ARE YOUR BAGS PACKED?
As we look at Revelation Chapter 4 we see John still on the Isle Of Patmos. The letters to the Seven Churches has been completed. John is on a holding pattern waiting for the next word from God of impending danger to non-believers. Many writers have written how they believe the Church will be removed. Below I will give you three views the first being AMILLENNIALISTS along with POSTMILLENNIALLSM believe that GOD’S promises concerning the RAPTURE and END TIMES are figuratively and they can’t be taken LITERALLY. Both AMILLENNIALISTS, POSTMILLENNIALISM believe “THE RAPTURE of the CHURCH, and the RETURN OF JESUS to earth happens together. This event will occur at the END OF THE MILLENNIUM. Neither believe in the modern state of ISRAEL relevant to the prophesies in Revelation. Neither hold to the fact there will be a literal 1,000 YEAR MILLENNIUM. AMILLENNIALISTS refer to the reign of CHRIST in the hearts of His believers. POSTMILLENNLATISM say the MILLENNIUM refers to a period of peace when the Gospel reaches all people.. Both believe Christians will suffer during the Tribulation. The church will be caught up to meet JESUS (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; and Revelation 19:7-9
and immediately return to earth with JESUS.
I believe in the PREMILLENNIALISM which states the Rapture of the church will occur before the Seven years of Tribulation here on earth. After three and one half years tribulation, the Anti Christ will appear ushering in the Great Tribulation for the remainder of Seven years. At the end of the Great Tribulation
Jesus Christ will return just as He said; Satan will be bound for 1000 years and
the reign of Jesus Christ begins for all the Jews and Gentiles that made it through
the Great Tribulation. The scripture is like 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Please Turn in Your Bible to Revelation 4:1-5
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
5. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Lets Pray
Rapture is a state or experience of being carried away. The English word comes from a Latin word RAPIO, which means to seize or snatch away.
The Greek word from which we take the term “Rapture” appears in 1THESSALONIANS 4:7, translated “caught up.” The Latin translation of this verse used the word rapturo.
The Greek word is translated HARPAZO which means to snatch or take away.
Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel also saw God’s Throne
Isn’t it wonderful that one day whether its 100 years, or 6 months, or 1 week, one day, one hour, or 5 seconds the Lord will take His church the BRIDE OF CHRIST
to rule and reign with Him forever.
Today we will look at 4 Points
I. John Heard The Invitation From Christ
II. A Description of Him Who Sets On The Throne In Heaven
III. The 24 Elders Clothed in White, raiment; Crown of Gold on Their Head
IV. The Power That Came From The Throne
John was given the Honor of presenting the Letters to the Seven Church and now to go along with that Honor he was to see into the future, a vision, events that would soon take place.
I. John Heard The Invitation From Christ
A. John Accepted This Invitation
1. John saw an open door in Heaven
2. Just like today Christ gives us that open door to come in
a. To accept Christ as our Savior
b. Only Christ can open and only Christ can close that door of salvation that He offers to all people.
B. John heard the voice from Heaven from Christ
1. The first voice John heard sounded like a trumpet
2. The voice from Christ said “COME UP HITHER”
a. John was going to see I believe even feel what Christ was about
to show him ( it would be similar to going to a movie and you were the only one there seeing a preview of the coming event
b. John was to receive a new revelation from Christ
II. A Description of Him Who Sets On The Throne
A. We see the throne in Heaven
1. The Apostle John was in the spirit like a vision or a dream
2. Sometimes dreams seem so real and in John vision it was oh so real.
3. John saw the throne in heaven
4. The throne was great but the one setting on the throne was what it
Is all about.
B. We See The Glory and Power Of God Almighty
1. The one setting on the throne was God The Father
2. He was like a Jasper Stone a gem that John saw some commentaries say the gem was like a diamond. This isn’t what they call a jasper stone today.
3. The Sardine stone was named for the town of Sardius and is fiery red where it was discovered.
4. The diamond puts out brilliant light just as our Heavenly Father
radiates in His majesty where there will be no need of the sun, moon, and stars in heaven.
5. The sardine stone is fiery red just as Christ will pour His wrath on
Earth, Satan and His followers
6. Fire and Ice
7. In Exodus 28:17-20 it talks about the High Priest Breastplate and the first stone mentioned was a Sardius the last being a Jasper
C. A rainbow around the throne
1. This rainbow most likely was not the colors as we see today after it
rains, the bible says it was like unto an emerald, green, the prisms
from it generated perhaps the different colors of green.
2. Could this rainbow perhaps help remind John, and the church of God Covenant with mankind, that the earth would not be destroyed by water, but by fire.
III. The 24 Elders Clothed In White, Raiment, Crowns Of Gold On Their Head
A. We see 24 seats
1. These were not just any old seats, they were the most important
seats that had ever been occupied. They encircled God Almighty
setting on His throne.
2. One could use the illustration these elders were God cabinet the
ones that will have position under God.
3. We don’t fully know who these twenty four elders are
4. Some believe they are the 12 Apostles, and the 12 human leaders of
Israel, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
B. White represents purity
1. These white garments indicate they have been redeemed by the
Blood of the Lamb.
2. The Gold Crowns on their heads represent authority that is given
by God.
3. Gold at that time as it is today is a standard wealth
IV. The Power That Came From The Throne
A. The One That Sat On The Throne Gave The Power
1.. Lighting and Thunder to us represent power from heaven
2. Man cannot duplicate the power that God has and can use at any
time as we will see once the church is gone.
3. A crack of lighting that is near and you are not expecting it is very
frightful so will things be during the Seven years of Tribulation especially in the second half.
4. The voices will be of praise Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
B. In addition we see Seven Lamps of fire burning
1. These Seven Lamps are burning before the throne
2. These are the Seven Spirits of God.
3. This throne is one of Judgment which is not of Grace.
4. Judgment is coming
Conclusion: After this chapter we hear no more of the church until the nineteenth chapter. The church, Christian are gone many will die in moments following the Rapture.
If we believe it’s bad now we do not have a clue what the world will be like. Many will be
Left Behind to face sickness, starvation, death, not being with their Christian loves ones and friends. Many will hear this message and believe they have plenty of time, but do you really? Jesus gives us no assurance of tomorrow, however; if we are Born Again we have the assurance of life after death, to be with our love ones and friends, but most of all to be with Jesus Christ for eternity. Time is quickly passing Jesus Christ is coming again are
YOU ready if not it is my prayer today you will accept this precious gift that God offers to those who will believe. God Amazing Grace
