Sermon #1935                                                                     Miscellaneous Sermons

 

      Title:                     The Throne, The Book,

and The Lamb

 

      Text:                                  Revelation 4:1-5:14

      Subject:               Heavenly Glory

      Date:       

      Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10

      Introduction:

 

Turn with me to Revelation 4. It is my prayer and my desire that God the Holy Spirit will enable me to lead you to the Throne of our great God and Savior and that he will allow us to worship Him this hour. I have no other ambition, no other desire, but that we may worship Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. I cannot think of a passage of Holy Scripture more suited to inspire the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ than Revelation chapters 4 and 5. If the blessed Comforter and Revealer of Christ will show us what He showed John in these two chapters, seeing our Savior in His glory we will worship Him. So hold your Bible open on your lap and follow with me, beginning at verse 1 of Revelation chapter 4, and we will enter in behind the veil into the holy of holies, where God our Savior fills everything with His glory.

 

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 show thee things which must be hereafter.

 

ÒAfter thisÓ — After the Warnings (chap. 2-3)

  • Ephesus — First Love
  • Smryna — Be thou faithful unto death!
  • Pergamos — Balaam, Nicolatains
  • Thyatira — Jezebel, The Depths of Satan (Works Religion) — That which you have already hold fast till I come! — Keep My Works!
  • Sardis — You have a Name that you live, but you are dead! — Be Watchful ! — Strengthen! — Remember!
  • Philadelphia — Hold fast that which you have, so that no man takes your crown!
  • Laodecia — Lukewarmness, Indifference.

 

But watch this. — After all this, and after the counsel of verse 18, the call of verse 20, and the promise of verse 21. —

 

(Revelation 3:18, 20, 21) ÒI counsel thee to buy of me gold (The Gold of My Grace) tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment (Perfect Righteousness!), that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve (The Eyesalve of The Gospel), that thou mayest see. — (20-21) ÒBehold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (21) To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.Ó

 

Now, look at chapter 4, verse 1. — As we go through these two chapters, I will call your attention to five things.

  1. The Door
  2. The Throne
  3. The People
  4. The Book
  5. The Lamb

 

The Door

 

Verse 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 show thee things which must be hereafter.

 

The Throne

 

Verse 2 — And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

 

Verse 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.

 

The People

 

Verse 4 — And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders (The Whole Israel of God — The 144,000 — The Church — The New Jerusalem) sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

 

These crowns of gold are not crowns earned by us. They are crowns earned by our Savior and given to us by His grace.

  • A Crown of Life is promised as the reward of faithfulness to the Lord (Revelation 2:10; James 1:12).
  • A Crown of Righteousness is promised to all who love Christ at his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
  • A Crown of Rejoicing awaits those who seek GodÕs salvation in Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
  • A Crown of Glory shall be the reward of our union with Christ (1 Peter 5:4).
  • An Incorruptible Crown shall adorn the brows of all who are raised in incorruption (1 Corinthians 9:25).

 

These five crowns are one crown, and that one crown is the Lord Jesus Christ himself! It is written, ÒIn that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people.Ó Christ is the prize we seek. Christ is the crown we shall wear. Christ is the reward of his people. What more could we need or desire? Christ is heaven. If we have Christ, we have all. We can want no more! He is our Glory. He is our Joy. He is our Righteousness. He is our Life. He is our Incorruptible Crown. In heavenÕs eternal glory, ÒChrist is all!Ó And all who are seated with Him in His glory wear Him as their golden crown!

 

Verse 5 — And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices (Romans 11:36): and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne (Perfect Holiness), which are the seven Spirits of God (Perfect Being).

 

Verse 6 — And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

 

These are Gospel preachers, gifted with spiritual wisdom, grace, and knowledge (Jeremiah 3:15).

 

(Jeremiah 3:15) And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

 

Verse 7 — And the first beast was like a lion (Boldness), and the second beast like a calf (Strength), and the third beast had a face as a man (Compassion), and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle (Soaring in Heaven).

 

Verse 8 — And the four beasts had each of them six wings (Isaiah 6 — Humility — Readiness) about him; and they were full of eyes (Wisdom) within: and they rest not day and night (Laboring in the Word and Doctrine and the Work of the Gospel), saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. — (The Triune God — The Delivering God — The Omnipotent God — The Eternal God!)

 

These living creatures, these preachers of the Gospel, the angels of the churches, lead GodÕs saints in worship.

 

Verse 9 — And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

 

Verse 10 — The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

 

No sooner shall the Lord God place the crowns on our heads than we will willingly, gladly take them off our heads, bow before the feet of our God and Savior, and cast them down at the foot of the throne of His sovereign majesty and grace, saying, ÒNot unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for Thy truthÕs sakeÓ (Psalm 115:1). Why? Because Christ alone is worthy of honor, praise, and glory.

  • He chose us.
  • He redeemed us.
  • He called us.
  • He has preserved us.
  • He shall bring us to glory.

 

We will cast our crowns before His throne, because we will have a solemn reverence for Him. We shall see Him as He is, and we will say, ÒThat no flesh should glory in His presence.Ó ÒHe that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.Ó We will cast our crowns before His throne, because we will be filled with a deep sense of sincere humility. Each will know then, far better than now, and each will gladly confess, ÒI am nothing. I have done nothing (Matthew 25:34-40). I deserve nothing.Ó

 

We will cast our crowns before His throne, because we will have a deep sense of gratitude to Him. We will acknowledge then perfectly what we know now. – ÒBy the grace of God I am what I am.Ó In short, we will cast our crowns before His throne, because we will love Him intensely.

 

In mansions of glory and endless delight,

IÕll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

IÕll sing, as I cast down the crown from my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, Ôtis now.

 

Verse 11 — Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

Read on, just as though there were no chapter break.

 

The Book

 

Revelation 5

 

Verse 1 — And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

 

Verse 2 — And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

 

Verse 3 — And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

 

Verse 4 — And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

 

Verse 5 — And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

 

The Lamb

 

Verse 6 — And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

 

Verse 7 — And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

 

(Revelation 10:1-3) ÒAnd I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon His head, and His face was as it were the sun, and His feet as pillars of fire: (2) And He had in His hand a little book open: and He set His right foot upon the sea, and His left foot on the earth, (3) And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when He had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.Ó

 

Verse 8 — And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

 

(Matthew 6:9-13) ÒAfter this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.Ó

 

Verse 9 — And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

Verse 10 — And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 

Verse 11 — And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

 

  • All the Chosen Angels
  • All the Elect of God
  • All the Redeemed
  • All the Called
  • All the Saints
  • All Who Believe

 

Verse 12 — Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

 

But GodÕs elect are not the only ones who praise Him. Read on

 

Verse 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

 

Verse 14 — And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever (Ephesians 1:9-10; Acts 3:21; Philippians 2:9-11; Isaiah 45:20-25).

 

(Acts 3:21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

 

(Ephesians 1:9-10) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.

 

(Philippians 2:9-11) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

(Isaiah 45:20-25) ÒAssemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. (21) Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (22) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return,

1.      That unto me every knee shall bow,

2.      every tongue shall swear.

3.      (24) Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength:

4.      even to him shall men come;

5.      and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

6.      (25) In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.Ó

 

Illustration: I heard a great choir singing!

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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