6.3.50 11.11.2018 Rev 4-5 Thy Kingdom Come

• Entice: When. When will these things come to pass? Isn't that the question? We want to use the book of Revelation like a sign-post, or an almanac, or like the old

Isn't that the question? We want to use the book of Revelation like a sign-post, or an almanac, or like the old countdown we used to follow during a space launch. It pricks our curiosity and can distract us from seeing signals to other parts of scripture that we know very well apart from symbols and word pictures.

• Engage: You wan't to know when these things will happen? Lean in close I'm going to whisper….

countdown we used to follow during a space launch. It pricks our curiosity and can distract us from seeing signals to other parts of scripture that we know very well

apart from symbols and word pictures.

NOW

Not tomorrow, not soon. When we come into the presence of God among His redeemed people we are engaged in what we read about in & 5. I mean that right about 10 a.m. this morning, if our eyes are open, if we have “ears to hear.” We are among His people before His throne.

• Engage: You wan't to know when these things will happen….lean in close I'm going to whisper….NOW. Not tomorrow, not soon. When we come into the presence

• Expand: Why do we miss the invitation of this text? The issues are thus. We have diluted our worship with sentimentality and self-centeredness, we have distorted our view of the scripture by ignoring the essential, trivializing what is crucial, and sensationalizing what is peripheral. The most important thing in the Bible is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This is the key act of redemption. John wants us to celebrate this key moment in saving history-not denigrate it by focusing more on the futile attempts of empire to antagonize the saints than on what Jesus did to make us Saints! & 5 is just one way to symbolize the power of the cross. There is more to come and we always arrive pretty much back at the center.

of God and His redeemed people we are engaged in what we read about in & 5.

• Expand: The issues are thus. We have diluted our worship with sentimentality and self-centeredness, we have distorted our view of the scripture by ignoring the

essential, trivializing what is crucial, and sensationalizing what is peripheral. The most important thing in the Bible is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

• Excite: The key to understanding Revelation is Jesus.

This is the key act of redemption. John wants us to celebrate this key moment in saving history-not denigrate it by focusing more on the futile attempts of empire to

How do you react when you see the Lamb?

This response is what worship is.

antagonize the saints than on what Jesus did to make us Saints!

Jesus taught us to pray "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done…on earth as it is in heaven"

• Excite: The key to understanding Revelation is Jesus. The response to Jesus, when we chose to become a part of His elect, His chosen-the saved. This response is

Welcome to the revolution.

worship. Jesus taught us to pray "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done…on earth as it is in heaven" Welcome to the revolution.

• Explore: You see...

• Explore: We share in the heavenly worship because God in Christ has redeemed His creation.

John’s vision for us is not about anticipation-but participation.!

Explain: With John and his churches we today can experience every dimension of divine worship.

• Explain: With John and his churches we today can experience every dimension of divine worship.

▾ Body of Sermon:

1 Prayer.

Revelation 4:1–5 ESV

1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,

▾ 1 Prayer. 4.1-5

• 1.1 In the God's Spirit.

1.1 In God's Spirit.

• 1.2 Before God's Throne.

1.2 Before God's Throne.

• 1.3 With God's People.

1.3 With God's People.

▾ 2 Proclamation. 4.6-5.10

2 Proclamation.

Revelation 4:6–5:10 NA28

6 καὶ ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου ὡς θάλασσα ὑαλίνη ὁμοία κρυστάλλῳ. Καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ κύκλῳ τοῦ θρόνου τέσσαρα ζῷα γέμοντα ὀφθαλμῶν ἔμπροσθεν καὶ ὄπισθεν. 7 καὶ τὸ ζῷον τὸ πρῶτον ὅμοιον λέοντι καὶ τὸ δεύτερον ζῷον ὅμοιον μόσχῳ καὶ τὸ τρίτον ζῷον ἔχων τὸ πρόσωπον ὡς ἀνθρώπου καὶ τὸ τέταρτον ζῷον ὅμοιον ἀετῷ πετομένῳ. 8 καὶ τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα, ἓν καθʼ ἓν αὐτῶν ἔχων ἀνὰ πτέρυγας ἕξ, κυκλόθεν καὶ ἔσωθεν γέμουσιν ὀφθαλμῶν, καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς λέγοντες· ἅγιος ἅγιος ἅγιος κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος. 9 Καὶ ὅταν δώσουσιν τὰ ζῷα δόξαν καὶ τιμὴν καὶ εὐχαριστίαν τῷ καθημένῳ ἐπὶ τῷ θρόνῳ τῷ ζῶντι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων, 10 πεσοῦνται οἱ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες πρεσβύτεροι ἐνώπιον τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν τῷ ζῶντι εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων καὶ βαλοῦσιν τοὺς στεφάνους αὐτῶν ἐνώπιον τοῦ θρόνου λέγοντες· 11 ἄξιος εἶ, ὁ κύριος καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν, λαβεῖν τὴν δόξαν καὶ τὴν τιμὴν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν, ὅτι σὺ ἔκτισας τὰ πάντα καὶ διὰ τὸ θέλημά σου ἦσαν καὶ ἐκτίσθησαν. 1 Καὶ εἶδον ἐπὶ τὴν δεξιὰν τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου βιβλίον γεγραμμένον ἔσωθεν καὶ ὄπισθεν κατεσφραγισμένον σφραγῖσιν ἑπτά. 2 καὶ εἶδον ἄγγελον ἰσχυρὸν κηρύσσοντα ἐν φωνῇ μεγάλῃ· τίς ἄξιος ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον καὶ λῦσαι τὰς σφραγῖδας αὐτοῦ; 3 καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ οὐδὲ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς οὐδὲ ὑποκάτω τῆς γῆς ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν αὐτό. 4 καὶ ἔκλαιον πολύ, ὅτι οὐδεὶς ἄξιος εὑρέθη ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον οὔτε βλέπειν αὐτό. 5 καὶ εἷς ἐκ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων λέγει μοι· μὴ κλαῖε, ἰδοὺ ἐνίκησεν ὁ λέων ὁ ἐκ τῆς φυλῆς Ἰούδα, ἡ ῥίζα Δαυίδ, ἀνοῖξαι τὸ βιβλίον καὶ τὰς ἑπτὰ σφραγῖδας αὐτοῦ. 6 Καὶ εἶδον ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ θρόνου καὶ τῶν τεσσάρων ζῴων καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἀρνίον ἑστηκὸς ὡς ἐσφαγμένον ἔχων κέρατα ἑπτὰ καὶ ὀφθαλμοὺς ἑπτὰ οἵ εἰσιν τὰ [ἑπτὰ] πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ ἀπεσταλμένοι εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν γῆν. 7 καὶ ἦλθεν καὶ εἴληφεν ἐκ τῆς δεξιᾶς τοῦ καθημένου ἐπὶ τοῦ θρόνου. 8 Καὶ ὅτε ἔλαβεν τὸ βιβλίον, τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα καὶ οἱ εἴκοσι τέσσαρες πρεσβύτεροι ἔπεσαν ἐνώπιον τοῦ ἀρνίου ἔχοντες ἕκαστος κιθάραν καὶ φιάλας χρυσᾶς γεμούσας θυμιαμάτων, αἵ εἰσιν αἱ προσευχαὶ τῶν ἁγίων, 9 καὶ ᾄδουσιν ᾠδὴν καινὴν λέγοντες· ἄξιος εἶ λαβεῖν τὸ βιβλίον καὶ ἀνοῖξαι τὰς σφραγῖδας αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐσφάγης καὶ ἠγόρασας τῷ θεῷ ἐν τῷ αἵματί σου ἐκ πάσης φυλῆς καὶ γλώσσης καὶ λαοῦ καὶ ἔθνους 10 καὶ ἐποίησας αὐτοὺς τῷ θεῷ ἡμῶν βασιλείαν καὶ ἱερεῖς, καὶ βασιλεύσουσιν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

Revelation 4:6–5:10 ESV

6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “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.” 1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

2.1 A glorious Gospel for a worthy God. 4.6-11

• 2.1 A glorious Gospel for a worthy God. 4.6-11

2.1 A glorious Gospel for a worthy God. 4.6-11

• 2.2 A magnificent Savior for a fallen creation. 5.1-5

2.2 A magnificent Savior for a fallen creation. 5.1-5

• 2.3 A supreme sacrifice for a chosen people. 5.6-10

2.3 A supreme sacrifice for a chosen people. 5.6-10

▾ 3 Praise. 5.10-14

3 Praise.

Revelation 5:10–14 ESV

10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Revelation 5.10-14

This entire passage is filled with praise. Every section which is printed indented from both margins has been recognized as a hymn. How rich and beautiful, and awesome and imposing and grand must be the heavenly side of this universal chorus!!

This entire passage is filled with praise. Every section which is printed indented from both margins has been recognized as a hymn. How rich and beautiful, and

This entire passage is filled with praise. Every section which is printed indented from both margins has been recognized as a hymn. How rich and beautiful, and awesome and imposing and grand must be the heavenly side of this universal chorus!!

• 3.1awesome and imposing and grand must be the heavenly side of this universal chorus!!

awesome and imposing and grand must be the heavenly side of this universal chorus!!

• Universal because the message of redemption is for all.

3.1 Universal because the message of redemption is for all.

• 3.2 Reasonable because Jesus' sacrifice redeems the fallen creation.

3.2 Reasonable because Jesus' sacrifice redeems the fallen creation.

• 3.4 Final.

3.3 Final.

▾ Great Expectations:

Great Expectations:

• My favorite verses in this, one of the most beautiful chapters in the Bible is 5.5 & 6. John's weeping is stopped when he is told to expect a Lion to open the scroll.

And in one of those spacial moments in the book, he turns and sees not the expected Lion, but a slain Lamb. What a picture of the Christian life. We expect a lion,

and are given a lamb. We want to fight empire with power and God responds with humility. We want to shout in triumph…And God bids us to sing praises to the

Lamb.

• Today we are performing this passage, bridging the divine and mundane by our humble acts of prayer and proclamation and praise.

• The book is in His hand. Is your name a part of the singing and crown-tossing assembly of the Saints? It should be. And it can be and your voice can be added to