God Is Coming, pt. 5

Terry’s continuing series in the book of Revelation took us to Revelation 4, where he taught about Worship in Heaven. To listen to this message, simply click on the audio player below. Also included are some notes and links to Scriptures referenced by Terry.

God Is Coming, pt. 5

Review:

• Revelation 1:19 – outline of the book of Revelation
  • ch. 1 – things that you’ve seen
  • ch. 2 & 3 – things that are
  • ch. 4-22 – things that will be
• Reminders/Pitfalls/Concerns – Lessons from the letters to the churches
  • Don’t lose your first love
  • Don’t be afraid to suffer (Matthew 10:28)
  • Be on guard for sexual sin/impurity
  • Be on guard against spiritual deadness
  • Hold fast to the Word
  • Be on guard against lukewarmness/indifference
  • Be on guard against compromise/moving away from the Lord
• Ch. 2-3: John was told, “Write what you hear…”
• Beginning in ch. 4, John is told, “Write what you see…”
  • Test the spirits – 1 John 4:1
  • Test and approve all things – 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Worship in Heaven: Revelation 4

• v. 1 – After all these things: the beginning of John’s eyewitness account
• v. 2 – Immediately
  • God took John to the spiritual realm to give us a glimpse of heaven
  • Translated from Patmos to heaven
  • Saw a throne
    • One sitting on the throne – the Father
• v. 3 – John describes the beauty he sees as best he can
• v. 4 – 24 thrones with 24 elders
  • clothed in white
  • golden crowns
  • clues will tell us later that these seem to be humans who have received their reward for faithfulness
• v. 5 – Lightning & thunder around the throne
  • 7 lamps are the 7 spirits of God (Isaiah 11:2)
• v. 6 – Before the throne
  • a sea of glass – the magnificence of being in the presence of God is unimaginable
  • In the midst of the throne –
    • 4 living creatures (Isaiah 6:2; Ezekiel 1:5-11)
    • Full of eyes

• v. 7 – the Four Living Creatures
  • Lion
  • Calf
  • Man
  • Eagle
• v. 8 – What do the 4 Creatures do?
  • full of eyes
  • have 6 wings
  • rest not
  • do not cease to say (a doxology):
    • Holy, holy, holy
    • Lord (Master)
    • God
    • Almighty/All-powerful
    • Was, Is, Is to Come – eternal nature of God
• v. 9 – the creatures give glory/honor/thanks to God
  • this triggers v. 10
• v. 10 – the 24 elders fall before God
  • worship Him
  • cast their crowns before the throne
  • say another doxology
• v. 11 – Doxology of the 24 elders
  • God is worthy of everything
  • Because He created all things
• Our purpose is to glorify the Lord by accomplishing the things He has for us to do, because we give Him pleasure.