Sermon Tone Analysis

intro

So tonight we enter the Holy of Holies so to speak.

A vision of the throne of God.

Do ever wonder what you will see when you pass over to eternity?

Well the Word gives a few indications as to what it will be and is like.

Along with this passage, we have the book of Revelation Chapter 4 and & 10.

Also Daniel gives us some insight as well.

So let’s take a quick look at and then we will get look at .

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven.

And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.

And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.

And they do not rest day or night, saying:

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​​“Holy, holy, holy,

​​Lord God Almighty,

​​Who was and is and is to come!”

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9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

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11 ​​“You are worthy, O Lord,

​​To receive glory and honor and power;

​​For You created all things,

​​And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Chuck Smith was fond of saying, It’s important that you know ahead of time so that you won’t look like some hick with your mouth open.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

This vision happened after King Uzziah died.

King Uzziah was a good king for the most part.

Uzziah began his reign when he was only 16 years old, and he reigned 52 years.

Overall, he was a good king, and says, he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

says, He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

Uzziah also led Israel in military victories over the Philistines and other neighboring nations, and he was a strong king.

Uzziah was a energetic builder, planner, and general.

says, His fame spread as far as the entrance of Egypt, for he strengthened himself exceedingly.

But Uzziah's life ended tragically.

says, But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

In response, God struck Uzziah with leprosy, and he was an isolated leper until his death.

So you can imagine the question of the people of Israel, who will lead us?

Our great and strong King is dead who is now on the throne?

Aside, we have similar question today regarding our national leadership.

If Trump loses what will be next?

But God sends an awesome vision to a disillusioned people, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

No matter what God is on the throne!

Isaiah was not alone in seeing God's throne.

Almost everyone in the Bible who had a vision of heaven, was taken to heaven, or wrote about heaven spoke of God's throne.

The prophet Michaiah saw God's throne (), Job saw God's throne (), David saw God's throne ( and 7, 11:4), the Sons of Korah saw God's throne (, ), Ethan the Ezrahite saw God's throne (), Jeremiah saw God's throne (), Ezekiel saw God's throne (, ), Daniel saw God's throne (), and the Apostle John saw God's throne ().

In fact, the book of Revelation may as well be called "the book of God's throne," because God's throne is specifically mentioned more than 35 times in that book!

Notice, the LORD is sitting on His Throne.

He is not alarmed or afraid.

He is perfectly in control.

If you are an Atheist or unbeliever you have to worry.

You have to rule from a throne of you own making.

You would never be able to sit because you are always out of control!

Notice, He is High and lifted up.

He will be awesome to see.

God is so honored, so important, so dignified, that the train of His robe filled the temple.

That's a long train!

The long train of a Rulers Robe means others serve Him kind of like a Brides gown where she has attendants to serve her.

Verse 2

Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Above it stood seraphim: Surrounding the throne of God are angels known here as seraphim.

In many other passages, these angels are known as cherubim (; ; ) or as the living creatures of .

This is the only chapter in the Bible where these creatures are named seraphim.

Some believe that cherubim and seraphim refer to the same beings.

But the name seraphim means, "burning ones."

describes cherubim (see also ) this way: their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures.

The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.

That certainly seems to describe burning ones!

They may well be different life forms or the same, we will have to wait to get there to find out.

They are describes as having 6 wings; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Various commentators have opinions as to what this means.

"The two wings with which the angels fly mean nothing else than their ready and cheerful performance of the commandments of God … The two wings with which they cover their face show plainly enough that even angels cannot endure God's brightness, and that they are dazzled by it in the same manner as when we attempt to gaze upon the radiance of the sun." (Calvin)

It appears that humility in God’s presence among His angels is the operative word.

Verse 3 - 4

And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

Here we see a similar detail to that of John in the Revelation.

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.

And they do not rest day or night, saying:

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​​“Holy, holy, holy,

​​Lord God Almighty,

​​Who was and is and is to come!”

The seraphim are not even directly addressing the LORD God here.

They are proclaiming His glorious nature and character to one another, in the presence of the LORD.

Why do they repeat "holy" three times?

Wasn't it enough to simply say that the LORD was "holy" once?

It wasn't enough.

They say it three times because there are Three Persons in the One God.

In the Hebrew language, intensity is communicated by repetition.

To say the LORD is holy says something.

To say the LORD is holy, holy, says far more.

To say, holy, holy, holy is the LORD is to declare His holiness in the highest possible degree.

What does it mean to be Holy?

And what does it mean that God is holy, and holy in the highest possible sense?

Holiness, at its root, has the idea of apartness.

It describes someone, or something, which is set apart from other people or things.

An object can be holy if it is set apart for sacred service.