Well, I trust that
you had a good lunch.
00:00:16.85\00:00:19.25
Hopefully not too much.
00:00:20.28\00:00:22.02
I wouldn't want to...
00:00:23.12\00:00:24.65
I wouldn't want to
rebuke anyone who goes to sleep
00:00:25.75\00:00:28.02
during this session.
00:00:28.06\00:00:29.39
But anyway, we are going to
go to page 17 in our syllabus,
00:00:30.36\00:00:35.53
and we're going to study
the notes on Revelation 4.
00:00:36.06\00:00:39.57
And then we will, in our
second session we will go into
00:00:40.27\00:00:44.74
the notes on Revelation
5, which I don't think
00:00:45.11\00:00:47.61
we'll be able to finish in the
second session this afternoon,
00:00:47.64\00:00:51.35
We'll have to pick up on
the same chapter tomorrow.
00:00:51.48\00:00:55.48
But let's have a word
of prayer before we begin.
00:00:55.52\00:00:57.65
Father in heaven,
thank You for the good rest
00:00:58.22\00:01:00.16
that we've been able
to have, the good meal.
00:01:00.19\00:01:03.19
Now as we gather together
once again to open Your Word,
00:01:03.56\00:01:06.80
we ask for the
presence of Your Holy Spirit.
00:01:07.00\00:01:09.36
We claim that promise in
the precious name of Jesus.
00:01:09.86\00:01:13.60
Amen.
00:01:13.64\00:01:14.97
Revelation 3:21...
00:01:17.27\00:01:19.14
I'm going to follow
the syllabus quite closely.
00:01:19.17\00:01:21.44
I've written everything out
in a way which I hope everyone
00:01:21.54\00:01:26.01
will be able to understand.
00:01:26.05\00:01:27.62
Revelation 3:21 makes a clear
distinction between two thrones.
00:01:27.95\00:01:33.05
The first throne is
the Father's throne.
00:01:34.22\00:01:37.63
It's His alone.
00:01:38.19\00:01:39.86
And that is
mentioned in Revelation 4:1-2.
00:01:40.36\00:01:43.47
When Jesus ascended to heaven,
Revelation tells us that He sat
00:01:44.30\00:01:49.14
with His Father on
His Father's throne.
00:01:49.34\00:01:52.84
So that's the first
throne. The Father's throne.
00:01:52.87\00:01:55.51
When Jesus ascended to heaven,
00:01:55.78\00:01:57.18
He sat with His
Father on His throne.
00:01:57.21\00:02:00.12
The second throne
belongs to Jesus alone.
00:02:00.85\00:02:03.62
And this is the
throne that Jesus will have
00:02:04.39\00:02:07.49
in the coming kingdom.
00:02:07.52\00:02:09.02
At the second coming He
will receive His own throne.
00:02:09.32\00:02:13.40
So there are two
thrones: the Father's throne;
00:02:13.76\00:02:17.07
Jesus sits with the
Father on His throne
00:02:17.27\00:02:19.53
until all of His
enemies are made His footstool,
00:02:19.63\00:02:22.37
and then after the millennium
Jesus will sit on His own throne
00:02:22.57\00:02:28.74
above the holy city.
00:02:28.78\00:02:30.11
That white throne
that Ellen White mentions
00:02:30.15\00:02:32.21
in the book, The
Great Controversy.
00:02:32.25\00:02:34.32
Now the Bible
sometimes depicts Jesus standing
00:02:34.95\00:02:38.29
and it depicts Him sitting
00:02:38.52\00:02:40.49
in the work that
He's presently doing.
00:02:40.96\00:02:43.02
What we need to understand
is that these positions
00:02:43.59\00:02:46.96
are meant to define
function more than location.
00:02:47.23\00:02:51.67
In other words, Jesus sits
at the right hand of the Father
00:02:52.33\00:02:55.97
because He is King
of the kingdom of grace.
00:02:56.00\00:02:59.84
However, He stands before
the Father because He is the
00:03:00.48\00:03:04.31
High Priest that
intercedes for His people.
00:03:04.35\00:03:08.42
So He sits as King and
He stands as High Priest.
00:03:08.72\00:03:13.66
The emphasis is upon function.
00:03:13.69\00:03:15.89
The emphasis in Hebrews is
upon Jesus as the High Priest,
00:03:16.36\00:03:20.96
as the Intercessor.
00:03:21.00\00:03:22.33
The emphasis in Revelation,
particularly in the second half
00:03:22.56\00:03:25.67
of Revelation, falls
upon Jesus as the King
00:03:25.70\00:03:29.47
of the kingdom of Grace, and
then of the kingdom of glory.
00:03:30.11\00:03:33.98
Genesis 14:18 mentions a
being called Melchizedek.
00:03:34.71\00:03:39.48
And Melchizedek is
described with both functions.
00:03:39.81\00:03:43.25
He is the king of Salem and he
is also the high priest of God.
00:03:43.28\00:03:49.19
So Melchizedek
has both functions.
00:03:49.59\00:03:52.53
And of course, Jesus is
the High Priest according
00:03:52.83\00:03:56.06
to the order of Melchizedek.
00:03:56.10\00:03:58.67
Now we need to understand
why the priesthood of Jesus
00:03:59.00\00:04:02.04
is not according to
the priesthood of Aaron
00:04:02.07\00:04:03.91
but according to the
priesthood of Melchizedek.
00:04:03.94\00:04:06.31
The reason is very simple.
00:04:06.34\00:04:07.84
Jesus was from
the tribe of Judah.
00:04:08.28\00:04:11.11
And kings came
from the tribe of Judah.
00:04:11.88\00:04:14.32
But those from the tribe of
Judah could not serve as priests
00:04:14.88\00:04:18.12
because the priests
came from the tribe of Levi.
00:04:18.15\00:04:20.89
And so Jesus is King
after the order of David,
00:04:21.42\00:04:25.99
and He is Priest, not
according to the order of Aaron,
00:04:26.33\00:04:29.83
but according to the
priesthood of Melchizedek,
00:04:29.86\00:04:32.83
which gives Him
the right to be Priest
00:04:32.87\00:04:34.87
because He's not a
member of the tribe of Levi.
00:04:34.90\00:04:39.04
If you read Zechariah 6:12-13,
once again you'll find the idea
00:04:39.71\00:04:45.15
that Jesus is both King
and Priest in those verses.
00:04:45.45\00:04:50.55
And in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28
the apostle Paul tells us that
00:04:50.92\00:04:58.06
Jesus sits at the Father's
right hand until His enemies
00:04:58.09\00:05:03.80
are made His footstool.
00:05:03.83\00:05:05.40
So in other words, Jesus is
going to sit with the Father
00:05:05.43\00:05:07.77
on His throne until
Jesus gains the kingdom at the
00:05:07.80\00:05:13.07
very end of time and He
becomes ruler over the kingdom.
00:05:13.11\00:05:18.45
Empirically.
00:05:18.48\00:05:19.81
Not only in terms of sentence,
but also in terms of actuality.
00:05:19.85\00:05:24.02
Now let's read Revelation 3:21.
00:05:24.72\00:05:27.76
This is a very important verse.
00:05:27.79\00:05:29.12
It's actually the
concluding verse to the churches
00:05:29.16\00:05:32.36
and it's the
introductory verse to the seals.
00:05:32.39\00:05:35.56
It's a present
active participle.
00:05:40.44\00:05:43.00
Future active indicative.
00:05:46.94\00:05:49.34
See, Jesus is going to
have His throne, right?
00:05:52.18\00:05:54.22
With those who overcome.
00:05:54.25\00:05:55.68
And then Jesus
says, "as I overcame..."
00:05:56.38\00:05:59.32
When did He overcome,
and where did He overcome?
00:05:59.69\00:06:02.26
When He was on earth, right?
00:06:03.02\00:06:04.76
When did He sit down?
00:06:07.96\00:06:09.30
When He went to heaven.
00:06:09.86\00:06:11.20
And in between
those two points of time
00:06:13.44\00:06:15.60
you have the seven seals.
00:06:15.80\00:06:18.17
In other words, the seven
seals are between the time
00:06:18.41\00:06:21.81
when Jesus overcomes, sits
with His Father on His throne,
00:06:21.84\00:06:25.28
and then we, during the
period of the seals, overcome
00:06:25.48\00:06:28.78
and then we sit
with Jesus on His throne.
00:06:28.82\00:06:31.09
So Revelation 3:21
gives you the beginning point,
00:06:31.29\00:06:34.69
it's when Jesus overcame
and sits on His Father's throne,
00:06:34.89\00:06:37.63
and the ending point when we
overcome during the course of
00:06:37.66\00:06:40.96
the seals and sit
with Jesus on His throne.
00:06:41.00\00:06:45.97
Now Jesus resurrected and He
spent 40 days upon this earth
00:06:46.60\00:06:52.44
before He ascended to heaven.
00:06:52.47\00:06:54.24
And the book of Acts
1:3 tells us the reason why.
00:06:54.71\00:06:58.41
Two reasons.
00:06:58.45\00:06:59.78
Number one, to give irrefutable
proof that He had resurrected.
00:06:59.81\00:07:04.69
He appeared to many as
proof that He had resurrected.
00:07:04.72\00:07:07.66
And the second reason is
because He taught the disciples
00:07:07.99\00:07:12.56
things concerning
the kingdom of God.
00:07:12.73\00:07:14.93
In other words,
there were many prophecies
00:07:14.96\00:07:16.30
that the disciples
did not understand.
00:07:16.33\00:07:18.10
They needed to understand,
for example, the verses that
00:07:18.47\00:07:20.77
deal with the
feast of Pentecost.
00:07:20.80\00:07:22.64
During those 40 days
Jesus explained the prophecies
00:07:22.67\00:07:25.97
they had misunderstood and the
prophecies that were about to be
00:07:26.01\00:07:29.61
fulfilled on the
day of Pentecost.
00:07:29.64\00:07:32.51
And then Jesus gathered with
His disciples at the end of the
00:07:32.85\00:07:35.62
40 days upon the top
of the Mount of Olives
00:07:35.65\00:07:39.32
and He is about to
return, the war Hero,
00:07:39.42\00:07:43.83
to heaven from where He
left precisely 33 years before.
00:07:43.86\00:07:47.80
I said 30 this morning. I
was speaking in round numbers.
00:07:47.83\00:07:50.17
33 years, Jesus now is
going to return to heaven.
00:07:50.20\00:07:54.27
Now do you suppose that
the heavenly beings were really
00:07:54.67\00:07:58.01
excited about the idea
of the war Hero coming back?
00:07:58.04\00:08:01.04
Absolutely.
00:08:02.04\00:08:03.38
33 Years before, He had
said, "Hey, I am going to go
00:08:03.65\00:08:07.25
to that earth, I'm
going to take human nature,
00:08:07.28\00:08:10.05
I'm going to develop a perfect
character living as a man.
00:08:10.42\00:08:13.66
I'm going to weave a
perfect robe of righteousness.
00:08:13.92\00:08:16.12
Then I'm going to take
all of their sins upon Myself
00:08:16.49\00:08:19.53
and I am going to pay the
price of their redemption.
00:08:19.56\00:08:22.40
But I assure you that
at the end of that period
00:08:22.83\00:08:26.20
I will be coming home.
00:08:26.23\00:08:28.67
So you better start
preparing the party."
00:08:28.70\00:08:31.27
So as Jesus was 40
days upon this earth,
00:08:31.54\00:08:34.64
heaven is preparing to
receive Jesus, the war Hero.
00:08:35.31\00:08:40.02
So the Bible tells us
in Acts 1:9-11 that a cloud
00:08:40.48\00:08:45.22
caught Jesus up.
00:08:45.25\00:08:46.59
And of course, that cloud
represents the angelic hosts.
00:08:46.62\00:08:50.13
They caught Jesus up, and
Jesus ascended to the throne
00:08:50.53\00:08:56.56
of His Father.
00:08:56.60\00:08:58.13
Now Revelation 4 describes
the heavenly throne room
00:08:58.43\00:09:02.90
being prepared
before Jesus arrived.
00:09:02.94\00:09:07.01
In other words, Revelation 4 and
5 describe the same location.
00:09:07.21\00:09:11.35
But Revelation 4 is before Jesus
arrives with the angelic hosts
00:09:11.48\00:09:15.45
and Revelation 5
describes the time
00:09:15.52\00:09:18.05
when Jesus arrives in heaven.
00:09:18.09\00:09:20.72
So let's take a look
verse by verse at Revelation 4
00:09:21.02\00:09:26.66
so that we can kind
of look at the historical
00:09:26.76\00:09:30.03
context of the seals.
00:09:30.07\00:09:31.47
Because Revelation 4
and 5 are the introduction
00:09:31.50\00:09:35.40
to the seven seals.
00:09:35.44\00:09:36.77
That's why we're studying
the introductory vision.
00:09:36.97\00:09:39.11
You can't really make
any sense out of the seals
00:09:39.14\00:09:41.74
unless you understand where they
start and what Jesus is doing
00:09:41.78\00:09:45.65
before the seven
seals begin to be broken.
00:09:45.68\00:09:49.62
Now let's go to verse 1.
00:09:50.49\00:09:52.09
So some people say that the,
"must take place after this,"
00:10:09.24\00:10:12.97
then this can't refer to the
ascension of Christ to heaven
00:10:13.01\00:10:16.01
because it's talking about
things that will happen after
00:10:16.24\00:10:20.05
the series of
the seven churches.
00:10:20.25\00:10:22.82
Because in chapter 1, 2, and
3 you had the seven churches.
00:10:22.85\00:10:25.95
So in Revelation 4:1 it
says, "I'm going to tell you
00:10:26.35\00:10:28.79
the things that
happen after this."
00:10:28.82\00:10:30.63
So does this scene
take place after the
00:10:30.99\00:10:34.46
seven churches are fulfilled?
00:10:34.50\00:10:36.23
It can't be.
00:10:36.26\00:10:37.60
Because after the
seven churches are fulfilled,
00:10:37.63\00:10:39.53
history has come to an end.
00:10:40.07\00:10:41.70
So what does it mean
when it says, "I will show you
00:10:42.30\00:10:44.71
what will happen after this."
00:10:44.74\00:10:46.21
It simply means that
God is going to show John
00:10:46.61\00:10:49.34
what is going to
happen after John
00:10:49.54\00:10:53.72
is taken in vision to heaven.
00:10:53.82\00:10:55.55
So in other words,
what the verse is saying,
00:10:56.08\00:10:58.22
"I saw a door
standing open in heaven."
00:10:58.25\00:11:00.26
Because the voice
says, "Come up here."
00:11:00.29\00:11:02.62
And of course, he's
not coming personally.
00:11:02.66\00:11:04.16
He's coming in vision.
00:11:04.19\00:11:05.53
"And the first voice
which I heard was like a trumpet
00:11:05.79\00:11:07.96
speaking with me saying, 'Come
up here, and I will show you the
00:11:08.00\00:11:10.93
things which must
take place after this.'"
00:11:10.97\00:11:13.50
In other words, what
takes place after John
00:11:13.54\00:11:17.47
is taken to heaven in vision.
00:11:17.51\00:11:19.01
Are you with me or not?
00:11:19.04\00:11:20.38
So that's the key point
that we need to understand,
00:11:20.91\00:11:23.95
because some are saying this
deals with Revelation 4 and 5,
00:11:23.98\00:11:27.55
it's talking about
the investigative judgment
00:11:27.58\00:11:29.25
that begins in 1844.
00:11:29.28\00:11:31.05
And we're going to give several
reasons why this is speaking
00:11:31.35\00:11:34.26
about the inauguration of
Christ, it's not speaking about
00:11:34.29\00:11:37.53
the beginning of the
investigative judgment in 1844.
00:11:37.56\00:11:41.03
Now let's read
the note on page 19.
00:11:41.86\00:11:44.67
John sees a door that
stands open in heaven.
00:11:45.13\00:11:49.30
The text provides no evidence
whatsoever that the person
00:11:50.01\00:11:53.84
who is sitting on
the throne moved there
00:11:53.88\00:11:57.15
from any other place.
00:11:57.51\00:11:59.11
That's a very important point.
00:11:59.88\00:12:01.55
There's no indication
that the person who is sitting
00:12:01.58\00:12:03.22
on the throne was in some
other place and then he moved
00:12:03.25\00:12:06.45
to that particular throne.
00:12:06.79\00:12:08.89
The person is simply there.
00:12:08.92\00:12:11.23
The door
obviously leads into a what?
00:12:11.96\00:12:14.63
Into a building.
00:12:15.33\00:12:16.67
You know, you don't have
a door without a building.
00:12:16.70\00:12:18.40
In fact, that would
be kind of ridiculous
00:12:19.17\00:12:20.50
to have just a door, right?
00:12:20.54\00:12:21.87
The door leads to some location.
00:12:21.90\00:12:23.84
And it's clear
that we're talking about
00:12:24.31\00:12:26.07
the heavenly sanctuary.
00:12:26.11\00:12:27.68
Right?
00:12:28.31\00:12:29.64
Now how many doors does
the heavenly sanctuary have?
00:12:29.88\00:12:32.95
The heavenly
sanctuary has two doors.
00:12:33.78\00:12:35.78
It has a door that
leads to the Holy Place,
00:12:36.15\00:12:38.39
and it has a door
that leads to where?
00:12:38.75\00:12:41.12
It leads to the Most Holy Place.
00:12:41.62\00:12:44.23
So the question is,
which of these two doors
00:12:44.26\00:12:48.23
is John referring to
when he writes in Revelation
00:12:48.26\00:12:51.73
that there is a door
that is open in heaven?
00:12:52.03\00:12:55.30
There's no doubt whatsoever
that you're dealing with
00:12:55.74\00:12:58.47
the door that leads to the Holy
Place of the heavenly Sanctuary.
00:12:58.51\00:13:03.38
And we're going to see that
very clearly as we go along.
00:13:03.41\00:13:06.35
So John is taken in vision,
00:13:06.92\00:13:08.85
after he sees the vision of
the seven churches, to heaven.
00:13:09.52\00:13:13.25
And there he sees this open door
that leads into the Holy Place.
00:13:13.76\00:13:17.66
And then he sees a
throne that is set there.
00:13:17.93\00:13:20.40
There's no
movement of the throne.
00:13:20.60\00:13:22.56
The throne is simply there.
00:13:22.86\00:13:24.37
And he sees one who
is sitting on the throne.
00:13:24.73\00:13:28.44
The one who is on the
throne is never identified.
00:13:29.87\00:13:32.57
It doesn't say, "Well,
the one who is sitting on the
00:13:33.61\00:13:35.51
throne is God the Father."
00:13:35.54\00:13:36.88
But it becomes very obvious as
you look at the entire chapter
00:13:36.91\00:13:40.68
that the one who is
sitting on the throne
00:13:40.72\00:13:42.68
is God the Father.
00:13:42.78\00:13:44.92
Now let's go to verse 3.
00:13:45.69\00:13:47.32
The appearance of
the person on the throne.
00:13:47.79\00:13:49.96
It says in verse three...
00:13:50.63\00:13:51.96
So you have this
being who looks like a
00:14:02.84\00:14:06.81
jasper and a sardius stone.
00:14:06.84\00:14:08.38
Now what does jasper look like?
00:14:08.41\00:14:11.05
A jasper stone is a
reddish stone with black veins.
00:14:11.08\00:14:14.85
And a sardius stone is a
reddish stone with white veins.
00:14:14.95\00:14:21.89
So in other words,
the predominant color
00:14:21.92\00:14:24.46
is the color red.
00:14:24.49\00:14:25.93
Because you're seeing
the glory of God here.
00:14:25.96\00:14:28.40
And Ellen White has an
interesting description
00:14:29.56\00:14:32.17
about this because John actually
did not see God the Father.
00:14:32.20\00:14:36.54
He saw the glory that
surrounded the Father.
00:14:36.91\00:14:40.44
That's the reason why it
emphasizes the color red,
00:14:40.98\00:14:44.45
which is the color of fire.
00:14:44.48\00:14:46.01
Notice this
commentary from Ellen White,
00:14:46.41\00:14:48.38
Early Writings, page 54;
at the bottom of page 19.
00:14:48.42\00:14:51.62
"I saw a throne, and on it
sat the Father and the Son.
00:14:51.95\00:14:55.62
I gazed..." Who
sat on the throne?
00:14:56.22\00:14:58.99
The Father and the Son.
00:14:59.63\00:15:01.00
"I gazed on Jesus' countenance
and admired His lovely person.
00:15:01.56\00:15:05.37
The Father's
person I could not behold,
00:15:05.60\00:15:07.90
for a cloud of
glorious light covered Him."
00:15:08.20\00:15:10.87
That would be the colors that
are mentioned in Revelation 4:3.
00:15:10.91\00:15:16.14
"I asked Jesus if His
Father had a form like Himself?
00:15:16.44\00:15:20.42
He said He had, but I could
not behold it, for said He,
00:15:21.08\00:15:25.39
'If you should once
behold the glory of His person,
00:15:25.42\00:15:28.19
you would cease to exist.'"
00:15:28.39\00:15:30.76
So somebody then wrote
to Ellen White and said,
00:15:30.99\00:15:33.09
"Ellen White, don't you
know the Bible says that
00:15:33.13\00:15:35.53
no one has ever seen God?
00:15:35.56\00:15:37.07
How can you say that you saw the
Father sitting on the throne?"
00:15:37.10\00:15:40.57
So Ellen White had to
add an explanatory note
00:15:40.67\00:15:43.94
in, Early writings,
page 92, on the next page.
00:15:44.04\00:15:46.84
"I stated that a cloud of
glorious light covered the
00:15:47.44\00:15:50.21
Father and that His
person could not be seen.
00:15:50.25\00:15:53.08
I also stated that I saw
the Father rise from the throne.
00:15:53.92\00:15:57.25
The Father was enshrouded
with a body of light and glory
00:15:57.65\00:16:00.52
so that I could
not see His person;
00:16:00.92\00:16:03.39
yet I knew that it was the
Father and that from His person
00:16:03.66\00:16:07.20
emanated this light and glory."
00:16:07.23\00:16:09.26
See, those are the
colors that John saw.
00:16:09.30\00:16:12.07
He's just describing
it in a different way
00:16:12.10\00:16:13.94
than Ellen White is.
00:16:13.97\00:16:15.30
"When I saw this body of light
and glory rise from the throne,
00:16:15.50\00:16:19.41
I knew it was
because the Father moved.
00:16:19.61\00:16:22.18
Therefore said I, 'I
saw the Father rise.'
00:16:22.48\00:16:25.08
The glory or excellency
of His form I never saw;
00:16:25.31\00:16:29.08
no one could behold it and live;
00:16:29.35\00:16:31.42
and yet the body of
light and glory that enshrouded
00:16:31.45\00:16:35.12
His person could be seen."
00:16:35.16\00:16:37.63
So Ellen White
saw what John saw.
00:16:38.06\00:16:41.03
Only, she calls
it light and glory,
00:16:41.26\00:16:43.33
whereas John compares it
with the color of stones.
00:16:43.53\00:16:46.30
Predominately the color red,
00:16:46.40\00:16:48.24
which is similar
to the color of fire.
00:16:48.27\00:16:51.87
So you have this door open.
00:16:52.47\00:16:54.31
We still haven't
identified where it goes to.
00:16:54.54\00:16:56.85
You have a throne
that wasn't moved there.
00:16:57.25\00:16:59.28
It's set there.
00:16:59.31\00:17:00.65
On the throne you
have a Being sitting.
00:17:00.68\00:17:03.28
And now we're going to notice
that surrounding the throne
00:17:03.69\00:17:06.96
there are the 24 elders.
00:17:07.32\00:17:09.92
That's verse 4.
00:17:09.96\00:17:11.33
"Around the throne
were twenty-four thrones,
00:17:11.79\00:17:15.30
and on the thrones I saw
twenty-four elders sitting,
00:17:15.53\00:17:20.10
clothed in white robes,
00:17:20.34\00:17:22.14
and they had crowns
of gold on their heads."
00:17:22.30\00:17:24.84
Now we're not
going to interpret yet
00:17:24.87\00:17:26.37
what the 24 elders represent.
00:17:26.41\00:17:28.24
But I just want
you to get the picture.
00:17:28.48\00:17:30.15
There's the one
sitting on the throne,
00:17:30.18\00:17:32.05
you know, there's this
glory that's emanating from Him,
00:17:32.61\00:17:37.29
and surrounding the
throne are these 24 elders.
00:17:38.62\00:17:42.12
And then verse 5 tells us
something very interesting
00:17:42.86\00:17:46.49
about where
this is taking place.
00:17:46.53\00:17:48.53
It says in verse 5,
"And from the throne..."
00:17:48.83\00:17:52.03
That is, in front of the throne.
00:18:02.41\00:18:04.01
So now I want you
to catch the picture.
00:18:07.85\00:18:10.02
There's 24 elders
surrounding the throne,
00:18:10.05\00:18:12.19
and now we are told that
there are seven lamps of fire
00:18:12.55\00:18:15.72
that are before or
in front of the throne.
00:18:15.76\00:18:19.33
Now let's read the note.
00:18:20.26\00:18:21.70
Seven lamps of fire were
burning before the throne.
00:18:22.30\00:18:25.17
The word for,
"lamps," in the Septuagint...
00:18:25.93\00:18:29.04
That's the Greek translation
of the Old Testament.
00:18:29.07\00:18:31.11
...is, "lampades."
00:18:31.14\00:18:32.74
It's the very word that
is used in the Old Testament,
00:18:33.38\00:18:36.54
Greek Old Testament, to describe
the seven branch candlestick
00:18:36.58\00:18:41.38
in the Holy Place.
00:18:41.42\00:18:42.75
So very clearly this
scene is taking place where?
00:18:42.78\00:18:46.59
It's taking place in the Holy
Place of the heavenly sanctuary.
00:18:46.79\00:18:51.19
Clearly this is the case.
00:18:51.93\00:18:54.00
Now let's go to
the following page.
00:18:54.36\00:18:56.83
This is very interesting.
00:18:57.43\00:18:58.90
In chapter 4 it says
that the seven Spirits
00:18:59.50\00:19:02.87
are there before the throne.
00:19:03.07\00:19:05.21
But we're going to
notice in chapter 5
00:19:05.91\00:19:08.71
that the seven
Spirits are sent to the earth.
00:19:09.14\00:19:13.01
Let's read this note here.
00:19:13.42\00:19:15.12
In chapter 4, the
seven Spirits were standing
00:19:15.38\00:19:17.99
before the heavenly throne.
00:19:18.02\00:19:19.35
God had not yet sent
them out into all the earth.
00:19:19.82\00:19:23.39
However, in chapter 5, and we're
going to study this more fully,
00:19:23.76\00:19:26.90
after Jesus arrived and
the Father installed Him as the
00:19:27.10\00:19:31.03
High Priest, God sent the
Holy Spirit into all the earth.
00:19:31.07\00:19:35.50
Clearly, the sending of the
Spirits represents the events
00:19:36.00\00:19:39.24
that occurred when?
00:19:39.27\00:19:40.68
On the day of Pentecost.
00:19:40.98\00:19:42.81
The number seven
indicates that the Holy Spirit
00:19:43.14\00:19:45.75
spoke to the seven churches.
00:19:46.08\00:19:48.05
You notice that for
every church it says,
00:19:48.08\00:19:49.88
"He who has an ear,
let him hear what the
00:19:49.92\00:19:51.39
Spirit says to the churches."
00:19:51.42\00:19:52.79
There are seven
churches, seven Spirits.
00:19:52.82\00:19:54.89
Now Ellen White clearly
identified the location of
00:19:55.52\00:19:58.63
where Revelation
4 is taking place.
00:19:58.66\00:20:00.66
It's taking place
in the Holy Place.
00:20:01.13\00:20:03.26
Let's read this statement from,
The Faith I Live By, page 202.
00:20:03.60\00:20:08.14
She's referring directly to
Revelation 4 and Revelation 5.
00:20:09.10\00:20:13.31
There's no doubt
this is not talking
00:20:13.64\00:20:15.08
about the Most Holy Place.
00:20:15.11\00:20:16.44
This is not talking about the
investigative judgment in 1844.
00:20:16.48\00:20:19.68
This is talking
about things that are
00:20:19.78\00:20:21.48
happening in the Holy Place.
00:20:21.52\00:20:22.95
It says there, "The holy places
of the sanctuary in heaven
00:20:23.05\00:20:27.96
are represented
by the two apartments
00:20:28.52\00:20:30.83
in the sanctuary on earth.
00:20:30.86\00:20:32.49
As in vision the apostle
John was granted a view of the
00:20:33.09\00:20:36.03
temple of God in heaven, he
beheld there 'seven lamps of
00:20:36.06\00:20:40.47
fire burning
before the throne.'"
00:20:40.50\00:20:42.44
Revelation 4:5
00:20:42.47\00:20:44.41
"He saw an angel
'having a golden censer;
00:20:44.81\00:20:47.14
and there was given
unto him much incense,
00:20:47.18\00:20:49.44
that he should offer it with
the prayers of all the saints
00:20:49.48\00:20:51.88
upon the golden alter
which was before the throne.'"
00:20:51.91\00:20:54.68
In chapter 5 you
find the golden censer.
00:20:55.88\00:20:58.59
When Jesus actually arrives.
00:20:58.89\00:21:00.66
Then she explicitly
states, "Here the prophet was
00:21:01.39\00:21:05.13
permitted to behold
the first apartment of the
00:21:05.16\00:21:08.56
sanctuary in heaven; and he saw
there the 'seven lamps of fire'
00:21:08.60\00:21:13.47
and the 'golden altar,'
represented by the golden
00:21:13.70\00:21:17.77
candlestick and
the altar of incense in
00:21:17.81\00:21:21.64
the sanctuary on earth."
00:21:21.68\00:21:24.55
So is it very clear that this
scene in Revelation 4 and 5 is
00:21:25.25\00:21:28.85
taking place in the Holy
Place of the heavenly sanctuary?
00:21:28.88\00:21:31.95
Do doubt whatsoever about it.
00:21:31.99\00:21:33.66
This is not occurring
in the Most Holy Place.
00:21:33.69\00:21:36.99
It is occurring
in the Holy Place.
00:21:37.19\00:21:39.63
Now there are additional
evidences that this is happening
00:21:40.30\00:21:43.10
in the Holy Place.
00:21:43.13\00:21:44.93
Let's notice
several of these reasons.
00:21:45.67\00:21:48.34
The first reason that I gave is,
the lamps of fire are mentioned.
00:21:48.54\00:21:51.81
And that refers to the
seven branch candlestick.
00:21:51.84\00:21:54.14
The second reason that we
noticed is that the Holy Spirit
00:21:54.54\00:21:57.31
is there in chapter 4
and the Holy Spirit is sent
00:21:57.35\00:22:00.78
into all the earth after this,
00:22:00.82\00:22:03.55
which takes place on
the day of Pentecost.
00:22:03.59\00:22:05.99
The third reason is that we
are told that the seven branch
00:22:06.29\00:22:10.36
candlestick is before the throne
or is in front of the throne.
00:22:10.39\00:22:15.13
Now let me ask you this.
00:22:15.83\00:22:17.27
What was it that was directly in
front of the table of showbread?
00:22:17.30\00:22:23.04
If you look at the
sanctuary, the geography,
00:22:24.61\00:22:27.21
in the north part of
the Holy Place you have
00:22:27.58\00:22:31.01
the table of showbread.
00:22:31.38\00:22:32.91
In the south you have
the seven branch candlestick.
00:22:33.58\00:22:37.69
And we are told that
the seven lamps of fire
00:22:38.75\00:22:43.06
were in front of
or before the throne.
00:22:43.09\00:22:45.23
So this is clearly evidence
that we're dealing with an event
00:22:45.89\00:22:50.27
that's taking
place in the Holy Place.
00:22:50.30\00:22:52.63
By the way, where
was God's throne located
00:22:52.67\00:22:55.84
in the sanctuary?
00:22:55.87\00:22:57.37
Where is God's throne located?
What point of the compass?
00:22:57.41\00:23:00.38
It's north. It's in the north.
00:23:01.64\00:23:03.91
Psalm 48:1-2 tells
us it's in the north.
00:23:05.01\00:23:09.08
When Lucifer wanted
to take God's throne,
00:23:09.12\00:23:11.45
he wanted to take
God off of His throne,
00:23:11.65\00:23:14.79
where was God's
throne, according to Isaiah 14?
00:23:14.89\00:23:17.46
In the sides of the north.
00:23:17.49\00:23:18.89
Where was the table of
showbread in the sanctuary?
00:23:19.16\00:23:21.66
It was in the north.
00:23:22.40\00:23:23.73
The north side.
00:23:23.97\00:23:25.30
And the candlestick was
in the south side directly
00:23:25.33\00:23:28.00
in front of the throne.
00:23:28.04\00:23:30.14
Another evidence, at
the bottom of page 21,
00:23:30.64\00:23:33.41
is that there was upon
the table of showbread,
00:23:33.94\00:23:36.88
which I believe represents the
throne of God in the Holy Place,
00:23:36.91\00:23:39.98
you had two stacks of bread.
00:23:40.22\00:23:42.85
Interesting.
00:23:43.28\00:23:44.75
Why two stacks of bread?
00:23:44.79\00:23:47.02
Who gives the bread?
00:23:48.06\00:23:49.59
Well, Jesus said in John
6 that, "My Father gives you
00:23:50.29\00:23:56.77
the bread from heaven."
00:23:56.80\00:23:58.13
And Jesus is the bread.
00:23:59.07\00:24:01.17
Are both the Father
and the Son involved
00:24:01.37\00:24:03.57
in giving bread to the people?
00:24:03.61\00:24:07.28
Absolutely.
00:24:07.48\00:24:08.81
So you have two stacks
of bread representing the
00:24:08.84\00:24:12.58
bread Giver and
the bread Himself.
00:24:12.61\00:24:15.82
And of course, the
table of showbread had these
00:24:15.92\00:24:18.22
two stacks of bread.
00:24:18.25\00:24:19.95
Then the next evidence
which we find on page 22
00:24:20.92\00:24:24.09
is the expression, showbread.
00:24:24.76\00:24:28.36
It comes from the
Hebrew, lahem panim.
00:24:29.23\00:24:32.33
The word,
"lahem," means, "bread."
00:24:33.03\00:24:35.60
Incidentally, that's the reason
why you have, "Bethlehem."
00:24:36.20\00:24:39.34
It means, house of bread.
00:24:40.14\00:24:41.48
"Beth," is house,
"lehem," represents, "bread."
00:24:41.51\00:24:45.25
So Jesus was born
in the house of bread.
00:24:45.28\00:24:47.62
Interestingly enough.
00:24:48.22\00:24:49.55
And He grew up in Nazareth.
00:24:49.58\00:24:51.15
The word, "Nazareth,"
means, "sprout, to sprout,"
00:24:51.19\00:24:54.32
because He grew up there.
00:24:54.36\00:24:55.69
And He actually died
on Golgotha, which means,
00:24:55.82\00:24:59.13
the place of the skull.
00:24:59.16\00:25:00.50
So the names of the places
indicate the function that
00:25:00.53\00:25:03.67
took place at that
particular location.
00:25:03.70\00:25:06.07
So you have the
table of showbread.
00:25:06.47\00:25:09.14
Incidentally, the
word, "panim," means, "face."
00:25:09.17\00:25:14.58
So as you put these two
words together, lahem panim,
00:25:14.74\00:25:18.25
you'll notice that really
it's the bread of the presence,
00:25:18.28\00:25:21.78
or it's the bread of the person.
00:25:21.82\00:25:23.72
So this is again an
indication that upon the table
00:25:24.29\00:25:27.52
of showbread,
representing the throne of God,
00:25:27.56\00:25:29.69
there is the presence of God.
00:25:29.89\00:25:32.19
It's the bread of His
presence, in other words.
00:25:32.23\00:25:35.50
Another interesting detail
that indicates that this is
00:25:35.90\00:25:38.70
taking place in the
Holy Place of the sanctuary
00:25:38.73\00:25:41.77
is that the table of
the showbread was the only
00:25:42.17\00:25:45.01
article of
furniture that had two crowns.
00:25:45.04\00:25:47.41
And you can read
this in Exodus 25:23-25
00:25:48.58\00:25:52.01
and chapter 37:11-12.
00:25:52.05\00:25:54.78
In the King James
Version primarily.
00:25:54.82\00:25:56.82
Also it's interesting that
the height of the table of the
00:25:57.82\00:26:00.89
showbread was
identical to the height of the
00:26:00.92\00:26:02.86
ark of the covenant.
00:26:02.89\00:26:04.23
And the table of showbread
is described immediately after
00:26:04.69\00:26:09.63
the description of
the ark of the covenant.
00:26:09.66\00:26:11.30
Which means that there's a
close relationship between the
00:26:11.33\00:26:13.94
table of the showbread
and the ark of the covenant.
00:26:13.97\00:26:16.10
Because in the Holy Place,
God's throne is represented
00:26:16.37\00:26:19.31
by the table of showbread.
00:26:19.34\00:26:20.68
Whereas, God's throne in
the Most Holy Place is what?
00:26:20.71\00:26:23.91
It's the ark of the covenant.
00:26:24.01\00:26:25.65
So why would you
have two crowns around the
00:26:25.91\00:26:29.78
table of the showbread?
00:26:30.12\00:26:31.45
Well, because
you have two beings
00:26:31.75\00:26:33.62
that are sitting on the
throne and ruling on the throne.
00:26:33.66\00:26:36.39
Reason number seven,
in the middle of page 22,
00:26:37.63\00:26:42.03
Revelation 5 is a continuation
of the events that transpired
00:26:42.06\00:26:45.30
in chapter 4.
00:26:45.33\00:26:46.67
Revelation 5:8 refers
to the alter of incense.
00:26:47.00\00:26:50.97
That is the place
where Jesus arrived
00:26:51.17\00:26:53.04
when He ascended to heaven.
00:26:53.07\00:26:54.51
So not only are the
seven lamps of fire there,
00:26:54.61\00:26:58.08
which were in the Holy
Place, but you also have the
00:26:58.11\00:27:00.98
altar of incense
that is present there.
00:27:01.02\00:27:03.22
So very clearly
we're dealing with an event
00:27:03.49\00:27:05.82
that's taking place in the Holy
Place of the heavenly sanctuary.
00:27:05.85\00:27:09.86
At the bottom of the
page, Revelation 6:6 describes
00:27:10.29\00:27:15.26
a scarcity of bread during
the period of the third horse.
00:27:15.30\00:27:20.40
In other words, flour
is extremely expensive.
00:27:21.84\00:27:26.51
A denarius, you
could buy very little grain
00:27:26.98\00:27:32.85
with a lot of money.
00:27:33.11\00:27:34.45
A denarius was a daily
wage of a common laborer.
00:27:35.42\00:27:38.52
And therefore, during this
period the laborer made only
00:27:39.02\00:27:42.49
enough for one quart of wheat.
00:27:42.52\00:27:44.76
And you say, "Well
what does that say to us?"
00:27:45.29\00:27:48.66
Well, according to the
Roman historian, Cicero,
00:27:48.70\00:27:52.17
the price that
John mentioned for wheat
00:27:52.37\00:27:54.60
would have been 8 to 16
times higher than normal.
00:27:55.00\00:27:58.37
It is clear that there was
a famine for bread in the land
00:27:58.91\00:28:02.74
during the period
of the third horse.
00:28:02.78\00:28:04.81
In the times of John, barley fed
the very poor and the livestock.
00:28:05.51\00:28:10.12
It is no
coincidence that the next horse,
00:28:10.45\00:28:12.59
which represents
the papal period,
00:28:12.62\00:28:14.62
the yellow one, is
the horse of death.
00:28:15.06\00:28:18.13
Because after
famine comes death.
00:28:18.16\00:28:20.50
So in other words,
the table of showbread
00:28:20.53\00:28:22.96
represents the throne of God.
00:28:23.00\00:28:24.33
And during the
period of the third horse
00:28:24.37\00:28:26.07
there is a scarcity of bread.
00:28:26.10\00:28:28.40
Finally, the capstone
reason that this is taking place
00:28:29.54\00:28:34.88
in the Holy Place is this
statement from Ellen White.
00:28:34.91\00:28:38.35
Let's read, Early
Writings, page 54-55.
00:28:39.05\00:28:43.28
"I saw a throne, and on it
sat the Father and the Son."
00:28:44.19\00:28:48.66
Where did Jesus sit
when He went to heaven?
00:28:48.69\00:28:50.56
He sat on His
Father's throne, right?
00:28:51.93\00:28:54.16
So Ellen White says
she sees this throne,
00:28:54.56\00:28:57.13
and on the throne is
seated the Father and the Son.
00:28:57.17\00:28:59.43
"I gazed on Jesus' countenance
and admired His lovely person.
00:28:59.87\00:29:04.14
The Father's
person I could not behold,
00:29:04.44\00:29:06.71
for a cloud of
glorious light covered Him.
00:29:07.11\00:29:09.24
I asked Jesus if His
Father had a form like Himself.
00:29:09.61\00:29:12.71
He said He had, but
I could not behold it.
00:29:13.01\00:29:15.95
For said He, 'If you should once
behold the glory of His person,
00:29:15.98\00:29:19.42
you would cease to exist.'"
00:29:20.02\00:29:21.56
Now this chapter is
the, End of the 2300 Days,
00:29:22.26\00:29:26.56
is the title of the chapter.
00:29:26.59\00:29:28.10
Now notice the next paragraph.
00:29:28.13\00:29:30.20
"I saw the Father
rise from the throne,
00:29:30.57\00:29:34.37
and in a flaming chariot
go into the Holy of Holies
00:29:35.30\00:29:39.24
within the veil and sit down."
00:29:39.27\00:29:41.98
Are you catching the picture?
00:29:44.25\00:29:45.61
So until 1844, where
were the Father and the Son?
00:29:46.72\00:29:50.39
The Holy Place.
00:29:52.12\00:29:53.46
I mean, it clearly says the
Father rises from the throne,
00:29:53.49\00:29:57.49
in a flaming chariot He
goes into the Holy of Holies
00:29:58.19\00:30:00.70
and sits down.
00:30:00.73\00:30:02.06
Which means that before
that He was in the Holy Place.
00:30:02.10\00:30:05.97
She continues, "Then a
cloudy chariot with wheels like
00:30:06.77\00:30:10.11
flaming fire, surrounded by
angels, came to where Jesus was.
00:30:10.14\00:30:14.54
He stepped into the chariot
and was borne to the Holiest
00:30:15.01\00:30:19.05
where the Father sat."
00:30:19.08\00:30:20.48
So where were the
Father and the Son
00:30:20.72\00:30:22.58
from the ascension until 1844?
00:30:22.62\00:30:25.05
They were in the Holy
Place of the Sanctuary.
00:30:25.69\00:30:27.59
All of these reasons
indicate very clearly
00:30:27.62\00:30:30.86
that the scene, the introductory
scene of Revelation 4 and 5,
00:30:31.09\00:30:35.26
is occurring in the
Holy Place of the sanctuary.
00:30:35.30\00:30:39.43
And I gave you seven reasons.
00:30:39.63\00:30:40.97
The seven lamps
of fire are there,
00:30:41.00\00:30:43.20
which
represents the Holy Spirit.
00:30:44.14\00:30:46.78
We have also the second reason,
which is, the Holy Spirit
00:30:47.08\00:30:51.28
is there and He's sent
to the earth, in chapter 5.
00:30:51.31\00:30:54.48
That would be Pentecost.
00:30:54.52\00:30:55.85
You also have, before
the throne you have the
00:30:56.15\00:30:59.89
seven branch candlestick.
00:30:59.92\00:31:01.26
The throne would
represent the table of showbread
00:31:01.29\00:31:03.63
because the table of
showbread was directly in front
00:31:03.66\00:31:06.49
of the seven branch candlestick.
00:31:06.53\00:31:09.46
You have the
two stacks of bread.
00:31:09.50\00:31:11.80
You have the
expression, lahem panim.
00:31:12.17\00:31:15.97
You have the two
crowns on the table.
00:31:16.07\00:31:19.07
You have the altar of
incense present there.
00:31:19.24\00:31:21.68
You have a scarcity of
bread during this period.
00:31:21.71\00:31:24.48
And of course, you
have the table of showbread
00:31:24.58\00:31:26.35
which supplies the bread.
00:31:26.38\00:31:28.72
And then the comment by
Ellen White where Ellen White
00:31:28.95\00:31:32.79
very clearly states
that the Father and the Son
00:31:32.82\00:31:36.42
were in the Holy
Place before 1844.
00:31:36.46\00:31:40.83
Now let's continue
interpreting the symbols.
00:31:40.86\00:31:43.06
It says that lightning was
proceeding before the throne.
00:31:44.07\00:31:47.50
Now what does the
lightening represent?
00:31:49.10\00:31:50.97
You know, we're
dealing with symbols here.
00:31:51.01\00:31:53.38
We're dealing with symbols.
00:31:53.41\00:31:54.74
God the Father and the Son
don't sit on top of a table
00:31:55.08\00:31:57.81
with piles of showbread.
00:31:57.85\00:31:59.25
It's symbols that
represent something
00:31:59.78\00:32:03.18
beyond the bare symbols.
00:32:03.22\00:32:04.79
What does the
lightning represent?
00:32:05.45\00:32:07.82
Well, let's read
these two statements
00:32:07.86\00:32:09.52
from the spirit of prophecy.
00:32:09.56\00:32:10.89
And you can also read
the text in Ezekiel 1:13
00:32:10.93\00:32:14.20
where explicitly it tells us
that the lightning represents
00:32:14.30\00:32:17.53
the speed with
which the angels move.
00:32:17.57\00:32:19.83
It says, "As God's
messengers, they go forth
00:32:20.14\00:32:22.70
like 'the appearance
of a flash of lightning,'
00:32:23.10\00:32:25.87
so dazzling their glory,
and so swift in their flight."
00:32:26.24\00:32:31.31
The Great Controversy, page 512.
00:32:31.41\00:32:33.75
In another statement,
Testimonies for the Church,
00:32:34.15\00:32:36.15
volume 5, page 754,
"The bright light going among
00:32:36.18\00:32:40.66
the living creatures with
the swiftness of lightning
00:32:40.69\00:32:44.23
represents the speed with
which this work will finally
00:32:44.53\00:32:48.80
go forward to completion."
00:32:48.83\00:32:51.37
And so you have
these streaks of lightning
00:32:51.63\00:32:55.20
which represents the
angels that are in a hurry
00:32:55.30\00:32:58.17
to perform the commands
that God gives from the throne.
00:32:58.21\00:33:02.64
Then you have
thundering and voices
00:33:03.38\00:33:05.41
of the four living creatures
that surround the throne of God.
00:33:05.71\00:33:09.08
At this point in history they're
preparing the reception room
00:33:09.75\00:33:13.02
for the arrival of the war Hero
and they're praising the Father
00:33:13.25\00:33:17.99
who is sitting on the throne.
00:33:18.03\00:33:20.06
And now we have another group
of beings that come into view.
00:33:21.03\00:33:24.97
They're called the
four living creatures.
00:33:25.60\00:33:28.34
The better translation
is the four living beings.
00:33:28.37\00:33:31.51
That's a better translation.
00:33:31.54\00:33:33.27
And we find in verse 6
the four living creatures.
00:33:33.48\00:33:37.48
Each having six wings
and were full of eyes.
00:33:37.85\00:33:41.75
Which represents the fact that
they're wise, full of wisdom.
00:33:41.78\00:33:45.72
Full of eyes around and
within and they do not rest
00:33:46.25\00:33:49.49
day or night, saying, "Holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
00:33:49.52\00:33:55.56
who was and who is,
and who is to come."
00:33:55.60\00:33:58.63
Now what do the four
living creatures represent?
00:33:59.33\00:34:03.37
You know, you don't have these
four-headed monsters in heaven.
00:34:03.41\00:34:07.41
You're dealing with symbols.
00:34:07.44\00:34:09.14
We need to understand that we're
dealing with symbolic language.
00:34:09.18\00:34:12.15
Who are the living creatures?
00:34:12.45\00:34:14.92
Well, there's no doubt
that they are seraphim.
00:34:14.95\00:34:17.35
A very exalted cast of angels.
00:34:17.39\00:34:21.36
You say, "How do we know that?"
00:34:21.66\00:34:23.22
Well, there's only one
other verse in the Bible,
00:34:23.26\00:34:26.43
actually there's only
one verse in the Bible
00:34:26.46\00:34:28.56
that identifies the Seraphim.
00:34:28.60\00:34:31.17
And that's Isaiah 6:1-3.
00:34:31.20\00:34:34.74
So let's read those verses.
00:34:35.04\00:34:37.84
So you notice that
the seraphim are the ones
00:35:08.87\00:35:11.24
that have six wings.
00:35:11.27\00:35:12.61
And they are the ones
that sing, "Holy, holy, holy."
00:35:13.01\00:35:16.75
You have those two elements
in common between Revelation 4
00:35:16.78\00:35:21.28
and Ezekiel 6.
00:35:21.32\00:35:23.99
Now let's go to verses 9-11
as we continue taking a look at
00:35:24.62\00:35:28.99
Revelation 4, the preparation
of the heavenly throne room.
00:35:29.32\00:35:32.46
Verse 9, "Whenever the living
creatures give glory and honor
00:35:33.53\00:35:37.70
and thanks to Him
who sits on the throne,
00:35:37.73\00:35:40.04
who lives forever and ever,
the twenty-four elders fall down
00:35:40.70\00:35:44.17
before Him who sits on
the throne and worship Him
00:35:44.21\00:35:47.48
who lives forever and
ever, and cast their crowns
00:35:47.51\00:35:50.75
before the throne,
saying, 'You are worthy, O Lord,
00:35:50.78\00:35:54.82
to receive glory
and honor and power;
00:35:54.85\00:35:57.95
for You created all things
and by Your will they exist
00:35:58.25\00:36:03.29
and were created.
00:36:03.49\00:36:04.83
So to whom are
the living creatures
00:36:05.19\00:36:09.06
and the twenty-four
elders giving honor and glory?
00:36:09.10\00:36:11.87
To the one who is
seated on the throne.
00:36:13.74\00:36:15.67
To God the Father.
00:36:16.17\00:36:17.51
And only to Him.
00:36:18.27\00:36:19.61
And why are they
rendering Him honor and glory?
00:36:19.64\00:36:22.34
Why is He worth of
these songs of exaltation?
00:36:22.38\00:36:26.08
It's because the
Father created all things.
00:36:27.02\00:36:31.25
And so now you
say, "But wait a minute.
00:36:31.52\00:36:32.95
There's kind of a
discrepancy here because
00:36:32.99\00:36:35.32
the Bible says that
Jesus was the Creator."
00:36:35.56\00:36:37.99
So let's notice at
the top of page 25.
00:36:38.69\00:36:42.23
A question comes
up at this point.
00:36:42.63\00:36:44.67
Does not the New Testament teach
that Jesus created all things?
00:36:45.13\00:36:48.64
We're going to see in a moment
that the New Testament says it.
00:36:48.67\00:36:51.17
Why then does
Revelation 4 describe
00:36:51.61\00:36:54.04
the Father as the Creator?
00:36:54.08\00:36:55.84
The text provides the
answer to the question.
00:36:56.51\00:36:59.15
The Father was the
Architect of creation.
00:36:59.68\00:37:02.15
He devised the plan.
00:37:02.18\00:37:03.79
On the other hand,
Jesus was the Master Builder
00:37:05.29\00:37:08.16
because He carried
out the Father's plan.
00:37:08.46\00:37:11.49
Now did you notice
that in verse 11 it says,
00:37:11.83\00:37:13.96
"You created all things,
and by Your will they exist
00:37:14.00\00:37:17.50
and were created."
00:37:17.53\00:37:18.87
So in other words, the Father
didn't actually do the work.
00:37:18.90\00:37:21.20
It was by His will
that things were created.
00:37:21.40\00:37:24.11
Now let's notice a
statement from Ellen White
00:37:24.94\00:37:27.38
which is very similar.
00:37:27.41\00:37:28.74
This is, Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 36.
00:37:28.78\00:37:31.51
"The Son of God has wrought..."
00:37:31.91\00:37:33.75
What?
00:37:34.35\00:37:35.68
"...the Father's will..."
00:37:35.72\00:37:37.35
Very similar to Revelation 4:11.
00:37:37.55\00:37:40.89
"...the Father's
will in the creation of
00:37:40.99\00:37:42.92
all the hosts of
heaven; and to Him,
00:37:42.96\00:37:45.73
as well as to God, their
homage and allegiance were due.
00:37:45.76\00:37:49.16
Christ was still to
exercise divine power
00:37:49.63\00:37:52.27
in the creation of the
earth and its inhabitants.
00:37:52.30\00:37:55.10
But in all this He would
not seek power or exaltation
00:37:55.14\00:37:58.04
for Himself contrary to
God's plan, but would exalt
00:37:58.07\00:38:02.38
the Father's glory
and execute His purposes
00:38:02.41\00:38:06.82
of beneficence and love."
00:38:06.92\00:38:09.18
So if I asked you
who was the Creator,
00:38:09.95\00:38:12.12
what would your answer be?
00:38:12.15\00:38:13.56
How many say that the
Creator was the Father?
00:38:18.89\00:38:20.90
Raise your hand.
00:38:20.93\00:38:22.26
Oh, only four of you. Okay.
00:38:23.13\00:38:24.53
How many of you say
that Jesus was the Creator?
00:38:24.57\00:38:26.87
And the rest of
you are not sure.
00:38:27.77\00:38:29.47
The answer is both.
00:38:30.54\00:38:32.31
The Father devised the
plan and the Son followed the
00:38:32.41\00:38:35.41
will of the Father in
implementing the plan.
00:38:35.44\00:38:37.88
Let's notice the text in the
New Testament that proves this
00:38:38.28\00:38:41.58
besides the one that we
found in Revelation 4:11.
00:38:41.62\00:38:45.75
In 1 Corinthians 8:6 it says...
00:38:45.85\00:38:48.06
So the Father does
His work through the Son.
00:39:05.04\00:39:08.71
The Son is the emissary
of the Father, if you please.
00:39:08.81\00:39:11.98
Notice Colossians 1:15-16.
00:39:12.01\00:39:14.75
"He," Jesus, "is the
image of the invisible God..."
00:39:15.22\00:39:18.45
So how were things
created? Through Jesus.
00:39:38.87\00:39:41.64
Notice Hebrews 1:1-2.
00:39:42.01\00:39:44.98
"God..." That's
referring to the Father.
00:39:45.01\00:39:47.15
So in Revelation 4 all
of these heavenly beings;
00:40:06.70\00:40:12.07
the 24 elders, and
the four living creatures,
00:40:12.17\00:40:14.81
the seraphim and cherubim,
00:40:14.84\00:40:16.24
the 24 elders we
have not identified yet,
00:40:16.28\00:40:19.01
they are rendering
honor and praise and glory
00:40:19.21\00:40:22.58
to God the Father who
is sitting on the throne
00:40:22.62\00:40:24.45
because He is the
architect of Creation.
00:40:24.65\00:40:27.16
Present there also
is the Holy Spirit,
00:40:28.29\00:40:31.23
represented by the
seven lamps of fire.
00:40:31.26\00:40:34.76
Now let's go to the
summary of chapter 4.
00:40:36.16\00:40:38.90
This is page 26.
00:40:39.77\00:40:41.57
Several beings are
present in chapter four.
00:40:42.20\00:40:45.24
Among those who are present
are the four living beings,
00:40:46.41\00:40:49.44
which we've
identified as seraphim,
00:40:49.48\00:40:51.61
the 24 elders that we
have not yet identified...
00:40:52.21\00:40:55.25
I'll tell you that
they're representatives of the
00:40:55.28\00:40:56.95
worlds that never sinned.
00:40:56.99\00:40:58.45
They are not those who
resurrected with Jesus.
00:40:58.79\00:41:00.99
That's been the
traditional view.
00:41:01.02\00:41:02.76
But we have to be careful
about following tradition.
00:41:02.96\00:41:05.83
We have to follow
what Scripture teaches,
00:41:06.39\00:41:08.36
and what Ellen
White has revealed
00:41:08.40\00:41:11.07
through the power of God to us.
00:41:11.27\00:41:14.70
So there are the
four living beings,
00:41:15.04\00:41:17.21
which are the
cherubim and seraphim,
00:41:17.77\00:41:19.47
the 24 elders, God the
Father sitting on the throne,
00:41:19.51\00:41:23.11
and the Holy Spirit
represented by the seven Spirits
00:41:23.14\00:41:26.08
or the seven lamps of fire.
00:41:26.11\00:41:27.78
Now who is missing there?
00:41:29.12\00:41:30.69
See, when we read a
passage of Scripture,
00:41:30.72\00:41:32.45
we need to look, not only what
is there, but what we thought
00:41:32.49\00:41:36.39
should be there and isn't.
00:41:36.42\00:41:37.89
Who is missing in the
scene of Revelation 4?
00:41:38.46\00:41:40.90
Jesus is not in chapter 4, and
the angelic host are not there.
00:41:41.80\00:41:46.74
The cherubim and seraphim
that surround God's throne, yes,
00:41:46.77\00:41:49.54
but the angelic
hosts are not there.
00:41:49.64\00:41:51.84
So the question is,
where were the angelic hosts
00:41:52.57\00:41:55.94
and where was
Jesus when this scene of
00:41:56.04\00:41:58.88
Revelation 4 is taking place?
00:41:58.91\00:42:00.52
Well the fact is, the heavenly
throne room was being prepared
00:42:00.55\00:42:04.25
in heaven and the angelic hosts
left heaven to come to earth
00:42:04.29\00:42:08.26
to pick Jesus up.
00:42:08.29\00:42:09.62
And Jesus and the angelic hosts
were on their way to heaven
00:42:10.09\00:42:14.43
to celebrate the
return of the war Hero.
00:42:15.26\00:42:18.93
Now the best explanation
of this whole scene of
00:42:19.97\00:42:24.27
Revelation 4 and 5 is what
I'm going to read now from,
00:42:24.31\00:42:26.84
Desire of Ages.
00:42:26.88\00:42:28.21
Spectacular passage.
00:42:28.64\00:42:30.01
I don't know how, for example,
the Sabbath school lessons
00:42:30.05\00:42:32.81
could have missed this
long passage that we have here.
00:42:32.91\00:42:36.25
It made a
reference, read Desire of Ages,
00:42:36.65\00:42:39.62
but it was not in the lesson.
00:42:39.65\00:42:41.42
It shows absolutely clearly
when this is taking place.
00:42:42.29\00:42:46.73
It's not the
investigative judgment in 1844.
00:42:46.76\00:42:49.56
It's the inauguration of
Jesus upon His arrival to heaven
00:42:49.80\00:42:53.64
when the Holy Spirit is
poured out upon the church.
00:42:54.04\00:42:56.94
Let's read this
rather long passage.
00:42:57.14\00:42:58.87
It's really an exciting passage.
00:42:58.91\00:43:01.21
Desire of Ages, this is the
last three pages of the book.
00:43:01.68\00:43:05.18
"All heaven was
waiting to welcome the Savior
00:43:06.05\00:43:11.65
to the celestial court."
00:43:11.69\00:43:13.39
Are you catching the picture?
00:43:14.49\00:43:15.82
Jesus had left,
now He's coming back.
00:43:16.29\00:43:18.23
Do you think everybody
in heaven was quite excited?
00:43:18.96\00:43:20.86
"Oh goody, goody.
00:43:21.50\00:43:22.83
He's coming back!
00:43:22.96\00:43:24.30
He's keeping His promise.
00:43:24.33\00:43:26.03
Let's prepare
the party for Him."
00:43:26.53\00:43:28.64
"As He ascended, He led the way,
and the multitude of captives
00:43:30.24\00:43:35.54
set free at His
resurrection followed."
00:43:35.58\00:43:37.65
Here, we begin to get an inkling
that those who resurrected
00:43:37.88\00:43:41.22
with Jesus
cannot be the 24 elders.
00:43:41.25\00:43:43.59
Because in chapter 4 the
24 elders were already there
00:43:43.79\00:43:47.36
before Jesus arrived.
00:43:47.92\00:43:49.66
That's just one
of the evidences.
00:43:50.09\00:43:51.86
She continues, "As He
ascended, He led the way,
00:43:52.93\00:43:56.77
and the multitude
of captives set free at
00:43:56.80\00:43:58.97
His resurrection followed.
00:43:59.00\00:44:00.37
The heavenly host, with shouts
and acclamations of praise
00:44:00.74\00:44:04.71
and celestial song,
attended the joyous train."
00:44:04.91\00:44:07.78
So where was the heavenly hosts?
00:44:07.81\00:44:10.65
They were with Jesus.
00:44:11.75\00:44:13.18
Coming back with Him to
the heavenly throne room
00:44:13.65\00:44:17.15
in the Holy Place.
00:44:17.19\00:44:18.55
"As they drew near to the city
of God, the escorting angels..."
00:44:18.92\00:44:23.12
Because there's some angels
in front of the procession
00:44:23.16\00:44:25.93
that are the escorting angels.
00:44:25.96\00:44:27.76
"...give the
challenge, 'Lift up your heads,
00:44:27.80\00:44:30.27
O ye gates; and be
lifted up, ye everlasting doors;
00:44:30.30\00:44:33.54
and the King of
glory shall come in.'
00:44:33.57\00:44:36.14
Joyfully the waiting
sentinels respond..."
00:44:37.57\00:44:40.51
The sentinels at the gates
that are guarding the gates.
00:44:40.54\00:44:43.31
"'Who is this King of glory?'
00:44:43.35\00:44:45.01
This they say, not
because they know not who He is,
00:44:45.88\00:44:49.18
but because they would hear
the answer of exalted praise.
00:44:49.38\00:44:52.89
'The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.'"
00:44:53.36\00:44:56.36
Which battle?
00:44:56.39\00:44:57.73
Is He coming back
from the battlefield?
00:44:57.76\00:44:59.13
Does He have the
wounds to prove it?
00:44:59.69\00:45:01.36
Yeah, but He's alive.
00:45:01.40\00:45:03.00
"'The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
00:45:04.73\00:45:07.47
Lift up your heads, O ye
gates; even lift them up,
00:45:07.50\00:45:10.34
ye everlasting doors; and the
King of glory shall come in.'
00:45:10.37\00:45:13.61
Again, the challenge is heard,
'Who is this King of glory?'"
00:45:13.81\00:45:16.71
This is psalm 24, by the way.
00:45:16.75\00:45:18.48
"For the angels never weary
of hearing His name exalted.
00:45:18.68\00:45:22.48
The escorting
angels make the reply,
00:45:22.88\00:45:24.92
'The Lord is hosts;
He is the King of glory.'
00:45:24.95\00:45:28.29
Then the portals of the
city of God are opened wide,
00:45:28.86\00:45:31.49
and the angelic throng
sweep through the gates
00:45:31.69\00:45:35.66
amid a burst of
rapturous music."
00:45:35.70\00:45:39.17
And now you tell me if
this isn't Revelation 4.
00:45:40.14\00:45:43.51
"There is the throne,
00:45:43.84\00:45:45.61
and around it the
rainbow of promise."
00:45:47.28\00:45:49.44
Did we find that around
the throne in Revelation 4
00:45:49.54\00:45:51.81
there was a rainbow?
00:45:51.85\00:45:53.18
Yes.
00:45:53.31\00:45:54.65
"There are
cherubim and seraphim."
00:45:54.68\00:45:57.42
What would those
be in Revelation 4?
00:45:58.45\00:46:00.89
The four living creatures.
00:46:01.66\00:46:03.36
She continues, "Assembled
are the commanders of the
00:46:04.33\00:46:07.83
angel hosts, the sons of God,
00:46:07.86\00:46:10.20
the representatives
of the unfallen worlds."
00:46:10.23\00:46:12.63
And somebody once
challenged me, he said,
00:46:12.67\00:46:14.27
"Well, these are
three different groups.
00:46:14.30\00:46:16.10
The commanders of the
angel hosts are one group,
00:46:16.14\00:46:18.17
the sons of God
are another group,
00:46:18.21\00:46:20.01
and the representatives
of the unfallen worlds
00:46:20.04\00:46:21.91
is a third group."
00:46:21.94\00:46:23.28
No, no, no. Ellen White
used this way of speaking
00:46:23.31\00:46:25.98
very frequently in her writings.
00:46:26.45\00:46:28.08
For example, she says, "In
Christ is life unborrowed..."
00:46:28.12\00:46:32.12
How does it say?
00:46:32.15\00:46:33.49
"...original,
unborrowed, and underived."
00:46:35.16\00:46:38.26
Are those three
synonymous words?
00:46:38.99\00:46:40.96
Absolutely.
00:46:41.40\00:46:42.73
And so she uses
this literary mechanism
00:46:42.76\00:46:47.64
many times in her writings.
00:46:47.67\00:46:49.00
In other words, the
commanders of the angel hosts,
00:46:49.04\00:46:52.31
the sons of God, the
representatives of the unfallen
00:46:52.77\00:46:55.94
worlds are the 24 elders.
00:46:55.98\00:46:59.05
Then she continues, "The
heavenly council before which
00:46:59.45\00:47:02.28
Lucifer had accused God and
His Son, the representatives
00:47:02.32\00:47:06.29
of those sinless realms
over which Satan had thought
00:47:06.32\00:47:09.39
to establish His dominion;
all are there to..." What?
00:47:09.42\00:47:12.73
"...to welcome the Redeemer.
00:47:14.00\00:47:16.40
They are eager to
celebrate His triumph
00:47:16.43\00:47:19.03
and to glorify their King."
00:47:19.07\00:47:20.67
See, and the whole
place has been prepared
00:47:21.14\00:47:23.14
for the celebration of
the arrival of the war Hero.
00:47:23.17\00:47:26.98
Now listen carefully.
00:47:28.14\00:47:29.48
"However, He waves them back.
00:47:30.38\00:47:32.21
Not yet.
00:47:34.05\00:47:35.38
He cannot now
receive the coronet of glory
00:47:35.58\00:47:38.09
and the royal robe.
00:47:38.12\00:47:39.45
He enters into the
presence of His Father."
00:47:39.79\00:47:42.12
This is Revelation, we're going
to see that it's Revelation 5:7.
00:47:42.16\00:47:44.43
It says He comes to the Father.
00:47:44.46\00:47:46.90
"He points to His wounded head,
00:47:48.60\00:47:50.47
the pierced side,
the marred feet..."
00:47:51.37\00:47:52.90
Is He presenting
Himself as the Lamb
00:47:53.70\00:47:55.60
as though it had been slain?
00:47:55.64\00:47:56.97
Do you notice what
Ellen White is doing?
00:47:57.01\00:47:58.44
She's interpreting the symbols.
00:47:58.47\00:48:00.34
Ellen White does not
refer to four living creatures,
00:48:01.48\00:48:04.15
she does not refer to 24 elders,
00:48:04.18\00:48:05.95
she does not refer to the Lamb
as though it had been slain,
00:48:06.05\00:48:08.55
she doesn't refer to the
one sitting on the throne.
00:48:08.75\00:48:11.02
Ellen White actually
interprets the symbols.
00:48:11.29\00:48:15.16
She says there are
cherubim and seraphim.
00:48:15.59\00:48:18.13
The four living creatures.
00:48:18.16\00:48:19.49
There are the
representatives of the worlds
00:48:19.53\00:48:21.36
that never sinned.
00:48:21.40\00:48:22.76
There is the Father
sitting on the throne.
00:48:23.10\00:48:25.30
And Jesus is the Lamb
that comes before the throne.
00:48:25.33\00:48:29.50
So Ellen White is
interpreting the symbols
00:48:29.60\00:48:32.51
of Revelation 4 and 5.
00:48:32.54\00:48:35.14
So once again,
"However, He waves them back.
00:48:35.18\00:48:37.15
Not yet.
00:48:37.18\00:48:38.51
He cannot now
receive the coronet of glory
00:48:38.55\00:48:40.62
and the royal robe.
00:48:40.65\00:48:41.98
He enters into the
presence of His Father.
00:48:42.02\00:48:44.49
He points to His
wounded head, the pierced side,
00:48:44.95\00:48:48.36
the marred feet;
He lifts His hands,
00:48:48.39\00:48:50.53
bearing the print of the nails."
00:48:50.56\00:48:52.26
See, He's presenting
Himself as the Lamb, right?
00:48:52.29\00:48:54.50
He points to the
tokens of His triumph;
00:48:55.83\00:48:58.67
He presents to God the wave
sheaf, those raised with Him
00:48:58.87\00:49:03.17
as representatives
of that great multitude
00:49:03.20\00:49:06.04
who shall come forth from
the grave at His second coming.
00:49:06.07\00:49:08.94
He approaches the Father..."
00:49:09.51\00:49:10.95
You notice I've put
explanatory notes in brackets.
00:49:11.15\00:49:14.22
That's not part of Scripture.
00:49:14.25\00:49:15.88
When you put things in brackets,
it means that it's the person
00:49:15.92\00:49:18.69
who is offering an explanation.
00:49:18.72\00:49:21.12
So, "He approaches the
Father with whom there is joy
00:49:21.66\00:49:24.59
over one sinner that repents;
00:49:24.63\00:49:26.56
who rejoices
over one with singing.
00:49:26.59\00:49:28.73
Before the foundations
of the earth were laid,
00:49:29.10\00:49:31.30
the Father and the Son
had united in a covenant
00:49:31.33\00:49:33.87
to redeem man
should Satan overcome him.
00:49:33.97\00:49:36.91
They had clasped their
hands in a solemn pledge
00:49:37.31\00:49:40.48
that Christ should
become the surety..."
00:49:40.51\00:49:42.78
What does the
word, "surety," mean?
00:49:42.81\00:49:44.55
The guarantee.
00:49:45.55\00:49:46.88
The one who would take
the place of Adam who failed.
00:49:46.92\00:49:50.59
"...Christ would become
the surety for the human race.
00:49:51.32\00:49:54.59
This pledge
Christ has fulfilled.
00:49:54.62\00:49:57.99
When upon the cross He
cried out, 'It is finished...'"
00:49:58.69\00:50:02.30
Who was He talking to?
00:50:03.06\00:50:04.63
"...He addressed the Father.
00:50:05.27\00:50:07.67
The compact..." Which is
another word for covenant.
00:50:08.90\00:50:12.44
"The compact had
been fully carried out.
00:50:12.47\00:50:16.41
Now He declares,
'Father, it is finished.
00:50:17.21\00:50:21.38
I have done Thy will, O My God.
00:50:21.42\00:50:23.59
I have completed the
work of redemption.'"
00:50:23.79\00:50:26.59
Was the work of redemption
completed at the cross?
00:50:28.36\00:50:30.93
That's what she
says that Jesus said.
00:50:32.59\00:50:36.53
"I have completed
the work of redemption."
00:50:36.93\00:50:39.13
But does it means that
He has no more functions
00:50:39.77\00:50:41.60
to perform in the sanctuary?
00:50:41.64\00:50:43.14
Of course not.
00:50:43.41\00:50:44.74
In what sense did
Jesus complete redemption?
00:50:44.77\00:50:47.74
By His life and His death.
00:50:47.78\00:50:49.28
In order to make provision
for everyone who claims it.
00:50:50.28\00:50:53.82
But you've got to claim it.
00:50:53.85\00:50:55.18
If you don't claim it,
it won't do you any good.
00:50:55.72\00:50:58.89
Somebody can give you a
gift, but if you reject the gift
00:50:59.69\00:51:02.42
it's not going
to do you any good.
00:51:02.62\00:51:04.19
She continues, Jesus
is speaking to His Father,
00:51:05.99\00:51:09.46
"If Thy justice is satisfied,
'I will that they also,
00:51:09.50\00:51:14.04
whom Thou hast given
Me, be with Me where I am.'"
00:51:14.07\00:51:16.64
What is the passion of Jesus
as He comes before His Father?
00:51:16.67\00:51:19.71
He wants His own to be with Him.
00:51:20.58\00:51:23.14
"That where I am,
there you may be also."
00:51:23.24\00:51:26.28
That's His passion.
00:51:26.31\00:51:27.65
He's going to say to His
Father, "Father, is what I did
00:51:27.68\00:51:29.85
on earth sufficient
to bring My people home?"
00:51:29.88\00:51:32.15
Notice the following paragraph.
00:51:34.26\00:51:36.22
"The voice of God
is heard proclaiming
00:51:36.36\00:51:38.13
that justice is satisfied.
00:51:38.16\00:51:40.10
Satan is vanquished."
00:51:40.30\00:51:42.40
In other words,
he's been overcome.
00:51:43.13\00:51:45.50
"Christ's toiling,
struggling ones on earth
00:51:45.70\00:51:48.67
are 'accepted in the Beloved.'
00:51:48.70\00:51:50.94
Before the heavenly
angels and the representatives
00:51:51.44\00:51:53.71
of the unfallen worlds,
they are declared justified.
00:51:53.74\00:51:58.45
Where He is, there
His church shall be."
00:51:58.48\00:52:02.68
And we're going to talk
about the scroll later on.
00:52:04.09\00:52:06.25
"'Mercy and
truth are met together;
00:52:06.45\00:52:08.89
righteousness and peace
have kissed each other.'
00:52:08.92\00:52:12.49
The Father's arms
encircle His Son..."
00:52:13.63\00:52:15.90
I would liked to have
been there to see that embrace.
00:52:16.03\00:52:18.73
Because just a short while
before that, Jesus had prayed,
00:52:19.87\00:52:23.30
"Father, if You can take
away this cup that You gave Me,
00:52:23.34\00:52:25.87
the cup of Your wrath, do so.
00:52:26.24\00:52:27.91
But not My will
be done, but Yours."
00:52:27.94\00:52:30.35
Jesus is saying, "I felt like I
was totally alienated from You,
00:52:30.85\00:52:33.38
I would never
see Your face again."
00:52:33.42\00:52:35.12
And now He's in the
presence of His Father.
00:52:35.38\00:52:37.39
And there's this
beautiful embrace.
00:52:37.42\00:52:39.75
So once again,
Ellen White states,
00:52:40.82\00:52:46.56
"The Father's arms encircle
His Son, and the word is given,
00:52:46.59\00:52:49.96
'Let all the angels
of God worship Him.'"
00:52:50.17\00:52:53.44
By the way, Ellen White
describes that when Jesus
00:52:55.07\00:52:57.27
went before the
throne to embrace His Father,
00:52:57.31\00:53:01.11
heaven was in absolute silence.
00:53:01.68\00:53:03.75
There were no songs.
They were in suspense.
00:53:04.25\00:53:06.92
But now the scene
is going to change.
00:53:07.75\00:53:10.09
Now the Father is going to
command all the heavenly angels
00:53:10.12\00:53:12.65
to celebrate.
00:53:13.19\00:53:14.52
It says in the
following paragraph...
00:53:15.22\00:53:16.99
In case you were wondering if
Ellen White is here discussing
00:53:17.29\00:53:20.40
Revelation 4 and 5, now
we're going to see very clearly
00:53:20.43\00:53:23.40
that this is exactly
what she's talking about.
00:53:23.43\00:53:25.53
"With Joy unutterable, rulers,
principalities, and powers..."
00:53:25.83\00:53:32.11
Notice, three
categories of beings, right?
00:53:32.67\00:53:34.91
"...rulers,
principalities, and powers
00:53:34.94\00:53:37.41
acknowledge the
supremacy of the Prince of life.
00:53:37.88\00:53:41.05
The angel host
prostrate themselves before Him,
00:53:41.35\00:53:44.42
while the glad shout
fills all the courts of heaven,
00:53:44.95\00:53:49.09
'Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain to receive power,
00:53:49.22\00:53:53.19
and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honor,
00:53:53.23\00:53:55.90
and glory, and
blessing.' Revelation 5:12."
00:53:55.93\00:53:59.03
Is Ellen White expounding
upon Revelation 4 and 5?
00:54:00.20\00:54:02.70
She most certainly is.
00:54:04.01\00:54:05.44
The following paragraph,
"Songs of triumph mingle with
00:54:05.87\00:54:10.21
the music from angel harps,
until heaven seems to overflow
00:54:10.25\00:54:15.15
with joy and praise.
00:54:15.18\00:54:16.79
Love has
conquered. The lost is found.
00:54:16.99\00:54:21.12
Heaven rings with voices
in lofty strains proclaiming,
00:54:21.59\00:54:26.36
'Blessing, and
honor, and glory, and power
00:54:26.66\00:54:31.23
be unto Him that
sitteth upon the throne,
00:54:31.27\00:54:33.84
and unto the Lamb
forever and ever.'
00:54:33.87\00:54:37.57
Revelation 5:13."
00:54:38.81\00:54:42.34
Is this Ellen White's commentary
on the introductory vision
00:54:42.94\00:54:46.85
to Revelation 6,
to the seven seals?
00:54:46.88\00:54:49.98
You would have to be blind
and deaf to say that it isn't.
00:54:50.69\00:54:54.82
This is the occasion... Now
let me make something clear.
00:54:55.52\00:54:58.59
This song in Revelation 5:12-13
is going to be sung again
00:54:59.56\00:55:03.57
at the very end
of human history.
00:55:03.60\00:55:05.63
Because it says
there in Revelation 5:13,
00:55:06.63\00:55:10.61
let's see, Revelation 5:12...
00:55:13.98\00:55:16.64
Well, maybe not.
00:55:18.21\00:55:19.55
Let me just go here in
the Bible to Revelation 5,
00:55:19.58\00:55:22.28
and let's notice a
very interesting detail.
00:55:22.78\00:55:26.49
Revelation 5 and
let's read verse 11.
00:55:27.19\00:55:33.40
"Then I looked and
heard the voice of many angels
00:55:33.43\00:55:35.56
around the throne, the living
creatures, and the elders;
00:55:35.60\00:55:37.70
and the number of them was
ten thousand times ten thousand,
00:55:38.00\00:55:40.44
and thousands of thousands,
saying with a loud voice,
00:55:40.47\00:55:43.27
'Worthy is the Lamb who
was slain, to receive power and
00:55:43.37\00:55:45.84
riches and wisdom
and strength and honor
00:55:45.87\00:55:47.88
and glory and blessing.'"
00:55:47.91\00:55:49.34
And now verse 13
is the key verse.
00:55:49.94\00:55:51.95
And then you have
the song of verse 13.
00:56:01.22\00:56:03.79
Let me ask you, when
Jesus ascended to heaven,
00:56:03.83\00:56:05.93
did every person in heaven,
on earth, under the earth,
00:56:06.29\00:56:09.56
and in the sea sing this song?
00:56:09.60\00:56:12.03
No. which means that there
is a broader, future fulfillment
00:56:12.83\00:56:16.91
where this song
is going to be sung.
00:56:17.67\00:56:19.47
That's why at the end of the
great controversy Ellen White
00:56:19.51\00:56:21.84
quotes these verses again,
only it's the redeemed that are
00:56:21.88\00:56:25.01
singing these verses.
00:56:25.05\00:56:26.41
Not only the redeemed,
but also the wicked who stand
00:56:26.72\00:56:29.92
outside the holy city.
00:56:30.02\00:56:31.45
And so really Revelation 5:12-13
concludes the introductory scene
00:56:31.85\00:56:37.96
but it also takes you well
beyond to the very end of time.
00:56:37.99\00:56:43.00
Now the best illustration
of this final celebration
00:56:43.63\00:56:46.57
that will take place
when Jesus arrives in heaven
00:56:46.60\00:56:49.64
at His second coming
with all of the redeemed
00:56:49.67\00:56:51.87
is the story of the lost sheep.
00:56:52.07\00:56:53.74
You know, the shepherd goes
and he seeks the lost sheep.
00:56:54.44\00:56:57.38
By the way, the lost
sheep represents this world,
00:56:57.41\00:57:00.02
in a broader sense.
00:57:00.62\00:57:02.75
The shepherd is Jesus.
00:57:02.78\00:57:04.29
The lost sheep is this world.
00:57:04.65\00:57:06.22
And so, the shepherd goes out,
he rescues the one lost sheep.
00:57:06.62\00:57:10.79
Then what does he do?
00:57:10.99\00:57:12.33
Well, this is the part
that we usually don't focus on.
00:57:13.03\00:57:15.60
He takes his sheep upon
his shoulder and he take the
00:57:16.16\00:57:18.77
sheep home, and he calls
his neighbors and his friends,
00:57:18.80\00:57:22.54
and he says,
"Come, let's have a party.
00:57:22.57\00:57:25.44
Let's celebrate.
00:57:25.47\00:57:26.81
Because the sheep that I
have lost has been found."
00:57:27.34\00:57:31.25
And that's exactly what happened
when Jesus went to heaven,
00:57:31.81\00:57:34.65
and what will take
place especially when
00:57:34.68\00:57:36.32
Jesus comes again.
00:57:36.35\00:57:37.69
He will take the
redeemed from this world home.
00:57:38.05\00:57:40.86
And then there will
be a final celebration
00:57:41.16\00:57:43.26
like the celebration
when Jesus ascended to heaven.
00:57:43.69\00:57:46.29
Only this time, it will
be with all of the redeemed
00:57:46.33\00:57:50.17
from all ages.
00:57:50.20\00:57:51.53
So this is the introductory
scene to Revelation 4,
00:57:51.57\00:57:56.14
and we also studied an
inkling of Revelation 5.
00:57:56.17\00:57:59.94
Next session we will deal with
Revelation 5 in more detail.
00:58:00.34\00:58:05.55