book of God's wrath.

The book is in God's hands because it is He, who is in charge of human history and human future!

Our Heavenly Father has a plan and He will not be denied!

Many people do not like the Book of Revelation, but it will pay for all of us to study this great Book of the Bible and believe what the Word of God says!

This Book is the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ and it is only He who sacrificed Himself to pay for our sins and who will also save the true Israel, and only He is worthy to open this Book in the hand of our Father in Heaven!

*****Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

When John heard these things he knew he would then see his Savior.

What do we know?

We know that Jehovah God is holding a book in His right hand.

We know that a search has been conducted all over the earth for someone worthy to open this book.

We know that a search has been conducted all over Heaven for someone worthy to open this book.

We know it was the Lord Jesus Christ who was the speaker all through the first three Chapter of this Book we now have.

We know that Chapter 4 and much of Chapter 5 describe the Throne Room of God in Heaven.

We now know that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who will explain the remainder of the Book of Revelation.

How do we know this person is Jesus Christ?

1) He is the same One spoken by Jacob:

Gen 49:9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?

Gen 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

This Shiloh is the Messiah.

This Shiloh is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah".

This Shiloh will be King of the Jews.

2) He is the same One spoken by Isaiah:

Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

3) He is the same One spoken by Jeremiah:

Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Jer 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jer 23:7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

Jer 23:8 But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

To this day, the Jews who have the Book of Jeremiah, do not realize it is the Lord Jesus Christ who brought them back out of captivity to the rebirth of the nation of Israel, but they will soon.

Jesus has conquered everything that has been placed in His path, by being the humble Savior and Redeemer that He is, but this book that He takes out of the hands of His Father will show the world another side of our Lord, the side of "judgment"!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is worthy to take this book and open the seven seals of God because He is God!

So let us meet Him.

*****Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

Notice He is in the midst of the throne.

Notice He is in the midst of the four beasts.

Notice this is the same exact same place as our Heavenly Father.

Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the very center of everything in Heaven!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the center of everything in this world!

The Lord Jesus Christ is in the exact place to execute the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King!

He wore on His person, all the wounds which He received to take away my sin, and your sin, and all the sin of the world.

He had he appearance of a lamb that had been slain!

Because He had been sacrificed.

Because He had been buried.

Because He had raised from the dead.

He was the only One who was worthy to open up the book that had been in His Father's Right Hand!

Opening this book would bring great joy to His own people but it would bring great terror to His enemies!

He had seven horns and seven pairs of eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the Earth.

Zec 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,

Zec 3:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

Zec 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

Zec 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Zec 3:10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

Zec 4:8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Zec 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.

Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrifice for our sins, but He was also the only Sacrifice for our sin, making Him the only way to get into God's New Heaven!

God's Holy Spirit is the only Spirit that can run to and fro throughout the whole earth to provide regeneration to the believers and hold Satan to limited power as he to, goes to and fro through this earth.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

2Th_2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Satan is that mystery of iniquity who remains hidden, but who is the cause of all lies and the cause of all sin in our world, but he is also under the control of the Holy Spirit and cannot do anything without the express permission of our Savior.

So the Lord Jesus who is the absolute Power of God, takes the Book.

*****Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Jesus Christ the sovereign power of all Creation, bled and died that the entire world could be saved, but sadly there are people who just do not want to be saved because they have made themselves to be little gods who think they have some power, which they do not.

There are not really any true atheists!

A true atheist would not be concerned with those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

There are only Christians and antichrists! These are the only two groups of people upon this planet!

Jesus Christ is the "Supreme Intelligence" in this entire universe or a better word is cosmos.

Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Because Jesus is sovereign, He only can take the Book in the right hand of God the Father, because He is the right hand of God the Father!

What happens when He takes the Book?

Heaven falls down on their faces in worship of Heavens Savior and Redeemer, the Almighty Living God!

The four beast whose only job is to worship God.

All those elders, the Church who are the redeemed and who know their Redeemer.

All Heaven and Earth broke loose in a song of praise.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Rev 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

You see once the Church is in Heaven, then will begin the wrath of God upon this earth of unbelievers.

All the prayers of the persecuted that have been saved in Heaven will be answered!

Every prayer contained in those vials are from God's children and are like a sweet-smelling aroma in His presence.

He does not forget, not a single one!

You know what? I cannot play a single musical instrument, but on that day, I will be a "harp player" and a good one and I definitely want to sing in Heavens Choir. Not because I can sing because I cannot. I just want to praise my Lord and my God.

Then, they all began to sing a new song in Heaven.

*****Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

First the song:

It would be a song that neither they nor any other had sung before.

It could be sung at this time because the redeeming work of the Lord is complete! (thou hast redeemed) We cannot sing this song until we get to God's "New Heaven". We know we are redeemed! We are redeemed! The Lord has just not delivered us unto His Father, which is what the "Rapture" is all about!

Presenting the Church (the Bride) to the Heavenly Father.

It would begin the unceasing worship of the redeemed for the Redeemer.

All the Old Testament prophesies of the Church are fulfilled.

All the New Testament teachings about the Church are fulfilled except the Book of Revelation!

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Tit 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

It would be the first moment of a never-ending life!

Second the singers:

The four beasts. They are alive and they sang.

The twenty-four elders. They are alive and they sang.

The Angels. They are alive. They cannot sing the song of the Redeemed, but they can sing praises to the Lamb of God!

The Angels finally understood the work of the Master. These Angels now know more about God than they ever had before!

There is not one dead person in Heaven and there never will be!

They praise the Lamb of God because He is worthy.

They praise the Lamb of God because He was our sacrifice.

They praise the lamb of God because He has redeemed to God the Father.

They praise the Lamb of God because he used His Own Blood.

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

They praise the Lamb of God because He accepted any who called upon His name.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

They praised the Lamb of God because of His amazing gifts. Remember the Bema Seat is now in the past, yet the Adopted Children of God are given great gifts and a great work.

The Lord had to die, but He could not stay dead!

After the seven years of tribulation, especially the three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, those on earth who the Lord has allowed to survive along with that remnant of the Jews will see some new rulers under the King of the Jews.

King Jesus will rule the world.

King Jesus will be King of the Jews.

King Jesus will appoint the Redeemed to be Kings and Priest as His helpers, over the nations that remain and just whatever He so chooses.

Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Again worthy is the Lamb. Heaven has never been a lonely place!

Heaven will never be a crowded place!

*****Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

We could take that number of Angels just as it is written and it be 100 million and millions and millions more or we can accept the meaning to be an innumerable amount of Angels just as the 24 elders mean a number of Saints that are not given as it will be perfect number.

These Angels surround all the Saints of God, the Beast, and the lamb of God in the midst. They have been our protectors since we accepted the Lord as our Savior and they will continue to be our protectors throughout eternity.

They now stand equally with all the throng of Heaven.

They are not distressed or broken.

They are not divided nor do they feel betrayed.

Just like the Church they are just there to worship their God, the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ!

They have been our unseen guardians only occasionally taking on the form of a human for a reason that only the Lord knows.

They have served just because of the love for their Creator.

Notice those beasts are singing. Remember they had only one job!

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

The whole time they were doing these things for a God who left Heaven in all His glory to come to this earth to die and then reclaim His life and return to Heaven.

They were now singing to the Lamb of God, who was standing in the midst of the throne of God. Still proof that God exist in three persons!

The Church has always known the Lord Jesus is the Almighty Living God.

And what where they all singing?

Worthy is the Lamb of God that had been slain to "redeem" His greatest creation!

Worthy is the Lamb of God who has the "power of God".

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Worthy is the Lamb of God who possesses all the riches of Heaven.

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Worthy is the Lamb of God who has all the wisdom and strength and honor!

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Worthy is the Lamb of God who possesses all the glory and blessings.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Oh, what a Savior.

*****Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Rev 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

All things were made by our Savior and for our Savior. All His creation knows Him, who He is and what He stands for!

It is only the puny humans who defy Him who in reality only have the power of grass in the field!

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

Isa 40:5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isa 40:6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

Isa 40:7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

Isa 40:8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

All of Heaven is concerned about the opening to the seven seals.

The Church is in Heaven.

All the Angels are in Heaven at this moment.

The beasts are still around the throne of the Lord.

At this same time, Satan is placing his false trinity in place upon this earth and the seven-year tribulation period has begun along with death and destruction and the greatest deception known to mankind.

Amen

Let us Pray!

Called Up Into Heaven Come Home

The Vision of God's Throne

Book of Revelation Chapter 4 Verses 1 through 11

It should be very clear John is speaking the words given to Him by the Holy Spirit!

It is after the Words spoken by our Lord to the Church that the Lord will reveal the "Rapture of the Church" in this passage.

John's job remained the same! He was to write down the things he heard and the things that he saw.

John is now writing of the things that happen immediately after the Church Age comes to an end.

Remember the purpose of our Lord Jesus in the Book of Revelation, is to reveal the truth. Our Lord Jesus will never hide things from us!

Not many places in the Scriptures have given us the privilege to see into the Throne Room of God and none have been given us the view that John saw!

John saw a door opened into Heaven while the Church was still located upon this earth.

The golden candle sticks were still upon earth.

The seven stars were still upon earth in the hand of Jesus.

Now we get a realistic view of the things in Heaven.

*****Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

It is like John was saying, "I have been looking up toward Heaven all these years and all of a sudden a door was opened, and I could see inside".

As believers we pray, we feel, we know, that we have a Heavenly Father and one day "we will see Him face to face"!

Not that we will see through some door, but we will see "because we will be at home".

In this passage the Apostle John is in fact, a type of the Church.

The Church will see what happens immediately after the Church Age ends, with the end of the Laodicean Church Age which is the one we are in now!

We all have a tendency to say, "I know who sits on the throne", well on this day, we will meet Him.

John did not imagine these things for John saw these things!

The Lord Jesus had been standing in the midst of the seven candlesticks holding the seven stars.

We must also remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is that "Door", that is now opened to the Church after the end of the Church Age.

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The truth is at the end of the Church Age, Heaven will be laid open to receive the Saints of God.

Those that are alive and remaining, and those in the graves whose souls are already with the Lord.

1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

How do we know?

John says: "the first voice which I heard, as it were a trumpet talking to me; which said Come up hither"

That word "Come" was a command!

When the Lord says "Come", He has already made the pathway to Him or we could say, the Lord has already built the bridge for safe passage!

The Lord said by the Holy Spirit "Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which "must" be hereafter".

These will be all the things that take place after the Church is in Heaven with the Lord!

Now we know that no man (or woman) can meet the Lord in the flesh as we have upon this earth, which is sinful, so the Scripture does not fail to mention, that John was in the spirit. John was not in the flesh!

*****Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

Immediately, as in the twinkle of the eye, as in a split second, John found himself in the throne room of God.

We know from the Scriptures that even after our salvation, we will face the Lord at His "Judgment Seat".

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

This not a "Judgment" for salvation, because once we had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, that cannot be taken away from us.

It is a "Judgment" for what we have done after becoming a child of God, while still upon this earth.

2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

What we should know is at the same time we are at the "Judgment Seat of the Lamb", the earth and those who remain have been given over to the Antichrist for seven long years of “Tribulation”!

2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The Holy Spirit returned to Heaven with the Church, and is no longer a hindrance to that Wicked One, we know is Satan the Devil and his demons!

But, lets save that for later and have a look at our Savior.

Now how is the appearance of our Savior?

*****Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

The Jasper stone is a stone that glitters and is a stone of various colors which causes it to glitter and it is the stone most precious and it clear as crystal, as a diamond.

Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

But that is not all. Another color as described by John as he looked upon our Savior was as the sardine stone.

As the Lord glittered crystal clear, He would also have that "red color" to remind us that we had been washed in the pure red "Blood of the Lamb".

As we see a rainbow upon this earth, we can only see a half circle, but at the Judgment Seat of Christ we will get to see the whole circle of the rainbow. The glow of the Lord as Jasper and as Sardine with the glow of an emerald.

You cannot miss this “emerald glow” if you look close at a rainbow today.

Emerald is known as the glowing stone! The Greek word used here describes this glow as a live coal drawn from a furnace. Glittering and shimmering and announcing the absolute "Grace" of God which is the theme of the "Judgment Seat of the Lord Jesus Christ".

What a site to behold! Not enough words to give us the full picture, but just enough words to show us the "Glory" of God the Son.

Round about that throne we see the Church.

*****Rev 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

We all know that numbers are used in the Scriptures for specific reasons. So then is the number 24.

The number 24 is a multiple of the number 12.

The number 12 can be found in 187 places in the Word of God. The Book of Revelation alone has 22 occurrences of the number 12.

The meaning of 12, which is considered a perfect number, is that it symbolizes God's power and authority.

The number 12 also serves as a perfect foundation of the Church!

The number 12 also symbolizes completeness!

Completeness in the Church because the Church is built upon the Apostle’s Doctrine! The Lord Jesus chose 12 Apostles when we count the Apostle Paul.

Completeness in the true Israel as Israel had 12 sons!

The number 24 is then associated with the priesthood of the believer!

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

1Pe 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The number 24 being a multiple of 12 is then the complete Church!

Since the number 24 it is composed of a multiple of 12, it takes on some of 12's meaning (which is God's power and authority, as well as perfect foundation) except in a higher form.

Twenty-four, therefore, is also connected with the worship of God, especially at the Temple.

It was King David who divided those responsible for the music in the Temple services, those who served as priests, and the Levites who aided the priests, into 24 courses (1Chronicles 23 - 24).

These 24 persons are called elders. The number 24 here represents the enlargement of the Church through all the Church Age.

Jehovah is not just the God of Israel, not just the God of the Church by His Son Jesus, but He is God of this entire earth and God of all His creation!

Though saints usually stand upon earth. In Heaven these elders are a symbol of the “dignity and rest” and "Holy happiness", having overcome the wickedness of Satan and "Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb".

They now possess the rewards for their work upon this earth, represented by the crowns upon their head.

Remember there are 5 crowns subject to the work of believers after our Salvation. There are no works before our salvation that account for anything to our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The first crown mentioned is the "incorruptible" crown. This means it is a crown that will never be destroyed; it will never turn to dust. We will be immortal, and so will this crown.

The "crown of rejoicing" is one example of when we, as Christian believers, will be expected to loudly rejoice or exalt. When Christ comes back and we will all be together, we can let everyone else know about it. Our brothers and sisters in Christ will make up the "crown of rejoicing".

The "crown of righteousness". Paul says he has fought a good fight -- he did not give up, lie down, or quit. He finished his race -- he kept believing. Because of this, a crown of righteousness has been reserved for him, and for others who look forward to the appearing of Jesus Christ.

'Righteousness' means that something is just and right! How many times have we read a news story, or seen something on television that made us say, "It just isn't right"? That will not happen even onetime once Christ returns! Paul wrote this to the church in order to exhort them (us) to stand for God in light of the hope of the return of Jesus Christ. If we look forward to our "crown of righteousness", we can stand firm and sure right now.

Today as this Corona Virus spreads around the world, we as Christians, must stand firm on our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the promises He has made to us. Remember Jesus said there would be days like this!

Happy is the person that endures (remains behind after others have left) trials, tribulations, and temptations. For when he is proved, he will receive (manifest) "the crown of life" (life in all its fullness, complete). This life will be our Heavenly Life!

Peter writes these lines to the elders of the church, so we see "the crown of glory" will be available to leaders in the Word of God.

They are supposed to feed the "flock" the undiluted and perfect Word of God, not for money or any personal gain, but willingly and out of love.

They are not to be "overlords" of the other believers, but should lead by example! If they do this, Peter says, when Christ (the chief Shepherd) returns, they will receive a "crown of glory" that will never fade away. It is everlasting, and the color and brilliance will abide forever.

The five crowns will be part of our reward we receive after the return of Christ. The Word of God tells us some things about the crowns, but not everything.

A big part of the reward will be the surprise of finding out everything about our new life, and the privileges and responsibilities that go with it. For now, we can do the best we can for God, and look forward to the Hope, the return of Jesus Christ.

As John writes in the Book of Revelation, these elders of the Church are wearing those crowns!

That is not all they are wearing. They are wearing "robes of pure white"!

These White robes are glorious.

These White robes are beautiful. They are white and shining.

These White robes are Heavens loveliest garments!

Then the things of the throne again catch John's eye!

*****Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

This is the throne of our Creator!

Many people say that the Book of Revelation is the most mysterious book in the Bible, but we must consider that John the Apostle saw things he had never seen and many he did not know how to describe. You cannot take a man from the first century and drop him into the twenty first century and expect him to explain what he sees. It is the same for John in Heaven!

He was led by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and if we are filled with the Holy Spirit and understand these things of John and realize that God does not hide things from us, we can accept the Book of Revelation just as it is written!

If we picture in our own mind the words that John says about many things, we can see the many things that resemble what John is saying.

We must also know that the throne he is witnessing here is point blank exactly what John saw!

When God speaks, He will command your attention!

Psa_103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

There is not one thing upon this earth that God is not in command of!

If God wanted to stop this virus, this plague, He could do so in the blink of an eye, so we know there is a purpose to what is happening now, and we need to seek that purpose and be busy about it.

One purpose is to realize that what the Lord says is the perfect truth and the world does not ever have perfect truth!

If we stand on the Word of God with the faith that He demands, we will see what the Lord wants us to see!

Psa 91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Psa 91:6 Nor "for the pestilence that walketh in darkness"; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Psa 91:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Psa 91:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Psa 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

Psa 91:10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Luk_21:11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

The Lord is serious about the things He says and when we do not pay attention, then He has to show us!

There is an awesomeness to the Word of God and there is an awesomeness in the throne of God!

The throne of God is a throne of "glory" and a throne of "blessedness" but also a throne of "judgment".

Those that sat before this throne were there for rewards as every saint of God is judged and pardoned before they reach this throne in Heaven.

There were lightnings.

There were thunderings.

There were voices.

The voice of God will be an awesome thing to hear when He speaks to us and says, "have no fear", "you are home now".

We should also understand while the Lord welcomes His saints, His voice is also commanding the events to begin in the seven years of tribulation.

The Lord God of this world is always doing things according to His own will!

The will of God is wise, is pure and is just, and is guided by His great love for all those who have trusted Him with their souls!

This throne is a throne of Holiness!

Weak people see this place as terrible, but to the saints of God, this is a place of joy. A place of pleasure. A place to reverence our Divine Majesty.

The seven lamps of fire denoted the fulness and the perfection of the Holy Spirit. The light from those lamps show He is sufficient in His work with the Church, who He has now returned home with those saints of God.

2Th_2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

John was standing some distance from the throne and after observing the throne, John took a look at the throne room.

*****Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Rev 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

Many things could be said about this Sea of Glass, which in reality reads "a Glass Sea like crystal".

This could be a Sea that is clear and calm and prepared as the Lord Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee.

We know that the Seas upon this earth are never calm as they are driven by winds and storms.

The Scriptures tell us that wicked are like the troubled sea.

Isa_57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

There is no wickedness in Heaven nor around the throne of God!

The sea before God was clear, deep, and pure!

Now we know the Seven lamps of fire and this Sea of glass and we know that the Holy Ghost, whose powers, and operations, are many times mentioned as fire and water.

Mat_3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: "he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire":

1Co_6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, "and by the Spirit of our God".

We know that it is those who are washed and mingled with fire that have gotten victory over the beast!

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: "and them that had gotten the victory over the beast", and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Then in the end that pure, crystal clean river of life with flow out of the New Heaven into the New Earth.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Then there were four beasts.

These beasts are the closest things to God in Heaven in distance.

They are Angelic beings who are posted in the middle of each side of God's throne.

They are the guardians of God's throne!

They are the guardians of God's Holy Presence!

Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

They are always found near the throne.

They have six wings (3 pair) and are full of eyes.

Their function has to do with the Holiness or the Wrath of God!

Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

Rev 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

They never cease to declare the holiness of Jehovah God!

They never leave God's presence!

The Holy Spirit decided we did not need any more information about these four beings than what we have here in this Scripture. They belong to God for His specific purpose.

We will all have a purpose in Heaven, just as we have a purpose here upon this earth, though it will be far different then.

They are living creations of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Act_17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Heb_1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

What do we know as humans?

1)The lion denotes majesty and power among the animal world.

Pro 30:30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

2) The calf whether be calf or ox denote humility and patience.

1Co 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

1Co 9:10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

3) The third beast with the face of a man is the highest of all God's creation, denoting wisdom, reason, and intelligence.

1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

4) The fourth beast with the face of an eagle. The eagle is the wisest of all birds. He flies the highest. His eyes the keenest. He is swift to take action when it is time to take action. He does so then without hesitation.

Job 39:27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?

Job 39:28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.

Job 39:29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

Job 39:30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

Brother Oliver Green writes that it is these characteristics combined, that express the character of God's Throne in relation to earth.

We can ask these things of the Lord when we meet Him for, He made them!

For what is their main purpose?

They give glory and honor to Him who sits upon the throne in the Throne Room of God!

*****Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

As those beast give glory to the Lord, those elders, who represent the redeemed children of God, who have received the rewards for the works they did after salvation and realize they are still unworthy of any rewards, fall down on their faces having casts those crowns at the feet of Jesus.

Yes, we can still come under conviction even in Heaven!

If we do not understand today that no matter what has happened in our lives, the fact that we are saved from the wrath of the Father by the actions of His Son Jesus then, we need to verify our salvation!

Our salvation is all about the actions and the love of our Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

There certainly is no other way to reach the gates of Heaven and enter into the City of God!

The world is foolish to think anything different!

We must always be ready to acknowledge our obligation to the work of the Gospel no matter our circumstances!

If we are given anything at the "Judgment Seat of Christ" we are still unworthy to receive it!

So the object remains not to earn rewards for our own self, but to earn rewards to cast at the feet of Jesus.

It will be bad enough not to earn a reward after becoming a Christian, but it will be far worse not to have even something small to give back to the Lord for all He has done for me!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who created all things and it is the Lord Jesus Christ who has done all these things for His own pleasure.

God did not have to save anyone!

He is God, He does not need us!

He saved us just because He wanted to!

He saved us because He loves us!

Amen

Let’s Pray!