“A Little Glimpse of Heaven” Part 1
Revelation 4
* We all like to sing and dream about heaven. My questions today are these: Do you really want to go there? Are you sure? Do you believe the Bible? What if the Bible rendition of heaven is vastly different than ours? We must believe God’s word, if we desire to spend eternity in heaven. God’s word tells us more than we would like to know. So let’s hear from God’s word what HE has to say about Heaven. (READ TEXT)
* Revelation 4 seem to give to us the ‘sights’ and ‘sounds’ of heaven from someone who has been ‘invited’ in. Today let’s see the sights.
* After seeing the door and being invited in (Which many believe ‘symbolizes’ the rapture of the church. One thought which I have is that this symbolizes the death of a Saint – we see a door & hear a voice giving the invitation) John gives us a first person view of this place called heaven. Think about how overwhelmed John must have been.
The Center piece of heaven is the Throne – (Verse 2) “There in Heaven a throne was set”. In Heaven as in the Revelation, the “Throne” is a big thing. It is the centerpiece of attention. It is mentioned many times and in many ways.
* There is a tendency today to think that the universe revolves about us or even the earth, but it revolves around the throne.
* The language in verse 2 seems to indicate that John saw the throne being set in its place. This reminds us that heaven is making ready for all creation to come to the throne.
* There is a great deal of business done at the throne. It is a place of evaluation, judgment, sentencing, grace, & mercy.
* Everything and everyone finds their place for eternity by starting at the throne.
* This picture of heaven begins with a facsimile of our heart. Every heart has a throne in it. It is the controlling center of life. Everything you do begin there.
1. Around the Throne – (Vs 3b,4,6b-7) - You can always tell what is going on in a place (even heaven and the heart) by what is going on around the control center. Never forget that the Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” and “Out of the heart flows the issues of life.” Basically, whatever is surrounding the controller of your heart is on display to other people. Such is the case in our text.
* We see a rainbow. We have all seen rainbows, but this one is unique. Why? This is not a half-rainbow but a complete one which “surrounds” the throne. This reminds us that in heaven all things are completed and that God is perfect. To see the rainbow is to be reminded of God’s covenant to Noah.
* Not only that, but John sees an unusual color, emerald which is a green color. Can you get the picture in your mind?
* Now look around the centerpiece and see 24 thrones. Why 24? Could this be to represent the 12 tribes & 12 apostles? Allow me to suggest that these represent the redeemed of all the ages. (We know who we are by who we gather with)
* Finally, we see 4 living creature around the throne; lion, calf, man, and eagle. These are symbolic of the 4 named parts of creation which God made a covenant with back in Genesis 9.
* Think about this picture and let 2 thoughts permeate your soul, Covenant & Conversion Connections around the throne.
2. Before the throne - The end of verse 5 and the beginning of verse 6 picture what was before, or in front of, the throne. Reading the number 7, reminds us that it means ‘completion”.
* The lamps indicate that this is this is the throne of a sovereign as well as they are burning to illuminate the work. Fire and light are both symbols of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit casts light on the glory of Jesus and convicts the man of his sin (Jn 16:8). His ministry is still active before the throne.
* Also before the throne is a sea of glass. We can begin by comparing the Sea of Glass around the throne to the Sea of BRASS outside the Temple in the Old Testament. Outside the place of worship there was a large laver filled with water. Before the Priest could enter HIS presence they had to wash & be cleansed. It is a picture of 1 Jn 1:9 & speaks of Holiness
* It is also a picture of calm at the throne telling us that God’s judgment is final, it is righteous and there is no appeal.
* If you have missed the rest of the message, don’t miss this;
3. On the Throne – John saw someone on the throne. In fact, the one he saw ON the throne was so amazing that he does not even attempt a description in ‘human terms’, rather he write, “the one on the throne LOOKED LIKE….” and then he reached for the most beautiful & brilliant stones he could.
* On the throne is no one other than Jehovah God, creator God, living Lord. Consider the trinity; God the Father is on the throne, God the Spirit is before the throne, and God the Son, as we’ll see in Chapter 5:6, is approaching the throne. You ask, “How can this be?” Now, we see in a glass darkly like looking into a fogged up window, now we do not have the capacity to understand all of God. Our finite minds cannot comprehend. Then we’ll see, know, and understand.
* Have you even yet understood the truth that HEAVEN is not about reunions and loved ones, Heaven is about God. Yes we will see those who have gone on before, yes we will recognize each other, and yes heaven is a wonderful place; but the truth is, Heaven is about that first voice, that first sound, that first glimpse of God. And it is about God being on the throne.
* There will be no business meetings in heaven (in fact this may be heaven by itself). There will be no committees, votes, & we don’t get a say in decisions. God will be on HIS THRONE. (His heaven, people)
* If God is not on the throne of your life, why would you want to see Him on Heaven’s throne? If He’s on your throne, He’s in control.
4. From the Throne – Recognizing God to be on the throne is to look and wonder, “What are those flashes of lightning, rumblings, and thunder” coming from the throne?
* Let me paint you a picture. For almost 15 years we lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. When weather, good or bad, came in from the south we could see it before it arrived. Many times we would be driving down highway 90 and see in the distance flashes, hear rumblings, and occasionally hear thunder. These were all signs that something was coming.
* To read of these things coming from the throne is to be reminded that a new storm is coming. The throne is set, the Judge is in place, and rebellious earth will receive her justice. Never miss this, judgment comes from the throne. Believers will be judged not for their salvation, which was settled at Calvary. We will be judged by our obedience or disobedience. The issue has been, is, and will be, “What is our relationship to God through Christ?” Will we hear ‘well done?’
* For the last 40+ years, I have heard, sung, and even written songs about heaven. Can you name some your favorite songs about heaven?
* Think about the focus of those songs and see if they only mention Him.
* When I read God’s word, I shudder to realize the difference in the place which we think we’ll go to rather than the actual place. It seems that to receive Christ invitation to “Come up here” is an invitation to see & focus on NO ONE but GOD. It causes me to wonder, if our mindset is to see mom or dad or my child or someone other than HIM, I wonder if we’ll even get there.
* Notice there has not been a mention of the “streets of gold” or “pearly gates” or ‘jasper walls’, yet this is heaven. Don’t miss this truth; that is the NEW heaven, NEW earth, and NEW Jerusalem. This is not even in view when we get to heaven and is prepared only for those who have walked by His throne named the “Judgment Seat of Christ.”
* You will only make it to and through the Judgment Seat if, because of your relationship to God through Jesus, your heart is all about HIM. Never forget, lukewarm person, that He will vomit you out of His mouth. Never forget, lost person, that He will see you at the Great White throne. Never forget, disciple, your goal is to see HIM and not them!
* Heaven – ‘it will be all about HIM.’
