The Book of Revelation-Chapters 4 and 5

THE BOOK OF REVELATION VII

Chapters 4 and 5

I.                   THE FATHERS MAJESTY. (4 ASPECTS)

² Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 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.  Rev 4:2-4.

1.    His Appearance.

a.    As a Jasper Stone.

This is similar to a diamond. It’s Multifaceted and reflective. The Fathers appearance is gloriously brilliant and reflective.

b.    As a Sardius Stone.

This stone has a deep red hue. I imagine this deep red hue pulsating within the crystal like Jasper appearance.

c.     Emerald Rainbow.

There is an Emerald green rainbow above his head.

2.    His Assistants.

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.

a.    There were 24 Thrones.

b.    There are 24 Elders sitting on the Thrones.

I believe these are humans not Angels who share responsibility in some way with the Father.

c.     4 Living Creatures.

“…And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 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. ⁸ The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within…” Revelations 4:6-8

3.    His Power.

^“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. ⁶ Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal…”

II.            A HEAVENLY RESPONSE TO A DECELERATION OF HIS MAJESTY.

1.    Seraphim cry day and night.

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!” Revelations 4:6-7

This cry may not be literally every moment. Often in Hebrew a repeated phrase is written to denote to power of something spoken. They do declare it constantly and maybe continually with periodic breaks but there is a massive release of power when they do.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne…Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: …And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” ⁴ And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. Isaiah 6:1-4

2.    The Elders respond to the Declaration of God’s Majesty.

a.    They fall and Worship.

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 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…” Revelations 4:9-10.

b.    They sing a new song.

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.” Revelations 4:11.

III.           JESUS PREPARES TO TAKE THE SCROLL.

1.    The Father has a scroll. (Title deed to the Earth)

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. Revelations 5:1

2.    The opener had to be worthy.

² Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 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. ⁴ So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.  Revelations 5:2-4

a.    Had to be human.

b.    Had to be Perfect.

c.     Had to be able to reclaim global dominion.

3.    Jesus Qualified due to His humanity and His sacrifice.

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.” Revelations 5:5

4.    Jesus Takes the Scroll.

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. ⁷ Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Revelations 5:6-7

IV.            UNIVERSAL DECLERATION OF THE WORTH OF THE SON OF GOD.

1.    Four Living Creatures and Elders Worship Jesus.

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. 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, ¹⁰ And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Revelations 4:8-10

2.    100 Million Worship Him.

¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹² saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”  Revelations 5:11-12

Four Areas He will have absolute Authority and control over:

a.    Power: (political): Jesus will have the governmental authority over all nations. He will replace every evil government with new leaders and laws and will restore every sphere of life .

b.    Riches: all the money and natural resources on earth will be under Jesus’ leadership.

c.     Wisdom: Jesus has all the wisdom to bring every sphere of life to the fullness of the Father’s original intention.

d.    Strength: Jesus has supernatural physical strength in His resurrected body. He will never weary of His work. All benefits of the labor force and human resources on the millennial earth will be submitted to Him and serve His plan to establish love and righteousness on earth. The nations will gladly offer the fruit of their strength to Him. They will love Jesus with all their strength or resources including their time, money, words, energy, and influence (Mark 12:30).

e.    Honor: All will honor Jesus with their obedience in practical ways. To honor in this sense is to obey and serve His agenda for the nations. Paul spoke of honoring parents with respectful obedience towards them (Ephesians 6:1-2). Jesus will be the most obeyed, respected, and listened to person on earth. He will be the most talked about and emulated role model on earth.

f.     Glory: All the people on earth will glory in Jesus by giving their love, adulation, and praise to Him with great delight. He will be the magnificent obsession of all the nations. He will be preeminent in their minds, affections and conversations. The fame of His name will cover the earth. The saints will boast or glory in His leadership as Paul gloried in Christ (Philippians 3:3, NIV). Children glory in their father (Proverbs 17:6) and God’s people glory in His name (Psalm 105:3; 43:4).

g.    Blessings: All will bless or agree with His policies and plans and fully cooperate with His leadership in every sphere of society. Such enthusiastic cooperation will result in the most unified and joyful work force in history. Jesus will be the most powerful, wealthy, wise, loved, supported, praised, obeyed, respected, listened to, and talked about Man on the earth. He will be seen as having the dominion over all the land, people, money, governments, human resources, angels, etc. He has the power and right to control them. Thus, we know that He is able to fulfill all of His promises to each of us forever.

3.    Every Living Being in the Created Order Simultaneously Worships Him.

¹³ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” ¹⁴ Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

The God of All Grace

OVERCOMING THE ACCUSER ZECHARIAH 3 and 4

I.            BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.

1.    Historical Background.

a.    The setting of the book is after one of the most tragic seasons of Israel’s History the 70 year Babylonian Captivity (606-536 BC).

b.    The Jewish people returned after 70 years of captivity to ruins. They were tasked with rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple.

i.              Jeremiah first prophesied it.

For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. ¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:10-11)

ii.            Isaiah Prophesied 200 years before King Cyrus that Israel would be released from captivity and rebuild the temple.

²⁸ Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” (Isaiah 44:28)

iii.           Daniel was stirred reading the prophesies and interceded for the release of the Jewish Captives. (Daniel 9)

iv.           Two Persians Kings were stirred to fulfill God’s will in restoring Israel and financing the rebuilding of the temple.

Cyrus (600-530 BC) released the captives and financed the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem in 536 BC (Ezra 1). Darius helped the remnant with finances in their efforts to rebuild the temple in 520 BC (Ezra 6).

2.    Zechariah the Prophet.

a.    Zechariah was a young man from a family of Priest.

b.    They returned from captivity while he was very young.

c.     Haggai was an old Prophet he had to learn from.

d.    Zechariah was martyred for his message. (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51)

II.         SUMMARY OF THE FIRST THREE VISIONS.

1.    Zechariah had 8 major visions in one night.

2.    Visions 1 through 3 focused on God’s promise to have mercy on Israel and restore her to her homeland. Build the temple and fill the place with Glory.

3.    Visions 4 and 5 answer the question of how such a sinful people can receive such a promise.

III.       THE FOURTH VISION: THE CLEANSING OF JOSHUA.

1.    Joshua appeared before the Lord and Satan showed up.

¹Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse; NAS, NIV] him. (Zechariah 3:1)

a.    Joshua was the spiritual leader of Israel (High Priest).

b.    Satan means. (The Accuser)

c.     The Angel is the Pre-Incarnate Christ.

2.    The Lord rebukes Satan Twice.

²And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2)

3.    Satan’s Accusation in Heaven was duplicated by people on earth.

¹Then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah…prophesied to the Jews…²So Zerubbabel…and Jeshua…rose up and began to build the house of God…³At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River…spoke thus to them: “Who has commanded you to build this temple?”…⁷They sent a letter to him [King Darius]…⁸Let it be known to the king that…the temple of the great God, which is being built with heavy stones, and timber is being laid in the walls…¹⁷Let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter. (Ezra 5:1-17)

4.    God caused the King to rebuke the earthly accusation.

⁶Now therefore, Tattenai…⁷Let the work of this house of God alone…⁸Let the cost be paid at the king’s expense from taxes on the region beyond the River; this is to be given immediately to these men, so that they are not hindered…¹²I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently. (Ezra 6:6-12)

IV.       TWO STATEMENTS OF AMAZING GRACE.

1.    “The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you.”

a.    Jerusalem’s history is very sordid and ungodly.

⁸ And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelations 11:8)

b.    Is not this a brand plucked from the fire.

This is descriptive of God rescuing that, which should have been consumed. He didn’t let it be consumed because he delights in mercy.

V.          THE APPLICATION OF GOD’S GRACE.

1.    Joshua was given new garments.

³Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. ⁴Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity…and I will clothe you with rich robes.” ⁵…I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by. (Zechariah 3:3-5)

a.    Filthy Garments. Due to warfare, sin and Babylonian compromise possible. He was guilty.

b.    God cleansed him in a moment. He totally reset Joshua.

c.     He clothed Joshua in new robes.

¹⁰For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments. (Isaiah 61:10)

d.    See: The Lord exhorted Joshua to “see” that He had removed his sin and clothed him with rich robes (3:4). We must “see” these truths in our own lives.

e.    Turban  Symbolic of His authority as a Priest and the nations authority as a priestly nation.

⁵And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him…the Angel of the LORD stood by. (Zechariah 3:5)

VI.       EXHORTATION TO WALK IN NEW GRACE.

⁶Then the Angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying, ⁷“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command [perform My service; NAS], then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.’” (Zechariah 3:6-7)

1.    Admonished to walk in God’s ways, Personal holiness.

2.    Keep the Charge, Be faithful in service and don’t quit.

3.    He would be able to judge God’s house

4.    God would give Him a place to walk among the Angels.

Frustration

I.                   WHAT CAN FRUSTRATION DO TO ME.

1.    Can cause you to be disqualified for promises. (Not Eternal Life)

          Psalm 106:32-33

³² They angered Him also at the waters of strife, So that it went ill with Moses on account of them; ³³ Because they rebelled against His Spirit, So that he spoke rashly with his lips.

Numbers 20:3-20

² Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. ³ And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: “If only we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! ⁴ Why have you brought up the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? ⁵ And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink.” ⁶ So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them. ⁷ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ⁸ “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” ⁹ So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. ¹⁰ And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” ¹¹ Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. ¹² Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” ¹³ This was the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel contended with the Lord, and He was hallowed among them. ¹⁴ Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. “Thus says your brother Israel: ‘You know all the hardship that has befallen us, ¹⁵ how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers. ¹⁶ When we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border. ¹⁷ Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’ ” ¹⁸ Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.” ¹⁹ So the children of Israel said to him, “We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.” ²⁰ Then he said, “You shall not pass through.” So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand.

2.    Can deplete your emotional resources.

         1 Samuel 1:1-7

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ² And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. ³ This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. ⁴ And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. ⁵ But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. ⁶ And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. ⁷ So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.

3.    Can Affect timing.

          Daniel 7:25

²⁵ And ^jhe shall speak great words against the most High, and ^jshall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws…”

4.    Can Cause You to miss great Blessing.

          Luke 5:4-6

⁴ When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled (exhausting toil) all night and caught nothing nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” ⁶ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

II.            HOW TO KEEP FRUSTRATION AT BAY.

1.    Settle in your heart you are going to be ok regardless.

Romans 8:26-28

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Philippians 1:6

⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

2.    Don’t take upon you what God said He will take.

1 Peter 5:7

⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Philippians 4:6-7

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Psalm 23

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. ³He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

3.    Live out of your spirit.

Galatians 5:16-18

¹⁶ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ^mye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. ¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

4.    Laugh.

Psalm 2:1-4

¹ Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? ² The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ³ “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” ⁴He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.

Psalm 17:22

²² A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.