WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.819 Well, good morning. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:14.900 Want to say, first of all, just thank you, especially to all the volunteers who have 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:19.879 made it here to serve so that we can have the service, even as we're doing it mostly 00:00:19.879 --> 00:00:20.359 remotely. 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:28.000 There are a handful of people who come from the middle north of our country who are here 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:32.759 because, you know, it honestly is not a terrible storm out there. 00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:39.620 But for your safety, we are glad that many of you are joining us online to serve with 00:00:39.620 --> 00:00:40.560 us this morning. 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:43.939 So I just wanted to say thank you. 00:00:44.019 --> 00:00:48.159 The other thing I wanted to say is that if you are a regular here at Trinity, you know 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:51.400 we typically do communion on the first Sunday of the month. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:57.740 We are not going to observe communion today so that we can do it together next week. 00:00:57.740 --> 00:01:02.380 So if you were expecting that, now you can adjust your expectations. 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:09.939 Before Christmas, my family and I went to New York City to see the Rockettes, Christmas 00:01:09.939 --> 00:01:10.760 Spectacular. 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:16.219 And if you have not ever seen it, it's quite a spectacular spectacular. 00:01:16.780 --> 00:01:17.980 It's quite a show. 00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:26.719 And but we were pleasantly surprised at how clearly the Christmas message was included in the program. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:30.379 Um, and, uh, that was a blessing to us. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:36.280 Um, but you know, one of the things that as you're watching dancers dance, you know, and 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:41.379 watching them particularly when they spin, you wonder, how is it that they don't get dizzy? 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:42.060 Right? 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:47.079 You think of this, I think of the same thing of skaters or, or, um, gymnasts when they're 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:50.180 up twirling and spinning and doing what they do. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:55.280 How is it that they don't lose their, so I did a little research this week, um, because 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:57.760 I didn't want to make it up on, uh, and clear it. 00:01:58.080 --> 00:02:03.500 Sure enough, there's a, uh, there's a name for that thing that we get, this disoriented 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:05.460 dizziness that happens when we spin. 00:02:05.620 --> 00:02:08.379 It's called nystagmus. 00:02:09.540 --> 00:02:09.819 Okay? 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:14.360 I'm not familiar with this word, but, so I probably didn't say it right, but that's what 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:21.680 it said, uh, but what I learned from Scientific American, uh, no less, is that, uh, this was 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:26.040 a particular article about ballet dancers, but I think it, I saw that it's, it's for all 00:02:26.040 --> 00:02:26.280 these. 00:02:26.640 --> 00:02:32.620 They, one of the ways that they limit that is by finding a focal point, something to 00:02:32.620 --> 00:02:34.320 spot and to keep their head in. 00:02:34.380 --> 00:02:39.100 So you watch their heads and they, they turn to one spot again and again as they're spinning 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:48.919 in the air so that they can keep their orientation and not lose and not fall into this dizzy, uh, 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:51.359 dizziness and disorientation that most of us would. 00:02:52.479 --> 00:02:57.759 Um, I thought of that as I was looking at the passage this week because I think what is 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:01.879 true in our physical lives is often true in our spiritual lives as well. 00:03:02.379 --> 00:03:05.599 It's easy for us to get disoriented in life. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:11.180 Sometimes our lives are full of good things that are overwhelming and wonderful, a busy 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:16.379 career, a full social life, family schedules, church service, whatever it is that fills your 00:03:16.379 --> 00:03:16.859 days. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:20.959 But it's easy in the midst of that to get disoriented. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:21.759 Where am I going? 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:22.939 What is this all about? 00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:29.680 Sometimes it's just hardship and suffering that make life disorienting. 00:03:30.299 --> 00:03:35.579 A physical diagnosis that changes your life, the loss of a loved one, the betrayal, rejection, 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:39.719 and a relationship can be so disorienting. 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:48.860 Well, we are returning to our series in the book of Revelation because it is written to 00:03:48.860 --> 00:03:53.439 a church that is facing disorienting circumstances of its own. 00:03:54.540 --> 00:04:00.540 If you were here in the fall, we preach through chapters two and three of Revelation where these 00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:07.319 letters described and confronted some of the disorienting factors that the church faced. 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:13.500 One theologian summarized the challenge of the situation that the book of Revelation is written 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:21.039 to by saying that they were facing the challenges of persecution from the outside, seduction to love 00:04:21.039 --> 00:04:26.459 the world, and deception of false teachers who were leading them astray. 00:04:26.459 --> 00:04:28.859 That was from Vern Poitras. 00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:30.560 If you're interested, you can track him down. 00:04:30.919 --> 00:04:33.699 He has a great little book on the book of Revelation. 00:04:34.919 --> 00:04:43.000 But persecution, seduction, and deception are all things that disorient us in life when they 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:43.439 happen. 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:48.060 And so we turn to the book of Revelation for help. 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:54.519 And as we know, the book of Revelation is a series of visions, and what we're going to see today 00:04:54.519 --> 00:05:02.579 is God taking our focus to that point, that point where we can look in the midst of all these 00:05:02.579 --> 00:05:08.340 disorienting factors and not lose our way. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:11.959 And so that's the plan this morning. 00:05:12.340 --> 00:05:17.019 Before we do that, we're going to spend a bunch of time today actually just thinking about how do we 00:05:17.019 --> 00:05:17.839 study Revelation. 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:20.459 Because Revelation, we're going to be looking at Revelation 4. 00:05:20.859 --> 00:05:23.060 Revelation 4 and 5 are one picture. 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:26.740 And Revelation 4 is kind of the setup in some ways. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:29.099 So all the action will come next week. 00:05:29.159 --> 00:05:30.379 So make sure you come back for that. 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:36.819 But in the meantime, I want to spend a little bit of time reminding us and talking about the book of 00:05:36.819 --> 00:05:39.199 Revelation because it's different, right? 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:42.539 And we're going to see it when we read this passage in just a few minutes. 00:05:42.540 --> 00:05:47.140 It is a genre of literature called apocalyptic literature, right? 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:51.560 And there are a number of key things about apocalyptic literature. 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:54.000 But one of them is its use of images. 00:05:54.420 --> 00:05:59.140 You know, we often use metaphors to say, well, it's like an elephant, you know, or something like that. 00:05:59.180 --> 00:06:00.400 And that's a comparison. 00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:05.379 Apocalyptic literature is these visions where everything is imaging. 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:10.659 And it's meant to communicate to us in a particular way. 00:06:12.019 --> 00:06:13.060 Particular images. 00:06:13.819 --> 00:06:16.100 And we're going to see them in this passage coming up. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:21.219 We're going to see seals and scrolls and trumpets and bowls and beasts and horsemen and lots of numbers. 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.920 And we're going to wonder, how do we read these things? 00:06:25.019 --> 00:06:26.060 What are they for? 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:30.839 Well, the good news is that we don't have to make it up. 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:38.159 It's not like our postmodern approach to art where whatever we see in the artwork is what is actually there. 00:06:38.479 --> 00:06:46.519 In fact, the authors are using often Old Testament imagery to communicate truth to us. 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:54.059 And so what we're going to do today is spend a bunch of time looking at Old Testament passages that I'm convinced John is referencing 00:06:54.059 --> 00:06:59.679 and that God is referencing in these images so that we can have some understanding of what it means. 00:07:00.839 --> 00:07:04.379 And so that's a part of apocalyptic literature. 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:10.279 The other thing that we want to be clear on in terms of the book of Revelation is that, 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:13.659 and we'll see this at the very beginning of chapter 4, it says, 00:07:14.019 --> 00:07:15.620 After this I looked, and behold. 00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:23.120 And some people have read the book of Revelation, and there's a series of after thises throughout the book. 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:26.199 And they've said, well, this is a history. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:29.359 This is a chronology of the progress of time. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:31.900 And I think that's a mistake. 00:07:32.520 --> 00:07:37.460 I think that the book of Revelation is better read as a series of visions. 00:07:38.080 --> 00:07:43.480 So the first one, after I heard the vision of these letters in chapters 2 and 3, 00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:47.100 then I had another vision that was chapters 4 and 5. 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:50.360 And then there's going to be another vision in chapters 6 through 8. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:57.480 And what we'll see is that these things are not sequential in history that God's trying to say, 00:07:57.580 --> 00:08:02.040 first this is going to happen, and then this is going to happen, and then this is going to happen. 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:04.180 But instead of saying, here's an image. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:04.920 Look at this. 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:12.000 See what this has to tell you about both the present and the future fulfillment of what's going to come. 00:08:12.340 --> 00:08:13.680 And then here's another vision. 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:16.780 And it's going to talk about probably the same things. 00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:21.160 And in fact, one of the things you see is that in the book of Revelation, 00:08:21.400 --> 00:08:29.240 there's a repetition of patterns of final judgment and the salvation of God's people. 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:31.800 And this is seen over and over again. 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:38.580 And Kevin, if we can throw it up, we're going to see in the book of Revelation, 00:08:38.779 --> 00:08:43.620 the structure of the book, where we are, we're going to be in chapters 4 and 5 for the next two weeks. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.500 But following that, there will be a vision of seven seals that will be judgment 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:50.620 and then deliverance of God's people. 00:08:50.779 --> 00:08:54.419 And then seven trumpets in chapter 8 through 11. 00:08:54.779 --> 00:08:57.899 Seven judgment and then salvation. 00:08:57.899 --> 00:09:02.179 And we'll see this repeated over and over again until we get to the end of the book, 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:09.799 where there's this climactic renewal of all things in verses 21 and 22 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:14.899 that is the final end that we do look forward to. 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:19.299 And so I want to make sure I say this clearly. 00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:24.639 It's not that the book of Revelation isn't looking forward and having a futuristic viewpoint, 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:29.480 but it's doing so by saying there are things that we can know now 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:35.000 and there are things in the future that will help us now get to this place. 00:09:35.199 --> 00:09:37.939 And so this is apocalyptic literature. 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:40.460 And this is what we're doing. 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:43.039 So that's just a little bit. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:43.980 There's lots more. 00:09:44.199 --> 00:09:46.480 We may end up doing a Sunday school sometime in February 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.139 on how to read apocalyptic literature 00:09:48.139 --> 00:09:51.779 and get some more time for interaction on that. 00:09:51.779 --> 00:09:56.500 But wanted to just make sure we're orienting ourselves to this book properly 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:59.600 and expecting it to say what it does say. 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:05.000 So coming back to our passage this morning, 00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:10.759 Revelation 4 is coming on the heels of these letters in chapter 2 and 3 00:10:10.759 --> 00:10:14.899 that are, again, it's a vision of these letters being sent 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:18.579 addressing the church and its needs and its stresses 00:10:18.579 --> 00:10:22.279 and the disorienting factors that it's facing. 00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:24.980 So let's go ahead and read together. 00:10:25.179 --> 00:10:26.419 Revelation chapter 4. 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:36.939 And Revelation chapter 4 says this. 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:38.960 After this. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:39.500 After this I looked. 00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:43.380 And behold, a door standing open in heaven. 00:10:43.680 --> 00:10:47.520 And the first voice which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, 00:10:47.760 --> 00:10:51.780 Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. 00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:54.600 At once I was in the Spirit. 00:10:54.760 --> 00:11:00.280 And behold, a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne. 00:11:00.780 --> 00:11:05.480 And he who sat there had the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian. 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:09.860 And around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:13.340 Around the throne were 24 thrones. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:17.680 And seated on the thrones were 24 elders clothed in white garments 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:20.360 with golden crowns on their head. 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:26.240 From the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:30.620 And before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:33.399 which are the seven spirits of God. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:39.360 And before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:43.840 And around the throne, on each side of the throne, 00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:47.340 are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:50.179 The first living creature like a lion. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:52.919 The second living creature like an ox. 00:11:53.079 --> 00:11:56.340 The third living creature with the face of a man. 00:11:56.439 --> 00:12:00.220 And the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 00:12:00.220 --> 00:12:04.040 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, 00:12:04.180 --> 00:12:06.720 are full of eyes all around and within. 00:12:07.180 --> 00:12:10.100 And day and night they never cease to say, 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:15.340 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:17.879 who was and is and is to come. 00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:22.180 And whenever the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks 00:12:22.180 --> 00:12:25.100 to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:30.000 the 24 elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.920 And worship him who lives forever and ever. 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:36.700 They cast their crowns before the throne saying, 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:40.300 Worthy are you, our Lord and God, 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:43.639 to receive glory and honor and power. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:47.340 For you created all things and by your will, 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:50.580 they existed and were created. 00:12:51.660 --> 00:12:52.500 Let's pray. 00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:54.659 Lord, thank you for this word. 00:12:54.899 --> 00:13:00.240 Thank you for the things that you have spoken to us, 00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:01.500 Lord, in it. 00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:03.980 And Lord, I ask for your help this morning 00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:07.000 as we take on this grand vision. 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.019 Lord, help us to see it clearly 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:12.960 and by your spirit apply it to our hearts and our lives 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:13.899 as you would. 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.980 Lord, help me to speak as I ought. 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:18.620 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:19.840 Amen. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:21.440 Amen. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:21.580 Amen. 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:25.139 So, what do we see here? 00:13:25.299 --> 00:13:30.259 There is a vision of a throne upon which God sits. 00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:33.960 And we're going to look at what this vision tells us 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:35.539 in some of its details. 00:13:35.700 --> 00:13:38.779 We're going to try to unpack some of the apocalyptic imagery 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:41.320 and then we're going to spend a few minutes at the end 00:13:41.320 --> 00:13:45.000 reflecting on how this vision is helpful or useful 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:47.919 for us today as we live our lives. 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:52.559 So, first, what does this vision show us about God? 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.979 Now, if you were listening carefully, the word throne, 00:13:56.099 --> 00:13:59.179 I read it seven, eight, or nine times. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.619 It's actually fascinating. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:04.939 If you do a grammatical analysis, it's on the throne, 00:14:05.099 --> 00:14:09.179 around the throne, before the throne, to the throne. 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.439 There's all these. 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:13.900 The throne is the centerpiece of chapter four. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:18.540 And, in fact, what we'll see is that this is why it's paired with chapter five 00:14:18.540 --> 00:14:23.380 because we'll see the fulfillment of what this throne room is going to look like 00:14:23.380 --> 00:14:25.340 when the lamb shows up next week. 00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.960 But that's for next week. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:29.840 This week, we're just going to look at this throne and think about 00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:34.160 what is it about this vision of the throne room of God 00:14:34.160 --> 00:14:36.940 that has to say to us. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:40.620 And, again, we need to remember that these images, 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.840 this one's an easy one, right? 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.759 Because we know who sits on thrones, right? 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.800 Kings sit on thrones. 00:14:47.920 --> 00:14:52.200 But remember that even this is an image from the Old Testament. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:59.879 Earlier in the day of read from Isaiah chapter six, verses one through three. 00:15:00.040 --> 00:15:04.100 And I'm going to try to just remind us of these passages as we go through. 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:06.879 And they'll also, they should, hopefully will be on the screen. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:09.740 And, Amos, I don't know if we can make sure that we can. 00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:10.440 Yeah, great. 00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:10.820 All right. 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:14.200 So, hopefully those of you who are at home can see these passages as well. 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.879 Isaiah six says, 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:18.600 In the year that King Uzziah died, 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:23.279 I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up. 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:26.440 And the train of His robe filled the temple. 00:15:27.180 --> 00:15:29.460 Above Him stood the seraphim. 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:31.399 Each had six wings and two. 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:33.700 With two, He covered His face. 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:35.139 With two, He covered His feet. 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.759 And with two, He flew. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:39.240 And one called to another and said, 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:41.580 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:45.420 The whole earth is filled full of His glory. 00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:45.500 Holy. 00:15:46.459 --> 00:15:52.979 So, this image that John is picking up in the throne room is not new to us. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.779 But we've seen it from the Old Testament. 00:15:55.159 --> 00:15:59.459 And this image came at a time when Israel was in chaos. 00:16:00.099 --> 00:16:01.599 And there was a question of, 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.919 Will God's people persevere? 00:16:04.099 --> 00:16:04.939 Will they persist? 00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:08.860 And this is the same thing that the church in the first century was facing. 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:12.299 And this image of a throne reminds the people, 00:16:12.839 --> 00:16:14.360 God is on His throne. 00:16:14.360 --> 00:16:20.120 He is the one, ultimately, who rules over all these things. 00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:23.899 This is an image that's also been used throughout the Psalms. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:26.820 So, in Psalm 9, verses 7 through 9, 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:27.560 it says, 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:30.060 But the Lord sits enthroned forever. 00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:33.440 He has established His throne for justice. 00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:35.919 And He judges the world with righteousness. 00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:39.220 And judges the peoples with uprightness. 00:16:39.220 --> 00:16:41.620 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed. 00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:44.460 A stronghold in times of trouble. 00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:54.759 And so, His sitting on this throne brings to mind the image of God with the power to judge 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:58.620 and to bring justice and to help those who are needy. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:01.420 One who provides safety for the oppressed. 00:17:01.419 --> 00:17:05.940 Psalm 47, verses 7 through 9. 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:09.259 Ooh, I didn't get that right. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.339 What is it? 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.299 Wait, here we go. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.799 Psalm 47. 00:17:17.639 --> 00:17:20.500 Starting verse, well, okay, we'll start in verse 7. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:22.660 For God is the King of all earth. 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:24.720 Sing praises with a psalm. 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:25.900 Verse 8. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:27.779 God reigns over the nations. 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.799 God sits on His holy throne. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:35.359 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:38.799 For the shields of the earth belong to God. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.220 He is highly exalted. 00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:47.859 So, again, we see a picture of this throne being above even the nations. 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:48.980 Right? 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.019 Right? 00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:54.299 And in the time of the psalmist, we don't know exactly what the nations were that were threatening 00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:54.779 Israel. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:18:01.720 But in the first century, we know certainly that the nation of Rome seemed to be the unstoppable 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.400 power. 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:08.319 And yet, God rules over Rome as much as He rules over everything else. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:12.019 And so, this is the image of the throne that we see. 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.360 And it's central to this. 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:15.019 So, I wanted to spend a few minutes on it. 00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:17.860 Now, I'm going to try to go through relatively quickly. 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:20.039 A lot of these other images. 00:18:20.479 --> 00:18:22.679 So, there is one who sits on the throne. 00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:24.359 And it is God Himself. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.219 Right? 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:27.859 And, again, this imagery. 00:18:28.039 --> 00:18:29.959 He starts mentioning stones. 00:18:30.219 --> 00:18:31.539 Jasper and carnelian. 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:38.099 And if you try to go to a geologist today, whatever these stones are, probably different from what 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:39.599 these words are used today. 00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.299 They're just… 00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:44.139 We're trying to capture the image of these things. 00:18:44.140 --> 00:18:50.420 So, it reminds us of a vision that Ezekiel had in Ezekiel chapter 1. 00:18:51.600 --> 00:18:53.740 Ezekiel chapter 1, verse 26. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:59.819 And above the expanse over their heads, there was the likeness of a throne, an appearance 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.039 like sapphire. 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:06.440 And seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. 00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:13.700 And upward from what had the appearance of His waist, I saw there were gleaming metal, 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:17.099 like the appearance of fire, enclosed all around. 00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:22.259 And downward from what had the appearance of His waist, I saw as it were the appearance 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:24.799 of fire, and there was brightness around Him. 00:19:25.419 --> 00:19:26.859 And the appearance… 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:34.099 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:38.719 of the brightness all around. 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:43.259 Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.339 Lord. 00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:52.200 So, again, we have this quote from Ezekiel chapter 1 that is picturing this one on the 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:52.379 throne. 00:19:52.460 --> 00:20:00.039 And there's this picture of glory and jasper and carnelian and a bow that's around that's 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:02.559 like the rainbow but also like an emerald. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.700 You understand these… 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:08.740 As you see these, these images are not one-to-one correspondences. 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:11.680 We need to not read these like a scientific textbook. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:14.360 We need to read them like a painting, right? 00:20:14.759 --> 00:20:16.240 And if you look at each… 00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.880 It's like looking at a pointless painting. 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:22.180 If you look at each brushstroke, it's not going to make sense. 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:25.320 Each brushstroke doesn't have its own meaning. 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:28.080 It only has meaning as it's a part of a whole. 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:35.220 And so, these images are meant to be pictures that evoke certain ideas. 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:45.000 And jasper and carnelian and emeralds are meant to picture glory and splendor, right? 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:48.680 And human kings have always recognized this. 00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:52.480 They always have crowns and jewels. 00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:57.839 I've never been to it, but I hear that going to see the crown jewels in England in the Tower 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:06.220 of London is amazing because they're these ornate and beautifully crafted things. 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:10.699 And they sparkle and they shine and they have their own luminescence and glory. 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:16.139 And what these images do is remind us this is what God is like. 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:19.720 God has this splendor that shines. 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:24.600 And the best image we can have is like the brightest jewels in the world. 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:27.319 This is what God is like, but more so. 00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:34.500 And then around the throne, as we keep going, we see in verses 4 through 6, there is… 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.980 We'll get to the people in a minute. 00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:39.039 Around the throne, what comes from the throne? 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:41.160 Lightning and thunder. 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:45.440 And this will raise to mind, in those who know their Old Testament, 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:51.279 God appearing to Moses on Mount Sinai in chapter 19 of Exodus. 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:57.080 It also reminds us of Psalm 97. 00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:59.900 Here, we'll read this one for you. 00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:01.100 Psalm 97. 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:04.400 That says this. 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:06.259 Psalm 97, 1 through 5. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.920 It says this. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:09.299 The Lord reigns. 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:10.360 Let the earth rejoice. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:12.680 Let the many coastlands be glad. 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:15.820 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him. 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:20.360 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. 00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:26.100 Fire goes before him and burns up all his adversaries all around. 00:22:26.620 --> 00:22:28.539 His lightnings light up the world. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.779 The earth sees and trembles. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:36.620 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:40.840 So again, these images are not taken out of nowhere. 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:47.919 I mean, we humanly all know that lightning and thunder are these big things that are beyond our control and power that are awesome. 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:56.000 But specifically, these are Old Testament images that talk about God's complete power over the world. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:00.539 And his power to come and rightly shape and judge the earth. 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:16.920 And around them, around this throne as well, there are seven torches that are the seven spirits that when you go back to Revelation chapter 1, you see this is most likely talking about the spirit of God working in the churches, the seven churches. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:22.640 So the spirit of God who is the one who reveals God and is active in the world. 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:25.519 And around this throne, there is a sea of crystal. 00:23:26.340 --> 00:23:34.700 Well, if you look actually carefully at Revelation, it says it is like a sea, if I remember correctly. 00:23:34.840 --> 00:23:36.300 Let's just double check that. 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:39.839 So verse 6. 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:46.940 Before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal. 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:47.799 Right? 00:23:47.919 --> 00:23:51.220 So John himself is even reminding us, this is imagery. 00:23:52.419 --> 00:23:53.879 Was there really a sea? 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.899 How big was it? 00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:55.960 We don't know. 00:23:56.579 --> 00:24:00.259 There are lots of—this is one of those images that's a little harder to nail down. 00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:03.079 There's some fascinating suggestions. 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:09.619 Is this referring to the Red Sea that was a tempest that God controlled for the salvation of his people? 00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.359 Yeah, maybe. 00:24:10.939 --> 00:24:21.720 It seems that when you read the description of the temple, there was a pool in the outer court of the temple that was a part of its splendor? 00:24:22.179 --> 00:24:22.579 Maybe. 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:22.619 Maybe. 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:37.899 But my best read on the sea of glass is that crystal is something that, particularly back in the first century during biblical times, was very, very difficult to create. 00:24:38.099 --> 00:24:44.159 Even just clear glass would have been so difficult to create during that time. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:25:03.160 And the image of a throne room that has a sea that is like glass points to a perfection and a splendor again that would be beyond the imagination of reality. 00:25:03.320 --> 00:25:06.100 You wouldn't be able to see a throne room like this. 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:09.740 And yet, this is the image that we see. 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:19.719 And so, in this picture of a throne room, glory, majesty, bedazzling splendor. 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:25.279 This is the God that John wants us to see. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.579 Then he goes on, and he describes the attendance. 00:25:29.939 --> 00:25:33.419 There are creatures in this throne room, around this throne. 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:35.980 There are two groups of them that we see. 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:39.180 The first one is in verse 4, the 24 elders. 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.960 And everyone says, okay, why 24? 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:45.220 Well, there are lots of interesting things that we can do with numbers. 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:50.600 And some people have taken the numbers in Revelation and gone all sorts of crazy places. 00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:54.920 Let's think again, biblically, what is the number? 00:25:54.920 --> 00:26:05.519 Well, when we look in Revelation 21, when we see the fulfillment of the throne room of God in a recreated world, right? 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:09.779 On the lintels, there is the names of the 12 apostles. 00:26:10.340 --> 00:26:14.279 And on the floor, there is the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.880 I might have gotten that reversed. 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.920 You can look it up for yourself. 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:26.240 So you have two groups of people, one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, represented by 12s. 00:26:26.360 --> 00:26:29.980 And you have two 12s, and as we all know from math, 12 by 12 is 24. 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:34.640 So God is representing the unity of his people. 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:40.860 And these beings seem to be representing the unified people of God. 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:44.680 I don't think they are actually people, even though the word is elders. 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:48.180 I think they're probably angelic beings that are representative. 00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:54.640 Again, one of the commentators says, 00:26:55.120 --> 00:27:02.460 the elders are angels who operate in a priestly capacity by presenting the prayers of the saints to God. 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:05.140 And we'll see this in chapter 5, verse 8. 00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:10.519 And by interpreting the heavenly visions to the people, this is in chapter 5, verse 5, 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:14.400 connection to a Levitical priesthood idea. 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:19.220 So, because this is the other number where 24 shows up in the Bible, 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:24.740 is that there are groups of 24 that serve in the temple as priests. 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:33.259 And so one of the ideas that I think John is incorporating is that this throne room isn't just a kingly throne room, 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:35.200 but it's also a temple throne room. 00:27:35.560 --> 00:27:41.820 There is a place of worship that's religious, not merely political and sovereign. 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:51.759 So, these 24 who have crowns that they lay down before the feet of the one who sits on the throne, 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:53.000 we see that in verse 10, 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:59.480 are there representing the fullness of people of God 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:02.240 and being like priests in some ways to them. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:09.680 And then, inside of…and then between them are four living creatures. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:13.579 This is what we see in verses 6 and following. 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:18.539 To understand this, we want to go back to Ezekiel chapter 1. 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:21.700 Ezekiel 1, starting in verse 4. 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:24.840 Ezekiel had a vision that went like this. 00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:30.480 And I looked…as I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, 00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:33.799 and a great cloud with brightness around it, 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:36.640 and fire flashing forth continually, 00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:39.900 and in the midst of the fire, as it were, gleaming metal. 00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:43.360 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:45.120 And this was their appearance. 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:48.719 They had a human likeness, but each had four faces, 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.939 and each of them had four wings. 00:28:51.179 --> 00:28:55.279 Their legs were straight, and their soles of their feet were like the soles of a calf's foot. 00:28:55.739 --> 00:28:58.399 And they were…and they sparkled like burnished bronze. 00:28:58.839 --> 00:29:02.059 Under their wings, on their four sides, they had human hands, 00:29:02.439 --> 00:29:05.859 and the four had their faces and their wings thus. 00:29:06.339 --> 00:29:08.159 Their wings touched one another. 00:29:08.459 --> 00:29:12.779 Each one of them went straight forward without turning as they went. 00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:16.359 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:19.379 The four had the face of a lion on the right side. 00:29:19.539 --> 00:29:22.200 The four had the face of an ox on the left side. 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:24.700 And the four had the face of an eagle. 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:27.119 Such were the faces. 00:29:28.579 --> 00:29:29.099 Okay. 00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.759 What do we do with this? 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:37.160 Again, what we do know is that John isn't just picking these four things, 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:44.100 an ox, a lion, a human, and an eagle out of nowhere and thinking, 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:45.360 I don't know, what should I pick? 00:29:45.820 --> 00:29:48.840 He's picking an Old Testament imagery. 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:51.500 And again, what does this mean? 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:54.259 Well, there's some interesting conversations about that. 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:58.360 One of the more compelling suggestions is that 00:29:58.359 --> 00:30:05.899 the lion is the strongest animal in the wild animal kingdom, right? 00:30:05.979 --> 00:30:10.419 The ox is the strongest animal in the domesticated animal kingdom. 00:30:10.419 --> 00:30:15.119 And the eagle is the strongest animal in the flying avian kingdom. 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:19.719 And the human being is unique in its place in creation. 00:30:19.979 --> 00:30:22.219 And so, representing all of these. 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:29.240 That's a bit of speculation in terms of why these creatures have these faces. 00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:34.079 But it could mean there's an idea of great strength 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:38.200 and representing the breadth of created world in it. 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:43.339 What you also heard, if you were listening carefully, 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:48.420 is that the image in Ezekiel isn't just like the image in Revelation chapter 4. 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:53.000 There were parts of it that sounded more like the revision from Isaiah 6, 00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:57.140 where there were eyes and six wings instead of four. 00:30:57.380 --> 00:31:01.800 And you notice that in Revelation, each creature had one face, 00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:05.980 whereas in Ezekiel, there were one creature with four faces. 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:10.880 So, again, let's relax in this and say, 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:12.080 okay, what is this? 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.200 This is imagery. 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:16.779 And the question is, what does the imagery point us to? 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:20.660 Creatures who serve God. 00:31:22.060 --> 00:31:25.779 Creatures who, as we'll see further on in Revelation, 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:31.500 will bring judgment, God's judgment, upon a rebellious world. 00:31:31.600 --> 00:31:36.039 We'll see these four living creatures being instruments 00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:41.519 or used by God to bring judgment in Revelation 6 and Revelation 15. 00:31:43.259 --> 00:31:46.880 So, the image of strength would make sense in light of that, 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.820 that they have that power to do it. 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:53.480 But the other thing is, because they are surrounded by eyes, 00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:58.220 it means that though they are elements of judgment and they see all, 00:31:58.660 --> 00:32:02.820 they are also a reminder that God sees everything. 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:08.280 And imagine what that would mean to a first-century Christian 00:32:08.280 --> 00:32:09.720 who's facing persecution. 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:11.980 God sees you. 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:13.019 He knows you. 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:15.299 He will act. 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:20.920 He has these agents ready to do what he's going to do. 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:24.980 So, this is the second part of the image. 00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:28.079 And then the final part that I know you're all waiting to get to 00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:31.620 is the songs that they sing in the throne room of heaven. 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:34.339 These beautiful songs. 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:38.000 In verse 8, we see the four living creatures, 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:41.439 as they bow down before the one who sits on the throne, 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.119 they say, 00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:46.720 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:50.299 who was and is and is to come. 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:55.099 And the threefold is a repetition to underline and to support 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:58.480 this idea that God is a holy God. 00:32:59.619 --> 00:33:01.599 Holiness meaning he is distinct. 00:33:01.720 --> 00:33:03.159 He is apart from all other. 00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:05.759 He is not like the kings of this world. 00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:08.240 He is not like the rulers of this world. 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:12.960 He is greater and more majestic and more glorious than any other. 00:33:13.340 --> 00:33:17.080 He is the Lord God, the Almighty, who has all power 00:33:17.080 --> 00:33:20.440 and who was and who is and who is to come. 00:33:22.600 --> 00:33:24.759 He holds the past in his hand. 00:33:25.340 --> 00:33:27.300 He holds the present in his hand. 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:31.200 He holds the future in his hand. 00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:35.580 There is no one like this God. 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:39.980 There is no power like the power that God has. 00:33:41.080 --> 00:33:44.180 There has never been a time when he does not reign. 00:33:44.180 --> 00:33:50.880 And as these four bow down and recognize God for who he is, 00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:53.620 we see in verse 9, 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:58.140 the elders then bow down before God as well. 00:33:58.380 --> 00:34:02.680 And they throw their crowns in signs of loyalty and fealty to him. 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:04.560 And they say, 00:34:04.560 --> 00:34:06.799 worthy are you, our Lord and God, 00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:10.280 to receive glory and honor and power. 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:13.019 For you created all things, 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:17.159 and by your will they existed and were created. 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:22.839 These are words that we throw around in church a lot. 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.639 Oh, worthy. 00:34:23.859 --> 00:34:25.000 Worthy are you, oh God. 00:34:25.219 --> 00:34:26.420 What does it mean? 00:34:26.779 --> 00:34:30.879 It means that the intrinsic or inherent value of something 00:34:30.879 --> 00:34:33.819 is of such inestimable worth 00:34:33.819 --> 00:34:38.199 that we recognize it and respond to it by saying, 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:41.219 it's like seeing the crown jewels and saying, 00:34:41.359 --> 00:34:43.539 wow, that's really worth something. 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:47.619 Or when we see people do amazing things, 00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:49.619 wow, that's really worth something. 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:52.699 When we see God sitting on his throne, 00:34:53.259 --> 00:34:54.500 the 24 elders say, 00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:59.579 you are worthy of all glory and power and honor. 00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:01.679 And why? 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.500 In verse 11, 00:35:03.759 --> 00:35:05.460 for you created all things, 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:07.679 and by you all things exist. 00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:11.659 Nothing in this world exists 00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:13.940 apart from God's work. 00:35:14.379 --> 00:35:16.420 He is the force that created it all. 00:35:16.779 --> 00:35:18.739 He is not a blind watchmaker 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:21.099 who's created something and just let it go. 00:35:21.259 --> 00:35:23.759 He is not a deist who has started it all 00:35:23.759 --> 00:35:26.399 and then is letting it run without being involved. 00:35:26.940 --> 00:35:29.480 Nor is he a God who has retired from his duties 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:32.219 and just said, no, I'm not interested anymore. 00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:36.539 He is the God who creates and sustains all things. 00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:39.940 And so the songs that these creatures 00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:41.960 in the heavenly throne sing 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:45.440 is to make us focus again on the throne 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:48.360 and to look at the one who sits on it. 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:52.519 It is God in his splendor and majesty 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:55.400 and power and sovereignty and greatness. 00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:00.380 How is this vision helpful? 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:06.000 Is it just too heavenly minded to be any earthly good? 00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:08.099 This is our fear, right? 00:36:08.140 --> 00:36:09.320 When we read the book of Revelation, 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.619 how can this be helpful? 00:36:11.140 --> 00:36:14.760 Well, let me see if I can say, 00:36:14.860 --> 00:36:17.099 I think it's helpful because it gives us an answer. 00:36:17.320 --> 00:36:18.980 It gives us a focal point, 00:36:20.180 --> 00:36:23.200 a place where we can look 00:36:23.200 --> 00:36:25.460 in the disorientation of our world 00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:27.360 and find help. 00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:30.280 When we ask certain questions, 00:36:30.380 --> 00:36:31.400 when we face certain things. 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:34.000 So the first question is this, 00:36:34.599 --> 00:36:36.840 am I abandoned in my suffering? 00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:40.180 This is a question we ask 00:36:40.180 --> 00:36:42.460 when we suffer the hurts 00:36:42.460 --> 00:36:44.039 of living in a fallen world. 00:36:44.660 --> 00:36:47.240 And it's something that the first century church 00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:49.120 would have faced not only in that, 00:36:49.220 --> 00:36:52.260 but also because they were facing persecution. 00:36:53.620 --> 00:36:57.300 Likely this vision came after the persecutions 00:36:57.300 --> 00:37:02.080 of Nero and of Domitian in the 50s and 60s. 00:37:02.660 --> 00:37:05.380 And so it's likely that the church knew 00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:09.800 what it was like to see friends killed for Christ, 00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:13.600 to see Christians treated terribly, 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:17.180 to see the church be driven underground. 00:37:19.880 --> 00:37:21.860 And this passage gives us an answer, 00:37:22.200 --> 00:37:23.360 that God is on the throne. 00:37:24.080 --> 00:37:25.000 He sees it all. 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:26.699 Nothing is beyond His gaze. 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:28.219 And He's not unable. 00:37:28.360 --> 00:37:30.320 There's nothing outside of His power. 00:37:30.940 --> 00:37:31.980 And He is active. 00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:33.980 And we will see, 00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:35.059 because this is the setup, 00:37:35.139 --> 00:37:37.860 we will see in the next chapter in verse 5 00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:39.039 what He will do. 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:42.400 Because He will call His Son 00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:44.260 to be the Lion of Judah 00:37:44.260 --> 00:37:45.800 and the Lamb who was slain, 00:37:46.280 --> 00:37:47.719 the one who will conquer 00:37:47.719 --> 00:37:50.239 by offering Himself up 00:37:50.239 --> 00:37:52.859 to die for us for our sins, 00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:54.839 to rescue us from sin, 00:37:55.139 --> 00:37:56.439 and to establish a kingdom 00:37:56.439 --> 00:37:59.039 that will outlast any earthly kingdom. 00:37:59.739 --> 00:38:01.899 This throne room is a picture, 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:03.859 is a part of a new creation 00:38:03.859 --> 00:38:06.139 that God is going to create one day. 00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:08.699 And by faith in Christ, 00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:13.199 as we're facing the worst of our suffering, 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:15.879 we can look to this throne room 00:38:15.879 --> 00:38:16.399 and say, 00:38:16.980 --> 00:38:19.000 I know that this suffering will not end, 00:38:19.239 --> 00:38:20.419 or will not last forever. 00:38:20.899 --> 00:38:21.939 It will end. 00:38:22.419 --> 00:38:23.639 There will be a day 00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:25.539 when this will be no longer. 00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:30.399 The second thing that this question answers 00:38:30.399 --> 00:38:31.019 is, 00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:32.699 who rules my life? 00:38:34.699 --> 00:38:36.679 This will have two senses for us. 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:39.299 The first one is familiar to the first one, 00:38:39.339 --> 00:38:40.779 when we feel out of control. 00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:43.000 Some of you feel out of control, 00:38:43.120 --> 00:38:43.960 that there are powers, 00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:45.460 whether it's your parents, 00:38:45.580 --> 00:38:46.240 or your school, 00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:47.100 or your work, 00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:48.780 or your addictions, 00:38:49.040 --> 00:38:50.220 or whatever it is. 00:38:50.280 --> 00:38:52.000 There are other forces in your life 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:55.120 that feel like they control you, 00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:57.660 and you feel defeated, 00:38:58.240 --> 00:38:59.560 and unable to overcome, 00:38:59.900 --> 00:39:00.420 and helpless. 00:39:03.120 --> 00:39:04.740 God, sitting on the throne, 00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:05.640 reminds us, 00:39:06.080 --> 00:39:07.280 there is no greater power 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:08.600 in this world than Him. 00:39:08.599 --> 00:39:10.940 You may be out of control, 00:39:11.099 --> 00:39:13.759 but you are not out of God's control. 00:39:14.259 --> 00:39:15.599 You may feel helpless, 00:39:16.440 --> 00:39:19.239 but He is not without power to help. 00:39:21.219 --> 00:39:22.420 I remember the day 00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:23.699 I got into a car accident, 00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:28.380 and it was kind of terrible, 00:39:28.739 --> 00:39:31.779 and I was disoriented and in shock. 00:39:32.259 --> 00:39:34.059 I just started to go in the green light, 00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:35.759 and someone just came out of nowhere, 00:39:36.019 --> 00:39:37.719 and I didn't even see them 00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:39.119 until we were, you know, 00:39:39.179 --> 00:39:41.900 one lane over and 30 yards up. 00:39:42.360 --> 00:39:44.460 But my dad was sitting next to me in the car. 00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:45.059 He's like, 00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:45.340 okay, 00:39:46.019 --> 00:39:46.679 are you okay? 00:39:48.360 --> 00:39:48.759 Okay, 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:50.559 what do we need to do? 00:39:52.619 --> 00:39:53.679 He came alongside, 00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:56.380 and though I was completely out of control, 00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:57.840 he was able to say, 00:39:58.099 --> 00:39:59.179 I know what's going on. 00:39:59.179 --> 00:40:00.500 How much more 00:40:00.500 --> 00:40:02.659 does the God who sits 00:40:02.659 --> 00:40:04.219 on the throne of the universe, 00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:08.059 is He able to be that for us? 00:40:08.779 --> 00:40:10.299 So this is the first sense 00:40:10.299 --> 00:40:11.319 in which this is helpful 00:40:11.319 --> 00:40:13.299 when we feel out of control. 00:40:14.419 --> 00:40:16.699 But the fact that He is the God 00:40:16.699 --> 00:40:18.839 who rules over our lives 00:40:18.839 --> 00:40:20.699 also has a second part 00:40:20.699 --> 00:40:21.639 that may be a bit more 00:40:21.639 --> 00:40:22.919 of a challenge to us. 00:40:24.259 --> 00:40:26.419 Because it's worth asking the question, 00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:27.480 do we see God 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:29.039 as the one who rules our lives, 00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:30.980 or do we kind of 00:40:30.980 --> 00:40:32.579 rule our own lives, 00:40:32.900 --> 00:40:34.619 let Him rule just as much 00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:35.579 as we want Him to? 00:40:38.460 --> 00:40:39.860 I want to ask you this morning, 00:40:39.960 --> 00:40:40.820 have you allowed 00:40:40.820 --> 00:40:43.599 your desires or hopes 00:40:43.599 --> 00:40:44.699 to control you? 00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:48.239 Have you allowed other people 00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:50.300 to take control of your life 00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:51.259 and lead you 00:40:51.259 --> 00:40:53.059 in your life decisions? 00:40:55.360 --> 00:40:56.659 It's easy to do this 00:40:56.659 --> 00:40:57.659 when you want a career 00:40:57.659 --> 00:40:59.119 to turn over the control 00:40:59.119 --> 00:40:59.799 of your life 00:40:59.799 --> 00:41:00.719 to those who can 00:41:00.719 --> 00:41:02.319 help you advance. 00:41:03.079 --> 00:41:04.539 It's easy when you long 00:41:04.539 --> 00:41:05.519 for a relationship 00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:08.799 that you don't have, 00:41:08.839 --> 00:41:10.179 or when you're in a relationship 00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:11.299 that you do have, 00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:12.519 to give power 00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:13.500 to that other person 00:41:13.500 --> 00:41:15.559 to control how you live. 00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.559 Or maybe you've just 00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:21.420 taken control 00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:23.199 of your own life. 00:41:23.199 --> 00:41:25.019 I worked with 00:41:25.019 --> 00:41:25.739 crew for a while 00:41:25.739 --> 00:41:26.339 and they have this 00:41:26.339 --> 00:41:27.559 really helpful circle. 00:41:28.059 --> 00:41:28.679 There's some ways 00:41:28.679 --> 00:41:29.460 in which it's unhelpful, 00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.619 but here it's really helpful 00:41:30.619 --> 00:41:31.379 because it says 00:41:31.379 --> 00:41:32.679 your life is like a circle 00:41:32.679 --> 00:41:33.500 and in the middle 00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:34.299 there is a throne 00:41:34.299 --> 00:41:35.239 and the question 00:41:35.239 --> 00:41:36.799 that we all need to ask 00:41:36.799 --> 00:41:38.099 is who's sitting on it? 00:41:38.739 --> 00:41:39.480 Is it us 00:41:39.480 --> 00:41:40.759 or is it Christ? 00:41:44.359 --> 00:41:45.599 Do we let Him 00:41:45.599 --> 00:41:46.419 say 00:41:46.419 --> 00:41:48.599 this is what you should value, 00:41:49.019 --> 00:41:50.679 this is how you should live, 00:41:50.679 --> 00:41:52.559 this is what you should worship? 00:41:55.179 --> 00:41:56.419 And if you're wondering 00:41:56.419 --> 00:41:57.980 whether that's true or not, 00:41:58.799 --> 00:42:00.159 here's a little test for you. 00:42:00.879 --> 00:42:02.679 Just look at how you spend your time 00:42:02.679 --> 00:42:04.480 and spend your money. 00:42:05.960 --> 00:42:07.059 And what's the thing 00:42:07.059 --> 00:42:09.799 that if God said, 00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:12.000 hmm, I want to change that, 00:42:12.679 --> 00:42:14.299 you would most want to say, 00:42:14.519 --> 00:42:15.179 no, no, no, no, 00:42:15.179 --> 00:42:15.879 no, you can't. 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:17.419 You can have the rest of it, 00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.000 but not that. 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:20.579 Those are the places 00:42:20.579 --> 00:42:22.900 where God isn't sitting 00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:24.360 on the throne of your life yet. 00:42:25.960 --> 00:42:27.820 But this vision calls us 00:42:27.820 --> 00:42:29.780 to embrace God 00:42:29.780 --> 00:42:30.679 as sitting on the throne 00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:31.440 of our lives 00:42:31.440 --> 00:42:33.039 as a good God 00:42:33.039 --> 00:42:35.900 who will do good things for us 00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:38.139 as we submit ourselves to Him. 00:42:40.219 --> 00:42:41.500 And the final question 00:42:41.500 --> 00:42:42.780 is similar to this. 00:42:43.840 --> 00:42:44.920 And the question of 00:42:44.920 --> 00:42:46.579 where should my worship go? 00:42:46.579 --> 00:42:49.679 Jesus tells the parable 00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:52.299 of a man who finds a field 00:42:52.299 --> 00:42:55.340 and in it there is a treasure. 00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:58.599 And in the joy of finding this treasure, 00:42:58.719 --> 00:42:59.579 He goes and He sells 00:42:59.579 --> 00:43:01.139 everything else that He has 00:43:01.139 --> 00:43:02.539 so that He will get, 00:43:02.960 --> 00:43:04.159 by this field, 00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:04.900 so that He can, 00:43:05.079 --> 00:43:06.000 excuse me, 00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:08.039 so that He can get this treasure. 00:43:08.400 --> 00:43:10.719 He reorients His whole life 00:43:10.719 --> 00:43:14.000 about getting this one thing. 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:16.880 And this is what 00:43:16.880 --> 00:43:18.780 the picture of the throne room 00:43:18.780 --> 00:43:20.079 shows us. 00:43:20.719 --> 00:43:21.860 Holy, holy, holy 00:43:21.860 --> 00:43:23.460 is the Lord God Almighty 00:43:23.460 --> 00:43:25.920 who was and is and is to come. 00:43:26.420 --> 00:43:28.219 Worthy are you, 00:43:28.380 --> 00:43:29.480 O Lord our God, 00:43:29.719 --> 00:43:31.619 to receive all power 00:43:31.619 --> 00:43:33.880 and glory and honor. 00:43:34.659 --> 00:43:36.000 This is worship, 00:43:36.659 --> 00:43:38.179 seeing that above 00:43:38.179 --> 00:43:40.139 any earthly good, 00:43:41.519 --> 00:43:42.559 God Himself 00:43:42.559 --> 00:43:43.940 is the one 00:43:43.940 --> 00:43:46.019 great, glorious good 00:43:46.019 --> 00:43:47.359 that we have in the world. 00:43:47.639 --> 00:43:48.579 And His worth 00:43:48.579 --> 00:43:49.239 is beyond 00:43:49.239 --> 00:43:50.219 the value 00:43:50.219 --> 00:43:52.339 of all of His creation. 00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:54.039 And so, 00:43:54.219 --> 00:43:55.500 seeing the throne room 00:43:55.500 --> 00:43:56.859 reminds us 00:43:56.859 --> 00:43:58.179 to turn our hearts 00:43:58.179 --> 00:44:00.639 to worship Him. 00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:04.579 and as we will see, 00:44:05.079 --> 00:44:06.319 we will worship Him 00:44:06.319 --> 00:44:07.859 who is not distant 00:44:07.859 --> 00:44:09.019 and far off 00:44:09.019 --> 00:44:10.039 and uncaring, 00:44:10.460 --> 00:44:12.219 but who has come 00:44:12.219 --> 00:44:13.719 and in the lion 00:44:13.719 --> 00:44:14.539 and the lamb 00:44:14.539 --> 00:44:15.500 has suffered 00:44:15.500 --> 00:44:17.339 and died for us 00:44:17.339 --> 00:44:18.960 and has risen again 00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:21.519 so that the risen King 00:44:21.519 --> 00:44:23.420 is our reigning King 00:44:23.420 --> 00:44:24.480 in our lives. 00:44:25.639 --> 00:44:26.940 And then we know 00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:27.920 what we should worship. 00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:28.079 worship. 00:44:29.579 --> 00:44:31.340 We should worship Him. 00:44:33.940 --> 00:44:34.519 So, 00:44:35.240 --> 00:44:36.159 this is my encouragement 00:44:36.159 --> 00:44:37.760 to you this week. 00:44:38.039 --> 00:44:39.380 Read Revelation 4 and 5 00:44:39.380 --> 00:44:40.099 a couple of times. 00:44:42.119 --> 00:44:42.519 Prepare 00:44:42.519 --> 00:44:44.599 for our service next week 00:44:44.599 --> 00:44:46.460 and remind yourself 00:44:46.460 --> 00:44:47.840 of the greatness 00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:48.539 of the God 00:44:48.539 --> 00:44:49.200 that we serve. 00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:49.760 Let's pray. 00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:51.260 Lord, thank You 00:44:51.260 --> 00:44:52.659 for this passage 00:44:52.659 --> 00:44:53.960 and for this word. 00:44:54.519 --> 00:44:56.300 We pray 00:44:56.300 --> 00:44:57.340 that You will help us 00:44:57.340 --> 00:44:59.240 Lord, 00:44:59.320 --> 00:45:00.140 to understand 00:45:00.140 --> 00:45:01.039 these things 00:45:01.039 --> 00:45:03.380 and as we understand them, 00:45:04.120 --> 00:45:04.460 Lord, 00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:05.360 that we would 00:45:05.360 --> 00:45:06.720 Lord, 00:45:06.820 --> 00:45:07.519 have our hearts 00:45:07.519 --> 00:45:08.760 turned towards You 00:45:08.760 --> 00:45:09.539 in worship. 00:45:12.420 --> 00:45:13.320 We pray this 00:45:13.320 --> 00:45:14.059 in Jesus' name. 00:45:14.480 --> 00:45:14.780 Amen.