Throne Room

Where is the seat of authority? Courthouse? State House? Polling Place? Government Summits? Hollywood? Executive Board Rooms? Wall Street? Demonstrations in the street? Social Media? I propose that these are sources of OPINIONS, but all AUTHORITY originates with the one who is the source of all things.

Rights are given by God and recognized by various entities.

Many of you have attended a wedding that I have performed. You may have noticed that when I pronounce husband and wife, I use words different than many preachers. They often say “by the power vested in my by the state of…” I state “by the power entrusted to me by Almighty God and recognized by the state of… I now pronounce you husband and wife. The difference may be small in your mind, but is huge in mine. My authority does not come from state statute. I have been called by God and set apart (ordained) by His people.

The best that government can do is establish constitutional or civil rights, but God grants human rights that are unalienable. If the government ever strips pastors from the authority to sign a marriage license, I will still lead couples into covenanting together before God as a picture of Christ and the Church.

In our first sermon in this series, we worshipped a God who is sufficient for any situation. In the second we adored the God who knows your situation. This week we bow in awe at the God who is over all situations.

Transition: In a world where “personal truth” is promoted as ultimate reality, It is good for us to adjust our understanding to conform to the revealed truth from the origin of truth. The error of wandering into falsehood is not a new problem…

The Trinity of God

Precision matters:

Arius was a preacher in the early 4th century proclaiming that Jesus was somehow less important than the Father. So Emperor Constantine invited the 1800 Bishops in all of Christendom to come together in summer of AD 325. About 300 Bishops accepted the invitation. After 3 months of debate and discussion, a statement was agreed upon that was signed by EVERY representative but 2. They were then excommunicated and their titles removed.

The council decided some smaller things (like when to celebrate Easter), but the biggest thing coming out of the Council was the first officially signed Creed.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (The Creed of 325)

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; He suffered, and the third day He rose again, ascended into heaven; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

And in the Holy Ghost.

Why does it matter?

When Jesus was literally dead, The Father and Spirit were both living and active!

An over-emphasis on oneness leads to confusion.

An over-emphasis on personhood leads to misunderstanding.

Most of us have parents that we admire. Generally, from our parents were learn life skills like cooking, managing a checkbook, cleaning, laundry, how to check the oil or change a tire on the car, how to bait a hook or gut a deer.

In my family, I’ve never seen my mother under the hood of the car. And I’ve never seen my father leaning over the washing machine. I’ve learned these skills from my “parents”, sometimes it was my “father”, and other times it was my “mother”.

Now, ALL analogies break down, because the Trinity is a unique (one-of-a-kind) relationship! You may have one parent, but not the other and still have a parent. But with God, if any person of the godhead is missing, what you have is less than God. But we can easily see how confusion and/or misunderstanding develop around words and persons.

There is a very popular worship song that is rooted in Revelation 4-5. But the lyrics of the song move back and forth between the Father (Rev. 4) and the Son (Rev. 5) in a way that can lead to wrong conclusions!

4:2 clearly describes one SEATED on the throne. 5:6 clearly says the Lamb is STANDING and 5:7 describes the standing Lamb taking the scroll from the seated One.

Last month we appropriately honors our Mothers, Last week we appropriately honored our Fathers, but Fathers are not Mothers and Mothers are not Fathers in the economy of God.

The Throne of God

Math Facts

3 holies (4:8)

4 creatures (4:6,8,9; 5:6,8,11,14) (mentioned 7X)

7 - sevens (torches, Spirit, seals, horns & eyes)

4 - 24s (thrones & elders)

The number “twenty-four” has been related to the twenty-four books Jewish writers assigned to the Hebrew canon, but more relevantly to the twelve tribes plus the twelve apostles (cf. Rev 21:12–14), or the twenty-four orders of priests. (1 Chron 24:5)

Even though I made a big deal about the Father and Lamb in the 2 chapters. Notice that the 4 Creatures & Elders bow down before both! (4:8-10 & 5:8). Distinct persons, but same worship.

Thrones (Rev. 4:4)

Government & Administration

One of my Bible Background Commentaries states, “Elders” were those with authority in Old Testament cities and later Jewish communities who could function as representatives for their communities (e.g., Deut 21:6); see Isaiah 24:23[i]

Encircling the Throne

Have you ever thought why politicians appear on a stage (usually with no one behind them) but athletes are normally given their trophies in the middle of an arena?

The only people allowed behind a politician are those who have been thoroughly vetted to prove they pose no threat to the speaker.

I’ve heard that one of the most terrifying times to be a Secret Service officer is when the person being protected gets out of the limousine, because he or she creates a 360-degree exposure to attack.

The Throne room of Heaven is in the round because there is no possible threat that could jeopardize the one seated there.

Thunder & Lightening (Rev. 4:5)

Reminiscent of God’s revelation to the Israelites on Sinai and in the wilderness

Sea of Glass (Rev. 4:6)

Have you ever thought about all the places where reflecting pools are placed?

These are places where the pool does little to add to the grandeur of the person or events being honored, but the pool is a call for spectators to reflect on how important that place is. The sea of glass before the Throne of God is meant to hit our pause button so that we will take a moment to soak in the grandeur of our God.

Crowns (Rev. 4:4, 4:10)

Crowns in Heaven are NOT symbols of pride.

These are not just laurel leaves, the elders are dressed in white with golden laurels (4:4)

All the elders cast their laurels before the King. (4:10)

Praise & Thanksgiving (Rev. 4:8 & 11)

Rev. 4:8 – Who God is

Rev. 4:11 – What God did

These 2 elements are good structure for our prayers

Transition: Without missing a beat or pausing for breath, the praise of the One seated on the Throne moves to focus on a scroll sealed with perfect seals.

Have you ever been frustrated by packaging that was so tight, you couldn’t get it open? I’ll never understand why the five and dime packages 95 cent batteries in a blister pack that is impossible to open. Our Sundays begin with a stop by Casey’s to get iced coffee for Ann. Since I am too cheap to pay for the name brand, She usually ends up with the store brand. But I have a complaint about Casey’s brand coffee. In the bottles the shrink wrap is not perforated and in the cans the pull tab bends and breaks without opening the can, Now my struggle with batteries and coffee pales in comparison to the struggle in Heaven.

The majestic One in Heaven has a Scroll that contains His plan for humanity. An Angel begins to ask if anyone is able to open the scroll and NOBODY in Heaven or on Earth is qualified to open the scroll. When one of the elders says “there is a conquering Lion who can do it!”

The Lion/Lamb of God

While John is looking for a Lion, he notices a Lamb between the Throne and the 4 creatures that surround it. This slaughtered Lamb takes the scroll and immediately worship break out.

The 4 Creatures fall down in worship

The 24 Elders fall down in worship holding Harps & Bowls of Incense.

· Harps - Worship

· Bowls of Incense - prayer

Have you paused to think that the music of worship as well as our prayers of supplication and dedication are being poured out in Heaven before the Lamb who was slain?

Worship is not about musicianship, stirring our emotions, or making us feel warm and fuzzy, it is about adoring our Savior!

Was Slain (5:6b)

In order for a lamb to be an acceptable sacrifice it had to be without spot or wrinkle.

After Jesus was resurrected, he used his wounds to convince the disciples that He was who He claimed to be.

I don’t know how a lamb can be both slaughtered and without marks, but this slayed (literally the word is slaughtered) is deemed by all present in Heaven to be able to open the scroll.

Worthy to Open (5:9b)

In the 72 hours that we know as Good Friday to Easter Jesus: (5:9-10)

a. Shed His blood. Appeasing the wrath of a just God

b. Ransomed lost humanity from every race

c. Gave God’s family a purpose: to worship God

d. Gave God’s family a future: to rule with God

Worshipped as God (5:11-14)

V. 8 – Elders and Creatures worship

V.11 – joined by thousands and myriads of angels

V.13 – EVERY creature in Heaven, on Earth and in the realm of the dead.

V.14 – creatures and Elders proclaim “this is good!”

Conclusion:

In 4:11 God is worshipped in Heaven as creator and sustainer of all. In 5:13 both Father and Son are worshipped by every living being.

From the Glory of this Heavenly vision, let me land this plane and put us back on the flinty soil of Chase County.

It is good to understand that one day all life will acknowledge Jesus as worthy of all worship. But today is He worthy of your submission and obedience? Is He deserving of you saying “no” to your selfish desires, the hurts, habits and hang-ups you are holding onto? Is He welcome to open the layers of your heart and become the center of your life?

I trust that today, if you have never done so, you will repent (turn away from your sin) and trust (turn to Christ as the ultimately worthy one) of your life.

Transition to Communion

For all who have make this turn (what John 3 calls being born again) we celebrate our forgiveness by consuming bread and wine to reflect on the body and blood of Jesus, the Lamb that was slain to make us priest and offer us a future.

Introduce “Is He Worthy?”

Song of Response #...... “Family of God”

Benediction: Psalm 121:7-8