Jesus At The Center Series

JESUS AT THE CENTER

Rev. 4-5

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN FRUSTRATED?

1. Four golfing friends were playing on a difficult course. One man kept placing ball after ball into a pond. At last, he got so frustrated that he picked up his golf bag and heaved it into the middle of the lake, and then started walking toward his car.

2. His friends were speechless. In five minutes, however, he was seen returning. His friends smiled; he had “come to his senses.”

3. He waded out into the lake, fished his dripping bag out, unzipped the side pocket and got his car keys out. Then he flung the golf bag again – even further into the lake than before! Then he went home.

B. THESIS & TITLE

1. Today we’re continuing our series on “What God Says About the Future” part 5. We’re looking at the Book of Revelation chap 4-5.

2. The Book of Revelation is much more than a book of wild visions, it’s full of spiritual truths and can usher you into a new relationship and experience with Jesus!

3. The title of today’s message is “Jesus At The Center.” John’s narrative & vision continued, “...I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice...said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it” Rev. 4:1-2 NIV.

I. 1st SCENE: JOHN’S VISION OF HEAVEN Rev. 4

A. A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN.

1. People have always theorized whether there are other dimensions, but the Bible is clear that there are. John saw a DOOR open in a clear-blue sky and he was called up, through the door, into the dimension of 3rd Heaven (God’s throne room). [Another example is Mark 1:10 “he saw heaven being torn open” like a piece of cloth. Instead of a door, it was a rip.]

2. How was it possible for a human to enter Heaven (God’s presence)? It’s impossible – because all humans are sinners; “For ALL have sinned and come short of God’s glory” Rom. 3:23. Psalm 5:4 says, “With You the wicked cannot dwell.” Rev. 21:27 says, “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful.”

3. Then how come there’s a Door to Heaven? DOOR (defined); “a swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is gained”; “it’s a means of access; an opportunity. The reason there’s a door to Heaven is because...

4. JESUS IS THE DOOR TO HEAVEN. When He died on the Cross, He opened a portal from earth to Heaven. He said, “I am THE WAY, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me” Jn. 14:6. In John 10:9 He said, “I AM THE DOOR!” If you want to get to Heaven or to God, you must go through Jesus!

B. JOHN SAW A THRONE SET IN HEAVEN – the seat of honor & power. That throne was not empty, but God Himself filled that seat.

1. He had the “appearance of jasper (diamond – many faceted) and ruby (deep red, signifying justice). A rainbow (seal of the covenant) that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

2. Around the throne were 24 angelic elders sitting on thrones. There were also 4 huge six-winged angels covered with eyes and burning with holiness, crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts!” There were also 7 columns of fire – the 7 Spirits of God. Plus millions of lesser angels.

3. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. All heaven fell down before God’s might & power!

II. 2nd SCENE: THE SCROLL OF DESTINY Rev. 5

A. THE SACRED SCROLL

1. John saw the God the Father holding a momentous scroll and heard a mighty angel ask with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

2. No one in the universe was found worthy; the scroll of God’s Destiny could not be opened! All God’s plans for the ages to come would be frustrated. All heaven began to weep.

3. But in that moment of universal failure, One prevailed – the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! John’s glance followed the attention of all heaven to the throne of God and there in the center of that throne appeared the Savior – a wounded, bleeding, yet Victorious Lamb!

B. THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

1. IDENTITY OF THE LION. Jacob’s prophecy (Gen. 49:9-10), revealed that the lion is the symbol of the tribe of Judah, the kingly (David’s) tribe. Lions symbolize power, fierceness, and majesty; they’re the king of the beasts. And THIS LION is the King of ALL! Jesus is the long-awaited Lion of the tribe of Judah. He has the lion’s heart and the lion’s strength, and He comes forth conquering and to conquer.