WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.580 Father God, we thank you just for this time and this opportunity for us to gather together as we are just faithful to you. 00:00:09.580 --> 00:00:12.359 ! You are one amazing God. 00:00:12.900 --> 00:00:14.540 You are the Lord of all creation. 00:00:15.099 --> 00:00:16.019 You are sovereign. 00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:17.179 You are in control. 00:00:18.300 --> 00:00:23.359 And we come before you to just offer our burdens and our cares before you. 00:00:24.400 --> 00:00:26.440 We know that certainly we are not perfect. 00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:32.160 And we live in a broken and fallen world that's full of darkness, division, and hatred. 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:43.620 But we come before you as the one who is constant, holy, good, truth, light, and the provider of life. 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:50.219 We ask if there's anything that is derailing or distracting us. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.840 We want to lay that aside so we can focus on you and the word this morning. 00:00:54.840 --> 00:01:08.159 We ask that you bless this time together as we're going to turn our Bibles to Revelation 4 in this very powerful scene that is happening. 00:01:08.800 --> 00:01:13.719 We know that Revelation can be a very, unfortunately, very controversial book. 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:15.320 But it really isn't. 00:01:16.020 --> 00:01:17.359 It is from your word. 00:01:18.620 --> 00:01:20.320 And we thank you for your word. 00:01:21.060 --> 00:01:22.600 Be with us together this morning. 00:01:22.599 --> 00:01:31.079 May the message be clear and understood by all those who hear it and those who are here in attendance, whether it's virtually, digitally, or in person. 00:01:31.839 --> 00:01:35.159 It is in the name of Jesus that we pray and we all say together, Amen, church. 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:37.119 So we begin here. 00:01:37.979 --> 00:01:38.799 Revelation 4. 00:01:38.899 --> 00:01:41.399 We've been going through the seven churches of Revelation. 00:01:41.579 --> 00:01:43.719 That's been a very long process. 00:01:44.259 --> 00:01:47.959 And we finished up with the seventh church, the church in Laodicea. 00:01:48.899 --> 00:01:50.639 The lukewarm church. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:59.260 And as we were in that, there was this section about how Jesus was knocking at the door. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:08.340 And it's important for us to recognize as we closed Laodicea, now that we're entering into Revelation chapter 4, 00:02:09.139 --> 00:02:14.060 the importance of Christ that opens the door for us. 00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:17.759 And in the case of that church in Laodicea, they had shut the door. 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:23.439 That's a very powerful imagery that we can think of then and even today. 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:31.460 That at times when we shut the door to God out, the Lord is there waiting for us to open the door back up. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:34.219 And here we're going to see a shift in the scene, though. 00:02:34.659 --> 00:02:36.120 A shift within the language. 00:02:36.120 --> 00:02:37.759 We're going to see. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:40.640 How many of you have seen the Wizard of Oz before? 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:41.960 Right? 00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:46.420 And you think of the man who's behind the what? 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:48.360 Behind the curtain, right? 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:52.599 And there's this whole scene, right, that is behind the scenes, right? 00:02:53.099 --> 00:02:55.599 And the guy doesn't want you to see what's going on behind the scenes. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:02:57.180 And there's that whole thing that's going on. 00:02:57.240 --> 00:02:58.560 It's kind of a very negative aspect. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:05.400 But I'm only bringing that up because in this scene, we see the curtain being pulled, as it were, into the spiritual realm. 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:06.379 Right? 00:03:06.640 --> 00:03:12.420 What's very important for us, we live in this physical world where a lot of physical things happen. 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:16.319 And the things that are spiritual are not always the things that are seen. 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:26.000 And so here, there's this curtain that's being moved on what is true now, but also what is true forever. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:31.699 However, it's important for us to know the imagery of God on the throne. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:37.539 It's important for us to know that it is God who rules and reigns. 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:37.740 Amen? 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:40.539 Just those statements in and of themselves, right? 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:43.039 That God is on the throne and we celebrate that, right? 00:03:43.780 --> 00:03:46.759 But it's so much more than what is going on here. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:51.699 God is on the throne and all creation worships and the door is open. 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:54.740 It's important for us to understand that distinction. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:04:02.840 And so what we're going to go ahead and do, if we can go to that next slide then, we're going to go into Revelation chapter 4, verses 1 through 11. 00:04:02.960 --> 00:04:04.320 We're going to read all of that together. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:06.600 Let's go to the next slide then. 00:04:07.580 --> 00:04:14.280 And it's going to be on page 1220 to 1221 in your ESVP Bible. 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:18.980 Or you can use your Bible, your mobile device of choice. 00:04:18.980 --> 00:04:23.400 And church, it's 11 verses. 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:25.180 Can we read this all together? 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.480 Let's read this together, right? 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:32.580 You know, before we read, we're just going to read chapter 4 here. 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:39.579 But the thing that I love in reading Revelation, just like in reading any parts of Scripture, 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.319 it's us as a community reading the Word of God together. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:48.060 And especially when it comes to Revelation, be reminded of Revelation 1-3. 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:51.819 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy. 00:04:51.979 --> 00:04:56.779 And blessed are those who hear and keep what is written in it, for the time is near. 00:04:56.779 --> 00:04:59.119 So let's read this together. 00:04:59.259 --> 00:05:01.119 Are we all there, Revelation chapter 4? 00:05:01.659 --> 00:05:03.539 All right, let's begin together. 00:05:04.099 --> 00:05:08.599 After this, I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. 00:05:09.099 --> 00:05:13.559 And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 00:05:13.659 --> 00:05:14.099 said what? 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:18.159 Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:25.239 At once I was in spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne. 00:05:25.240 --> 00:05:28.439 And he who sat there had the appearance of what? 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:30.199 Jasper and Carnelian. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:36.000 And around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:38.120 Around the throne were how many? 00:05:38.400 --> 00:05:39.560 Twenty-four thrones. 00:05:39.780 --> 00:05:43.579 And seated on the throne were twenty-four elders, clothed in what? 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:47.040 White garments with golden crowns on their heads. 00:05:47.579 --> 00:05:52.420 From the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and pearls of thunder. 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:55.040 And before the throne were burning how many? 00:05:55.580 --> 00:05:59.540 Seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:04.860 Before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass like crystal. 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:08.819 And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are how many? 00:06:09.259 --> 00:06:13.259 Four living creatures, full of eyes in front and where? 00:06:13.819 --> 00:06:14.319 And behind. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:16.620 The first living creature like a lion. 00:06:17.020 --> 00:06:19.379 The second living creature like an ox. 00:06:19.379 --> 00:06:22.199 The third living creature with the face of a man. 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:25.240 And the fourth creature like an eagle in flight. 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:27.439 That can get very confusing very quickly, right? 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:28.819 We're going to continue, right? 00:06:29.219 --> 00:06:32.219 And the four living creatures, each of them with how many wings? 00:06:32.600 --> 00:06:33.540 Six wings. 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:36.819 With full of eyes all around and within. 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:39.879 The day and night, they never cease to say what? 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:43.879 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:46.459 who was and is and is to come. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:47.240 Amen, right? 00:06:47.899 --> 00:06:51.100 Those lyrics, we sing these songs, right? 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:52.560 We see it straight out of Revelation. 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:53.899 Verse 9. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:58.560 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:02.300 who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 00:07:02.920 --> 00:07:07.899 the 24 elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:08.420 And what? 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:11.180 Worship him who lives forever and ever. 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:14.420 They cast their crowns before the throne saying what? 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:17.300 Worthy are you, our Lord and God, 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:19.660 to receive glory and honor and power. 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:24.900 For you created all things and by your will they existed and were created. 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:27.680 Ooh, that's heaviness in there, right? 00:07:27.840 --> 00:07:30.180 You have a lot of the apocalyptic language. 00:07:30.280 --> 00:07:31.579 You can go to that next slide there. 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:36.139 And so we have the open door, right? 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:41.959 And what's important for us, we need to observe what is going on in the text, right? 00:07:42.039 --> 00:07:49.060 So we have John who is basically, there's a door standing open in heaven, right? 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:52.899 The voice saying, come up here and I will show you, right? 00:07:53.659 --> 00:07:57.060 And there's this scene of the throne room in heaven, right? 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:58.979 And the one seated on the throne, right? 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:03.339 So that would be the Lord, the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian, right? 00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:05.839 So it's very, very bright, right? 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:07.519 We have a lot of this kind of description. 00:08:08.099 --> 00:08:10.899 There's the 24 thrones and the 24 elders. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:13.979 It's important for sections like this in Revelation. 00:08:14.739 --> 00:08:16.000 Let's go to that next slide. 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:21.319 It's important for us to recognize, specifically in apocalyptic language, 00:08:21.559 --> 00:08:22.939 the use of numbers, right? 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:24.879 And we'll go further into that. 00:08:24.899 --> 00:08:28.899 But there's a reason why there's 24, if you think of the number of 12. 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:30.879 So just keep that in mind. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:34.200 So these 24 elders, they are wearing white garments, right? 00:08:34.379 --> 00:08:39.179 And we've seen within Revelation the purpose and the importance of white garments, right? 00:08:39.439 --> 00:08:41.700 That when we believe in the Lord, right? 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:47.059 When we are transformed and we become a new creation, we are as, remember, filthy rags, right? 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:48.139 What do they become? 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:50.600 They become like white, right? 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:56.460 So you basically, you receive new garments, new clothes to enter into the wedding feast, right? 00:08:56.460 --> 00:09:01.600 So these 24 elders then are wearing these white garments. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:02.940 They have the golden crowns. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.900 And notice how those crowns are being laid before the throne. 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:08.240 That's very powerful, right? 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:13.259 If anyone has a crown and they lay it before a throne, why are they doing that? 00:09:14.220 --> 00:09:14.840 Think about that. 00:09:14.900 --> 00:09:15.879 It's something to think about, right? 00:09:15.920 --> 00:09:18.160 It's very, very quickly we can observe from the text. 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:23.620 Now you have this language of flashes of lightning and rumblings and pearls of thunder showing the 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:24.779 epicness, right? 00:09:24.959 --> 00:09:28.980 The awe and wonder of what is happening in the heavenly realm here. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:32.879 So you have the seven torches, which is the seven spirits of God. 00:09:32.959 --> 00:09:34.980 We've actually gone over that before. 00:09:35.079 --> 00:09:39.059 The sevenfold spirit, which is found earlier in Revelation in chapter one. 00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:40.819 We won't go over too much into that. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:46.620 But it's also this repeatedness of the presence and the completedness of the spirit of God. 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:50.659 Now the sea of glass, like crystal before the throne, right? 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:56.759 There's this sense, again, of how big this structure is, how big the heavenly realm is. 00:09:57.240 --> 00:10:05.139 Now it's important for us to know, if you are able to, I want you to turn real quick 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:09.899 to page 822 in your ESVP Bible. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:11.980 And I want to show you something here. 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:19.620 Because when we see what's happening in Revelation, we can actually see, and I'll go further into 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:24.080 this, that it's a direct tie-in with the Old Testament. 00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:29.899 In this sense, this scene is very specific to the prophet Ezekiel. 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:35.940 And it's fascinating in there because this same kind of language that John is seeing in 00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:40.040 this vision is very similar to what's happening in Ezekiel. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:44.840 So if you can turn to Ezekiel, it's Ezekiel chapter one. 00:10:45.780 --> 00:10:50.600 And I'm just going to show you a few verses, but notice in here how similar that kind of 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:54.700 language is in Revelation. 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.700 So if you're there, Ezekiel four, I'll just go ahead and read it. 00:10:58.700 --> 00:11:06.400 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north and a great cloud, right? 00:11:06.600 --> 00:11:07.660 Brightness was around it. 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:10.040 A fire flashing forth continually. 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:12.500 And in the midst of the fire, there was gleaming metal. 00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:12.940 Okay. 00:11:13.420 --> 00:11:14.160 Verse five. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:17.500 And from the midst of it came the likeness of how many creatures? 00:11:18.140 --> 00:11:19.280 Four creatures, right? 00:11:19.300 --> 00:11:20.980 Just like what you're finding in Revelation, right? 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:24.020 And then even more fascinating. 00:11:24.540 --> 00:11:25.720 And this was their appearance. 00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:26.840 They had human likeness. 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:28.040 Each had four faces. 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.179 Each of them had four wings. 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:30.659 So the numbers are a little bit different. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:35.319 But you still see in here, what is it? 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.759 Verse 10 here. 00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:40.240 And for their likeness, their faces had a human face. 00:11:40.699 --> 00:11:43.519 The four, face of a lion, right? 00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:46.519 Face of an ox, face of an eagle. 00:11:46.699 --> 00:11:47.759 And there's the human face. 00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:54.599 They're all in that verse 10, which is almost identical to what you see in the scene of what's 00:11:54.599 --> 00:11:55.439 happening in Revelation. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:12:04.720 And I love these kind of things because it is showing just the power of the connections 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:09.040 within prophecy, the consistency within words. 00:12:09.140 --> 00:12:12.620 Now, granted, you have to think when you're in the Old Testament how you're going to describe 00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:16.580 a lot of the spiritual things is going to be very difficult, right? 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:19.120 But there is a parallel into that. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:23.600 And I just wanted to share that with you as we're going along in here, that this is not 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:25.800 the first time that it's been shown in Scripture. 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:27.879 How many of you knew that before? 00:12:28.420 --> 00:12:31.220 Isn't it kind of amazing that you see this kind of consistency? 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:35.620 And that's not the only time that this kind of language is being shown within Scripture. 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:39.000 And so I want you to keep this in mind. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:48.799 So going back to Revelation chapter 4, verse 1, behold a door standing open in heaven where 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:51.519 it's saying, right, you have the voice like the trumpet. 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:57.840 Now, it's important in that, just right away, that the door is opened and not shut. 00:12:57.940 --> 00:12:58.820 Remember Laodicea? 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:01.879 They had shut that door and here the door is open, right? 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:06.000 And there's this invitation for John to go through this door, right? 00:13:06.300 --> 00:13:12.940 And so we can directly think of how that goes to us as Christians today, that God gives us 00:13:12.940 --> 00:13:19.900 time to make a decision to enter into a relationship, right, to begin believing in the Lord, but not 00:13:19.900 --> 00:13:20.220 forever. 00:13:20.900 --> 00:13:22.379 That's a very important thing. 00:13:22.840 --> 00:13:27.820 That's actually importance into why we need to believe in the Lord now and not tomorrow, 00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:29.520 right, make that decision immediately. 00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:31.020 Let's go to that next slide then. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:36.300 So the throne room scene, right, you have the throne, the one that's seated on the throne, 00:13:36.400 --> 00:13:41.440 right, the 24 elders, and then the four living creatures that I was mentioning on there. 00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:42.760 So it's very interesting. 00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:48.300 So important to know, right, throne, obviously it's a seat of authority, right? 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:53.280 When you see like these old movies or you ever watch Game of Thrones, that huge throne that's 00:13:53.280 --> 00:13:55.480 going on, right, these seats of authority. 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:57.560 Only certain people can sit on it, right? 00:13:57.820 --> 00:14:03.060 And then, of course, you have, isn't it interesting in there that there's the reference to the 00:14:03.060 --> 00:14:04.920 rainbow in Revelation? 00:14:06.160 --> 00:14:07.000 Isn't that wild? 00:14:07.640 --> 00:14:11.940 You think of the rainbow, you know, I don't, I certainly do not think of it in Revelation. 00:14:12.740 --> 00:14:18.360 I think of it back when there was the ark and there was the promise, but yet there's that 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:20.680 wonderful connection that's happening in there. 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:22.079 So that's amazing. 00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:27.839 And then, of course, when you have this, this Jasper, right, being this kind of diamond-like 00:14:27.839 --> 00:14:32.959 material and this carnelian being kind of like this fiery red kind of color that's happening. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:36.979 And so let's go to the next slide then here, right? 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.919 So those are the things. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.319 So, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:48.559 Now, this is where you see this kind of scene that's just, it's so powerful. 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:54.839 You think about it where essentially everyone is worshiping the Lord. 00:14:54.840 --> 00:15:01.340 And this scene where it's going on even further in the text, it's talking about the four living 00:15:01.340 --> 00:15:03.019 creatures, right? 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:08.300 Verse 8, the four living creatures, each of them, they never cease to say, holy, holy, 00:15:08.420 --> 00:15:08.879 holy, right? 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:11.860 And then even later on, the 24 elders, right? 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:15.100 Basically, everybody is going to be worshiping God in that scene. 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.920 And it's such a powerful scene. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:17.960 It's such a powerful lyric. 00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:22.660 I mean, for some of you who know Revelation song, we'll be singing that in closing to kind 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:26.559 of have this wonderful lyrical and musical connection with that. 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:30.539 But they're worshiping the God who lives forever, right? 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:34.519 And casting their crowns, giving up their power and authority before the Lord. 00:15:35.299 --> 00:15:38.620 How many of us are willing to give up our own power before the Lord? 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.819 You don't have to answer that, but it's certainly something for us to think about. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:45.299 I know for some of us, it may be a little harder than others, right? 00:15:45.659 --> 00:15:48.079 Especially if you have lots and lots of power, right? 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:50.720 But they're giving, that's the imagery, right? 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:55.139 And so worthy are you, O Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, right? 00:15:55.180 --> 00:15:57.860 That's what is happening in verse 11 in there. 00:15:58.660 --> 00:16:00.940 And so there's just a lot of this, right? 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:06.960 Now, the holy, holy, holy is known as the trisagion, right? 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:10.080 Which is actually found in Isaiah 6, 3. 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.200 Wonderful connection. 00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:15.519 You don't have, we're not going to turn there right now, but it's again, another connection 00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:16.580 within the Old Testament. 00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:21.600 That is the beauty, not only within Revelation, but the beauty within Scripture, right? 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:24.700 How intertwined and interconnected it is. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:27.879 Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel. 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:33.280 I mean, these are some heavy, right, books from the prophets here, right? 00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:39.900 And so this three times, this repetition is showing the significance of that. 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:45.240 Look, whenever you find a pattern within Scripture, or whenever you find something that's being 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:50.039 repeated especially three times, it's something that's important for you to pay attention to. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:54.840 And so, let's go to that next slide then, in there. 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:57.419 What does all of this mean then, right? 00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:58.459 Let's go to the next one. 00:16:58.460 --> 00:17:07.759 And so, the first thing from this is that the throne room is current, and it also is forever. 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:10.160 That is a very powerful scene. 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.460 What does that mean then, right? 00:17:12.100 --> 00:17:16.380 Well, in, do I have that next slide? 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:17.640 Let's go to the next one. 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:19.360 I might have, yeah, okay. 00:17:19.359 --> 00:17:27.119 But, we went over Ezekiel 1, where it was showing the same kind of imagery of the four 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:28.059 creatures, right? 00:17:28.399 --> 00:17:35.159 In Isaiah, it's very similar, talking about the Lord being lifted on high and on the throne, 00:17:35.959 --> 00:17:36.259 right? 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:38.740 So, what was once prophesied is in there. 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:44.819 And interesting, it says about Isaiah having the six wings, and that's where, remember, 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:49.339 Isaiah 6-3 is where holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty is being lifted. 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:54.359 And then, in Daniel 7, Daniel is a remarkable book of the Bible, by the way. 00:17:54.439 --> 00:17:57.740 If you're looking at things that are, like, going to happen in the future, that's a really 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.779 good book to turn to. 00:17:59.219 --> 00:18:04.779 But, in Daniel 7, it talks about the ancient of days taking his seat, and his throne is 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:06.419 blazing with fire, right? 00:18:06.459 --> 00:18:10.279 That's that same kind of imagery, that kind of red tinting that's going on. 00:18:10.919 --> 00:18:17.079 And so, in there, in Daniel 7, 10,000 times 10,000 stand before him, right? 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:21.019 That same kind of imagery of all creation worshiping the Lord. 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:24.079 Three accounts here, right? 00:18:24.159 --> 00:18:28.899 Different perspectives, but yet they're all describing the same thing that's happening, 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.679 just in different ways, right? 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:33.079 If you see something that's happening, right? 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:36.919 If you're standing right here and you see an event, you're way over there, you see a different 00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:38.259 event, or the same event. 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:42.839 The way you're going to describe it is going to be different, but it goes to show the significance 00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:45.319 of what is happening in Revelation. 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:54.960 And so, they saw these three prophets, they saw something that was already true, right? 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:58.180 And it's the same thing that John is seeing, the same type of throne. 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:05.700 And so, when we think of the throne of God, not only does the power and the authority of God exist today, 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:08.500 but it certainly is going to exist forever, amen? 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:14.600 Going to show the power, the might, the strength, and the authority of God. 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:17.019 I mean, that's powerful. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:23.660 I mean, God being glorified in that moment, and God being glorified forever is something that is, 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:30.660 it should give us more confidence, because we also have to think about the continued battle 00:19:30.660 --> 00:19:32.500 that happens between good and evil. 00:19:33.100 --> 00:19:38.620 When we think about us knowing the Lord and receiving salvation and growing in Him, 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:41.259 to know that the battle is won in Jesus Christ. 00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:47.220 And to see that kind of throne room, that there's going to be praise and worship that's happening, 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:49.120 should give us confidence. 00:19:50.040 --> 00:19:51.080 The battle is already won. 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:53.720 I don't have to worry about darkness. 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:56.079 I don't have to worry about brokenness. 00:19:56.159 --> 00:19:58.299 I have confidence in the living God. 00:19:59.439 --> 00:20:03.319 And so, it's important, and I need to drive this once again, 00:20:03.439 --> 00:20:06.919 is that as we think of the open door and the throne room, 00:20:07.939 --> 00:20:14.939 God is giving us, as individuals, time for us to repent, right? 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:17.539 The changing of the mind, metanoia. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:21.839 To change our mind and our perspective on who Jesus Christ is, 00:20:21.879 --> 00:20:26.220 and it's important for us, especially before we even know who Jesus is, 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:28.159 what is your perspective on Christ? 00:20:28.899 --> 00:20:30.839 Well, for many of us who are Christians, we're like, 00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:31.859 I already know this, Pastor. 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:35.159 But not everyone can answer in that same perspective. 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:38.159 Some people, especially nowadays, may say, 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.819 well, Jesus Christ was a great teacher. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.279 And they just leave it at that. 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:45.519 You have some people that say Jesus Christ was just an incredible prophet. 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:47.759 Well, he's much more than a prophet. 00:20:47.879 --> 00:20:50.920 He's much more than a teacher, much more than a miracle worker. 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:54.099 Let's talk about Christ being the Savior for all. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:00.200 That whosoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:02.759 Let's talk about the significance of that. 00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:07.319 And that Jesus Christ being the way, the truth, and the life in him. 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:12.179 So, in other words, the spiritual realm then, 00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:16.700 that curtain that's being opened up for a second here, right? 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:18.639 That door that's being opened saying, 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:21.299 hey, John, I want to show you something that's going on. 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:23.480 If God's ever going to show you something and say, 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:26.679 hey, look, take a look at this, go through the door, see what's going on. 00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:29.619 You may not understand it, though, and that's all right. 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:31.839 It's just showing the power and glory of God. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:34.819 And these three witnesses in the Old Testament, 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.200 and then, of course, you have John. 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:38.500 I mean, it's not anything new. 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:41.900 John is seeing what has already been true 00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:46.279 and been prophesied on in these prophetic accounts. 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:47.700 Let's go to that next slide then. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:54.279 Now, I mentioned I was going to talk about the 24 elders, right? 00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:58.000 You see this repeated number of 24 and 24, right? 00:21:58.059 --> 00:22:00.000 Much like you see earlier in Revelation, 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:02.940 where there's seven upon seven. 00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:09.600 When you see this, right, we think of seven being perfect or complete. 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:16.340 In this sense, many scholars have actually said that the 24 elders represents the 12 tribes 00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.380 and the 12 apostles. 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:19.500 Now, that's very interesting. 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:21.480 Now, some people debate on that. 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:26.160 But what's important, whether you believe in that conclusion or not, 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:30.059 it's important to know the significance of 12 upon 12, right? 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.900 Completedness upon completedness. 00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:34.440 Again, when you start seeing these repeated numbers, 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:37.579 it's showing that much more significance within the number. 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:42.720 And so, yeah, in Scripture, when we see 12, it equals completedness. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:46.759 And so that 24 is completedness upon completedness, right? 00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:51.220 So it's just kind of, for us, it may be kind of hard for us to think about that, right? 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:53.460 If something's complete, how can it be more complete, right? 00:22:53.940 --> 00:22:59.079 But it's showing that what God has going is far beyond even our understanding. 00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:03.539 And so what's also interesting is the four living creatures here, right? 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:06.019 You have the lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.980 I found this very interesting. 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:10.980 A lion, is that a cat? 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.420 I mean, I guess technically it is, right? 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:17.759 But it's not your domestic cat that you have that you name Tiger and you think is a lion, right? 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:20.600 You have maybe your tabby cat. 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:23.420 You have your Siamese cat or whatever is going on. 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:25.680 That's not... 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:26.560 I'm sorry. 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.840 It's not a lion, right? 00:23:28.300 --> 00:23:30.840 So a lion would be something that's not domestic. 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:33.300 It'd be something that you typically find in the wild, right? 00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:36.320 So it's interesting to note that the lion is wild. 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:39.340 And the ox, on the other hand, is domestic. 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.440 That's kind of interesting, right? 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:46.160 And then, of course, you have man on the earth and the eagle in the sky. 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:54.440 So it's actually showing in here, in these different type of beasts, the extent of which creation 00:23:54.440 --> 00:24:01.960 and the extent of which all of creation, right? 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:05.940 It's going to show the amount of power that God has over creation. 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:08.140 So it's just kind of a very interesting thing going on. 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:13.000 In other words, it's the fullness of creation in four categories. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:19.100 And it's important to note, once again, that all creation is worshiping in this scene. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:24.860 And what a powerful type of scene that is going on here. 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:27.000 Let's go to that next slide. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:33.539 Now, for those of you who have been here before, we went over the parables of Christ. 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:40.640 We did 38 parables, around 38 parables, which was an incredible amount of parabolic teaching 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.319 from Christ. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:44.420 But there is the parable of the hidden treasure. 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:48.319 If some of you may know it, you may not remember it or may not know it. 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:54.960 But it's where someone who is seeking for, they find the hidden treasure. 00:24:55.980 --> 00:25:00.179 And it's something that is so valuable, the person is willing to get rid of everything 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:02.779 just to have that field with the treasure, right? 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:09.079 And so in this sense, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure that is hidden in a field. 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:17.480 And what's important for us to see this connection then is that the throne room has always existed, 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:19.659 but yet it has been hidden. 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:25.619 And it was revealed partially to the prophets and partially to John. 00:25:26.639 --> 00:25:33.419 And what a blessing it is that through scripture, that hidden treasure is being revealed to us. 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.859 Isn't that amazing? 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:40.719 Having just a piece of the spiritual realm being revealed in these different accounts. 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:47.119 And we have been shown what people may not always understand or may not even see. 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:55.119 But it still remains to be true that God is on the throne and that worship never ceases. 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:58.799 What a beautiful imagery that we have from here. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:07.200 And so, in other words, the open door from Revelation 4 is like the revealing of the hidden treasure 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:10.559 of such value and of such worth. 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:13.279 Let's go to that next slide then. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:17.379 So what do we do about this then, right? 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.440 Next slide, please. 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:29.960 Well, the first thing and the most important thing is, now granted, in the sense here where we have the door that's open, 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.960 where it says here, 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:37.820 a door standing in heaven may be a little harder for us to understand, right? 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:45.000 But I want us to think, maybe not necessarily a door that's open in heaven, 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:47.640 but the door that is open for you to go through. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:52.960 The door that is open that Christ wants you to go through. 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:57.259 And I want you to think, yes, they're technically two different doors, 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:59.480 but they both reveal a lot of significance. 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:02.480 The Lord calls for us. 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:11.380 In other words, the door is open and Christ has opened it and no one can shut it. 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:21.780 And so, think of this as your invitation for you to receive in salvation by going through the door, right? 00:27:21.840 --> 00:27:25.200 You hear the language all the time, enter through the narrow gate. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:30.200 The other day I was going through, because your pastor is a geek, 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:34.220 I was going through old charts and diagrams and I found this one. 00:27:34.300 --> 00:27:35.620 It's from the 1800s. 00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:40.879 And it shows the wide road and the narrow gate. 00:27:41.399 --> 00:27:43.279 And it's showing all these people, right? 00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:45.819 They're just all going through the wide road and saying, 00:27:45.979 --> 00:27:47.479 enter through the narrow gate, right? 00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:50.559 And it's just a little, like, rickety old gate. 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:55.199 And you're like, wow, it's just, there's the door, right? 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:58.419 Very similar in language of what we're talking about. 00:27:59.219 --> 00:28:01.939 Now, granted, we don't want to have this scene 00:28:01.939 --> 00:28:04.500 where everybody is going through the wide road. 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:07.359 We got to tell people about the gate. 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:10.079 We got to tell people about the open door, 00:28:10.420 --> 00:28:13.279 that it's leading to salvation, 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:15.559 that it leads to transformation, 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:18.900 and it certainly leads to the new heaven and the new earth. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.599 And I don't know about you. 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:24.839 I want to dwell with the city of God, 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.039 in the city of God, 00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:28.400 with the Lord forever. 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:31.160 That is a remarkable thing, 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:35.160 rather than destruction or the alternative in that sense. 00:28:36.620 --> 00:28:39.740 And so, we can also think of, 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:42.480 we think of those who are yet to believe, 00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:43.980 or those who have not believed, 00:28:44.540 --> 00:28:46.220 the call for them to enter through the door. 00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:48.840 But it's also important for us to, 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:51.280 let's not forget the door is there. 00:28:51.800 --> 00:28:54.240 For those of us that may have entered through the door, 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:59.019 we may have forgotten that you once made a decision for Christ. 00:29:00.019 --> 00:29:02.759 Recognize the significance of that decision, 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:05.759 that it not only affects your life here on earth, 00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:07.420 but it's going to affect your eternal life. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:08.900 You're talking, essentially, 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:12.579 two lives that are being affected by one decision. 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.380 That is incredible. 00:29:13.380 --> 00:29:18.420 So, if you have drifted, 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.840 or you've had hardness in your heart, 00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:25.340 maybe it's a time or a call for you to remember the door. 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:28.080 The door that you have once gone through. 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:33.920 Don't be like Laodicea, 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.960 one that shuts the door. 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:41.020 Don't be like one who regrets the door. 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:42.480 Remember it. 00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:45.599 Remember the significance of your salvation. 00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:47.500 You know, 00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:50.799 I don't know if I've told you guys this story before. 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:53.460 There was an older man that I once met 00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:56.500 who told me how 00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:59.660 as he got older, 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:00.299 he got more, 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:03.200 not on fire for the Lord, 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:06.500 but he said the thing that would always get him 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:08.099 to be more on fire for the Lord 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:09.200 was to see a new believer. 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:12.340 And how on fire they were. 00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:14.660 And how excited they were. 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:18.500 And how simple their faith was, right? 00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:20.200 I believe in Jesus. 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:22.059 He died for my sins. 00:30:23.700 --> 00:30:24.960 And he would tell me, 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:27.279 sometimes I need a reminder 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:30.539 not to get caught up in all the craziness 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:32.100 and to just remember, 00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:33.120 amen. 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:35.460 Jesus died for my sins 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.779 and that's all I need to remember. 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:40.019 Sometimes we need to go back to the basics. 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:42.180 Sometimes we need to remember 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:43.440 where we once came from. 00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:45.660 Sometimes we just need to know 00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:47.920 that Jesus died for our sins. 00:30:48.059 --> 00:30:49.879 So this is directly applicable 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:52.920 whether you are a seasoned Christian, 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:55.220 whether you are distant from the Lord, 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.839 or whether you do not believe in the Lord. 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:59.359 The second thing then 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:02.019 is to embed worship in everyday life. 00:31:02.899 --> 00:31:04.419 Now, what's very powerful 00:31:04.419 --> 00:31:07.159 in this spiritual realm 00:31:07.159 --> 00:31:09.699 is the constant worship of the Lord. 00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:13.519 And we think of how we live in the world today. 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:18.859 Our worship should not be contained 00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:20.779 or restricted just to Sunday. 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:23.960 Let us have Christ 00:31:23.960 --> 00:31:26.220 at the center of our lives 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:28.559 in what we say and what we do. 00:31:28.619 --> 00:31:30.539 It should become a part of who we are. 00:31:31.379 --> 00:31:32.059 Not just, 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:34.379 you think of the famous scene, 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:34.639 you know, 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:36.559 I'm only a Christian on Sunday, 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:39.519 but who knows when I'm going to be on Monday, right? 00:31:39.940 --> 00:31:41.059 Who knows what, 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:41.139 what, 00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:44.160 or what's going to happen on Wednesday, right? 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:47.099 It's having this embeddedness. 00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:49.579 That I am a Christian 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:51.379 and I'm not perfect. 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:53.839 I am a work in progress, 00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:57.059 but I believe in the one who is perfect 00:31:57.059 --> 00:32:00.039 and the one who is doing a new thing in my life. 00:32:01.119 --> 00:32:03.599 And so the four living creatures, 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:05.539 if you go back there, 00:32:06.679 --> 00:32:09.500 in verse eight, 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.980 the four creatures, 00:32:12.139 --> 00:32:12.879 each of them, right, 00:32:12.919 --> 00:32:13.759 with the six wings, 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:15.119 they're full of eyes around. 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.819 It says in there, 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.899 that day and night, 00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:22.219 they never cease to say, 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:23.199 holy, holy, holy. 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.879 In other words, 00:32:24.119 --> 00:32:26.000 they never stopped praising the Lord. 00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.480 Isn't that interesting? 00:32:28.959 --> 00:32:30.659 Even though we may not fully understand 00:32:30.659 --> 00:32:31.679 the four living creatures, 00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:33.279 there's a lot of debate 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:35.039 on what specifically it means. 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.980 But what's important to know 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:37.740 is what they're doing. 00:32:38.439 --> 00:32:39.480 It's also important to know 00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.000 to see that 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:41.579 this is not the first time 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:42.539 they show up in scripture. 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:44.439 And so, 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:46.080 don't let your worship 00:32:46.080 --> 00:32:48.539 be only on Sunday. 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:50.279 Be Christ-like. 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.940 Live and love like Jesus Christ 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:54.620 all the days of your life. 00:32:56.160 --> 00:32:57.220 And I'm reminded, 00:32:57.900 --> 00:33:00.759 how many of you have heard that verse? 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:04.320 That even the stones would cry out. 00:33:06.320 --> 00:33:06.799 Stones? 00:33:08.640 --> 00:33:09.080 Rocks? 00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:11.279 Are you out of your mind? 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.679 But yet it's in there. 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:14.759 An inanimate, 00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:16.460 non-living object 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:19.159 can worship the Lord 00:33:19.159 --> 00:33:21.500 if God is going to say 00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.919 it to be so. 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.379 How powerful is that? 00:33:25.419 --> 00:33:27.019 That God will be worshipped. 00:33:27.679 --> 00:33:29.460 So even the stones would cry out 00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.199 if they're commanded. 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:33.660 And we've seen 00:33:33.660 --> 00:33:35.480 from this text 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:36.559 the throne room. 00:33:38.120 --> 00:33:39.980 Our response should be worship 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:41.220 and embedding that 00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:42.640 in our very lives. 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:44.400 So ask yourself that question then. 00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:47.380 How do I embed 00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:48.980 worshipping the Lord 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:51.240 in what I say 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.559 and in what I do? 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:55.259 Is it through the conversations 00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:56.960 you have with everyday people? 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.279 Maybe. 00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:59.460 Is it your prayer life? 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:02.200 Is it perhaps 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:03.819 you haven't read the Bible 00:34:03.819 --> 00:34:04.660 in a long time? 00:34:06.080 --> 00:34:07.779 Perhaps it's just reflecting 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:11.079 on your salvation story 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:12.960 and the saving grace 00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:14.360 that comes from Jesus Christ. 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.639 Whatever it may be, 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:18.420 may you take time 00:34:18.420 --> 00:34:19.400 to reflect on this. 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:21.840 And the third thing 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:22.740 is to proclaim 00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.659 what you have seen. 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.159 Can you imagine 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:27.360 seeing the heavenly realm? 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:29.400 whether it's Daniel 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.360 or Ezekiel 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:30.960 or John 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.840 or any of these individuals 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:34.800 seeing the curtain pulled 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:37.740 and not telling people about it? 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.380 Right? 00:34:40.680 --> 00:34:42.240 That'd be crazy. 00:34:44.180 --> 00:34:45.300 When we think of 00:34:45.300 --> 00:34:46.780 the scene of the throne room 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:48.400 or when you think 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:49.980 of the salvation you receive, 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:51.360 you have got 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:53.280 to share it with other people. 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.940 How you share it 00:34:54.940 --> 00:34:55.760 depends on you. 00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:57.420 It might just be 00:34:57.420 --> 00:34:58.660 sharing in your testimony. 00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:00.420 It might just be 00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:01.180 being present 00:35:01.180 --> 00:35:02.160 with other people 00:35:02.160 --> 00:35:03.180 within the community. 00:35:04.100 --> 00:35:04.840 Do you realize 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:06.600 that how you share the gospel, 00:35:06.740 --> 00:35:08.080 there's many different approaches 00:35:08.080 --> 00:35:08.760 in doing that? 00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:10.180 There are some people, 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:11.200 they go to the streets 00:35:11.200 --> 00:35:11.700 and they say, 00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:12.660 Jesus is Lord, 00:35:12.720 --> 00:35:14.160 and they speak from a microphone. 00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:15.760 Praise God. 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.740 There are other people, 00:35:18.140 --> 00:35:19.800 they work in a 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:21.520 secular work environment 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:25.699 where you being a Christian 00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:27.179 is shown 00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:29.420 by how you perform 00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.059 your work 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:31.579 and how you conduct yourself 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.699 so that your boss 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.119 is like, 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.300 why do you do 00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:35.340 such a good job? 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:37.559 Or you might be 00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:38.420 one of those people 00:35:38.420 --> 00:35:38.780 that, 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.639 hey, you know what? 00:35:41.679 --> 00:35:43.099 God's changed my life. 00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:45.139 You should know about it. 00:35:45.139 --> 00:35:45.659 I mean, 00:35:46.299 --> 00:35:47.460 one thing that 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.679 Amber and I 00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:50.559 are very big on 00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:52.879 is the ministry of presence 00:35:52.879 --> 00:35:54.819 and friendship evangelism. 00:35:55.299 --> 00:35:56.539 Ministry of presence, 00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:58.199 be present with people. 00:35:59.339 --> 00:35:59.879 Show up 00:35:59.879 --> 00:36:01.359 when there's crisis 00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:03.079 to the best of your ability. 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.759 Ten minutes, 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:06.039 a simple text. 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:07.639 A lot of times 00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:09.480 when a crisis happens, 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:11.239 just show up. 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:13.460 You don't even have to say a word. 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:15.119 Maybe just, 00:36:15.279 --> 00:36:16.239 I'm here for you. 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:18.619 Do you know how many times 00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.599 I've been in a situation 00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.940 where I don't know the words to say 00:36:20.940 --> 00:36:22.360 and yet here I am as a pastor 00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:23.820 having lots of words to say? 00:36:24.259 --> 00:36:25.759 There are situations like that 00:36:25.759 --> 00:36:27.259 where you just being there 00:36:27.259 --> 00:36:28.719 is what matters. 00:36:30.699 --> 00:36:31.820 Friendship evangelism, 00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:33.480 building relationships. 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:37.039 Building relationships first 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:38.820 so people can see who you are 00:36:38.820 --> 00:36:41.619 so that your words 00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:42.260 and your actions 00:36:42.260 --> 00:36:42.920 are in alignment 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:44.380 and they ask, 00:36:44.699 --> 00:36:46.420 what do you believe in? 00:36:47.159 --> 00:36:48.740 Why do you do this? 00:36:49.740 --> 00:36:50.940 I'm always fascinated 00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:52.199 by those kind of questions, right? 00:36:52.860 --> 00:36:53.960 I'll tell you that 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.619 one time 00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:56.740 with our STEAM nights, 00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:58.599 there was a family 00:36:58.599 --> 00:37:02.460 and not believers 00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:03.079 or anything 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:05.659 and they asked me, 00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:07.819 why are you putting on 00:37:07.819 --> 00:37:08.819 this community event? 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:10.699 This is in a church. 00:37:11.860 --> 00:37:12.360 I said, yeah. 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:14.119 Well, what's the catch? 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:16.639 You going to convert me or not? 00:37:17.759 --> 00:37:18.259 I'm like, 00:37:18.779 --> 00:37:23.000 don't have a sense of humor, right? 00:37:23.319 --> 00:37:25.039 Do you want me to convert you? 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:27.000 Right? 00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:28.739 He said, well, no. 00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:30.539 I'm here, you know, 00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.880 I brought my kids here. 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.599 I thought it was a wonderful 00:37:32.599 --> 00:37:33.240 community event. 00:37:33.320 --> 00:37:34.240 I said, that's fine. 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:37.340 Did you enjoy your meal? 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:39.400 Have you enjoyed your time? 00:37:40.260 --> 00:37:40.680 Well, yeah. 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:41.880 Good. 00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:43.680 He's not ready. 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:45.720 He's certainly not. 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:45.880 Hey, 00:37:46.140 --> 00:37:48.300 have you read John 3, 16, 00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.280 but I, you know, no. 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:51.280 In that kind of moment, 00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:52.340 you have to establish 00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:53.700 a relationship with them. 00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:55.460 You know, 00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:56.360 what ended up happening 00:37:56.360 --> 00:37:57.160 was, 00:37:57.440 --> 00:37:59.019 so you're not going 00:37:59.019 --> 00:37:59.640 to convert me? 00:38:00.640 --> 00:38:01.019 I said, 00:38:01.160 --> 00:38:02.000 unless you want to, 00:38:02.040 --> 00:38:02.300 we can, 00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:02.700 I mean, 00:38:02.700 --> 00:38:03.700 we can go over it. 00:38:04.700 --> 00:38:05.240 He said, well, 00:38:05.900 --> 00:38:06.920 why would a church 00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.680 put something out 00:38:07.680 --> 00:38:09.040 on like this 00:38:09.040 --> 00:38:10.460 and not try to, 00:38:10.460 --> 00:38:10.920 to force, 00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:11.320 I'm like, 00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:12.560 I see where you're getting at. 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:14.220 You're asking, 00:38:14.560 --> 00:38:15.680 why would you put on 00:38:15.680 --> 00:38:16.080 an event 00:38:16.080 --> 00:38:17.080 and not try to force 00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:17.840 it down my throat? 00:38:18.319 --> 00:38:18.880 I said, 00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:19.920 because this is what 00:38:19.920 --> 00:38:21.059 we're called to do. 00:38:21.799 --> 00:38:23.559 We are called to love God 00:38:23.559 --> 00:38:24.519 and to love people, 00:38:25.099 --> 00:38:25.360 period. 00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:26.619 So, 00:38:27.460 --> 00:38:28.440 you, 00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:30.659 atheist, 00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:31.319 agnostic, 00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.480 whatever you are, 00:38:33.239 --> 00:38:34.179 I'm going to show you 00:38:34.179 --> 00:38:34.980 the love of Christ 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:36.559 and what you're going to do 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.400 with that is on you, 00:38:38.099 --> 00:38:38.319 period. 00:38:39.319 --> 00:38:39.619 Now, 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:41.420 did I ever see the man again? 00:38:41.759 --> 00:38:42.019 No. 00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:43.619 Will I see him again? 00:38:43.779 --> 00:38:44.500 I don't know. 00:38:45.199 --> 00:38:46.119 But I hope 00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:47.659 that my words 00:38:47.659 --> 00:38:48.539 and my actions 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.779 were enough 00:38:49.779 --> 00:38:50.559 to plant a seed. 00:38:51.299 --> 00:38:51.759 That 00:38:51.759 --> 00:38:53.759 is friendship evangelism. 00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:55.639 That is the approach 00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:56.940 that I recommend 00:38:56.940 --> 00:38:57.980 for us 00:38:57.980 --> 00:38:59.819 and maybe that's 00:38:59.819 --> 00:39:00.339 not your, 00:39:00.339 --> 00:39:01.199 your tempo. 00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.199 Maybe that's not 00:39:02.199 --> 00:39:02.759 your style. 00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:04.539 At least consider it. 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:05.880 There are many ways 00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:06.819 to share in the gospel 00:39:06.819 --> 00:39:07.859 and what's unique to you 00:39:07.859 --> 00:39:08.679 or what God has 00:39:08.679 --> 00:39:10.019 specifically called you for, 00:39:10.859 --> 00:39:11.539 respond to that. 00:39:12.299 --> 00:39:13.699 I share these stories 00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:15.839 because it's important 00:39:15.839 --> 00:39:16.699 for us to proclaim 00:39:16.699 --> 00:39:17.539 what we have seen. 00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:19.779 John did not keep 00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:20.859 the vision to himself. 00:39:21.299 --> 00:39:21.659 Did he? 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:23.599 Absolutely not. 00:39:24.119 --> 00:39:25.019 He wrote it down 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:25.699 and he sent it 00:39:25.699 --> 00:39:26.299 to the churches, 00:39:26.439 --> 00:39:26.579 right? 00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:27.679 The seven churches. 00:39:28.239 --> 00:39:28.759 So, 00:39:28.839 --> 00:39:29.179 clearly, 00:39:29.299 --> 00:39:30.059 it's important. 00:39:30.779 --> 00:39:32.159 And by the grace of God, 00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:33.659 we have revelation. 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:35.000 So, 00:39:35.079 --> 00:39:35.379 clearly, 00:39:35.379 --> 00:39:36.179 it is for us 00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:36.799 as well. 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:38.760 And so, 00:39:39.320 --> 00:39:42.300 to see the open door, 00:39:42.539 --> 00:39:43.320 to go through it 00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:44.700 or to see the throne room, 00:39:44.800 --> 00:39:45.860 whatever God has done 00:39:45.860 --> 00:39:46.440 in your life 00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:47.300 or revealed to you, 00:39:47.700 --> 00:39:48.740 share it with other people. 00:39:49.300 --> 00:39:50.880 You will be amazed 00:39:50.880 --> 00:39:54.400 at how you can reach people. 00:39:55.500 --> 00:39:56.019 Presence, 00:39:56.720 --> 00:39:57.340 proclamation, 00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:58.920 words, 00:39:59.140 --> 00:39:59.600 actions, 00:39:59.820 --> 00:40:00.840 whatever it is. 00:40:02.440 --> 00:40:03.019 May you, 00:40:03.300 --> 00:40:04.580 I pray that all of you 00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:06.239 will find your right way 00:40:06.239 --> 00:40:07.679 to share in the gospel 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:08.279 with others. 00:40:09.699 --> 00:40:10.239 And so, 00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:12.179 the hidden treasure 00:40:12.179 --> 00:40:14.079 is not only hidden 00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:16.279 from those who haven't heard yet, 00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:18.920 we receive the hidden treasure 00:40:18.920 --> 00:40:20.559 and we share it 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:21.679 with others. 00:40:22.299 --> 00:40:23.500 The greatest treasure 00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:24.539 that we can receive 00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:25.319 that's not only 00:40:25.319 --> 00:40:26.380 parabolic 00:40:26.380 --> 00:40:27.759 but also apocalyptic 00:40:27.759 --> 00:40:29.739 is the gift we receive 00:40:29.739 --> 00:40:30.679 in Jesus Christ. 00:40:31.699 --> 00:40:32.920 And that gift 00:40:32.920 --> 00:40:34.079 is available 00:40:34.079 --> 00:40:36.079 for every single person. 00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:37.500 Let us carry 00:40:37.500 --> 00:40:38.819 the news 00:40:38.819 --> 00:40:40.819 of what has been revealed. 00:40:41.619 --> 00:40:42.519 Let us carry 00:40:42.519 --> 00:40:43.079 the message 00:40:43.079 --> 00:40:43.980 of Jesus Christ 00:40:43.980 --> 00:40:44.400 to others. 00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:44.659 Amen? 00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:45.579 Amen. 00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:47.079 Let's pray together. 00:40:48.759 --> 00:40:49.759 And Father God, 00:40:49.840 --> 00:40:50.360 we thank you 00:40:50.360 --> 00:40:51.159 for this time 00:40:51.159 --> 00:40:51.900 and this chance, 00:40:52.019 --> 00:40:52.659 this opportunity 00:40:52.659 --> 00:40:53.599 for us to go 00:40:53.599 --> 00:40:54.819 through Revelation 4. 00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:56.420 We recognize 00:40:56.420 --> 00:40:58.940 how difficult 00:40:58.940 --> 00:41:00.840 and how heavy 00:41:00.840 --> 00:41:01.840 Revelation is. 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:03.800 may we faithfully 00:41:03.800 --> 00:41:04.519 continue 00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:05.700 to discern, 00:41:06.220 --> 00:41:07.160 to learn, 00:41:07.660 --> 00:41:08.700 and to be transformed 00:41:08.700 --> 00:41:09.500 by your word. 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.880 We're grateful 00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:12.700 that you promise 00:41:12.700 --> 00:41:13.460 blessing 00:41:13.460 --> 00:41:16.519 by reading the words 00:41:16.519 --> 00:41:17.260 of this prophecy 00:41:17.260 --> 00:41:17.740 together. 00:41:19.860 --> 00:41:21.100 May we recognize 00:41:21.100 --> 00:41:22.280 that the door is open. 00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:23.559 May we walk through it. 00:41:24.220 --> 00:41:25.220 May we recognize 00:41:25.219 --> 00:41:26.919 the throne room 00:41:26.919 --> 00:41:28.399 showing your power 00:41:28.399 --> 00:41:29.139 and your glory. 00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:31.119 And may we worship you 00:41:31.119 --> 00:41:33.399 here on earth, 00:41:33.579 --> 00:41:35.539 but also in the new heaven 00:41:35.539 --> 00:41:36.279 and the new earth. 00:41:37.739 --> 00:41:39.359 May we respond to you. 00:41:40.500 --> 00:41:42.099 We thank you so much 00:41:42.099 --> 00:41:43.959 for your word 00:41:43.959 --> 00:41:44.819 and for this 00:41:44.819 --> 00:41:46.299 incredible book 00:41:46.299 --> 00:41:47.199 of the Bible. 00:41:47.199 --> 00:41:49.379 We love you. 00:41:50.219 --> 00:41:51.239 We praise you. 00:41:51.699 --> 00:41:52.859 We glorify you 00:41:52.859 --> 00:41:53.519 and we honor you. 00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:54.519 And we're going to sing together 00:41:54.519 --> 00:41:56.199 that Revelation song together. 00:41:56.879 --> 00:41:58.119 It is in the name 00:41:58.119 --> 00:41:59.259 of Jesus Christ 00:41:59.259 --> 00:41:59.919 that we pray. 00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:01.519 And we all say together, 00:42:01.639 --> 00:42:02.259 Amen, church. 00:42:02.259 --> 00:42:02.819 Amen.