Worship In Heaven Series

Alpha and Omega, Part 28, Revelation Part 5

Worship in Heaven

Revelation 4:1-11

Introduction

- Last week we concluded our study of the letters to the 7 churches

-- We had several take-aways to consider, prayerfully you are still haunted by it

-- Each church must examine it’s faithfulness to Christ – He MUST be our focus

- Today, we begin our examination of the second great vision given to John

-- Why? The message to the churches is now complete – now we look ahead

-- BIG APP: The instruction is clear – return to and follow Christ alone

- And this week, we will restart our Wednesday night studies (6:30pm)

-- It’s an opportunity to come with questions & where we can discuss freely

-- Truly, we are all students of the Word, so why not spend time digging in?

-- Plan on being different than just me talking … at least that is my hope!

- We’ve arrived at the time for the church (believers) to see what is to come

• First three messages: what has been and what is

• Moving forward: the things that are to occur (from present to future)

-- Instruction to John was clear: Revelation 1:19, “Write down what you have seen - both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.”

- Read Revelation 4:1-11 / Pray

- TR: The first thing John sees and reveals to us is …

Point 1 – The Throne of God

- Question: How is John introduced to God in Heaven? Simple …

a. He saw a door opened in Heaven

-- This is a vision directly from God, and John is being invited into God’s presence

- Note: There are three doors mentioned in Heaven

• An open door for evangelism (Rev 3:8, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.”)

• The door of the human heart (Rev 3:20, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”)

• Finally, the door of revelation (re-read Rev 4:1) – John’s invitation to see

b. He is invited by a commanding, discernable voice

- This is the same voice He hears in Revelation 1:10, “It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast.” – same angel who calls to him then and is his guide in this

-- APP: It is a voice of authority that leads Him (and leads us in this vision)

c. John was physically called to come up to Heaven

- Greek: anabainó (ana-bino); to go up, to ascend APP: He was called to come

-- Why? To see the future events – to be shown what God wants us to know

-- Critical to know: What John will now be shown is what will take place

-- This vision must take place because of God’s holiness; He wants church to know

- See this: When called, John was immediately in the Spirit

-- This is a deeper experience than just your prayer life, a special revelation

-- This is an invitation to come and see, to enter presence, to write these things

- And in this, he sees the most astounding site known to man (v1)

-- He is transported into the holiest place – before the very throne of God

-- Emphatically, He sees and declares who this is … it is God alone!

-- Greek: idou (eh-vu); look! Behold! “Wow!”

- With all sovereignty, power, and authority – John sees God the Creator

-- He possesses supreme majesty, and in His hands is the future of the world

- To John, God is seen as light – a brilliant light of immense beauty

-- Psalmist realized this vision in Psalm 104:2, “You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens”

Display Image of the Throne Room

- He is seen as One with extreme beauty, made of precious gems and jewels

• The countenance of God is that of a jasper stone – clear and brilliant

• The sardine stone was a fiery red, represents the justice of God

• The rainbow was that of emerald (green), representing the mercy of God

-- REF Genesis 9:11-17 … God’s promise of grace, of mercy, of compassion

-- Visual reminder of the promise He made to humanity, placing it in the sky

- This representation is the only thing that man truly needs to look for