Untitled Sermon (2)

On January 20, 1981 American Hostages came home from Iran. The first thing they did when they got of the plane was kiss the ground. When they hit the ground they bowed down. Home sweet home.They went down. Because they knew where they had been and they knew where they are now.There will come a day when we will bow down because we will know where we have been and where we are now.-11Revelation 4:1 John in verse 1 says BeholdBehold = look And he cries out Behold, Or Look! Attention grabberThe closest thing I can describe to this is when you go somewhere you have always wanted to go maybe Disney land or a major city and as you look around your saying to those you are with Look here, Look here, Look Here.At some point before or at the beginning of the rapture will take place.1 Thessolians 4:16-18 describe the rapture. (ESV)16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.The rapture of the church could come at any moment. One day the Father will turn to the son and say go get your bride. (ESV)52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Jesus could return.Scientists have shown that the average person blinks 15-20 times per minute. That's up to 1,200 times per hour and a whopping 28,800 times in a day-He could return now, now, now. Are you ready?If Jesus died and rose from the grave we can be certain he will return for His bride the church.John sees a door standing open.Where does that door lead. It is a door that leads to Heaven.The raptured church will be ushered into the open door of Heaven.The voice is described as being like a trumpet.This voice is Jesus.Dear Christ follower their will be a day when we hear the voice of our Savior calling us to come home to be with Him forever.We must understand not everyone will be called up in the rapture. Only those who have given up their lives to follow Christ. Only those who Jesus is their Savior. (ESV) 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.Are you ready? If Jesus where to come back today are you ready?So what happens to the person who is left behind. They will go through the 7 years of Tribulation.The voice not only calls Him to come to Heaven the voice also tells John “I will show you what must take place after this.”Just as sure as I am Jesus came to earth and was born of a virgin, went to the cross, died, rose from the grave and is alive today. And by Jesus doing this our sins can be forgiven. I am sure the things we read about from to the end will take place. You can bet on it.–3John is in the Spirit again and he is going to the HeavenJohn says Look, at the throne in heaven and the one seated on the throne.God’s throne is at the center of the universe.Everything we study, see, touch feel God is the center of it.Dr. David Platt says that we can’t look at Science, History without seeing God at the center of the universe.We can’t look at our job or our family without seeing God at the center of it.And since God throne is at the center of the universe. He is sovereign over His creation. Nothing catches Him off guard.Thou we may panic when the stock market goes down, or when major storms Hit, or when things look bad, or we may lose our Job. God is on His throne. He is in control. In Heaven their is no panic only praise.Corrie ten Boom, who hid Jews from Nazis said “There is no panic in Heaven! God has no problems, only plans.”This is not the first Scripture to mention God seated on His throneIsaiah 6:1 (ESV)6 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (ESV)8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.John gives us a glimpse of the throne room of God.Appearance of jasper and carnelian.These are the first and the last stones mentioned in the description of the breastplate of the high priest.The Jasper stone being clear according to and represents majesty, holiness, or purityThe Carnelian stone also known as a ruby which is read may signify wrath or judgement. (Danny Akin)Around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of emeraldThis is a reminder of Gods covenant to Noah and His faithfulness (Danny Akin)The color of the rainbow is emerald or green. Meaning life.Notice also the shape of the rainbow. As warren Wiersbe says the Rainbow was not an arc, for in Heaven all things are completed. The complete circle meaning eternity. Their is no end to the reign of our God.The picture we are given of God the Father is one of holiness, purity, judge, and faithful.–6Around the one seated on the throne you have twenty-four setting on smaller thrones.Scholars have debated on who these twenty-four elders are. And we must not get caught up in who they are and mess what they are doing.As we have already learned thus far in the book of Revelation numbers have meaning.Such as the number 7 means completeness, the number 3 is a divine number. The tri-unity. The trinity. The number 6 is the number that represents man.The number twelve is God’s governmental number. 12 tribes, 12 apostlesThe number 24 is the number of representation.Some have said they are angels, I disagree with this because in Angles and Elders are distinguished from each other. Also angels are never crowned and enthroned.Since their where twelve patriarchs or tribes and twelve apostles. This could be a representation of all of the redeemed.All of those who have been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ. All those who have called on the name of the Lord and been saved. The elders are described as being clothed in white garmentsThe white garments meaning being pure and HolyThey where golden crowns on their headsThey receive these crowns when they went before the Judgement seat of Christ and they have been rewarded for their worksFrom the Throne came flashes of lighting and rumblings and peals of thunderThis should take our minds back to God coming down to Mt. Sinai Lighting and Thunder Representative of Gods strength and power.It represents God coming Judgement.The imagery given here is of a coming storm. Have you ever looked a ways a way and seen a storm coming. Maybe you could see the clouds lighting up with lighting flashes, and here the thunder and new the storm was coming to you. Before the throne where burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of GodSeven being the number of completions. The 7 spirits are the Holy SpiritIn the Holy Spirit is described as fire appearing and rest on those theirIn we have a greeting from the 7 spirit who is before the throne of God.John then says before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass like crystal.Think of how pure that water must be.I think of the water we get here at the church and at the parsonage because we are at the end of the water line and I think of the sea that is before the throne in Heaven.This sea may represent purity. It could represent Gods Holiness.What a picture John is giving us of the Throne Room of God.Who needs some little boy or anyone else to go to Heaven and tell us Heaven is for real or what Heaven looks like.This description by itself should be enough to make you want to long to go and if you don’t know Jesus as Savior to repent of your Sins. Not only do you have the 24 elders around the throne. On each side fo the throne you have the four living creatures.They are described asBeing full of eyes in front and behindThe first living creature looks like a LionThe Second living creature looks like an oxThe Third living creature has the face of a manThe Fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.Each living creature has six wings.So who are these creatures of worship.They are the seraphim mentioned in and the cherubim in , -22There wings show us they are ready to carry out the will of God at any moment.There are many different explanations given to the description of these creaturesIn the Old Testament the Cherubim are just said to have wings.The number 4 is the Earth NumberFour points on a compass, four seasonsSome of have said that they represent all living creation. And that God will not only redeem man from the fallen sinful world, but creation will be restored as well.Others have said that the four living creatures could represent the 4 gospels.Matthew is the royal Gospel of the King, illustrated by the lion. Mark emphasizes the servant aspect of the Lord’s ministry (the calf). Luke presents Christ as the compassionate Son of man. John magnifies the deity of Christ, the Son of God (the eagle).However I do agree when Adrian Rogers calls these creatures “Gods Cheerleaders” (Danny Akin)And what do these living creatures do.Day and Night they never cease to call out to the one on the throne Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!There is never a moment when God is not worshipped.When we come and worship we are not just joining brother/sisters around the world in worship. We are joining the Heavenly host calling out to God in worship. And as the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to our God. To the one who created all things, and by his will all things exist.The 24 elders fall off their thrones and bow toward God and they then cast their crowns at God feet. For He is King, Lord of creation. While casting their crowns they cry out Worthy are you, our Lord and god, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created.If the Heavens are declaring the glory of God, should we not as well?Notice what they do with their crowns.What He gave them they joyfully give Him back in Worship.Everything they have been given has been given to them by God so they joyfully give back to Him in worship.They would withhold nothing from the one on the throne.Is their anything you are withholding from the one on the throne?Your talents, your gifts, your abilities, your time, your stuff.Warren wiersbe said It is unfortunate that the church today often neglects to worship the God of creation.May this Beautiful picture of our God our Father lead us to rediscover Worship. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.So How will you respond to God who has created all and given all?By SalvationBy Worship