EMERGE--Teaching Notes, Bible Thoughts,.......

Jeff and Lisa loved this ministry. He was a part of it for three years. And now he's been called away to be a part of another ministry. Jeff and Lisa camped here with us for three years, and now the Lord has given them new orders. We are sure the Lord will be faithful and bless their ministry in Hesperia. God bless them.

Jeff spoke to us from his heart this Saturday night. He spoke from a place in the Bible where Paul was saying his last words and here Jeff did the same. Jeff loved Emerge and was blessed to be a part of it.

Revelation 14:1-5

Intro:
· Revelation in 7 Sections
o 7 Letters to 7 Churches
o 7 Seals on a Scroll
o 7 Trumpet Blasts
o 7 Bowls of Wrath
· This is the beginning of the 7 Bowls of Wrath
· All that is left after this section:
o The Great Babylon: Chapters 18-19
o The Millennium, New Heaven, New Earth: Chapters 20-22



Read 5 verses: Revelation 14:1-5
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

We always go big around here:
· Worship is normally rockin’
· Tonight, I think it is appropriate to reel it back a bit
· Just Tim on the Harp tonight!!!

So, tonight, a new song!!!!

Why a NEW SONG???
· Last Chapter we just left being persecuted
· Tonight we see the Lamb again
o We remember the reason it is worth it to fight
o We remember the reason to stay the course

Vs. 1
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion,
· Here is Jesus - called by His most common name in Revelation

The Lamb:
· The most common name/title given to Jesus in Revelation is “Lamb”
· 31 times in the Book of Revelation - Jesus is called the Lamb

We took at look at this the first time we saw it:

Revelation 5:6
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.
· This is the first occurrence in Revelation
· A “Lamb, looking as if it has been slain”
· Standing in the center of the Throne of God
· Circled around the Lamb
o The 4 Living Creatures
§ Is the representation of the Gospels
§ OR : the images of the 4 Gospels
§ Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
o The 24 Elders
§ A representation of the Church
§ Possibly 12 Tribes
§ Added to 12 Apostles
§ Resulting in a full idea of the Church over time

The Lamb: a very special title to John:
· John, the author of Revelation, reveals this in his telling of the Gospel
o John writes a Gospel, 3 letters named John, and Revelation
o In his telling of the Gospel – story of Jesus
o He quotes another man named John

John the Baptist:
· The John we are reading is the Apostle, Disciple, Beloved
· John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin
· He is quoted by the Apostle as saying:

John 1:29, 34
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! - I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
· So, the author of Revelation, who also wrote this Gospel, tells us who the Lamb is
· He also tells us why it is important to him
· “He takes away the sin of the world”

This is especially important to us at this time of year
· This is the Easter story
· This is what we celebrate

1 Corinthians 5:7
For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
· In this verse, Paul ties us to the celebration of Passover

If you are a Christian today, and you celebrate Easter, but don’t understand Passover, I would encourage you to study it!
· Passover – is the Jewish celebration of deliverance from Egypt
o When the Egyptians had taken Israel as slaves
o God went to set them free
o God punished Egypt by killing the firstborn of each household
· Only those who had blood from a lamb on their doorposts were spared
o Moses had told each of the people of God to kill a lamb
o And to mark the doorposts and beam with the blood of the lamb
o Those who obeyed … were spared

This was to serve as a memorial to Israel to remind them about deliverance:
· But, even more so, it foreshadowed Jesus’ coming to die

Jesus came to be our deliverance!
· And to do that, He had to die
· His blood had to be shed for us
· This was to release us from the sin that enslaves us

Just like the Egyptians who persecuted the people of God were punished; so too will those who persecute the church in this era.
· We just saw in chapter 13 how the enemy of the church will persecute those who are in the church
· We saw the Beast of chapter 13 pursue the church
o He tormented the church
o He killed those in the church
· Chapter 14 now gives us the reason to keep the faith

The reason: Deliverance!
· Just like Israel used Passover to remember their deliverance from Egypt
· Just like the church uses Easter to remember the deliverance from Sin
· The persecuted church needs to be reminded that they too will be delivered

So, immediately following the greatest persecution on Earth, God reminds us that He is faithful, and He will deliver us.

If you are struggling in your life today, you need to hear this reminder!
· There is a reason to persevere
Vs. 1
Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.

Remember last week when Gary mentioned how people who work with money learn how to spot the counterfeit?
· They work with the real thing until they know it
· Then, the counterfeit is obvious

Here we see the genuine article:
· The 144,000 are marked with the Father’s Name

Why 144,000?
· This book gives us a lot of symbolism
· We have 24 Elders – a representation of the church in Heaven
o Maybe it is 12 from the Tribes of Israel
o Maybe 12 from the Apostles
o Multiplied, exponentially throughout history
· This is the fullness of the church in Heaven!
o It is a number to be seen as a large, completed number
o Not to be seen as a absolute number

If you add up those who came to faith in the bible: there was more than 144,000 followers of Christ by the time this was written.
· This is to show us a large, complete, symbolic number

Vs. 2
And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
· We hear sounds, we see harps, and a song is sung
· A NEW SONG is sung
· We have seen Angels sing
· And the church has sung with the angels
· But, they sang an old song

Why a new song?
Why could only the redeemed learn the song?
· I see a common thread
· I see something that only these three have in common

What do these three things have in common?
· The four living creatures – representing the 4 Gospels of Christ
· The 24 Elders – an image of the fullness of the church (old and new)
· The 144,000 redeemed from the Earth

What do these three have that the angels in Heaven don’t have?

They have experienced grace!
· And they are able to sing about it!

Have you ever met someone who had been through similar things as you have?
· Maybe you felt that could relate to you in a special way
· Only they could understand what you have dealt with
· Only they could know what you have experienced

They sing a song of worship that only they can sing:
· Angels can’t sing about God’s forgiveness
o They have never experienced it
· Only someone who has experienced it can
· The 4 Living Creatures were messengers of grace and forgiveness
· The Elders are representative of the forgiven church
· The 144,000 are “those who have been redeemed from the Earth”

And they sing about their grace and forgiveness!!!

We will close on this thought, but first, one more side note:
Vs. 4-5
These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.
· It is interesting what is mentioned about those who follow the Lamb
· If you are a Christ-follower today, do you do these things?

Do you defile yourselves sexually?
· expand

Do you lie?
· expand

If we proclaim to be forgiven, and we recognize the cost of our forgiveness, we have a cause to sing a new song!

SHARE GOSPEL – include worship songs!

Revelation 11:1-14

Pray:
· Pray that we will measure up to God’s values

Vs. 1-2
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.
· John tells us that he is given an implement to measure with
o A reed, or a measuring rod
o Like a “yard stick”

Textual Problem:
· NIV: Dynamic Equivalent
o The translators put together the words that best suited us for the MEANING of the text
· ESV: Literal Equivalent
o The translators tried to do the best WORD FOR WORD translation as possible
· This verse is a good example:
o The word “count” in the NIV doesn’t exist in the original
o It is the same verb from the first half of the verse

(Revelation 11:1-2 ESV)
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, "Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple;
· Notice no “count”

The verb “métreeson” which means measured is used for three things:
· The Temple
· The Altar
· And: those who worship there.

Why is this such a big deal Jeff?
· We in the Western Church are so prone to counting;
· When God would prefer we measure!

Example:
· I know how many people come each week (we count)
· I don’t know how many people are involved beyond Saturdays

We think that by sitting in a church service each week that we are living out our Christian Faith:
· How are you serving the poor?
· How are you sharing the message of the Gospel?
· Who are you praying for – praying with?
· What kind of small-group community are giving to and receiving from?
· What area of service inside the church are you giving too?
· Are you consistently giving to the church?
· Are you serving outside the church?
· Are you giving outside the church – in addition to tithing?

How are you living your faith, not just sitting in church?
· That, my friends, is the difference of measuring
· Rather than just simply counting

We are surrounding by a culture who places more value on numbers than it does on value.
· We count to get numbers
· We measure the faith or action of the people to get value

John is told to measure:
· The reason is that there needs to be some discernment
· We need to quit thinking that in Christ - anything is ok.

Vs. 3-5
3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die.

God has a plan for His followers
· This is why we must measure
· God is able discern who is “in” and who is “out”
· He does it by value, not by quantity

“And I will give power to my two witnesses”
“And they will prophesy”

Two olive trees are out of the vision to Zerubabbel:

Zecheriah 4
Then the angel returned and wakened me. He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left." I asked the angel, "What are these, my lord?" "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
· Zerubabbel asks what it is he sees
· God first answers with the key to His measuring system
· “Not by power, nor by might, but by My Spirit”
· Notice that it is by God’s Spirit and Empowerment that things are measured

If that had been written today, it may have said:
“Not by attendance, nor by giving, but by My Spirit” says the Lord of 2007

Zerubabbel goes on and asks:
Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand? What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?" He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said. So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."
· The two olive trees or branches are those anointed to serve the earth
· Old Testament wording that equals “those anointed to share God’s message”

Now, the lampstands are explained to us in Revelation 1:

Revelation 1:20
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
· The lampstands are the 7 churches

But why do we only see 2 churches represented here?
· We will tackle that after we finish the passage

Vs. 6
6 These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
· These men
o Seen in the OT as those people anointed for the Gospel
o And in the NT as the Church anointed for the Gospel
o So we will just call the 2 witnesses the anointed Church
· The Church is given power to prophesy and do miracles
o The are charged with sharing the Gospel through their lives
o Another word for that is sharing their testimonies

See next verse:
Vs. 7-10
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
· We have now discerned between the Church and the World
· Those that are not a part of the Church are called “inhabitants of the earth”

Here is what is transpiring:
· The Church is looked over
· Those who are faithful are called to a task prepared by God
· Those who are called to a task are given power from God to complete it
· They complete their job through God’s power and then are killed
· The inhabitants of the earth celebrate their death
o Because they are evil
o And the faithful are calling sin what it is, sin!

Why you might ask, do they get killed for doing God’s work?

This may sound calloused to you, but their job was completed:
· Our job as faithful Christ-followers is to finish our divine task
· God will see to it that we do that

But, why weren’t they given protection for finishing the job?
· Because God is to get the glory, not them

See next Verse:
Vs. 11-13
11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
· God gave them the greatest gift
o Eternal life
· When they were faithful in this gift
o God gave them a task
· When they completed the task
o God honored His own name through them
· When God had been honored
o They were again blessed by being taken into Heaven

Our issue is that we think that life here is the payoff!
· That is why we measure the wrong way!!!
· We are starting with the wrong set of tools!!!

We asked the question earlier, why are there only 2 churches represented here?
· 2 olive trees, 2 golden lampstands
· Why only 2 churches?
· Measurement!!!

Let’s look at some ways we measure:
· Beauty magazine – image (how you look on the outside)
· Athletic magazine – points scored (works)
· Pregnancy magazine – inner health

The pregnancy looks at ways of seeing the true “health value”, not just looks.
· This is most like God’s value system
· He is looking at our health
o Are we eating right spiritually
§ Bible, prayer, fasting, journalling
o Are we exercising our faith regularly
§ Sharing our faith, serving
o Are we getting check-ups regularly
§ Allowing others in a small group to walk with us

These things help us get at how we are on the inside.

So, how does God measure us?
(Revelation 2-3 – what Jesus says to the Church)

Ephesus:
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men. You have persevered and have endured hardships. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
· Ephesus has some good, and some bad
· Good deeds – like the points scoring of the sports magazine
· But, you have lost your first love

They are in need of repentance:
· So, this means that they are not ready for being sent out
o But they also aren’t apostate (completely away from God)
· They also are not OK to stay where they are
o They are in need of change

Not one of the 2 churches being sent out.

Smyrna:
I know your afflictions and your poverty — yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
· Not measured by size or wealth
o But measured by character
· They will suffer it says, but they are being sent out!

This is one of the 2 churches being sent out.

I am not going to go through all the churches:

Pergamum & Thyatira:
· They both have good and bad attributes
· These both are in the “needs work” category

Sardis:
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
· The first one with no redeeming values
· God gives a stern warning that they are in danger of eternal punishment

Philadelphia:
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make (your enemies) fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
· Another one of the faithful churches
· This is the 2nd of the 2 churches mentioned

Laodicea:
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
· Laodicea has no real redeeming value
· They are told to get straight, or they will end up in utter punishment

Here are the percentages:

2 churches worthy of God’s calling and accomplishing His tasks
· These are the two lampstands or olive branches
· These are the two prepared for ministry and God’s calling
· They are also both smaller, and have no money
· One is called weak!

Not the churches we would consider for ministry if we measured by our standards!

3 churches on the fence: in need of some serious work
· This is where the majority falls
· I would say that this is where a lot of America falls
o Unable to be useful as they are
o But still fixable if they repent and try

These are many of the churches that have large numbers, great programs, and huge budgets; the ones we would pick if we measured on the outside.

2 churches that are not fit to call themselves churches
· One of these churches is large in number
· And the other has a great reputation as a church
· Both are lacking in God’s eyes

Again: how would we measure them?

We are called to measure ourselves, not the way we want to, but by the scriptures:
· The scriptures give us the guidelines
· They tell us how to live to be useful

They are the ones that ask us:
· How are you serving the poor?
· How are you sharing the message of the Gospel?
· Who are you praying for – praying with?
· What kind of small-group community are giving to and receiving from?
· What area of service inside the church are you giving too?
· Are you consistently giving to the church?
· Are you serving outside the church?
· Are you giving outside the church – in addition to tithing?

WE must satisfy this measurement, not our own.

Share the Gospel:
· Our salvation isn’t by works
· We are saved by Grace
· But then called to a life of service to our God

Ephesians 2:7-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Are you ready to be measured by God’s values?

Revelation 10

Recap:

Prayer:

Vs. 1-3
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.
· Thank God, John doesn’t start off boring!
· Immediately we have a picture of Christ or something like Him

“another mighty angel coming down from heaven”
· The rest of the description beyond this really speaks to something that should be Jesus
· But! – this says “another”
o SO: is it another mighty being messenger
o OR: is it another appearance of Jesus

“robed in a cloud”
· We see this description consistent throughout scripture
· A robe signifies a picture of some type of royalty and/or honor
· A cloud gives us the idea of divine presence
o We see the cloud surrounding Mt. Sinai in Exodus
o Jesus ascends in a cloud in Acts
o Hebrews talks about it as well
· So, it leads us as bible readers to see this a Jesus here

“a rainbow above his head”
· Unless you were born in Long Beach, Frisco
· A rainbow is symbolic of God’s covenant to Noah

Noah:
· 1700 years after creation
· God destroyed the wickedness on Earth by a flood
· Only 8 people survived
· A God promised not to destroy the entire planet by a flood again

Introduce:
- sweet verses sour idea using the grace verse flood

Notice that we have not had destruction in Revelation by flood!
· In spite of all of the destruction and difficulty
· God is faithful
· Jesus is seen here honoring the covenant relationship with humanity!

“His face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars”
· Very reminiscent of Chapter 1
· You can go back and listen to that one for more info

Only Jesus could have all these attributes:
· We see Jesus described like this in Chapter 1
· We then see him “looking like a lamb who was slain” in Chapter 4
· We see Him here now

Remember: This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John
· We are supposed to learn more about Him
· We are supposed to see more of Him
· We are supposed to walk away with a different perspective
· So, we get many views of our King and our Lord

Vs. 2
He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
· Now this scroll is open in His hands
· We watched the scroll get opened one seal at a time in Chapters 4-6
· Now it is open, and it is available for the whole world
o We see this by land and sea
o Bothered covered by this divine messenger

Sea and Land:
· This shows us that this divine message held in His hand is for the whole Earth

Vs. 3
3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.
· Again, very Christ-like
· Lion = the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

7 Thunders:
· Seven thunders probably speak to the power in Jesus voice
· The first comment is about a shout that sounds like a lion roaring
· The next is 7 thunders

Possibly a tie to a Psalm 29
Psalms 29
A psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

There is power in the voice of Jesus Christ!!!
· Revelation 1 – like the rushing waters
· Psalm 29
o Thunder
o Lightning
o Shakes the desert
o Cracks the trees

Vs. 4
And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
· When I read this, I want to scream
o “Why now?”
o “It was just getting good!”
o “Don’t seal it up!!!”
· Jesus speaks … but John is told not to write it down
· But clearly, we don’t understand all that God is doing here

A very similar thing happens in the Book of Daniel:

Daniel 12:5-9
Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?" The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed." I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.

Sometimes, the plan of God is yet to be revealed!

Vs. 5
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
· There will come a day when all of God’s plans will be revealed

It is also true that God’s plans are revealed daily:
· How many of us have sat around praying about stuff and waiting
· Then, one day, it happens
· God reveals Himself to you
· God opens your eyes to something
· God gives you a new step of faith to take…

So, not only will all of God’s plans be made known someday, many are made known with each new day.
· God is constantly revealing Himself on Earth

Vs. 8
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."
· Jesus is holding the open scroll
· He tells John to take the open scroll

Many see this as the distribution of God’s Word 500 years ago in the Reformation:
· In the 7 Seals and the first 6 Trumpets we have seen a lot of tribulation
· We have see the Earth suffer
· The church persecuted
· Those outside the church be punished
· And now, there is a reprieve between sufferings

During the Reformation the Bible was printed for the lay-person in over 9 languages in Europe alone!

So this time of trials and suffering pauses for just a bit:
· And the pause centers around a book or a scroll
· We see that we even get a reprieve when we dive into scripture

John is commanded to take it from Jesus:
Vs. 9-End
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."

So why does it taste sweet and then turn sour?
· Kind of a confusing passage
· We get the word of God tasting sweet
o But not it turning sour in the stomach
o That doesn’t make sense to us

Let’s see what it says:
· He takes the scroll, or the Word of God
· He eats it, or takes it all in
· It tastes sweet to him
o But then it turns in his stomach
· Then he is commanded to go prophesy again to many people

The response to God’s call on our lives isn’t always just sweet and easy!
· Often it is very difficult
· Often it leaves us very nervous and sour in the stomach

Consider this from the things in John’s past:

John: Heard the words of life from Jesus Himself
· How sweet it must have tasted to hear those very words
· Then those words told John that he would watch his Lord die
o Sour must have been one of the feelings he felt
o Can you imagine the knots in John’s stomach as Jesus was crucified?

John: went out and preached the Gospel to many
· How sweet to see so many lives changed
· As we know from History, John was boiled in oil for his efforts in the Gospel
o A very sour price to say the least

John: went and planted churches in Asia Minor
· A very sweet assignment
o The ability to minister to the people
o The charge of sharing the sweet words of Christ to the un-churched
· Then he was imprisoned for his efforts of faith
o Another very sour feeling of isolation on Patmos

Most of all:
· John was given the sweetest thing of all
o He was ushered into Heaven
o He saw the very throne-room of God
o He saw the Lamb that was slain
o He saw the angelic host and the Elders worshipping before the throne
o He participated in the greatest worship event ever held
· But, then – he saw the most horrible thing of all
o Destruction of his fellow man
o The planet God created – was being destroyed by it’s creator
o People persecuting the church
o People misleading one another

Friends, there is nothing more sour that John could have seen!
As well as no sweeter scene than the one in Heaven

The Word of God is:
· A fountain of living waters flowing over us
· A river of peace that washes all fear and pain away

Also the Word of God is:
· A double-edged sword
· Dividing soul and spirit
· Bone and marrow

Friends, how do we God’s Word today?
· Do we take the bad with the good?

Are we willing to do what it takes, even when it turns our stomach bitter with knots?

CONSIDER THE GOSPEL:
· Not the one we tell, but the one Jesus lived!

Share the Gospel:
· Christ must have had a sour knotted stomach in the Garden of GethsemaneBut the sweet taste of grace overpowered it

Revelation 9

Revelation in 7 Sections:
• 7 Views from John
• Same relative starting point
• Different descriptions – of different segments
• We are in the 3rd Section
o The 7 Trumpet Blasts

Last week:
• The first 4 trumpets sounded last week
o We saw that preceded by the prayers of the Saints
o And by the prayers of Jesus
• We talked about the destruction of what we take for granted
o Earth, trees, and grass
o Seas and Oceans contaminated
o Fresh Waters – rivers and lakes contaminated
o 1/3 of the Sun, Moon, and Stars taken away
• I asked you the question:
o How can you trust someone you don’t know?
o Answer: we learn to know and trust God in prayer

Remember Jesus’ words:
“Take heart, I have overcome the world”
• But you have to know Him, to trust Him

Tonight we move into the final three trumpet blasts.

PRAY

Last verse of Chapter 8
Vs. 13
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
• As if last week wasn’t bad enough
• This week it is going to get worse
• The final three trumpets are worse than the first four
• There is an increase in intensity

I didn’t want to worry you, that’s why we didn’t read this verse last week!

Vs. 1-2
1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss.
• Each week we study some kind of picturesque language:
• Each week I tell you if it is clearly defined for us or not

When it isn’t I ask the more important questions
• Why is it here then?
• Why was John told to write something that was vague or unclear?
• Was it clear to the Jewish or Roman person alive then?

OR: Was it written to illustrate an important lesson?
• I am going to give you an example of what theologians have said about the 5th Trumpet

Many scholars and theologians believe the 5th Trumpet to be about Mohammed and the rise in Islam 1000 years ago:
• They are looking back 1000 years to the large growth of Islam
• Mohammed lived in the late 6th century
• But Islam really grew strong a few hundred years after he died

“A star that had fallen from the sky to the Earth”
• Mohammed was born of royal family as a prince
• He was degraded and deprived of his rank
• When his family lost it’s rule a generation before his birth

“The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss”
• This key is said to represent a system of teaching
• Obviously when attached to the Abyss – it is a false teaching
• So, as we know, Mohammed came in and brought the teachings of the Koran

There is an amazing parallel verse in the Koran:
“Destroy no palm trees, nor any fields. Of corn, cut down no fruit trees.”
• Mohammed teaches this in the Koran
• Just an interesting parallel
• I don’t think it is proof-worthy

“Smoke rose from (the Abyss) like the smoke from a gigantic furnace.
• Smoke is something that clouds the vision and makes it hard to see clearly
• If you have ever been in something very smoky, you know this
• A fire, a smoky bar, …

False teaching is like that:
• It clouds the mind so that you have a hard time seeing clearly

“The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke”
• Again, same idea, just hard to see clearly

So: do I think that this verse is about Mohammed?
• The answer is “yes and no”
• Yes, Mohammed fits the profile
• But no:
o So does Joseph Smith 200 years ago
o So does Hitler 60 years ago
o And even Pelagius 1600 years ago
• If you lived in the 1800’s you would have heard this taught about Joseph Smith
• If you lived in during WWII you would have heard this taught about Hitler
• If you lived in the 1980’s, this was Communism!

Do you see my point?
• This is about strife where we live
• And it is directed at our Faith

Is our Faith under attack today?
• Yes!
• Freedom to say Jesus on TV proves it
• Prayer in Schools
• 10 Commandments in public buildings
• The marriage issues today are a faith-based conversation

We have this issue before us today!

Therefore, Mohammed and Islam is a good example of an ongoing struggle against our relationship with God.
• And it still exists today

Vs. 3
And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth.
• Locusts devour all the living crops that you have
o They are used throughout scripture
• Plagues of locusts are used in the Book of Joel
o They are to show the people of God how sin corrupts and destroys what you have
• Plagues of locusts are used in the Book of Exodus
o This is the 8th plague against Egypt
o To persecute the people of Egypt for persecuting the people of God
o And to get them to set them free

Locusts come in and destroy everything!
• And these locusts are given power like scorpions
• Scorpions are a symbol of great strength

In other words, these are like locusts on steroids!

Vs. 4-5a
They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months.
• Now we see that they are not real locusts
o They are a picture of something that destroys
• We see that because they are not eating plant life
o Which is all that locusts eat are grass and crops
• These locusts are commanded to affect people, but not to kill them
o It actually says, “to torture them”

BUT: not the people of God!
• This verse says:
• “Only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads”
• The seal is the Holy Spirit

IF you are you a child of God, God is able to keep you:
• God’s sovereignty says that all those He has chosen for salvation will persevere
• If you are a child of God, you will not be mislead
• You are sealed by the Holy Spirit

So who is this talking about:
• Those who are not children of God
• Those all around us that are buying into all kinds of faith-based lies

Example:
• How many people are buying into Scientology now that they have a popular face with it – Tom Cruise
• What about Kabala and Madonna
• Examples of stars falling from the sky to put smoke in front of our eyes!

Take your average person who is without any form of religious practice, and notice how many options that they have today:
• Consider that 250 years ago in the US, there wasn’t as many options
• Can you see that the locust is a plague on our religious climate today?

Vs. 5b-6
And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
• Pain and suffering will be so bad people will want to die

We don’t want to take this as some prophecy ONLY dealing with future either:
• Granted, there may be a more fully realized time later
o But that doesn’t take away the need to understand it today
• Consider how many people today are plagued by depression and pain
o Many people wish they were dead
o Many people try to kill themselves
o Some have success
o Some don’t

The point is not to put this in some other time that we don’t live in:
• Either by over-defining it as an occurrence in another century
o (Mohammed 600ad – or Islam in 1000ad)
• Or to under-define as an event as yet to come
o Much like the Left Behind series does

It is something we are undergoing every day!

Vs. 7-8
The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth.
• “Faces like human faces”
o Again, we have put faces to different beliefs
o Tom Cruise, Madonna, etc
• Hair and teeth are described

I want to look at the Crowns: “like crowns of gold”:
• This the word “stephanos” in Greek

“stephanos”
• Greek word that means “crown of victory”
• This is the only use in Revelation where it isn’t talking about Christ or the Saints
• That is because it is a mock-victory
o Temporary
o Not a real victory
o A temporary victory

“Like crowns of gold”:
• It isn’t even real gold
• Just “like crowns of gold”

That is what we find of many things outside of Christianity:
• They don’t offer what they promise
• They are misleading

Vs. 9-10
They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months.
• More description – mostly focused on the power
• “Breastplates like breastplates of iron”
o Again – not iron, but like iron
o Not impenetrable, but difficult

This is a powerful plague:
• Thundering sound
• Rushing into battle
• Tails that sting like scorpions
• All very powerful things

“the power to torment for 5 months”
• (Mentioned in Vs. 5 & 10)
• Notice that the power is limited
• It isn’t a very long time
• And
o Most importantly
o It is pre-determined by God!

All of these plagues are limited:
• What we need to know is that
o God is sovereign
o God is faithful
o Jesus is still victorious
• We are safe in the midst of these trials
• Because our God isn’t just smoke!
• He is the real thing

Vs. 11
They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.
• Abaddon and Apollyon mean destruction and destroyer
• That is what we need to hear tonight

There is a force of evil out to destroy our faith:
• The Enemy would love nothing more than to see Christianity disappear in the next generation

How do we prevent that from happening?

We have to get beyond the smoke:
• We need to be grounded in the truth

2 things are important here:

1: understand that your relationship with God is secure
• If you are a Christ-follower
o You are protected by a sovereign God
o You are safe in the hands of Christ
• Your relationship is protected by the Almighty God who saved you

2: there is a battle for the life and souls of others
• We are called to engage in our culture
• And to be teaching the truth to others
• We are called to battle the locusts

How do we do that?
• By knowing the truth
• We must be grounded in the Word of God in order to be a force for the truth

IF you are only in the Bible on Saturday nights or Sunday mornings, you are not ready for the battle.
• The battle for our loved ones is real
• The battle for our neighbors is real
• Someone is going to win
• Someone will lead them somewhere

WILL IT BE YOU?

Revelation 8:1-5
The Seventh Seal


Imagination – close eyes; get comfortable; sit on the floor – don’t fall asleep

Climb into the mind of John…be where he is…see the vision thus far from his perspective….put yourself in his shoes.

Ch. 1
John’s bio
On Patmos
Separate from his church
Lord’s day – “in the Spirit” (praying – worshiping – meditating)
Loud voice like a trumpet
“Write what you see and send to the churches”
Turned around and saw 7 lampstands with Jesus in center of them “Son of Man”
Robe down to His feet
Golden sash around his chest
Hair white as snow
Eyes like blazing fire (seeing through him)
Feet like glowing bronze in a furnace
Voice like sound of rushing waters
Seven stars in right hand
Sharp double-edged sword coming out of mouth
Face shining like the sun in full brilliance
Fell at his feet “as though dead”
“Do not be afraid…I am the Living One…write what you see…now and later”


Ch. 2 & 3
Messages to each of the seven churches – some good reports, some good/bad, some very bad.


Ch. 4
A door standing open in heaven
“Come up here…what must take place after this” (voice like trumpet)
At once in the Spirit (not on Patmos anymore)
Throne in heaven with someone sitting on it
Appearance of jasper and carnelian (brilliant, multi-hued pink, green, orange)
Rainbow like an emerald encircling the throne
24 other thrones around the Throne
24 elders on the thrones
Elders dressed in white with crowns of gold
From throne:
Flashes of lighting
Rumblings
Peals of thunder
Seven lamps before Throne (seven spirits of God)
Sea of glass, clear as crystal, before the throne

4 living creatures in the center around Throne
Covered with eyes front and back
1st – Like a lion
2nd – Like an ox
3rd – Like a man
4th – Like an eagle
Each with six wings
Never stop saying:
“Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty who Was and Is and Is To Come.”
Everytime the creatures give glory the 24 elders fall down before Throne and worship
They lay their crowns before Throne and say:
“You are worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for You created all things and by Your will they were created and have their being.”

Ch. 5
A scroll in the right hand of Him on Throne
Writing on both sides – sealed with 7 seals
Mighty angel – “Who is worthy to break the seas and open the scroll?”
No one in heaven, earth or hell can open it
John “wept and wept”
Elder says, “Do not weep! See the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its 7 seals”
A Lamb looking like it had been slain
Encircled by 4 living creatures
7 horns and 7 eyes (7 spirits of God)
Takes the scroll from the right hand of Him who sits on the Throne
4 living creatures and 24 elders fall down before Lamb
Each has a harp and golden bowls full of incense (prayers of the saints)
Sing a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to server our God and they will reign on the earth.”

Voice of many angels, then thousand times ten thousand (100,000,000 – 100 Million)
100 Million is populations of:
California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Hawaii…COMBINED!

100 Million angels circle the throne and living creatures and elders
With a “LOUD VOICE” they sing:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Then every creature in heaven and earth and under earth and in the sea – EVERY LIVING THING SINGING:
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever.”
Four living creatures say, “Amen” and the elders fall down and worship.

Ch. 6
1st Seal Opened
One of 4 living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
A white horse – rider with bow and crown
Riding out as a conquerer

2nd Seal Opened
2nd living creature “Come!”
Red horse – rider given power to take peace from earth and make men slay each other.
He has a large sword

3rd Seal Opened
3rd living creature “Come!”
Black horse – rider with scales


4th Seal Opened
4th living creature “Come!”
Pale horse – rider named Death – Hades following close behind
Given power to kill by sword, famine, plague, wild beasts

5th Seal Opened
Souls of martyrs under the alter crying out in a loud voice:
“How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
Each given a white robe and told to wait a little longer
Wait until all the martyrs have been killed

6th Seal Opened
A great earthquake
Sun turns black
Moon turns blood red
Stars fall to the earth
Sky rolls up like a scroll
Every mountain and island moved from it’s place
Every person on earth hiding in caves and rocks calling out:
“Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”



Ch 7.
· Four angels standing at four corners of earth with power to harm the land and sea
Holding back four winds to prevent blowing on anything
· Angel coming up from the east with “seal of the Living God”
Calls out with loud voice:
“Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God!”
· John hears the number of those who are sealed: “144,000 from all the tribes of Israel”

· A great multitude before John – innumerable (he could number the angels…this is even more people!)
Every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne in front of the Lamb
Wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands
Crying out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

· The 100 Million angels respond – falling down on their faces before the throne and worshiping, saying:
“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

· An elder asks John who the multitude is.
John asks the elder to explain it
They are the ones who come out of the great tribulation (life) and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
EVERY PERSON CHOSEN BY CHRIST TO BE REDEEMED BY HIS SALVATION

· A great promise given to all of them – “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes”


Light, drama, music, singing, praying, worshiping, thunder, lighting, danger, destruction, earthquakes, incense.
The Scroll
The Seals
The Lamb
The Throne
4 living creatures
24 elders
100 Million angels
An innumerable multitude with loud voices praising the Holy God Who Is, Was and Will Always Be!

Can you see it?
Can you hear it?
Can you feel it?
Ch. 8

Vs.1
“When he opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour”

SILENCE


Vs. 2-5
“And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled I with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.”


Brothers and Sisters – GOD’S PATIENCE IS LIMITED – AND HIS WRATH IS IMMINENT!!!

When God’s act of salvation is completed on earth, those who remain will be:
Trampled in the great winepress of God’s wrath. Their blood will flow out of the press rising as high as 6 feet for a distance of 180 miles! (paraphrase of Revelation 14:19-20)


If you don’t know Christ, if you’re deciding whether it’s worth it or not – NOW IS THE TIME TO CHOOSE.
No one knows when the hour will come – “like a thief in the night”
SHARE THE GOSPEL


If you know Christ – do not fear this wrath for yourself
FEAR IT FOR EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO DOES NOT KNOW CHRIST

Were you uncomfortable during the silence tonight?
Did you want to be doing anything besides just sitting here?
Raise your hands

You are living today in the silence of heaven
Let this agitation and need to do something take hold in the depths of your spirit
The silence is limited
God’s wrath is imminent
Take the opportunity while you have it
SHARE YOUR FAITH AND THE LOVE OF CHRIST WITH THE CULTURE YOU LIVE IN

Everyone knows someone in their life that doesn’t know Christ
A neighbor
A co-worker
An acquaintance

Someone you have not shared time with – someone you have not shared life with
Have them over for dinner
Take them out to lunch
Go bowling
Do something!

It’s not about saying the right words
It’s not about handing them a tract
It’s not about getting them to say a prayer
It is about engaging in relationship with them
It is about doing life with them!

Don’t let 2007 pass you by – only to find that person is still on your list…un-reached, un-loved, un-saved.

What if you are their last chance to meet the Living Christ?

Will you make the time to give them the chance?

The choice is yours…

A Cosmic Christmas ~ Christmas in Revelation
We are sorry, there are no notes for this week.

Revelation 7
Worshipping Who He Is


Vs. 1-3
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

“Winds of the earth”
Tessares anemos (violent wind, tempest)

Ephesians 1:13-14
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.


This mark of the seal is given to God’s people at the moment of salvation.

God has a plan to complete before the destruction comes

Vs. 4-8
Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.


Romans 11:25-29
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.


· There is more description of the roll these 144,000 play later in Revelation
· We’re not even going to look at it.

· The question is: Why does God show John the 144,000 here – and tell their story later?

I Think: This is the fullness of the church – both Jew and Gentile
All those chosen by God

· If most of us were of Jewish decent, we would camp here
· We’re not – so we’re going to move onto where we are in the passage
· What’s the point of this portion for us?

God’s plan must be complete – All Scripture Must Be Fulfilled … before the end will come.


Vs. 9-10
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."


After the sealing of all of God’s people there will be a great multitude in heaven
From every nation, tribe, people and language

What are they doing?
Waiving palm branches.
Sound familiar?

Mark 11: 7-10
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"

Debunking the Sunday-school myth

What were they really saying?
“Hosanna” – Be propitious
“Propitious” - favorably inclined; disposed to bestow favors or forgive
“Hosanna” – Save Us!



Read it again


What are they really doing here?
“Coming kingdom, Save us”…

They are telling Jesus what to do.
They are telling Jesus what kind of savior they want Him to be.
They are telling Him what kind of God they expect Him to be.

They are worshiping the God of their invention.


What happened when Jesus didn’t establish a kingdom on earth like they expected Him to?
They crucified Him.


Do you ever do this?
God as the big piñata in the sky, and prayer the proverbial whacking stick you use to get the goodies to fall out of heaven?

Does Jesus live up to your expectations of Him?
If not…
Perhaps you need to change your expectations?

They were looking for the fulfillment of their plan…not the fulfillment of God’s plan.




Back to Revelation
Now what do they cry with the palm branches in their hands?

Vs. 10
And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

They look for the fulfillment of God’s plan – it has become their plan because it is His.

Vs. 11-12
All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Amen – I agree!

The angels and the elders look for the fulfillment of God’s plan.
They worship the God that is – not a God of their own invention.
His plan is their plan – HIS PLAN IS OUR PLAN!
Amen!

Vs. 13-14
Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


· Great tribulation: Loaded phrase
o “Tribulation” – thlipsis
§ 45 times

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
(King James Version)
NIV says, “trouble”


The church has been in tribulation since the advent of Christ.

“I have overcome the world” - Share the Gospel.


Vs. 15-17
Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."



Break it down

“Therefore” – “Because of this” (Because they have been made righteous, washed in the blood of the Lamb)

· “Spread His tent over them” – skenoo (skay-no-o) “to fix one's tabernacle, have one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent), tabernacle; to dwell”

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (same word, skenoo)

o Jesus came and dwelt with us (a limited time)
o In the end God will dwell with us (present tense, eternal)

· “Hunger, thirst, scorching heat” – the physical results of the Fall on our lives.

· “Living water” –
Jeremiah 2:13
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

· Who is the “spring of living water”?
o God Himself.

· The Lamb, Jesus, will lead His people to God.


Two gods here:
1) God Himself – the spring of living water
2) Broken cisterns that cannot hold water


What God are you worshiping?
The one you invent offers you nothing.
The One who lives offers you the fulfillment of His plan.


And what does the fulfillment of God’s plan look like for you and I?


“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”


· I’m so tired of crying
· Aren’t you?
· So is everyone you know. Those that know Christ today – and those that do not.


Worship the God that is – not a god you create according to your desires.
Live in the hope of the fulfillment of His plan.
If you are worshiping a god of your own invention, you are worshipping a god that does not exist.
How can you introduce the world around you to a god that isn’t real?

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

The world outside these doors is aching for the love of Christ.
May He fill your heart with their sorrow.

Live in hope.
And share the reason.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (don’t post on screen)
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 6:7-17
“three more seals”

Tonight will be a lot of new information:
· Stay with me, even if you don’t think you are getting it all
· It will make sense when we tie it together in the end

RECAP:
· Last week we looked at the first three seals on the scroll
o First: representing the Gospel reconciliation between God and Man
o Second: representing the discord the Gospel also brings
o Third: the heightened cost of our faith
· I got some really cool emails and calls this last week
o Many of you were challenged by asking the question
o “What has your faith cost you?”
· Tonight we talk about martyrdom
o When I tell you that these people have suffered
o And, we really haven’t
o Please realize that I am not down-playing your “costs of faith”
o Martyrdom is DYING for your faith
· We are going to take a look at the other side of the coin from last week

If last week was, “what is the cost of our faith?”

Then, this week is, “what is the cost of not having faith?”

PRAY:

Vs. 7-8a
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.
· Death – death is death
o Physical
o Absence of life
· Hades – the state of being dead – not necessarily Hell

This depends on your idea of Hell:
· If Hell is the Lake of fire – then Hades isn’t it
· If Hell is the Theological – separation from God
· This could be it – but not completed

Three ideas of after-death:
· Sheol:
o Hebrew idea of where you go when you die
o Was probably accurate before Christ died
o Divided into two sections
§ Abraham’s Bosom – those who died in faith
§ Gehenna – where Molech’s followers …
· Hades:
o This is simply the Greek idea of the state of being dead
o However, it’s usage seems separated from those who die in faith
§ But, it is not Hell
o Hell (Lake of Fire idea) hasn’t been created yet

Side note:
· This is not the same as Purgatory
o Purgatory – Catholic belief that you can “suffer” off some of your unforgiven sin
· The Cross of Christ either forgave sin, or didn’t
o Either way, you can’t work it off after death

Hell:

Revelation 20:14-15
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
· This is our modern concept of Hell
· Lake of Fire
· Eternal punishment

So, Hades in this context seems to be where you go if you die without faith, until the judgment day comes.
· So, let me summarize
o Death is riding on a horse
o Hades, or separation from God, is following close behind
· Many are to be killed
o Some, without ever knowing the LORD
· This is happening today

Vs. 8b
They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
· Given power over a fourth of the earth
o Not everyone will die
o But many will
· Suffering
o Some will suffer famine
o Some will suffer sickness
o Some will die by animal attack
· This is happening today – and people are lost eternally
o This isn’t the saddest part
o It says that Hades is with Death
o That means that some will die apart from knowing Jesus

Vs. 9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.
· Martyrs: in Heaven
o Those who have died in faith – are in Heaven today
o Specifically those who have suffered for their faith

When we think of suffering for our faith, it is not like this:
· Read Foxes, Chapter 1

Stephen
He died for faithfully preaching the Gospel to the betrayers and murderers of Christ. He was stoned to death.

James
Son of Zebedee, older brother of John: Persecuted by Herod Agrippa, James was led to the place of martyrdom, the person who had brought him to Herod repented of betraying him because of the apostle's extraordinary courage. His accuser fell at his feet and asked forgiveness, professing his faith in Christ, and then died alongside James. They were both beheaded at the same time.

Philip
He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified.

Matthew
The tax collector, disciple, and author of the gospel, was killed in Ethiopia with a halberd (like an axe).

James
The half-brother of Jesus, led the church in Jerusalem, and was the author of the Epistle. At the age of ninety-four he was beat and stoned by the Jews until his head split open.

Matthias
Least known disciple stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.

Andrew
Brother of Peter, was crucified on a cross.

Mark
Writer of the Gospel, was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria as a sacrifice to a foreign idol.

Peter
Condemned to death, and crucified, in Rome. Jerome says that he was crucified, with his head down and his feet up, at his own request, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same form and manner as the Lord was.

Paul
The Apostle: suffered under Nero. Paul was beheaded by a sword.

Jude
The brother of James, half brother of Jesus, was crucified.

Bartholomew
He was at cruelly beaten and then crucified.

Thomas
For preaching the Gospel in India he was martyred by being thrust through with a spear.

Luke
Author of the Gospel and the Book of Acts, was hung on an olive tree in Greece.

Simon
The Zealot: preached the Gospel from Africa to Britain where he was crucified.

John
The "beloved disciple", author of the book we study now. Planted the churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira. From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian banished him to the Island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.

This is martyrdom:

This is why I have such a tough time with churches that teach that when things get too tough, and tribulation comes, God will take away His church to Heaven.
· Things have always been bad
· God doesn’t take His faithful out
o He strengthens them to survive it
o He promises us the strength to survive

Then, He does honor them in Heaven!!!

Vs. 10
They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
· They have earned the right to ask this
· They have truly suffered
· They want to know

“How long… until you judge the inhabitants of the Earth and avenge our blood?”
· WE are not that holy
· We don’t get to pray prayers like that

How long, does this injustice have left God?

Vs. 11
Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
· White robes represent their righteousness
o Their accomplishment is recognized
o They are rewarded
· God honors those who suffered for their faith

Remember last week:
· What is the cost of your faith?
· Whatever it is, it will be worth it
· God will honor any sacrifice made for the sake of the Gospel

The martyrs are told to wait:
· Wait, because there are believers are still on the earth
o And, there are some that need to come to faith still
· Earth cannot be judged until the fullness of the Christians is complete
· Some of these will die for their faith

By Their Blood:

Vs. 12-14
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
· This language is used to represent judgment
· This language is used two other times:

Judgment of the earth:
Mark 13:24-27
But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
· When the end actually comes (notice believers are still alive)
· Judgment will come
· Lightning, darkness, thunder…

Judgment of Jesus for sin:
Matthew 27:45-54
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

Judgment is a very scary looking thing!

Vs. 15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
· It is right to fear the judgment of God
· It should not be fearful for the follower of Christ
· But, should motivate us to share Jesus with others

Let’s tie this together:
· We have talked about Hades, Hell, a Lake of Fire
· We have talked about Martyrdom
· We have talked about Judgment

What does this have to do with us?

Think back to Genesis 5-9:
· Noah and the flood
· … … … … …
· No flood – Noah built an ark in vain

Now fast-forward to the Gospels:
· At the end of each Gospel, Jesus is hung on a cross
o He is punished for our sins
o He is crucified and dies
· … … … … …
· No punishment – Jesus died on the cross in vain

We talked about the cost of our faith last week:
· This week we see martyrs dying for their faith

If there is no judgment and death, there would be no reason for you to suffer for your faith.
· Even more so
· IF there is no Death and Hades
· There is no reason to share your faith

Each time Jesus taught on Hell, He was speaking to believers to motivate them!

Revelation 6:1-8
“The first four seals”

RECAP:
· We are in the throne room

Revelation 4:1
Before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
· We have been invited up into the Throne Room in Heaven
· John is writing about:
o … what he is seeing
o … and, what he is told

Revelation 5:1
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
· A scroll
o We are not told what is written it
o Scholars disagree
· What we do agree on is that it is divinely inspired
· And, of great worth

Revelation 5:3
No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could [was worthy to (vs. 2)] open the scroll or even look inside it.
· Whatever this scroll is
· It is definitely important
· Written by the very hand of God
· Therefore, no one was worthy to open it

Revelation 5:6-10
I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
· We have learned that “The Lamb” is Jesus most common name in Revelation
· He is the Lamb that was Slain
· He purchased us with His blood
· He alone is worthy to open the scroll

If you are new to the church, or not familiar with this kind of language, it could sound very weird:

Chrisianese:
· Why is Jesus called a lamb?
· Why is blood involved?
· How did Jesus purchase us?
· What is sin?

DEFINE: Sin: imperfection/failure

Share the Gospel:
· Genesis 3
· With sin, death enters in
· Fig leaves
· God offers a sacrifice
· God covers them with the skins of an animal

God must deal with sin, we cannot.
· Our only way of paying for sin
· Is to die, and be eternally separated from God

God doesn’t want that, HE loves you, and wants relationship with you.

WORSHIP:
· Since we want to focus on how to live a life of worship in this book of revelation
· We are not focusing on the whole futuristic prophecy thing
· We are focusing on TODAY

How to live a life of worship to the God who loves us TODAY!

This brings us to the scroll with 7 seals:
· This is where many interpretations depart
· We will focus on our book of worship here

Four Horsemen:
· The first four seals are brought on by 4 horsemen
o Horsemen are symbolic of the actions taking place
· These four take place during our lives
o Not prophetic visions of future times
· These are relevant to today


Vs. 1-2
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
· Jesus here opens the first of the 7 seals
· But what does it mean?

For 1 minute: quit thinking Bible, start thinking Hallmark:
· Valentines Day: do you have it in your head?
· What is the national symbol?
o Heart
· Who is the Hallmark mascot?
o Cupid
· What does Cupid shoot to pierce the heart?
o Arrows

Why:
· To get people to fall in love…

I want you to see this first seal like this, the bow is meant to deliver arrows, to make your heart fall in love.

A white horse:
· Salvation is riding out to humanity
· Represented by the purity of a white horse

A rider with a bow:
· You ever see the war movies with armor, archers, shields
· The arrow was designed to pierce armor

Just like an arrow is designed to pierce armor, the good news about Jesus is designed to pierce the hearts of men and women, and make them fall in love.

The rider is given a crown:
· Right from the beginning salvation is awarded a crown
· It is guaranteed victory for the rider
· God tells us that His word doesn’t come back void.

Bent on conquest:
· My wife often says I am “bent on …”
· It is when my focus is deepest
· It is when my efforts are directed fully
· I am “bent on…”

Here, Salvation is BENT on saving those whom God loves.

NOTICE:
· It isn’t the ARROWS that are mentioned
· It is the BOW

Psalm 44:4-8
You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
· It isn’t about the skill of the arrow
· Or even the skill of the archer
· It is God whose words change lives

Each week we pray before service that it would be God’s words spoken here:
· My words do nothing
· God’s words give life
· It isn’t your skill in shooting the perfect arrow of the story of Jesus
· It is the strength of God’s words, His Bow, that pierce the hearts of those whom He loves

Vs. 3-4
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.
· The sword here is common throughout scripture
· The word of God
· The Bible
· Ephesians 6 tells us that this is the Word of God

Now:
· How does one part of God’s Word bring love (the arrows of the Gospel)?
· And, then another brings war?
· This verse says:
o “take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other”

Peace between God and Man:
· The Good News of Jesus Christ (the Lamb who was slain)
· Reconciles us to God
· It brings peace to the heart who is saved from eternal separation

HOWEVER:
The Name of Jesus Christ:
· Seems to set one man against another
· If you don’t believe me, wait until someone says Jesus on TV!

Two examples from scripture:

Ephesians 2:14-18
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
· Through the good news of the Lamb who was slain
· We have “destroyed the dividing wall” between God and Humanity
· There is no barrier anymore
· Anyone can have a relationship with the living God

Matthew 10:34-39
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.” Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
· Jesus is speaking here in Matthew
· He says, “don’t think I came to bring peace”
· I will turn a man against his own parents
· A daughter against her mother

What brings peace between you and God will also set you at odds with other people.

Vs. 5-6
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
· Many people think of the scales as law/judgment
· That is our modern day context
· In this passage it is talking about the increased cost of things
· A quart of wheat is a full days wages ($300)

Just like the increase cost of a life lived out for Jesus!!!

What is the increased cost of the Gospel in your life?
· If the cost of your life hasn’t changed since you started living for Jesus
· Are you really living for Jesus?

What is the cost?
· Have you had to give up things that you used to do?
· Have you had to give up activities that you used to enjoy?

Share from my life:
· I had to quit getting loaded and doing crimes
· I had to quit hanging out with the friends I had
· I had to quit a life of crime and get a job

Lisa and I:
· We gave up pursuing income like we used to
· We have lost relationships with family members
· We have surrendered Saturday nights to ministry

Each of you sitting here has given up a Saturday night for God:
· Most of you used to have Saturday night plans
· But you sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel
The cost of living for Christ is often difficult, but is always worth it!

Revelation 5:7-14
“A Kingdom of Priests”

RECAP:
· Series: Worship
· Section 1: (chapters 1-3) Church Worship
o 7 Churches of Asia Minor
o Critique of how each church worshipped
o We then critique how we worship
· Section 2: (chapters 4-7) Heavenly Worship
o Chapters 4-5a
o We enter into the Throne Room
o We are introduced to new characters in Heaven

Worship:
· A posture
· A lifestyle

Remember our main verse in this series:

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.

PRAY:

Vs. 7-8
He (Jesus/the Lamb vs. 6) came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Here we see all three of the main characters we are introduced to:
· The Lamb
· The 4 Living Creatures
· The 24 Elders

“The Lamb who was slain”
Revelation 5:6
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne”
· We already know that this is Jesus
o This is His primary name in Revelation
o He is called the Lamb 29 times in Revelation
§ 31 times in the Bible
§ 29 of them in Revelation
§ 2 (only others) are when Jesus is baptized

The other two times:
John 1:29-36
John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
· John the Baptist points out Jesus as the “Lamb of God”
· The one who takes away the sin of the World

Back in vs. 7
He (the Lamb from vs. 6) came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
· Jesus takes the scroll from the very hand of the Father
· We see worth, authority, power
· This transfers this sacred scroll to Jesus

Scroll:
· We don’t know exactly what it is
· We do know it is something divinely inspired
· Written by the very hand of God
· No one was found worthy to open it
· Jesus is the only worthy to do this

Back in vs. 8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.

4 Living Creatures
· Representatives of the 4 ways Jesus is communicated in the Gospels
· Face of a Lion: Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Matthew
· Face of an Ox: Servant of All: Mark
· Face of a Man: Man who changed History - Luke
· Face of an Eagle: Son of God – John
o Notice the use of Lamb and Son of God in the passage we read earlier

24 Elders
· Figurative picture of the fullness of the Church
o A FULLNESS not the everyone
o Just a representation of all the church
· Followers of Jesus, past, present, and future
· All races, nationalities, languages, …

Fell down before the Lamb:
· This is posture!
· Again, a book full of worship
· They fall down prostrate to worship the One who is worthy

Interesting thing is added here…
Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Harps:
· Stringed instruments
· Much like how we worship

Incense:
· It is even defined for us
· The prayers of the saints!!!
· Prayer is called a fragrant incense throughout the bible

Do you picture your prayers being that welcomed by God?
· Like lighting your favorite candle is enjoyable
· The smell of my car – is enjoyable to me…
· Prayer is enjoyed by God like this!

“The prayers of the saints”
· This is GREAT because it gives us information
· It tells us that people are still living as we see this worship scene in Heaven.

So who are the Saints?
· Are they living people?
· Are they special people?
· Are they like Catholic Saints?

Old and New Testaments agree about Saints:

Psalm 85:8, 34:9-10
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints - but let them not return to folly… Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
· Here in the OT Saints are called God’s people
· AND, they are told to be faithful
· In other words, they are perfect
· They are just God-followers

Philippians 4:21-22
Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.

Ephesians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.
· They are the church in Phillipi
· They are the church in Ephesus
· They are The Church
· That is you and me!

So, now, who are the Elders again?
· They are those who represent the Church
· Maybe Christians that have died
· Maybe just representation of the fullness of the faithful Church
· The Saints in Heaven

And, who is praying?
· Those who are on Earth!
· The church who is still alive
· The Saints on Earth

2 Corinthians tells us:
“to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”
· So those who have died in faith are worshipping in the Throne Room
· Those who are faithful on Earth are praying!

Vs. 9
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
· Why is the Lamb tied to worth?
· Because of the blood that was shed that is mentioned here
· This is an OT picture of Christ to come:
· Not a ruling king, but a suffering servant like Isaiah preached about

Passover Lamb
Exodus 12:3-13
Tell Israel that each man is to take a lamb for his family. The lamb you choose must be year-old males without defect. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of Israel must slaughter them. Then take the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses; it is the LORD's Passover. "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
· To prevent the death of the Jewish people
· They had to slay a lamb
· And it’s blood became a covering for them

Sin Offering - Leviticus 9
· To atone for the sins of people
· A lamb had to be slain

Guilt Offering - Leviticus 14
· To cover the guilt of the people
· A lamb had to be slain

Fellowship Offering
Leviticus 3:6-8
Offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the LORD; offer a male or female without defect. If he offers a lamb, he is to present it before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.
· To have fellowship with their God
· A lamb had to be slain

Here we see a picture of the faithful, in fellowship with God in Heaven,
· They are face to face with their Creator
· And in the center of the Throne
· Is a lamb who has been slain!!!

A new perspective brings on a new song:
“And they sang a new song!”

Vs. 10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.

Who? Who are made to be kings and priests???
· Who are we talking about as kings and priests to serve God?
· Who is to reign on Earth?
· US!!!

When?
· NOW!!!

Kings and Priests:
· Is us down here
· We who are still alive
· WE are called to be kings and priests to serve our God
· WE are to reign here on Earth!!!

1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10
As you come to him (Jesus) rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

This is our call here on Earth!
· To be the priests here to others
· So many of us are still not living like this

What is the job of a priest?
· A priest is a mediator/connector
· To connect God to Humanity
· And to connect Humanity to God

Romans 15:14-16
I am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. I have written you quite boldly as if to remind you because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
· Paul says he is convinced that you are competent
· And that priests are called to share the Gospel

The Gospel is how we connect God and Humanity!

Share the Gospel:

Close with intro to response:
· Anoint people with oil.

Leviticus 14:12-18
The priest is to take the male lamb and offer it as a guilt offering. 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the holy place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand, dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the LORD seven times. The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for him before the LORD.
· Tonight I want to treat you according to your calling
· We at Emerge want to call you priests
· We want to anoint you for the job you are called to

Doxology:
Vs. 11-14
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
· Worship breaks out in Heaven again at the foot of the Lamb!
· Time and time again the WORTHINESS is mentioned

Do you tonight know that Jesus is worthy of your worship?

What is our posture?

What are we called to do?