What if the Christmas story has a dragon in it? In Revelation 12:1-5, John sees a great sign appear in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a garland of twelve stars on her head, crying out in labor to give birth – and another sign, a great, fiery red dragon with seven heads and ten horns who stands before the woman to devour her Child as soon as it is born.
In this message from our series Revelation: Jesus Revealed – The View Behind The Veil, we look at three signs: the sign of the woman, who is identified as Israel rather than a cult, Mary, or the church; the sign of the dragon, Satan, whose hatred of God’s people runs from Cain and the decree in Esther’s day to destroy the Jews all the way to the nativity and the angry crowd in the synagogue who tried to throw Jesus off a cliff; and the sign of the Child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron and was caught up to God and His throne.
Along the way we trace the promise of Genesis 3:15 that the woman’s Seed would bruise the serpent’s head, the word that the God of peace will crush Satan under our feet shortly, and Hebrews 2:14, where Jesus shared in flesh and blood so that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. Because our adversary still walks about like a roaring lion, we are called to be sober and vigilant – and to rest in the Dragonslayer who has already won the victory.
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Revelation 12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with
the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
Revelation 12:2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to
give birth.
Revelation 12:3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red
dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
Revelation 12:4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to
the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth,
to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
Revelation 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod
of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
The star led wise men traveled far to see
Who might this newborn Dragonslayer be
1. THE SIGN OF THE WOMAN.
Revelation 12:1 Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with
the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.
J. Vernon McGee (Quote)
“If you tell me your interpretation of the woman in the twelfth chapter of
Revelation, then I’ll tell you your interpretation of prophecy.
I believe that the identification of this woman is the key to the understanding
of the book of Revelation.”
1) Some cults see themselves as the woman.
2) Some believe the woman is Mary.
3) Some believe the woman is the church.
THE WOMAN IS ISRAEL
Revelation 37:9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers,
and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the
moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
Revelation 12:2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to
give birth.
Micah 4:10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman
in birth pangs …”
Isaiah 26:17 As a woman with child is in pain and cries out in her pangs, When
she draws near the time of her delivery, so have we been in Your sight, O Lord.
Isaiah 26:18 We have been with child, we have been in pain;
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given;
2. THE SIGN OF THE DRAGON.
Revelation 12:3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red
dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
1 John 3:12 “… Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.
Esther 3:13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces,
to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children
and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the
month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
Revelation 12:3 “… Behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and
ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.
Revelation 12:4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to
the earth …”
Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!
Revelation 12:4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to
the earth …”
Revelation 12:4 “… And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to
give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born.
Luke 2:6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her
her to be delivered in the inn.
Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son …”
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Luke 4:28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were
filled with wrath,
Luke 4:29 and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow
of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.
Luke 4:30 Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.
3. THE SIGN OF THE CHILD.
Revelation 12:5 She bore a male Child …”
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between
your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”
Genesis 3:15 (ERV) I will make you and the woman enemies to each other.
Your children and her children will be enemies. You will bite her child’s foot,
but he will crush your head.”
Romans 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.
Revelation 12:5 “… And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.
Revelation 12:5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod
of iron.
Psalm 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to
pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
Hebrews 2:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood,
He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy
him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
In Revelation 10, a mighty angel comes down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, with a rainbow on his head, his face like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He sets one foot on the sea and one on the land, cries out like a roaring lion, and seven thunders utter their voices – but John is told, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”
In this message from our series Revelation: Jesus Revealed – The View Behind The Veil, we explore three mysteries in Revelation 10: the mystery of the sealed-up scroll, the mystery of the divine delay – as the angel swears that there should be delay no longer and the mystery of God will be finished – and the mystery of the bittersweet book that John is told to take and eat.
Like John and the prophet Ezekiel, we must first take God’s Word in before we can give it out. His Word is sweeter than honey to our taste, and it is given to us so that we might share it with others.
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Revelation 10:1 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven,
clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun,
and his feet like pillars of fire.
Revelation 10:2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot
on the sea and his left foot on the land,
Revelation 10:3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he
cried out seven thunders uttered their voices.
Revelation 10:4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about
to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which
the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”
Revelation 10:5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land
raised up his hand to heaven
Revelation 10:6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created
heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the
sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,
Revelation 10:7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is
about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His
servants the prophets.
Revelation 10:8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again
and said, Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who
stands on the sea and on the earth.”
Revelation 10:9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”
And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but
it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
Revelation 10:10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it,
and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach
become bitter.
Revelation 10:11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many
peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
I. THE MYSTERY OF THE SEALED-UP SCROLL.
Revelation 10:1 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven,
clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun,
and his feet like pillars of fire.
Psalm 103:20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do
His word, heeding the voice of His word.
Revelation 10:2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot
on the sea and his left foot on the land,
Revelation 10:3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he
cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Psalm 29:3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
Psalm 29:4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
Psalm 29:5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,
Psalm 29:7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.
Psalm 29:8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
Psalm 29:9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer gives birth,
Revelation 10:2 He had a little book open in his hand …”
Revelation 10:4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about
to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which
the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”
The mysteries of the kingdom, Matthew 13
The mystery of Israel’s blindness, Romans 11
The mystery of the rapture, 1 Corinthians 15
The mystery of lawlessness, 2 Thessalonians 2:7
The mystery of Christ, Ephesians 3
The mystery of Christ in you, Colossians 1
The mystery of godliness, that is God and man one in Christ, 1 Timothy 3:16;
The mystery of God’s will, Ephesians 1:9 and 10
Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the
time of the end;
Daniel 12:8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what
shall be the end of these things?”
Daniel 12:9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and
sealed till the time of the end.
II. THE MYSTERY OF THE DIVINE DELAY.
Revelation 10:5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land
raised up his hand to heaven
Revelation 10:6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created
heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the
sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,
Revelation 10:7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is
about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His
servants the prophets.
III. THE MYSTERY OF THE BITTERSWEET BOOK.
Revelation 10:8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again
and said, Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who
stands on the sea and on the earth.”
Revelation 10:9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”
And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but
it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
1 Corinthians 3:2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until
now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
You are what you eat.
Revelation 10:10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it,
and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach
become bitter.
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to
my mouth!
Revelation 10:11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many
peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
Ezekiel 2:4 For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them,
and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’
Ezekiel 2:5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse–for they are
a rebellious house–yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Ezekiel 2:6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their
words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions;
do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a
rebellious house.
Ezekiel 2:7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether
they refuse, for they are rebellious.
Ezekiel 2:8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious
like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
Ezekiel 2:9 Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and
behold, a scroll of a book was in it.
Ezekiel 2:10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside
and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.
Ezekiel 3:1 Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this
scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”
Ezekiel 3:2 So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.
Ezekiel 3:3 And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your
stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ate, and it was in my mouth
like honey in sweetness.
Ezekiel 3:4 Then He said to me: “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and
speak with My words to them.
God’s Word must first be taken in before we can give it out.
Then God’s Word is given to us that we might share it with others.
Explore the terrifying and prophetic vision of the Four Horsemen in Revelation 6 in this powerful Bible teaching. As the Lamb opens the first four seals, the world is shaken by deception, war, famine, and death.
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Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one
who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another;
and there was given to him a great sword.
Revelation 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had
a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.”
Revelation 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who
sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them
over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by
the beasts of the earth.
Job 39:19 “Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with
thunder?
Job 39:20 Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror.
Job 39:21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the
clash of arms.
Job 39:22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from
the sword.
Job 39:23 The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin.
Job 39:24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come
to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
Job 39:25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.
THE 1ST SEAL: THE WHITE HORSE OF DECEPTIVE PEACE.
Revelation 6:1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard
one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow;
and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
Opinions on who is the first rider is include:
1) Jesus Christ
2) the advance of the gospel,
3) False religion
4) the antichrist,
5) the spirit of conquest,
6) government persecuting Christians,
7) Satan’s servants in general.
8) Not a person but a personification
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat
on it was Death, and Hades
The horsemen are not persons, but personifications, representations
manifestations, embodiments,
It’s not that the four horses will actually ride over the earth, but are symbolical
representations of things that will happen
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one
who sat on it to take peace from the earth, …”
Daneil 11:21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give
the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by
Jeremiah 6:14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace,
peace!’ When there is no peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction
comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
THE 2ND SEAL: THE RED HORSE OF DESTRUCTIVE PUNISHMENT.
Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who
sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and
there was given to him a great sword.
Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not
troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom …”
Matthew 24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;
but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.
Albert Einstein said,”The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything
except our way of thinking. We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking
if mankind is to survive.”
President Ronald Reagon once said, “Man has used every weapon he has ever
devised … It takes no crystal ball to perceive that a nuclear war, is likely … In a
nuclear war, all mankind would lose.”
Former Soviet president Brezhnev once said, “Only he who has decided to
commit suicide can start a nuclear war.”
THE 3RD SEAL: THE BLACK HORSE OF DIVISIVE POVERTY.
Revelation 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
“Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had
a pair of scales in his hand.
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying,
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barleåy for a denarius; and do
not harm the oil and the wine.”
Lamentations 5:10 Our skin is hot as an oven, because of the fever of famine.
Lamentations 4:9 Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger;
For these pine away, stricken for lack of the fruits of the field.
Matthew 24:7 “… And there will be famines …
Mark 13:8 “… and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.
Revelation 6:6 “… and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
THE 4TH SEAL: THE PALE HORSE OF DEADLY PLAGUES.
Revelation 6:7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, “Come and see.”
Revelation 6:8 So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who
sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them
over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the
beasts of the earth.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of
Man be.
Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But
Pharaoh’s heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had said.
Revelation 9:20 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues,
did not repent …”
Revelation 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their
sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Song “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”
Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we’d all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we’d all been ready
There’s no time to change your mind
The Son has come and you’ve been left behind
Acts 17:31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in
righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this
to all by raising Him from the dead.
Revelation 5 sermon: In “Who Has Control of the Scroll of Destiny?” Victory Baptist studies the sealed scroll in Revelation 5 and why Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God and Lion of Judah, is worthy to open it. This sermon explains the scroll as the title deed to the earth, the dominion lost by the first Adam, and the redemption regained by the Last Adam through His victorious sacrifice.
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Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll
written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Revelation 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy
to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
Revelation 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able
to open the scroll, or to look at it.
Revelation 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and
read the scroll, or to look at it.
Revelation 5:5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion
of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to
loose its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the
four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though
it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits
of God sent out into all the earth.
Revelation 5:7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who
sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden
bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on
the earth.”
1. The Scroll in the Hands of the One on the Throne
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll
written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Here are seven views regarding the contents of the scroll
1. The book of the new covenant, which has yet to be instituted with Israel in
the millennial kingdom
2. A book of redemption (the Lamb’s book of life)
3. The title deed to the earth!
4. The events of the Tribulation (a doomsday book)
5. A bill of divorce—the Lamb divorcing unfaithful Israel
6. A record of the sins of mankind
7. A testament or will
2. The Scroll in the Hands of the First Adam
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over
the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply;
fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds
of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 2:8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the
man whom He had formed.
Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant
to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden,
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
3. The Scroll Stolen by the Hands of Satan
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway
of the wicked one.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be
cast out.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT) Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds
of those who don’t believe.
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and
showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Matthew 4:9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down
and worship me.”
4. The Scroll Regained into the Hands of the Last Adam
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also
by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.”
The person doing the saving can’t have the same problem as the one who needs
to be saved.
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for
the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God,
might taste death for everyone.
The book of Revelation completes the circle of Bible truths.
The first Adam sinned and lost dominion
The last Adam (Jesus) obeyed and regained the dominion the first Adam had lost
The first Adam was defeated and brought death to humanity
The last Adam (Jesus) was victorious and brought life to all who will trust in Him
The first Adam was the king of the old creation
The last Adam (Jesus) is the king of the new creation
Lyrics Woodstock
I came upon a child of god
He was walking along the road
And I asked him, where are you going
And this he told me
I’m going on down to Yasgurs farm
I’m going to join in a rock n roll band
I’m going to camp out on the land
I’m going to try an get my soul free
We are stardust, We are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.
Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in
heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord
and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on
the earth.”
Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into His death?
Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that
just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
Step through the open door into heaven’s throne room in Part 3 of our Revelation series! In “A Visit to God’s Heavenly Throne,” we witness the breathtaking vision of Revelation 4 — the radiant One seated on the throne, surrounded by 24 elders, four living creatures, a sea of glass, and the ceaseless worship of heaven. Discover the seven awe-inspiring elements around God’s throne and explore four life-changing aspects of true praise: its permanence, the glorious Person we worship, the humble posture of worship, and its power to lift our perspective from earth to heaven. Be renewed in worship as Jesus is revealed behind the veil!
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Sermon Notes
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in
heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
Revelation 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven,
and One sat on the throne.
Revelation 4:3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in
appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like
an emerald.
Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones
I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of
gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 4:6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the
midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes
in front and in back.
Revelation 4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like
a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature
was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes
around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne
and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying:
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
There are Seven Things Around the Throne of God
1. SEATED UPON THE THRONE IS THE TRIUNE GOD.
2. SURROUNDING THE THRONE IS A RAINBOW.
3. SITTING AROUND THE THRONE ARE THE 24 ELDERS.
4. SOUNDING FORTH FROM THE THRONE ARE LIGHTNINGS,
THUNDERS AND VOICES.
5. SPREAD BEFORE THE THRONE IS A SEA OF GLASS.
6. SITUATED IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE ARE THE FOUR
LIVING CREATURES.
7. SHARING PRAISE TOWARD THE ONE ON THE THRONE ARE
THE CREATURES AND THE ELDERS.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes
around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
1. THE PERMANENCE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:8 “… And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
Psalm 136:1 …. For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 136:2 …. For His mercy endures forever.
Quote
When we are really in love, we don’t count the number of times we say “I love you!”,
especially if the one we love really loves to hear it.
The same way, God really loves to hear our words of love towards Him, even when
we only say “I love You” over and over again.
2. THE PERSON OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Lyrics “I Write The Songs”
I’ve been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music, and I write the songs
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory
3. THE POSTURE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the
throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before
the throne, saying:
The word “worship” means to prostrate one’s self,
Revelation 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders
and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats,
fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and
worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Matthew 4:9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down
and worship me.”
Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’
Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord
our Maker.
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There are times I get down on my face to pray and it’s like I just can’t even get my face
deep enough in the carpet. It just seems like I can’t humble myself enough before God
Revelation 4:10 “… and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne …”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
4. THE PURPOSE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
Praise is not praise unless it’s expressed.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Worship lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.
Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
