Remember ... to explain what was being seen would be like taking someone from a foreign land and showing him everything here ... for him to explain to his people, he would have to compare it to something ... John was doing just that in his writings.
Rev 4:1-11
The Bible teaches us that there was three heavens:
1. The atmospheric heaven where the "prince of the power of the air" lives and this will one day be destroyed (the earth).
2. Stellar heaven (the sky we see) or the universe.
3. The one into which John was taken - the heaven of God. Could this be the "black hole" that some scientists describe? Maybe!
Job 26:7 He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.
Behind the North Star there is an empty space.
It has been suggested that this is the Third Heaven where God's throne is set.
After the letters to the churches, John is caught up into heaven.
The reasons we believe in the rapture before the Tribulation:
1. John, one of the first true members of the Church of Jesus Christ, is a fitting symbol of the Church being taken out of the world before the tribulation begins.
The location of this event is right for the Rapture. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the successive periods of church history; Chapters 4 and 5 present a vision in heaven and Chapter 6 introduced the tribulation period.
2. The absence of any mention of the Church indicates that the Church is not around during Tribulation. In the first three chapters there are 16 references to the Church and it is not mentioned again until Chapter 19.
3. The use of Old Testament language and symbols in Chapters 4 - 18 indicate Israel ... not the Church.
4. The similarity between the events in Chapter 4 and other teaching on the Rapture ...
1 Thes 4:13-18 (some of my favorite scripture!)
Rapture - caught up - to seize by force.
Christ is coming to rob the world of His redeemed ones to take them to Heaven.
All believers who have voluntarily invited the Lord Jesus Christ into their lives will be raptured.
Most of the symbols in the book of Revelation have a counterpart in the Old Testament.
The throne of God seems to be fixed point and everything else in Heaven is in relation to it.
The throne of God is the place of authority and center of God's rulership for activities in Heaven.
Seven things around the Throne of God:
1. The triune God
studied carefully these verses reveal the three members of the triune God.
When John said he was in the Spirit - he was referring to the Holy Spirit; he was filled with the person of the HOly Spirit; the presence of the throne could be translated to be God.
Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father
v 3 mentions Jesus ... John said, "...and He that sat was to look upon ..."
We know that God cannot be seen or looked upon!
John 1:18
John 6:46
1 Tim 6:16
The one John looked at is non other than the only member of the Trinity that can been and that is Jesus. John was seeing his old friend ... WHAT A REUNION!
Described in two ways ...
Jasper - diamond ... a diamond disperses light into color ... 1 Peter 4:10 talked about the grace being "various" or multicolored!
Jasper emits the colors of grace from the Throne of God.
Carnelian or Sardius - blood red ... the redemptive blood of Christ.
Jasper - grace (multicolored)
Sardius - mercy (blood red)
Grace is getting what we don't deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve.
Also notice the color of the stone according to Exodus 18:17-20
This was the breastpiece of judgment for the priest in the temple.
The stones of the throne of God were the first and last stones in the breastpiece for the tribes of Israel each tribe according to their birth order.
Reuben was the first tribe meaning "behold a son"
Benjamin was the last tribe meaning "son of my right hand"
It is Christ enthroned; the Son about the reign in power Who was before John's vision!
It represents the first time Christ has had His entire priesthood together at one time.
The priesthood of believers began at the day of Pentecost.
Every member of the body of Christ is a member of the priesthood of believers ... 1 Peter 2:9
The Church made up the royal priesthood and is now in the presence of Christ all united at one time.
The sardius and jasper stones are used to depict Christ as our High Priest ... the first and the last Commander in Chief of the tribes of Israel and the priesthood.
CHRIST THE ETERNAL ONE:
another phrase of the description of Christ is ... a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald."
A perfectly circular rainbow (not just a bow)
In heaven we will see a perfectly circular rainbow which represents the deternal nature of Christ.
These are reminders that we are in heaven not because of anything we have done but because Christ has given us a royal priesthood by His grace.
TWENTY FOUR ELDERS
2 views on this ...
12 representing the tribes of Israel (Old Testament)
12 representing the apostles (New Testament)
Reason ... they are wearing gold victor's crowns (not ones with stones) telling us that they were redeemed men.
Second opinion:
They are not of our race at all ... they may be elders over God's creation.
I believe it is the first!
SIGNS OF JUDGMENT
Lightning and thunder have most always been associated with judgment. Since they come from the throne of God, they are a prelude to the judgment that is about to fall on the earth.
SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD
Sevenfold characteristics of the Holy Spirit
Spirit of the Lord
Spirit of Wisdom
Understanding
Council
Might
Knowledge
Fear of the Lord
NOT SEVEN DIFFERENT SPIRITS BUT SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ONE HOLY SPIRIT.
We are filled with the Holy Spirit and in addition to the fruit of the Spirit, we should have these characteristics.
SEA OF GLASS.
Sea = cleansing of the saings Psalm 24:3-6
Sea - 1 Kings 7:23
2 Chron 4:6
Glass - calm
It represents a sure foundation - the Word of God and our means of cleansing.
FOUR LIVING CREATURES.
Angels
Isaiah 6:1-3
These creatures were there to give constant praise and glory to the Father
They possibly represent the four Gospels:
Lion ... Christ the King (Matthew)
Ox ... Christ the servant (Mark)
Man ... Son of Man (Luke
Flying Eagle ... God Himself (John)
HEAVENLY WORSHIP OF CHRIST
Christ is the object of worship in heaven
Crowns are ones of victor - solid gold.
Everything in this chapter is in relation to its position with the Throne. How about our lives? What is in your life that should be looked at by how it relates to God's Throne?
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!
Granny and the kids
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Assurance
It comes regularly to my attention that some people who say they are saved do not believe in the assurance of their salvation. This really bothers me because if I had to worry every day of my life if I'm saved or not, all my energy would be expended on getting saved every day. I know I don't need to do that because I am SAVED BY GRACE and God will not take back His gift from me. Yes, I sin every day but I will not lose my salvation because it is real and will be real until the end of time!Just some notes on this subject: Hope they help you. Let me know if they do!
First, we did nothing to gain our salvation … it was a free gift that we accepted from God when we accepted Christ. Do we think He’s going to take back a gift? I don’t.
Ephesians 2:8-9For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
The initiative for your salvation was God’s …
Ephesians 1:4-5
He chose us in Hi before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will.It was God (through His spirit) who convicted you of your sin and wooed you to Christ Jesus (Prevenient Grace)
Romans 8:9
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.Hebrews 12:2… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Thes. 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
Do you believe that the blood of Christ can cover ALL sins? Or just some sins? There is no “little” sin … it is black and white … no gray areas.Yes, if we are sinning, we are outside His will but there is nothing that says we will not be with Him in the end.I believe that if you have truly accepted Christ as your Savior, you cannot do anything to undo your salvation. You can be separated from His hearing but never from His love and power.
Romans 8:35-39
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword? Just as it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 10:29
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
First, we did nothing to gain our salvation … it was a free gift that we accepted from God when we accepted Christ. Do we think He’s going to take back a gift? I don’t.
Ephesians 2:8-9For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
The initiative for your salvation was God’s …
Ephesians 1:4-5
He chose us in Hi before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of His will.It was God (through His spirit) who convicted you of your sin and wooed you to Christ Jesus (Prevenient Grace)
Romans 8:9
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.Hebrews 12:2… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Thes. 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
Do you believe that the blood of Christ can cover ALL sins? Or just some sins? There is no “little” sin … it is black and white … no gray areas.Yes, if we are sinning, we are outside His will but there is nothing that says we will not be with Him in the end.I believe that if you have truly accepted Christ as your Savior, you cannot do anything to undo your salvation. You can be separated from His hearing but never from His love and power.
Romans 8:35-39
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril or sword? Just as it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 10:29
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Oops
Left out the Church at Laodicea:
Most disappointing of all the churches
In spite of the wealth of this church, nothing is known of the ministry:
There is no commendation to this church.
Condemnation: They are lukewarm. They have no power. May have never seen a transformation of souls at this church.
They were deceived about themselves! Sound familiar?
Counsel: Be tried by fire! Let their impurities be dissolved.
Most disappointing of all the churches
In spite of the wealth of this church, nothing is known of the ministry:
There is no commendation to this church.
Condemnation: They are lukewarm. They have no power. May have never seen a transformation of souls at this church.
They were deceived about themselves! Sound familiar?
Counsel: Be tried by fire! Let their impurities be dissolved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
