Called Up to Heaven pt. 1
What in the World is Going on? • Sermon • Submitted
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“After this...”
Those are the first words written by John following his observations of the seven churches. Allow me to point out some clear, biblical truth:
Seven = symbolic of the divine perfection or completion. It is no wonder that there were seven letters written to seven churches. No doubt Jesus was showing John the entire scope of the church age. When the final letter was written MUST symbolize the completion of the church age. My friends, that is exactly where we are today, not only in the church age, but at the end of it. This begs the obvious question, “What happens next?”
For this answer we look at the rest of John’s words in Revelation 4:1
1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
What a glorious truth in this verse! “After...” the church age is completed, the next step for God’s people is to be raptured out of here! Say amen.
I am not going to preach on the rapture this morning as I have done so already in this series, instead I am going to focus this message on the very first sight we will see when we enter heaven.
If we are to consider John’s first observations of heaven as the first observations of everyone who enters heaven, then the very first thing we will notice is the throne of God!
How many times have you said to yourself, “I wonder what heaven will be like?”
Well here is the answer! When you get to heaven the first thing you will notice is...
The Mighty One Seated on the Throne
The Mighty One Seated on the Throne
(Read the text)
There is too much to unpack in just one message so we will approach the sights and sounds of heaven in three separate messages.
The word throne represents power and supreme power at that. The one sitting on the throne has the right, the authority to rule His kingdom. Notice how John describes the Majestic appearance of God. He is seen as a...
Jasper Stone - Unwavering Judgment
While there is much debate as to the color of jasper, there is not debate on the hardness of the stone.
Jasper is a hard stone and thus it represents the hardness of God’s judgment, the unwavering judgment of God
It is God, after all that created the universe and the “laws” which have been ascribed to it.
It is God, not man, that created gravity. Man discovered it, but God created it.
If you climb the tallest building in the world and drop a rock from its highest point, that rock will fall down, not up.
That is a natural law created by God, and it cannot be violated
It is God, not man, that created, not just natural law, but moral law as well!
His moral laws are just as inflexible as His natural laws.
When God says, “Thou shalt not have any gods before me” He means it!
We are living in a world that worships science, yet denies God
They fail to understand that science is just “Thinking God’s thoughts after Him.”
That Jasper represents the hardness of God, that His judgment is unwavering is a reminder that He, on His throne as seen by John, is about to issue forth judgment on a world that denied His Son, rejected His gospel, turned their back on their Creator - the one who claimed arrogantly “If God is real, let Him show Himself” - well hold on to your seat buddy, because soon and very soon, God is going to do just that!
He is also seen as a...
Sardine Stone - Holy Judgment
The sardious stone is known for its bright, fiery-red color
This stone is connected with the holiness of God
The fire that burned on Israel’s altar of sacrifice was never allowed to die out.
It burned constantly because there is always sin to be dealt with.
God’s appearance on the throne like the bright burning red of the sardius stone is meant to demonstrate His holy attitude toward sin. How as long as sin exists in the universe God’s holiness will burn against it!
How much does God hate sin? Enough to send His Son to put an end to sin’s power over mankind! The One seated on the throne is none other than God the Father! The first sight we see in heaven is the Mighty One on the throne, the next sight we notice is...
The Magnificence of the Throne
The Magnificence of the Throne
We move from the One seated on the throne to the throne and its surroundings. Notice...
The Rainbow Surrounding the Throne
Rainbows speak of Judgment - ie. the flood.
This rainbow is different:
Its color is green = symbolizing judgment connected with the earth
Its scope is complete = it is a completed circle.
This rainbow is seen, before the events of the tribulation
This rainbow is referring to complete judgment on a Christ-rejecting world
What a sight to behold! Notice next...
The Court Surrounding the Throne
The 24 Elders
The 4 Beasts (Creatures)
The Lamps Surrounding the Throne
The Sea Surrounding the Throne
The clarity and flawlessness of the sea depicts the flawless nature of God
Also in mind would be the infinite nature of God
Have you ever stood on the shore looking out a the ocean? You know there is an end, but the fact that you can’t see it leaves you feeling like it simply goes on and on. That is the idea from the sight John describes. The throne of God is situated in a glass sea like crystal and it stretches into infinity. What is is implied is the impossibility to full describe what has been seen.
What sights there are to behold in heaven! What sounds! What wonders await us! We move now to the final observation of the throne...
The Message From the Throne
The Message From the Throne
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
The sights and the sounds all point to one thing and one thing only: Judgment is coming.
Lightning and thundering almost always in Scripture depict the coming judgment of God. Lightning is swift and powerful, thus we can expect His judgment to be swift and powerful. Thunder is often overwhelming and frightening, thus we can expect His judgment to be overwhelming and frightening.
Many believe the voices to be those of the elders or the angelic host. The suggest this is the assembling of the armies of heaven to wage war on the enemy that is about to show himself.
Here is what we know for sure: Judgment is coming, and for us that know the Lord now as Savior, we will be spared as we will be in heaven already.
Conclusion:
It is so easy to be discouraged when we look at the mess this world is in around us. It is so easy to be tempted to quit, to say, “What is the point? No matter what we do, no matter what we say it seems like the ungodly always win.”
Listen to me....God is on the throne. He is holy and He is righteous and He is aware of what is happening. Evil may gain ground today, evil may seem to triumph over good, but evil will not win this war.
There is coming a day when every knee is going to bow, when every tongue is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father! That includes you! You are going to one day bow your knee and confess He is Lord. When and how you do so is totally up to you. You may confess Him today as Savior and Lord, or you may confess Him later as Lord and Judge. The difference is eternity either in heaven or hell. Which will you choose?
You say, “How can I choose salvation?” Simple: Come to Him just as you are, a sinner in need of forgiveness, believe that He took your place in death and was resurrected for your salvation, then call on Him to save your soul. Romans 10:13
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Let us pray together...