Called Up to Heaven pt. 2
What in the World is Going on? • Sermon • Submitted
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I’ve been to the mountains, and I have seen the trees in the fall. I’ve seen the snow in the winter, I’ve seen the flowers in the spring. I’ve been to the beach and I’ve stood amazed at the vastness of the ocean. I’ve seen water so clear you can see straight to the bottom. I’ve seen seahorses, I’ve seen dolphins swimming. I’ve stood out here in the back parking lot and seen the sun go down over the hills but none of that can compare to what awaits us in heaven!
John tells us the first sight he saw was God sitting on His throne! What a sight that must have been for John! The beauty and majesty of the throne of God is unbelievable.
I may be wrong, and I probably am, but I don’t think John was most amazed by the sight of God on the throne. See if you and I were taken up into heaven today, we would expect to see God on the throne. Am I right? Heaven is His home, and He belongs on the throne.
Once we get passed the sight in itself, it makes sense God is on the throne. But that wasn’t what was most striking. No, I think what was most striking to John is found in verse 4. Revelation 4:4
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
The word throne in verse 2 is the same word translated as seats in verse 4. Who were the ones seated on these thrones? Some say they were angels, because the next group we see are in fact angels. However, no where in Scripture are angels seen seated anywhere…their work is never done. No where in the Word of God do we see angels wearing crowns.
Who then are they? Are they members of Israel? The answer is no. Israel’s judgment comes at the end of the tribulation, not the beginning.
The reason I believe this sight is the most amazing is because these 24 elders (elder = representative) represent the entire church. That is, they represent you and me! Church, I want you to understand that before the tribulation period begins, we see the church already in heaven!
Knowing that we are going to escape this awful time ought to be a great encouragement to us.
Could you use some encouragement today?
We can be encouraged by John’s record of the elders for the following reasons. Notice first...
They Way They are Seated
They Way They are Seated
Enthroned
Seats = thrones
The seat word translated in verse 2
It speaks of their authority.
From where does this authority come?
From Jesus Himself!
Revelation 3:21 “21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Notice where they are enthroned...
Around THE Throne
While their seats have the same meaning as the word throne, let it be known there is only ONE throne!
These smaller seats in now add to or take away from the glory of God’s throne
They are merely a demonstration of the love God has for His church and a fulfillment of Christ’s promise in Revelation 2.
You can be encouraged today knowing that if Jesus is your Savior, you have a throne waiting on you in heaven!
I know what you’re thinking. What just 24 elders? Clearly there are more than 24 church saints.
You are correct. Here is the answer: There were in the OT service in the tabernacle and later the temple, 24 courses of priests who served in the tabernacle/temple. That is they took turns, switching out so everyone got a turn. Christians are known as “believer-priests”. In other words, we act as our own priest going before God ourselves. It would stand to reason that each of us will have a turn sitting on a throne in God’s court. Eternity is a very long time after all.
Be encouraged by the way the elders are seated, and be encouraged by...
They Way They are Clothed
They Way They are Clothed
There is something to be said for the “white raiment” they have on.
In Scripture the color white often represents purity and righteousness. The word raiment here refers to a robe. We could clearly say these seated around the throne are clothed in righteousness. Here are some thoughts on the subject...
They Did Not Bring Their Own clothes
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 “51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
Isaiah says that our righteousness, Isaiah 64:6 “6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
Paul said in Titus 3:5 our salvation is “5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
They did not earn these robes...
They Were Given These Robes
Revelation 3:5 “5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
Romans 5:19 “19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
Philippians 3:9 “9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
Romans 4:3 “3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Isn’t it encouraging to know that, for all your failures, when God the Father looks on you, He sees not your sin, but the righteousness of His Son. Isn’t it encouraging to know that there is coming a day when you will no longer be bothered by your sinful nature?
You can be encouraged today by the way the church is seated in heaven, by they way they are clothed in heaven, and by...
The Way They are Crowned
The Way They are Crowned
Seven times in chapter 2-3 we read the phrase, “to him that overcometh”. It is interesting that the word “overcometh” has the idea of conquering or gaining victory over something. I think it is only fitting that the crown mentioned in chapter 4 is a victor’s crown, the type of crown awarded to the winners of the Olympic games.
Now before we get the wrong impression of the crown I want you to read Revelation 4:10-11
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The word “cast” means to lay, or could be translated to throw. Not in a disrespectful way, but in a reverent way. These elders will lay their crowns before the throne in worship to God the Father. Why? because they realize their victory is not something they won on their own.
This victory was not won in the throne room of heaven, but on a hill just outside Jerusalem. Their victory is in Jesus.
Conclusion: We can take courage today in that one day we are going to be seated on thrones in heaven around the throne of God. We can be encouraged today in knowing that we are going to be forever clothed in His righteousness. We can be encouraged today in knowing we have won the victory through faith in Jesus!
Before we close in prayer today I wonder, do you have victory in Jesus? You say, “How can I know if I have victory in Jesus?”
You can have victory in Him by coming to Him just as you are: A sinner in need of forgiveness. By believing His Word to be true, that He died for you. By calling on Him to save you. Right here, right now, you can be saved if you will from your heart admit your sins, believe Jesus died for you, and call on Him to save you.
Let’s bow our heads together for prayer. As the musicians begin to play, if you know Jesus would you raise your hand. if you don't’ would you raise your hand.