Welcome again to our program,
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"Revelation of The Coming King."
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I'm Ranko Stefanovic,
professor of New Testament
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in Seventh-day
Adventist Theological Seminary,
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Andrews University.
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I don't know that most of you
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who are watching this program,
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you already watched
the previous presentations,
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but my special
welcome to all of you
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who are watching this
program for the first time.
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I just want to inform you
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that we are trying to be engaged
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in systematic study of
the Book of Revelation,
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going chapter by chapter.
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But the purpose of
these presentations
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is not to give us all
answers to the questions
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that we have about to
the Book of Revelation,
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because it is
impossible to explore
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the chapter just in 1 hour,
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but simply to
stimulate our appetite,
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to provide that broad picture
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of each chapter of
the Book of Revelation.
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So at the end of
each presentations
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we would like you
to take those tools,
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the different books written
on the Book of Revelation
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that can help you to go
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and to dig much
deeper in the text.
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These
presentations actually follow
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the content of this book
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that is titled
"Revelation of Jesus Christ."
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It's a product of
many years of research.
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It's made by me,
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but not everything
that is here came to me,
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it came from many other people
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that God gave the time
to do much deeper study
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into the Book of Revelation.
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So if you
really want to continue
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and to study the
Book of Revelation,
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once these
presentation are over,
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I would like to
suggest to you to go
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and to take this
tool or some other tools
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and join the group
of your fellow believers
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in your local congregations
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and then go and
take chapter by chapter,
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make the
discussions, study for yourself
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and believe me
what a great change
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you will
experience in your life.
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May God bless you
and be with all of you
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who are so eager and motivated
to study the Word of God.
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Actually, our topic
today it's very interesting.
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As you know that last time
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we tried to understand
little bit about the messages
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addressed to those churches
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of the time of
John in Asia Minor,
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the messages to
the seven churches.
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But now we are
moving to chapter 4
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and we will say
more about that--
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but I would like to tell you
that if you want to follow us,
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there are many pages here
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that you will have
to read and to check,
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starting with page
163, but at this moment
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actually I will build
on pages starting with 185.
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Okay, but
occasionally I will reflect
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to those pages
starting with 163.
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So at this moment, I
would like to ask you
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before we go into the text,
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that we ask God for help
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and for the
guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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Our Heavenly
Father, thank you so much
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for giving us this
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Father, we find many,
many things in this book,
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very difficult for us
to grasp and to understand,
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but thank you for
the promise given to us
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that the Holy Spirit will
guide us into all the truth.
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So please be with us and help us
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in understanding of this text,
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the last Book of the Bible.
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We are asking you that
humans be hidden in Christ,
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because we would like to hear
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your voice
speaking to our hearts.
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And, Father, we pray all of this
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in the precious name of
our Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Amen.
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I would like to ask you
if you can open your Bibles
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and turn to
Revelation Chapter 4.
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And I would like
us to read verse 1.
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So, Revelation Chapter 4,
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we would like to read verse 1.
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Please, I need your help.
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"After these
things--" Which things?
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After the
messages to seven churches,
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okay, so Jesus finished,
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okay, with
addressing the situation
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and needs of
those churches in Asia.
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He's also speaking to us today.
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"I looked, and behold a
door standing open in heaven--"
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Please notice, that
now the situation moves
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from the earth
to heaven, and says,
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"And the first voice
which I have heard--"
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What was the voice?
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In Revelation 1:12, actually
9-11, 12, the voice of Jesus.
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"Like a sound of a
trumpet speaking with me,
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said, 'come up
here, and I will show you
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what must take place
after these things.'"
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Let's stop her
while, this verse 1.
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Let me remind you one more time
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what we talked about before.
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Do remember in 1:19
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when the exalted and glorified
Christ appeared to John?
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It's a beautiful
vision of Jesus Christ.
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And when John was so much afraid
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and fell there before Jesus,
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Jesus lifted him up
and then He said to him,
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"John stop being afraid,
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I am the first
and the last," Amen.
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"I'm the first and the last.
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I have the keys
of Death and Hades."
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And now, in verse
19 Jesus said to John,
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"Now write the
things that you have seen,
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the things which
are and the things
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that will take
place after these things
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which are the
things which are," okay.
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So the things which
are, the present tense,
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refers to the time
of John, present tense.
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And we just finished the
messages to seven churches
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that address the situation
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and the needs
of those Christians
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in Asia Minor at
the time of John,
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we just finished it
with the last message
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to the church of Laodicea.
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In that last message, we
see the picture of Jesus,
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standing at the
door and knocking
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and telling the members
in the church of Laodicea,
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"If you hear this
knocking and my voice"
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with voice of Jesus telling him
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"please would you let me in.
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If you hear that voice
and if you open the door,
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I will enter and
I will dine with you
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and you will dine with Me."
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By the way, I'm now tempted
to talk too much about that.
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It is beautiful picture.
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If you want to understand it,
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there are several
Old Testament background
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which one is the Song of Songs.
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When that Beloved one is
standing there at the door
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and knocking and say,
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"Please, my dear
one, open the door,
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I would like to come to you."
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So you see this call of Jesus,
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standing at the
door, is a love call.
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Amen.
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He says, "I will come in
and we will eat together."
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I tell me
students there at Andrews,
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when you meet that lady
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and somehow you
become found of her
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and you see something is
taking place in your heart,
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what is the
first thing that you do
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when you approach her?
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Say, "Can I take
you to McDonald's?"
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You don't have money,
you go and borrow money,
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you don't take
her to McDonald's,
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you taking to most
expensive restaurant.
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Am I correct? Yes.
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And you eat together.
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And as you eat
together the bonds are created.
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You know, the
best business is made
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when people eat together.
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When the church
wants to meet together
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and to have good fellowship,
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it's associated with meal.
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But the loving relationships
are built around the meal.
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This is actually
what Jesus loves.
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He's calling the
church of Laodicea,
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"Open the door, I love you,
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yes, I have to rebuke you.
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But because I love
you, and I want to establish
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that close
relationships with you."
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That message is just concluded
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also with a promise given
to the church of Laodicea,
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but that will
come little bit later.
00:10:02.38\00:10:04.76
And Jesus just
finished these messages.
00:10:04.79\00:10:07.43
And now John said suddenly,
00:10:07.46\00:10:10.35
"There is another
reality before me,"
00:10:10.38\00:10:13.14
he said, "The door is open
in heaven and the same voice
00:10:13.17\00:10:17.42
that was speaking
to those churches"
00:10:17.45\00:10:20.06
now telling me,
"John, come up here--"
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now please pay attention
"I want now to show you
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what will take
place after these things."
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After which things?
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After those seven churches.
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So he's telling
us that with 4:1,
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we are now moving to
a new period of history
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that actually comes
after the 1st century
00:10:43.61\00:10:47.07
after the time of John.
00:10:47.10\00:10:50.44
Are you with me?
00:10:50.47\00:10:51.84
So this is very important--
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this is very, very
important to keep in mind.
00:10:53.60\00:10:57.43
But you'll
notice something else.
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With this new moment,
00:11:00.75\00:11:04.53
as the scene
moves there to heaven
00:11:04.56\00:11:06.97
also the language of the
Book of Revelation changes.
00:11:07.00\00:11:10.20
Up to this point, you notice,
00:11:10.23\00:11:12.90
those messages, it's
not difficult to understand.
00:11:12.93\00:11:16.19
The language is
very straightforward.
00:11:16.22\00:11:19.11
You have the rebuke of Jesus,
00:11:19.14\00:11:22.05
then you have the call of Jesus,
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then he is urging
the church to repent.
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The language is
very straightforward,
00:11:28.28\00:11:29.86
but now you will
noticed the Book of Revelation
00:11:29.89\00:11:33.40
is not from this point on
easy to understand any longer.
00:11:33.43\00:11:38.34
And something else
we have to understand
00:11:38.37\00:11:41.16
as we are moving
here to this section.
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It's very
important to understand.
00:11:43.78\00:11:46.36
We have here two chapters.
00:11:46.39\00:11:50.29
So this presentation and
the following presentation
00:11:50.32\00:11:52.94
we're dealing with two chapters.
00:11:52.97\00:11:54.64
But these two chapters,
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they function as one unit,
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but still there is
a sharp distinction
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between these two chapters.
00:12:02.23\00:12:03.60
Please let me put it
here on this of blackboard,
00:12:03.63\00:12:06.63
chapter 4 and chapter 5.
00:12:06.66\00:12:11.71
So these two chapters
are related to each other,
00:12:11.74\00:12:16.73
but there is a basic difference,
00:12:16.76\00:12:18.87
please, I will elaborate
on that few moments later,
00:12:18.90\00:12:22.01
but we have to make
some preliminary remarks,
00:12:22.04\00:12:25.16
because if you do not do
it you'll be confused later
00:12:25.19\00:12:29.20
because it's necessary to
explain what we have here.
00:12:29.23\00:12:33.14
We will see that
here in chapter 4,
00:12:33.17\00:12:37.66
John is portraying
what he saw there in heaven.
00:12:37.69\00:12:44.25
There is a multitude of
the heavenly beings there
00:12:44.28\00:12:46.47
before the throne of God.
00:12:46.50\00:12:48.44
There is a
constant thanksgiving to God
00:12:48.47\00:12:51.26
and the heavenly
beings who are worshiping God.
00:12:51.29\00:12:55.09
And what is here in chapter 4,
00:12:55.12\00:12:57.89
you can find very similar
00:12:57.92\00:13:01.84
also in Isaiah Chapter 6,
00:13:01.87\00:13:06.37
you can find in
Daniel Chapter 7,
00:13:06.40\00:13:10.22
you can find in
Ezekiel Chapter 1 and 2,
00:13:10.25\00:13:13.42
and some other
portions of the Old Testament.
00:13:13.45\00:13:16.74
All of this suggest to us, what?
00:13:16.77\00:13:21.97
That what we have in chapter 4
00:13:22.00\00:13:24.74
is something that takes
place regularly there in heaven
00:13:24.77\00:13:28.62
before the throne of God.
00:13:28.65\00:13:30.44
Whenever the heavenly
beings come before God,
00:13:30.47\00:13:33.54
they are always worshiping God
00:13:33.57\00:13:35.78
and there are
different groups there
00:13:35.81\00:13:38.17
of the heavenly beings
in the presence of God.
00:13:38.20\00:13:40.12
Are you still, friends, with me?
00:13:40.15\00:13:42.09
That's why what
you have in chapter 5
00:13:42.12\00:13:45.84
is very similar
that is found in others
00:13:45.87\00:13:49.78
so called "Throne
Visions" of the Old Testament.
00:13:49.81\00:13:55.93
There are many similarities,
you will see many parallels.
00:13:55.96\00:13:58.80
However, when we
come here to chapter 5,
00:13:58.83\00:14:02.34
suddenly there is
something different.
00:14:02.37\00:14:04.48
What we have in chapter 5
00:14:04.51\00:14:07.40
is not found
anywhere in the Bible,
00:14:07.43\00:14:10.64
in any throne visions.
00:14:10.67\00:14:13.34
So while here we have the
general realities in heaven,
00:14:13.37\00:14:16.77
in chapter 5, we have a
certain point in history
00:14:16.80\00:14:22.70
that is very
crucial to understand and--
00:14:22.73\00:14:25.31
let me tell you,
what we have in chapter 5,
00:14:25.34\00:14:27.61
is the most decisive point
in the history of planet earth
00:14:27.64\00:14:32.49
and the history in
the plan of salvation.
00:14:32.52\00:14:34.25
This is very
important to keep in mind.
00:14:34.28\00:14:35.78
So, now, we have to
clear up some things.
00:14:35.81\00:14:39.79
Jesus makes very clear to John,
00:14:43.09\00:14:46.22
"Come here, and I will show you
00:14:46.25\00:14:49.10
what will take
place after these things."
00:14:49.13\00:14:51.37
One more time,
after what things?
00:14:51.40\00:14:54.12
After the seven
churches in the 1st century.
00:14:54.15\00:14:57.99
Now you'll ask
yourself a question,
00:14:58.02\00:15:00.39
as we're trying to understand
especially here chapter 5
00:15:00.42\00:15:03.09
together with chapter 4 is,
00:15:03.12\00:15:05.73
we will see
actually the chapters 4 and 5
00:15:05.76\00:15:08.53
portrays something that
took place at least 60 years
00:15:08.56\00:15:13.33
prior to the time of
the Book of Revelation.
00:15:13.36\00:15:17.86
Prior to the time of the writing
of the Book of Revelation
00:15:17.89\00:15:20.93
is related to Jesus ascension
there to the heavenly places.
00:15:20.96\00:15:24.32
So how is that,
that Jesus says to John,
00:15:24.35\00:15:27.98
"Come here, I will show
you what will take place
00:15:28.01\00:15:32.68
after the seven churches."
00:15:32.71\00:15:35.59
But chapters 4 and 5,
00:15:35.62\00:15:37.53
they talk about something
that took place before.
00:15:37.56\00:15:41.51
So please, it's very important
that we address that issues.
00:15:41.54\00:15:45.56
When Jesus said
to John, "Come here,
00:15:45.59\00:15:48.65
I will show you what will
take place after these things."
00:15:48.68\00:15:50.95
What is that that
Jesus wanted to show to John?
00:15:50.98\00:15:54.68
The history of the church
and the history of the world
00:15:54.71\00:15:59.93
from the 1st century
until the time of the end.
00:15:59.96\00:16:03.01
Are you still with me?
00:16:03.04\00:16:05.72
That history of the church,
00:16:05.75\00:16:07.66
you will see
that it's symbolized
00:16:07.69\00:16:10.37
by the opening
of the seven seals
00:16:10.40\00:16:13.48
and the history of the world
00:16:13.51\00:16:15.77
is symbolized by the
blowing of the trumpets.
00:16:15.80\00:16:19.15
Please, it's very
important to keep in mind.
00:16:19.18\00:16:22.00
That actually when
Jesus said to John,
00:16:22.03\00:16:24.37
"I will show you what will
take place after these things"
00:16:24.40\00:16:27.71
is the history of the church
00:16:27.74\00:16:29.11
and the history of the world
00:16:29.14\00:16:30.65
symbolized by the
seals and the trumpets.
00:16:30.68\00:16:34.04
But let me tell
you-- let me ask you,
00:16:34.07\00:16:36.26
why do those seals,
why do those trumpets
00:16:36.29\00:16:39.60
can take place to mark
that course of history?
00:16:39.63\00:16:43.62
Why?
00:16:43.65\00:16:45.02
You see before
giving us that information,
00:16:45.05\00:16:48.88
John was to
tell us why the seals
00:16:48.91\00:16:53.01
and why the
trumpets with chapter 6.
00:16:53.04\00:16:56.72
He's telling us
that this is possible
00:16:56.75\00:16:59.43
because Jesus
Christ is enthroned
00:16:59.46\00:17:02.50
there in the heavenly places.
00:17:02.53\00:17:05.73
All the destiny of the church
00:17:05.76\00:17:08.02
and the destiny of the humanity,
00:17:08.05\00:17:09.70
is put into His hands
00:17:09.73\00:17:11.33
and he can unroll the
history until its very end.
00:17:11.36\00:17:15.45
Let me use one illustration.
00:17:15.48\00:17:17.62
Please, I told you,
00:17:17.65\00:17:19.24
I had to invent
different illustrations
00:17:19.27\00:17:22.19
to explain sometimes
things to my students.
00:17:22.22\00:17:25.69
I tell them, "can you imagine"
00:17:25.72\00:17:27.49
that's what I tell my
students in the class room,
00:17:27.52\00:17:28.99
"can you imagine-- I tell you,
00:17:29.02\00:17:30.73
next week in our midst we
will have one great scholar"
00:17:30.76\00:17:35.78
and I mentioned his name
00:17:35.81\00:17:37.29
he will lecture
to us on 144,000.
00:17:37.32\00:17:40.97
You have to be in the class,
00:17:41.00\00:17:42.69
because his lecture
is very, very important
00:17:42.72\00:17:45.97
and you cannot miss it."
00:17:46.00\00:17:47.37
What is the question
that my students are asking?
00:17:47.40\00:17:50.05
What actually
am I talking about?
00:17:50.08\00:17:51.91
I'm talking about something
00:17:51.94\00:17:53.31
that will take
place in the future.
00:17:53.34\00:17:54.81
I'm announcing my
students that next week,
00:17:54.84\00:17:57.34
we will have
something in our class room.
00:17:57.37\00:17:59.93
What are the questions that come
00:17:59.96\00:18:01.69
to the mind of my students?
00:18:01.72\00:18:03.62
Why so much important
that he comes to lecture to us?
00:18:03.65\00:18:06.89
Why don't you lecture to us?
00:18:06.92\00:18:08.92
You see, I anticipate
the questions of my students
00:18:08.95\00:18:11.80
and I'm telling them, you see,
00:18:11.83\00:18:13.20
this scholar got a
degree from Harvard,
00:18:13.23\00:18:16.76
he spent 10 years
researching this issue
00:18:16.79\00:18:19.82
in the Book of Revelation
00:18:19.85\00:18:21.70
and actually he reached
many interesting conclusions
00:18:21.73\00:18:26.07
that today even we
Seventh-day Adventist adopted.
00:18:26.10\00:18:29.09
I'm just
inventing an illustration.
00:18:29.12\00:18:31.00
Are you still with me?
00:18:31.03\00:18:32.76
When I am
explaining to the students,
00:18:32.79\00:18:35.57
why so much important
that they are be there,
00:18:35.60\00:18:37.97
and talking about the scholar,
00:18:38.00\00:18:39.43
what tense am I using?
00:18:39.46\00:18:42.37
The past tense.
00:18:42.40\00:18:44.86
Because what that
scholar did in the past
00:18:44.89\00:18:48.08
gives him the
credential for our class
00:18:48.11\00:18:52.33
about something
that will take place
00:18:52.36\00:18:53.92
in the future next week.
00:18:53.95\00:18:56.53
So before John-- what he sees
00:18:56.56\00:19:00.17
in the vision tried to tell us
00:19:00.20\00:19:01.93
what Jesus show him to
take place in the future
00:19:01.96\00:19:05.17
with opening of the
seals and the trumpets,
00:19:05.20\00:19:07.36
he first want to tell us
about the credentials of Jesus.
00:19:07.39\00:19:12.65
Why Jesus can break those seals?
00:19:12.68\00:19:17.36
Why he can let
the history unroll
00:19:17.39\00:19:21.62
and to go to the very end?
00:19:21.65\00:19:23.23
So in order to
describe it, he has to tell us
00:19:23.26\00:19:26.65
what Jesus did in the past.
00:19:26.68\00:19:30.33
What are the credentials
00:19:30.36\00:19:31.97
that Jesus has and the
authority actually to do it
00:19:32.00\00:19:35.23
Does it make sense to you?
00:19:35.26\00:19:36.63
So chapters 4 and 5 is
not when Jesus told him,
00:19:36.66\00:19:40.33
"I will tell you what will
take place after these things."
00:19:40.36\00:19:43.20
Actually, the
seals and the trumpets,
00:19:43.23\00:19:45.80
but chapter 4 and 5
is an introductory vision
00:19:45.83\00:19:49.88
that describes
Jesus and introduces Him
00:19:49.91\00:19:53.11
as new actor there on the scene.
00:19:53.14\00:19:55.66
So now please, I'm
asking you if you go--
00:19:55.69\00:19:59.02
you can go with
me to this chapter--
00:19:59.05\00:20:01.71
there are many
things that actually
00:20:01.74\00:20:05.18
we can understand here, please.
00:20:05.21\00:20:07.98
So we are now going to verse 2,
00:20:08.01\00:20:10.69
John said,
"Immediately I was in the spirit
00:20:10.72\00:20:15.92
and behold, a throne
was standing in heaven,
00:20:15.95\00:20:20.91
and one he was
sitting on the throne.
00:20:20.94\00:20:24.57
And he who was sitting
was like a jasper stone
00:20:24.60\00:20:28.55
and sardius in appearance
00:20:28.58\00:20:31.41
and there was a
rainbow around the throne
00:20:31.44\00:20:35.14
like an emerald in appearance."
00:20:35.17\00:20:37.73
Please, I would like
if you can just allow me
00:20:37.76\00:20:40.40
to skip verse 4, we'll
come back to that verse.
00:20:40.43\00:20:43.08
Because John keeps
on describing the throne
00:20:43.11\00:20:47.05
and he says in verse 5,
00:20:47.08\00:20:48.85
"And out of the throne
come flashes of lightning
00:20:48.88\00:20:53.54
and sounds and peals of thunder
00:20:53.57\00:20:56.65
and there were
seven lamps of fire
00:20:56.68\00:20:59.15
burning before the throne
00:20:59.18\00:21:00.98
which are the
seven spirits of God.
00:21:01.01\00:21:03.91
And before the
throne was something
00:21:03.94\00:21:06.46
like a sea of
glass like a crystal
00:21:06.49\00:21:10.46
and in the center
and around the throne
00:21:10.49\00:21:12.56
four living creatures full
of eyes in front and behind."
00:21:12.59\00:21:18.34
So now, you would notice here
00:21:18.37\00:21:20.84
that actually John was taken
00:21:20.87\00:21:24.66
through the open
door there in heaven.
00:21:24.69\00:21:28.57
And suddenly he finds himself
00:21:28.60\00:21:33.21
into the heavenly throne room.
00:21:33.24\00:21:36.89
Actually he made the statement,
00:21:36.92\00:21:38.29
he said, "I was in the spirit."
00:21:38.32\00:21:40.98
By the way, that
expression is used several times
00:21:41.01\00:21:44.04
in the Book of Revelation
00:21:44.07\00:21:45.85
and whenever John
uses this expression,
00:21:45.88\00:21:49.07
he wants to tell us,
"I am in the vision."
00:21:49.10\00:21:54.18
What is the first thing
that John sees in the vision
00:21:54.21\00:21:57.86
there in the heavenly throne?
00:21:57.89\00:22:00.05
You'll notice
something very interesting is,
00:22:00.08\00:22:02.40
when you go to all other throne
visions in the Old Testament,
00:22:02.43\00:22:07.34
what is the first thing that
the prophets see in the vision?
00:22:07.37\00:22:12.17
It's always
God. What about John?
00:22:12.20\00:22:17.20
The first thing that
he mentions is the throne.
00:22:17.23\00:22:21.76
Why?
00:22:21.79\00:22:23.30
Because evidently
the throne is here
00:22:23.33\00:22:26.56
the central object of chapter 4
00:22:26.59\00:22:31.76
and you will see
also of chapter 5.
00:22:31.79\00:22:35.61
You will notice in
the Book of Revelation
00:22:35.64\00:22:37.71
how many times John
mentions the name of God,
00:22:37.74\00:22:40.92
but he does not name God here.
00:22:40.95\00:22:42.98
He simply refers to him
00:22:43.01\00:22:44.44
as the one
sitting on the throne.
00:22:44.47\00:22:47.65
But notice
something else when you read,
00:22:47.68\00:22:49.67
we just read in these verses,
00:22:49.70\00:22:52.12
everything in the
throne room is portrayed
00:22:52.15\00:22:54.92
in relation to the throne.
00:22:54.95\00:22:57.45
He says around the throne,
00:22:57.48\00:23:00.03
from the throne,
before the throne,
00:23:00.06\00:23:04.27
in the midst of the
throne he's telling us
00:23:04.30\00:23:06.88
that actually the central object
00:23:06.91\00:23:09.49
of the entire vision
is the throne of God.
00:23:09.52\00:23:15.60
So it means,
that the entire scene
00:23:15.63\00:23:22.15
of chapters 4 and 5
is related to the throne
00:23:22.18\00:23:27.02
because the throne is
the central concept here.
00:23:27.05\00:23:31.56
By the way as we mentioned
00:23:31.59\00:23:33.87
John was not the first one
00:23:33.90\00:23:35.71
to observe the splendor
of the heavenly throne room.
00:23:35.74\00:23:38.67
I'm giving you here
the text, in 1 Kings 22:19,
00:23:38.70\00:23:45.43
we see Micaiah saw
the similar things.
00:23:45.46\00:23:48.11
Isaiah 6:1-3,
Isaiah saw similar things,
00:23:48.14\00:23:52.34
Daniel 7:9-10,
Daniel saw similar things.
00:23:52.37\00:23:58.31
But I would like
to suggest to you
00:23:58.34\00:23:59.71
when you have the time,
00:23:59.74\00:24:01.11
go and open and
read Ezekiel Chapter 1
00:24:01.14\00:24:03.57
and you can read all
up to Ezekiel Chapter 10,
00:24:03.60\00:24:06.38
where you will find so
many parallel similarities.
00:24:06.41\00:24:09.79
So he's telling us while
John is watching in chapter 4,
00:24:09.82\00:24:12.50
is the same what the
prophets saw before him
00:24:12.53\00:24:15.14
in the Old Testament times.
00:24:15.17\00:24:17.78
So in all those throne visions
00:24:17.81\00:24:21.52
God is regularly seen
sitting on the throne.
00:24:21.55\00:24:25.71
In ancient world, a throne
denoted power and authority.
00:24:25.74\00:24:31.59
The person who is
sitting on the throne it means,
00:24:31.62\00:24:34.40
he is ruling over
a certain territory.
00:24:34.43\00:24:38.02
You see, the throne of God
00:24:38.05\00:24:40.56
does stand for
His ruling authority
00:24:40.59\00:24:44.88
and power over the universe.
00:24:44.91\00:24:48.74
But we will come later
in the Book of Revelation.
00:24:48.77\00:24:52.62
In the book
there is another throne
00:24:52.65\00:24:55.28
that is mentioned
is the throne of Satan.
00:24:55.31\00:25:00.73
And that throne of
Satan is associated
00:25:00.76\00:25:03.63
with the throne of the
beast which is telling us,
00:25:03.66\00:25:07.75
that God claims
the sole authority
00:25:07.78\00:25:10.19
over the universe
or the plant earth.
00:25:10.22\00:25:12.57
But there is another entity
that is rebellious against God
00:25:12.60\00:25:17.60
and trying to usurp
the God's authority.
00:25:17.63\00:25:21.54
That's why the vision of
chapter 4 and 5 is so much,
00:25:21.57\00:25:25.77
so much important that actually
it is with these two chapters
00:25:25.80\00:25:31.12
that John begins the second
major division of his book.
00:25:31.15\00:25:35.72
But see, John is not even trying
to attempt to describe God.
00:25:35.75\00:25:41.43
Usually, the prophets,
we go to the Book of Daniel,
00:25:41.46\00:25:45.41
we have the gray hair of God,
00:25:45.44\00:25:47.53
His eye is penetrating,
00:25:47.56\00:25:49.11
you know-- John does not do it.
00:25:49.14\00:25:51.00
He even does not make any--
00:25:51.03\00:25:52.40
he instead focuses on
the radiant glory of God
00:25:52.43\00:25:57.32
that is coming
out of God's throne.
00:25:57.35\00:26:01.45
And then we go to
the Old Testament,
00:26:01.48\00:26:03.29
we can go to the Book of Psalms.
00:26:03.32\00:26:05.90
There are so many
passages there telling us
00:26:05.93\00:26:08.66
that God on his throne
there in the heavenly places,
00:26:08.69\00:26:11.31
He's surrounded by great glory.
00:26:11.34\00:26:13.31
By the way, Paul,
in 1 Timothy 6:16,
00:26:13.34\00:26:17.42
he tells us "The God that
dwells in an approachable light
00:26:17.45\00:26:21.06
who no man has
seen or can see Him."
00:26:21.09\00:26:25.06
But tell me how to
portray the glory of God?
00:26:25.09\00:26:29.02
Please find me an expression
even in English language
00:26:29.05\00:26:31.41
how to describe it?
00:26:31.44\00:26:32.95
There is no way.
00:26:32.98\00:26:34.44
There's only one way, to use
the pictures of precious stones.
00:26:34.47\00:26:40.32
And when you have
light what's taking place--
00:26:40.35\00:26:42.30
this is the only way to
portray that glory of God,
00:26:42.33\00:26:46.39
but there is
something very, very important.
00:26:46.42\00:26:49.52
The three stones like jasper,
00:26:49.55\00:26:53.27
sardius and emerald in
ancient war were regarded
00:26:53.30\00:26:57.52
as the representative
of the precious stones.
00:26:57.55\00:27:00.11
All those stones
that are mentioned
00:27:00.14\00:27:02.06
actually in chapter 4 to
describe the glory of God
00:27:02.09\00:27:07.42
actually are mentions
among those precious stones
00:27:07.45\00:27:10.96
which adorn Lucifer, in
the Book of Ezekiel 8:13
00:27:10.99\00:27:17.70
who has portrayed in the
picture of the King of Tyre.
00:27:17.73\00:27:24.89
Friends, the selection of
these three precious stones
00:27:24.92\00:27:28.14
acts in the theological
significance in the scene.
00:27:28.17\00:27:32.47
Sardius and
jasper were the first
00:27:32.50\00:27:35.26
and the last
stones on the breastplate
00:27:35.29\00:27:38.00
of the high priest
in the Old Testament.
00:27:38.03\00:27:41.60
And we know that
Ruben was the eldest
00:27:41.63\00:27:43.82
and Benjamin was the
youngest of Jacob's son.
00:27:43.85\00:27:47.78
The fourth stone
that is mentioned here,
00:27:47.81\00:27:50.82
the emerald,
actually represented Judas.
00:27:50.85\00:27:56.86
And this is very, very important
00:27:56.89\00:27:58.85
because all
these stones are found
00:27:58.88\00:28:01.39
also at the
foundation of New Jerusalem.
00:28:01.42\00:28:04.59
So it's telling us something,
00:28:04.62\00:28:06.37
that this vision is not
just an ordinary vision.
00:28:06.40\00:28:10.49
There are so
many symbolic elements
00:28:10.52\00:28:13.12
that are collected there.
00:28:13.15\00:28:14.78
Because this is one of
the most decisive points
00:28:14.81\00:28:19.33
in human
history, because chapter 4
00:28:19.36\00:28:21.96
sets the stage for chapter 5.
00:28:21.99\00:28:25.90
This is about the throne of God.
00:28:25.93\00:28:27.86
You see, as you have that glory
00:28:27.89\00:28:30.42
that flashes out of the throne
00:28:30.45\00:28:32.15
then you have lightning,
you have sounds of thunder
00:28:32.18\00:28:36.08
and peels of thunder
issuing from the throne.
00:28:36.11\00:28:38.71
There is some
amazing scene there
00:28:38.74\00:28:41.36
that John observes
there in the throne room.
00:28:41.39\00:28:44.30
Evidently everything is in
a state of great expectancy.
00:28:44.33\00:28:48.42
What will now happened
00:28:48.45\00:28:49.82
because this is
not a normal situation
00:28:49.85\00:28:51.70
as in the Old
Testament throne visions of God.
00:28:51.73\00:28:58.23
But there are some heavenly
beings that are present there.
00:28:58.26\00:29:02.89
The first one that John observes
00:29:02.92\00:29:06.14
that is mentioned
here is God himself.
00:29:06.17\00:29:08.95
He's sitting on the throne.
00:29:08.98\00:29:12.06
John does not refer to his name,
00:29:12.09\00:29:14.80
but he's the one
sitting on the throne
00:29:14.83\00:29:17.19
and he is the object
of the heavenly worship.
00:29:17.22\00:29:20.66
If you go to the
conclusion of chapter 4
00:29:20.69\00:29:23.12
what do you read?
00:29:23.15\00:29:24.52
Verse 8, the
heavenly beings there,
00:29:24.55\00:29:27.76
they don't stop worshipping God,
00:29:27.79\00:29:29.49
they're shouting
Holy, Holy, Holy.
00:29:29.52\00:29:32.57
It's interesting,
three time holy, ah.
00:29:32.60\00:29:36.51
Like in Isaiah Chapter 6,
00:29:36.54\00:29:38.43
"Holy, Holy, Holy is
the Lord God the almighty,
00:29:38.46\00:29:41.49
who was and who is
and who is to come."
00:29:41.52\00:29:45.78
When you go to the Old Testament
00:29:45.81\00:29:47.23
"who was, who is
and who is to come"
00:29:47.26\00:29:50.10
actually is the
divine name Yahweh.
00:29:50.13\00:29:53.36
God who was in the past,
00:29:53.39\00:29:54.88
God who is be
our God in the future
00:29:54.91\00:29:58.61
but He is God who is
with us even in the present.
00:29:58.64\00:30:02.72
But you'll notice
that there's somebody else
00:30:02.75\00:30:06.08
who is there in the throne room.
00:30:06.11\00:30:08.58
And that one is referred
00:30:08.61\00:30:10.46
to as the seven
spirits of God in verse 5.
00:30:10.49\00:30:17.28
Keep in mind that
the Book of Revelation
00:30:17.31\00:30:19.04
is the symbolic book.
00:30:19.07\00:30:21.14
So when John
refers to the Holy Spirit,
00:30:21.17\00:30:23.90
he calls Him seven spirits.
00:30:23.93\00:30:26.25
Why the seven spirits?
00:30:26.28\00:30:27.65
There are
several reasons for that.
00:30:27.68\00:30:29.61
Because in the Book
of Isaiah Chapter 11--
00:30:29.64\00:30:32.95
one more time, we're
talking about the Septuagint,
00:30:32.98\00:30:36.40
Greek translation
of the Old Testament
00:30:36.43\00:30:38.74
we've the seven
fold manifestation
00:30:38.77\00:30:41.49
of the Holy Spirit there.
00:30:41.52\00:30:44.82
But keep also in mind we
have seven churches in Asia.
00:30:44.85\00:30:51.24
And at the end, you
remember of each message,
00:30:51.27\00:30:53.70
"Who has ear, let him hear
00:30:53.73\00:30:55.88
what the spirit
says to the churches."
00:30:55.91\00:30:58.23
We know that the number
seven is the number of fullness.
00:30:58.26\00:31:01.16
So when you have the
seven spirits of God,
00:31:01.19\00:31:03.48
it refers to the
fullness of the work
00:31:03.51\00:31:07.31
of the Holy
Spirit in the churches.
00:31:07.34\00:31:09.22
Keep in mind the number
seven is the number of fullness.
00:31:09.25\00:31:13.38
So the Book of
Revelation is a symbolic book.
00:31:13.41\00:31:16.32
So you have the God the Father,
00:31:16.35\00:31:19.28
you have the Holy Spirit,
00:31:19.31\00:31:21.90
but there's
somebody that is not present
00:31:21.93\00:31:28.25
at this point in the
vision and who is that?
00:31:28.28\00:31:32.25
The second
person of the God head.
00:31:32.28\00:31:35.15
Actually, he comes,
00:31:35.18\00:31:37.50
he steps there into the heavenly
throne room in chapter 5,
00:31:37.53\00:31:41.37
we have to wait
up to this point.
00:31:41.40\00:31:44.13
But then John observes
00:31:44.16\00:31:45.73
somebody else
there in the throne room.
00:31:45.76\00:31:49.02
Do you remember
we skipped one verse?
00:31:49.05\00:31:51.88
It's verse 4? So
please let's go and see this.
00:31:51.91\00:31:56.92
Around the throne
were 24 other thrones.
00:31:56.95\00:32:02.56
So how many thrones
were in the throne room,
00:32:02.59\00:32:06.82
actually 25, God's
throne and 24 other thrones.
00:32:06.85\00:32:11.75
He said, "And upon the thrones
I saw 24 elders sitting close
00:32:11.78\00:32:19.73
in white
garments in golden crowns"
00:32:19.76\00:32:23.64
stephanos crown,
no diadems, okay.
00:32:23.67\00:32:28.39
You remember we're talking about
00:32:28.42\00:32:29.79
stephanos crown,
they were on their heads.
00:32:29.82\00:32:34.29
Friends we're coming
here very interesting
00:32:34.32\00:32:37.86
to the very
interesting questions.
00:32:37.89\00:32:40.13
Revelation 4:4. The question is,
00:32:40.16\00:32:43.72
who are these 24 elders?
00:32:43.75\00:32:50.53
And people are debating.
00:32:50.56\00:32:53.58
Usually commentators
they have a very sound answer
00:32:53.61\00:32:56.63
because it comes from the Bible.
00:32:56.66\00:32:58.79
But many people have a
very interesting explanation
00:32:58.82\00:33:01.69
for these 24 elders.
00:33:01.72\00:33:04.33
But there is one thing
that appears very clear to us.
00:33:04.36\00:33:09.71
So, please, I'd like to ask
you to pay attention to that.
00:33:09.74\00:33:13.34
Do you remember,
what we mentioned
00:33:13.37\00:33:16.48
that's what is
taking place here,
00:33:16.51\00:33:20.32
the same took place in
the Old Testament times,
00:33:20.35\00:33:23.90
the prophets, so in
those different throne visions?
00:33:23.93\00:33:28.43
Everything and all the
attendantse here in the assembly
00:33:28.46\00:33:33.07
that is found in chapter 5,
00:33:33.10\00:33:35.71
is also found in
other throne visions,
00:33:35.74\00:33:39.65
except this group.
00:33:39.68\00:33:43.08
24 elders are not found
in any throne visions of God
00:33:43.11\00:33:50.60
in the Old Testament times.
This is for the first time
00:33:50.63\00:33:55.57
that they are seen
in any throne vision
00:33:55.60\00:33:58.13
and it's chapter 4.
00:33:58.16\00:34:00.22
These leads to the conclusion,
that this is a brand new group.
00:34:00.25\00:34:06.76
They did not exist before.
00:34:10.49\00:34:13.18
They never before came
there to the throne room.
00:34:13.21\00:34:17.31
And most likely,
there for the first time
00:34:17.34\00:34:20.99
assured there due to throne
room in Revelation Chapter 4.
00:34:21.02\00:34:25.69
So who are they?
00:34:25.72\00:34:27.78
If you take any
different Bible commentary,
00:34:27.81\00:34:34.26
then you will see
00:34:34.29\00:34:36.94
how the biblical
commentators are divided.
00:34:36.97\00:34:40.04
Many Bible students,
many commentators they say,
00:34:40.07\00:34:44.00
these group even
though they agree
00:34:44.03\00:34:47.03
that the number is
very symbolic, okay?
00:34:47.06\00:34:50.08
But they
generally agree that group
00:34:50.11\00:34:52.66
agree among themselves
00:34:52.69\00:34:54.08
that these 24
elders are actually angels.
00:34:54.11\00:34:59.20
Some people they
don't want to go too far
00:34:59.23\00:35:02.06
and to say they're angels,
00:35:02.09\00:35:03.70
they say that are
kind of a heavenly beings,
00:35:03.73\00:35:07.58
representatives
there from the universe,
00:35:07.61\00:35:10.61
a ruling party is
certain part of the universe,
00:35:10.64\00:35:13.89
that's why they are
sitting there on the throne.
00:35:13.92\00:35:18.62
I must say I agree
with that conclusion
00:35:18.65\00:35:22.80
because such a view
is completely contrary
00:35:22.83\00:35:27.83
to the
description of the 24 elders
00:35:27.86\00:35:31.60
in the Book of Revelation.
By the way, the 24 elders
00:35:31.63\00:35:36.74
appear for the
first time in chapter 4.
00:35:36.77\00:35:39.38
But you'll find
them in chapter 5,
00:35:39.41\00:35:42.02
you'll find them in chapter 7,
00:35:42.05\00:35:44.08
you'll find them in chapter 11,
00:35:44.11\00:35:45.99
you'll find them in
chapters-- chapter 19 etcetera.
00:35:46.02\00:35:49.88
They are found in many
different places in the Bible.
00:35:49.91\00:35:53.09
You'll notice that sometimes
they're offering incense to God,
00:35:53.12\00:35:57.40
they are involved in
priestly ministry there.
00:35:57.43\00:36:00.32
In chapter 7,
one of the 24 elders
00:36:00.35\00:36:03.34
explained to John
who actually 144,000 are.
00:36:03.37\00:36:08.61
And in some different
chapters in different scene
00:36:08.64\00:36:11.98
some of the elders
always is ready there
00:36:12.01\00:36:14.56
to help John in
understanding something
00:36:14.59\00:36:16.47
that he sees in the vision.
00:36:16.50\00:36:18.21
But you will notice also
when you go to chapter 5,
00:36:18.24\00:36:22.29
they are actually the
leaders of the heavenly choir.
00:36:22.32\00:36:27.80
So they'll lead
in the singing there,
00:36:27.83\00:36:30.36
in worshiping God there
before the throne of God.
00:36:30.39\00:36:33.35
So the question is who are they?
00:36:33.38\00:36:36.31
You probably wonder why disagree
00:36:36.34\00:36:38.54
that there are
some heavenly beings
00:36:38.57\00:36:40.84
or that there
are heavenly angels.
00:36:40.87\00:36:42.86
There is for several reasons,
00:36:42.89\00:36:45.08
let's go back to
our text and see there.
00:36:45.11\00:36:48.09
"Around the
throne were 24 thrones
00:36:48.12\00:36:53.62
and upon the
thrones I saw 24 elders--"
00:36:53.65\00:36:59.48
Number 1, no where in the Bible,
00:36:59.51\00:37:04.28
including the Book
of Revelation the angels
00:37:04.31\00:37:09.65
or some heavenly
beings are ever called elders.
00:37:09.68\00:37:15.54
This is the expression
00:37:15.57\00:37:17.02
that strictly
belongs to the humans.
00:37:17.05\00:37:19.31
But please, we
cannot reach any conclusion
00:37:19.34\00:37:22.47
based just from one detail.
00:37:22.50\00:37:24.10
We have to put
everything here together.
00:37:24.13\00:37:26.83
It says, "They were
clothed in white garments."
00:37:26.86\00:37:32.75
We already saw on
different occasions,
00:37:32.78\00:37:35.51
even the promise given to
the church in Philadelphia
00:37:35.54\00:37:38.76
and actually Sardis two times
00:37:38.79\00:37:41.89
that the white
garments are promised
00:37:41.92\00:37:45.42
only to God's victorious people.
00:37:45.45\00:37:50.35
Now you can say,
00:37:50.38\00:37:51.75
"yeah, this is
just about Sardis,"
00:37:51.78\00:37:53.15
but if we go to
Revelation Chapter 7.
00:37:53.18\00:37:55.01
Let's go there, if we
go to Revelation Chapter 7,
00:37:55.04\00:37:59.90
then we read in
verse 9, in verse 9.
00:37:59.93\00:38:02.91
John said, "After these things,
00:38:02.94\00:38:06.03
I looked and
behold a great multitude
00:38:06.06\00:38:09.89
which no one could
count from every nation,
00:38:09.92\00:38:14.05
all tribes, and
peoples, and tongues,
00:38:14.08\00:38:17.30
standing before the
throne and before the lamb,
00:38:17.33\00:38:20.58
clothed in white robes
00:38:20.61\00:38:23.94
and palm branches
were in their hand."
00:38:23.97\00:38:27.10
Friends, the white
robes is never promised
00:38:27.13\00:38:30.18
to angels or to
some heavenly beings.
00:38:30.21\00:38:34.06
The white robe is a God's
promise to the over comers,
00:38:34.09\00:38:38.79
to human beings,
who will overcome sin
00:38:38.82\00:38:41.28
and one day stand
before the throne of God.
00:38:41.31\00:38:44.06
Are you still with me?
00:38:44.09\00:38:45.48
But there is another element
that is here very important.
00:38:45.51\00:38:49.98
It's the last
statement here in this verse.
00:38:50.01\00:38:52.07
It says, "And golden
crowns on their heads."
00:38:52.10\00:38:57.51
You remember we talked already
00:38:57.54\00:38:58.97
about the crowns
that in Greek language,
00:38:59.00\00:39:05.11
they're two words for crown,
00:39:05.14\00:39:07.23
probably because of the viewers
00:39:07.26\00:39:08.99
who are watching this
program for the first time.
00:39:09.02\00:39:11.97
The first word in
Greek for a crown is diadema
00:39:12.00\00:39:16.89
from which
comes the royal crown,
00:39:16.92\00:39:20.00
in English, diadem.
00:39:20.03\00:39:22.14
That crown is reserved
only for God even though
00:39:22.17\00:39:26.03
Satan in Revelation Chapter 12
00:39:26.06\00:39:28.57
assumes that crown in
his rebellion against God.
00:39:28.60\00:39:32.47
But the second word for the
crown is the word stephanos.
00:39:32.50\00:39:38.14
This is the crown that
is referred here in verse 4.
00:39:38.17\00:39:43.45
That stephanos crown
is not the royal crown,
00:39:43.48\00:39:46.41
it's actually
crown of victory, okay?
00:39:46.44\00:39:50.59
It's a garland
given to the victor
00:39:50.62\00:39:54.37
at the ancient
Olympic Games in Greece, okay?
00:39:54.40\00:40:00.64
And this is the crown
that in the Book of Revelation,
00:40:00.67\00:40:04.92
not only the Book of Revelation,
00:40:04.95\00:40:06.58
also another books
of the New Testament
00:40:06.61\00:40:09.57
stands as a symbol of the reward
00:40:09.60\00:40:12.81
that the faith will
one day will receive
00:40:12.84\00:40:14.96
at the second coming of Christ.
00:40:14.99\00:40:16.55
You remember the 2 Timothy 4:8,
00:40:16.58\00:40:19.89
Paul said, "I finished the race.
00:40:19.92\00:40:23.45
I kept my
faith. Therefore to me,
00:40:23.48\00:40:27.65
it's promise
that Stephanos crown
00:40:27.68\00:40:30.64
that the Lord will give to me,
00:40:30.67\00:40:32.30
not only to me, but all those
00:40:32.33\00:40:34.85
who are waiting
for His coming." Okay.
00:40:34.88\00:40:38.10
We read in the message
of the seven churches. 3:11,
00:40:38.13\00:40:44.61
"Be faithful to
the point of death.
00:40:44.64\00:40:47.79
And I will give you
the Stephanos of life."
00:40:47.82\00:40:51.62
You can read the
entire New Testament.
00:40:51.65\00:40:54.94
Whenever the
Stephanos crown is mentioned,
00:40:54.97\00:40:57.66
except in secular usage,
when it's used symbolically,
00:40:57.69\00:41:00.93
it's always
reserved for human beings,
00:41:00.96\00:41:04.35
the victorious people of God
00:41:04.38\00:41:07.16
who will remain faithful to God
00:41:07.19\00:41:10.60
until great
pressure from outside.
00:41:10.63\00:41:13.97
And one day at the
second coming of Christ,
00:41:14.00\00:41:17.01
they will receive
this Stephanos crown
00:41:17.04\00:41:19.95
as a token or reward that
they will receive from Christ.
00:41:19.98\00:41:22.97
So friends, 24 elders,
00:41:23.00\00:41:27.53
they have these Stephanos crown.
00:41:27.56\00:41:31.33
That crown is not
promised to the angel
00:41:31.36\00:41:33.71
because the
angels they do not know
00:41:33.74\00:41:35.11
what it means to
victorious over sin.
00:41:35.14\00:41:38.27
This crown is not given
to some heavenly assembly,
00:41:38.30\00:41:41.50
ruling authorities in some
different parts of the universe.
00:41:41.53\00:41:45.40
All of these, you
see, the white robe,
00:41:45.43\00:41:49.14
the expression elders,
and the Stephanos crown,
00:41:49.17\00:41:54.29
is suggesting to us
that these 24 elders
00:41:54.32\00:41:59.76
somehow refer to human beings.
00:41:59.79\00:42:04.28
But you see we still
did not get the answer
00:42:04.31\00:42:10.43
how they are related.
00:42:10.46\00:42:11.84
So let's talk
little bit more about that.
00:42:11.87\00:42:14.07
You see number 24,
it must be symbolic.
00:42:14.10\00:42:19.60
And you know that number
24 consists of 12 plus 12.
00:42:19.63\00:42:25.91
Oh, now we're
coming here much closer
00:42:25.94\00:42:28.03
because number 12 in
the Apocalyptic Prophecy,
00:42:28.06\00:42:32.24
in the Book of Revelation,
00:42:32.27\00:42:33.66
is always the
symbol of the church.
00:42:33.69\00:42:36.19
Why? Because among
the Jewish people, okay.
00:42:36.22\00:42:39.99
As the church of God
in the Old Testament,
00:42:40.02\00:42:42.25
the symbol of God's
people in the Old Testament
00:42:42.28\00:42:45.32
is made by number 12,
the 12 tribes of Israel.
00:42:45.35\00:42:49.65
Okay, but when we go to
the-- to the New Testament,
00:42:49.68\00:42:54.25
the New Testament Church
is founded on the 12 apostles.
00:42:54.28\00:43:00.20
So evidently, these 24
elders made of 12 plus 12
00:43:00.23\00:43:07.87
stand as a
symbol for God's people
00:43:07.90\00:43:11.48
both the Old and
the New Testament.
00:43:11.51\00:43:13.82
How do you know that?
00:43:13.85\00:43:15.91
Because if we go to
Revelation Chapter 22,
00:43:15.94\00:43:20.02
where we have the description
of the New Jerusalem there,
00:43:20.05\00:43:25.74
then we find out
that on the gates
00:43:25.77\00:43:29.39
of the 12 city of New Jerusalem
00:43:29.42\00:43:31.76
we have the names of
the 12 tribes of Israel.
00:43:31.79\00:43:36.18
But the very
foundation of the city
00:43:36.21\00:43:38.59
that we have those
huge, precious stones,
00:43:38.62\00:43:43.04
12 in number, actually on them,
00:43:43.07\00:43:45.27
are the names of the
12 apostles incribed--
00:43:45.30\00:43:48.11
it's telling us
that New Jerusalem
00:43:48.14\00:43:50.39
as functions the
symbol of God's people,
00:43:50.42\00:43:52.64
you remember that
Jesus said to John,
00:43:52.67\00:43:55.16
"Come, I will show you
the bride of the lamb."
00:43:55.19\00:43:58.06
In chapter 19, the bride
of the lamb are the faithful."
00:43:58.09\00:44:01.21
But now John sees the
city, new city Jerusalem--
00:44:01.24\00:44:06.65
what is the city without people?
00:44:06.68\00:44:09.18
Because New
Jerusalem actually stands
00:44:09.21\00:44:11.15
as a symbol for
God's people there
00:44:11.18\00:44:13.42
but you see that
city is established
00:44:13.45\00:44:18.19
on God's people
of the Old Testament,
00:44:18.22\00:44:20.37
incorporates God's
people of the Old Testament
00:44:20.40\00:44:22.90
and also God's
people of the New Testament.
00:44:22.93\00:44:25.57
So most likely that
this group that appears
00:44:25.60\00:44:30.54
for the first time in the Bible
00:44:30.57\00:44:33.61
and in the the
heavenly throne room,
00:44:33.64\00:44:35.30
it's in chapter
4 that a new group,
00:44:35.33\00:44:38.64
it's somehow group
of a redeemed humanity,
00:44:38.67\00:44:43.03
who are sitting
there on the throne--
00:44:43.06\00:44:45.39
the fact that they're
sitting on the throne evokes
00:44:45.42\00:44:48.81
the promise given to
the faithful in Laodicea,
00:44:48.84\00:44:53.60
"Everybody who other comes
will sit with me on my throne
00:44:53.63\00:44:59.35
as I other came and sat
with my father on his throne."
00:44:59.38\00:45:06.22
Actually that throne is
not promised to any ruling--
00:45:06.25\00:45:10.41
I don't know
what that expression,
00:45:10.44\00:45:11.81
ruling party from the universe,
00:45:11.84\00:45:14.18
it's found in the Bible.
Actually, it really refers--
00:45:14.21\00:45:17.79
we have here a
part of the fulfillment
00:45:17.82\00:45:21.97
of that promise that Jesus
gave to the church in Laodicea
00:45:22.00\00:45:25.17
that God's victorious people
00:45:25.20\00:45:27.20
one day with the Stephanos crown
00:45:27.23\00:45:29.54
will sit with
Jesus on His throne.
00:45:29.57\00:45:32.21
Let's just take just few moments
00:45:32.24\00:45:35.39
to address the word "elders."
00:45:35.42\00:45:40.68
If you go to the Old Testament,
00:45:40.71\00:45:42.30
if you go to the
Old Testament, okay.
00:45:42.33\00:45:46.01
In 1 Chronicles 24:4-19,
00:45:46.04\00:45:50.83
so 1 Chronicles 24:4-19,
00:45:50.86\00:45:56.01
we read that
the Jerusalem temple
00:45:56.04\00:46:00.12
during the time
of David and Solomon,
00:46:00.15\00:46:02.52
the 24 divisions of priest
00:46:02.55\00:46:05.45
who took torn in
the temple services
00:46:05.48\00:46:07.85
and each one of those divisions
00:46:07.88\00:46:10.08
of the priests had the chief
that was actually the elder.
00:46:10.11\00:46:14.47
The Jewish work
actually Mishnah called those--
00:46:14.50\00:46:18.08
calls those
chief as elders there.
00:46:18.11\00:46:22.00
Actually in the same way
in the temple of Jerusalem,
00:46:22.03\00:46:24.63
the 24 orders of singers
00:46:24.66\00:46:27.60
and each one of them had
the chief there, had the elder.
00:46:27.63\00:46:31.41
Are you still with me?
00:46:31.44\00:46:33.40
Well, keep in mind
that those 24 elders
00:46:33.43\00:46:36.75
are involved in worshiping God,
00:46:36.78\00:46:39.93
offering incense before God,
00:46:39.96\00:46:41.66
and leading the
heavenly choir there in singing.
00:46:41.69\00:46:46.32
Chapters 4 and 5,
and other chapters
00:46:46.35\00:46:48.91
where 24 elders are mentioned
00:46:48.94\00:46:51.12
it's always with the reference
to the heavenly throne room
00:46:51.15\00:46:55.11
and worshiping God
there by the heavenly beings.
00:46:55.14\00:46:59.54
So now there is a question.
00:46:59.57\00:47:04.24
If they are the human beings,
00:47:04.27\00:47:07.82
how did they
get there to heaven?
00:47:07.85\00:47:09.33
And I just want to tell you,
00:47:14.01\00:47:16.96
if you really
accept as that fact
00:47:16.99\00:47:19.02
that they are human beings,
00:47:19.05\00:47:20.61
then the answer
is not difficult.
00:47:20.64\00:47:24.90
The question is not
difficult to answer.
00:47:24.93\00:47:27.67
If you actually go to
00:47:27.70\00:47:29.79
Matthew 27:50-53,
00:47:29.82\00:47:36.17
we read that Jesus
when He died on the cross--
00:47:38.32\00:47:41.66
I'm reading from verse 50.
00:47:41.69\00:47:43.49
So Matthew
27:50-53, "The Jesus cried out
00:47:43.52\00:47:48.39
again with loud voice
and yielded up His spirit."
00:47:48.42\00:47:53.34
And He said, "And behold,
00:47:53.37\00:47:54.97
the veil of the temple was
torn in two from top to bottom,
00:47:55.00\00:48:01.04
and the earth shook,
and the rocks were split.
00:48:01.07\00:48:04.96
And the tombs were opened.
00:48:04.99\00:48:07.07
And many bodies of the saints
00:48:07.10\00:48:10.20
who had fallen
asleep were raised,
00:48:10.23\00:48:12.97
and coming out of the tombs
00:48:13.00\00:48:15.07
after His resurrection
they entered the holy city
00:48:15.10\00:48:18.12
and appeared to heaven."
00:48:18.15\00:48:20.70
May I ask you one question?
00:48:20.73\00:48:22.63
The Bible never tell us
00:48:22.66\00:48:24.42
that those
people died after that.
00:48:24.45\00:48:26.15
But there is
another text in the Bible.
00:48:30.35\00:48:33.30
It's in the Book
of Ephesians 3:8.
00:48:33.33\00:48:39.53
And we read
there, Apostle Paul says
00:48:39.56\00:48:42.47
that actually Jesus
after His death on the cross
00:48:42.50\00:48:46.36
and after His resurrection,
00:48:46.39\00:48:48.35
"He ascended
there on high to heaven
00:48:48.38\00:48:51.23
and He led captive
a host of captives,
00:48:51.26\00:48:55.81
and after that He
gave gifts to men."
00:48:55.84\00:48:57.93
What are those gifts?
00:48:57.96\00:49:00.80
Is the gift of the
spirit on the day ofl Pentecost.
00:49:00.83\00:49:03.09
But you see Paul mentions,
00:49:03.12\00:49:04.49
"When Jesus went there
to the heavenly places,
00:49:04.52\00:49:07.63
He took with
Himself a host of captives."
00:49:07.66\00:49:13.48
Who are those captives?
00:49:13.51\00:49:15.72
Let me suggest to you that
most likely that those people
00:49:15.75\00:49:19.75
who resurrected at
the death of Jesus,
00:49:19.78\00:49:22.17
were the great personalities
of the Old Testament,
00:49:22.20\00:49:26.19
like Samuel, Isaiah,
00:49:26.22\00:49:32.86
maybe David. Amen.
00:49:32.89\00:49:34.62
These are good guess, huh?
00:49:34.65\00:49:36.75
Jacob, could be
Abraham, could be Isaac.
00:49:36.78\00:49:42.59
Can you imagine
when those people
00:49:42.62\00:49:44.56
entered there in Jerusalem,
00:49:44.59\00:49:46.27
when they
started telling people,
00:49:46.30\00:49:48.81
"Do you know
whom you crucified?"
00:49:48.84\00:49:50.61
Who are you? I am Abraham.
00:49:50.64\00:49:52.03
Who are you?
00:49:52.06\00:49:53.43
No wonder when 40 days later,
00:49:53.46\00:49:56.45
Peter stood and
he started preaching,
00:49:56.48\00:49:58.79
3,000, 5,000
people were baptized
00:49:58.82\00:50:02.48
because they were already
prepared for that occasion.
00:50:02.51\00:50:06.51
This is most likely
who those 24 elders are
00:50:06.54\00:50:10.80
that there in heavenly places.
00:50:10.83\00:50:13.39
Because there in heaven,
had to begin a special session
00:50:13.42\00:50:17.85
that we call pre-admin judgment.
00:50:17.88\00:50:20.53
And those people
at that judgment,
00:50:20.56\00:50:22.59
they had to represent
the following humanity
00:50:22.62\00:50:25.63
there in the heavenly court.
00:50:25.66\00:50:27.71
That's all what I
can say at this point.
00:50:27.74\00:50:30.03
Everything else,
00:50:30.06\00:50:31.43
it's our good
speculations and calculations.
00:50:31.46\00:50:33.99
That can be true.
00:50:34.02\00:50:35.39
But they won't
just stick to the Bible.
00:50:35.42\00:50:37.59
Yes, we have
those who understand
00:50:37.62\00:50:39.81
what human problems are
there in the heavenly court.
00:50:39.84\00:50:42.98
And we have one who experiences
00:50:43.01\00:50:44.79
all the temptation
that we are experiencing.
00:50:44.82\00:50:47.10
He is our advocate
and He is our judge
00:50:47.13\00:50:49.14
there in heavenly places.
00:50:49.17\00:50:50.54
What else do we want? Amen.
00:50:50.57\00:50:52.12
That's what the Book of
Revelation is all about.
00:50:52.15\00:50:53.92
So you see
that's why these people,
00:50:53.95\00:50:55.81
these 24 elders are introduced
00:50:55.84\00:50:58.25
for the first
time here in the scene.
00:50:58.28\00:51:00.30
Somehow just before--
before the ceremony started,
00:51:00.33\00:51:03.57
they are brought
there in the heavenly room
00:51:03.60\00:51:06.55
there to represent
the fallen humanity.
00:51:06.58\00:51:08.77
But there is also another group.
00:51:08.80\00:51:11.98
When we read in verse 6,
00:51:12.01\00:51:13.83
John said that,
"Around the throne,
00:51:13.86\00:51:15.72
He saw four living
creatures full of eyes
00:51:15.75\00:51:19.69
in front and behind.
00:51:19.72\00:51:21.48
The first
creature was like a lion.
00:51:21.51\00:51:23.80
And the second
creature was like a calf.
00:51:23.83\00:51:26.18
And the third creature
had the face like that of man.
00:51:26.21\00:51:29.56
And the fourth
creature was like flying eagle.
00:51:29.59\00:51:32.25
And the four living creatures,
00:51:32.28\00:51:33.71
each one of them
having six wings,
00:51:33.74\00:51:36.16
are full of eyes
around and within,
00:51:36.19\00:51:39.26
and day and night
they do not cease to say,
00:51:39.29\00:51:42.18
'Holy. Holy. Holy is
the Lord, the almighty,
00:51:42.21\00:51:46.05
who was and who is
and who is to come.'"
00:51:46.08\00:51:49.84
We don't have
here serious problem
00:51:49.87\00:51:52.48
because these four living beings
00:51:52.51\00:51:55.62
that are mentioned here,
very strange description.
00:51:55.65\00:52:00.39
If you go to the Book--
00:52:00.42\00:52:02.06
if you go to the Book of Ezekiel
00:52:02.09\00:52:06.85
in chapter 10:10-20
00:52:06.88\00:52:12.20
and if you go also--
00:52:12.23\00:52:13.60
I will mention another
text is Ezekiel 1:5-11.
00:52:13.63\00:52:20.28
Ezekiel saw the same
heavenly beings there
00:52:20.31\00:52:24.69
and He makes very clear.
00:52:24.72\00:52:26.23
Ezekiel makes very clear that
actually they were cherubim.
00:52:26.26\00:52:31.18
Yeah, if you go
to Ezekiel Chapter 1,
00:52:31.21\00:52:35.66
let's read it.
00:52:35.69\00:52:37.06
Ezekiel Chapter 1
from verse 5, he said,
00:52:37.09\00:52:39.86
"Within it there were figures
resembling four living beings.
00:52:39.89\00:52:44.31
And this was their
appearance, they had human form.
00:52:44.34\00:52:47.73
Each of them had
four faces and four wings.
00:52:47.76\00:52:50.71
Their legs were straight
00:52:50.74\00:52:52.11
and their feet
were like a calf's hoof.
00:52:52.14\00:52:54.44
And they gleamed
like burnished bronze."
00:52:54.47\00:52:56.74
And then he says--
00:52:56.77\00:52:58.14
and then he goes to
verse 10 and he said,
00:52:58.17\00:53:01.04
"As for the form of their
faces, each had the face of man,
00:53:01.07\00:53:04.58
all four had the face
of a lion on the right
00:53:04.61\00:53:07.27
and the face of
a bull on the left.
00:53:07.30\00:53:09.40
And all four had
the face of an eagle.
00:53:09.43\00:53:12.08
Such were their faces."
00:53:12.11\00:53:13.61
And then you go to Ezekiel--
00:53:13.64\00:53:16.14
if you please go
to Ezekiel 10:20-22,
00:53:16.17\00:53:20.53
he makes very clear and he says,
00:53:20.56\00:53:22.65
"They were--"
actually Ezekiel says,
00:53:22.68\00:53:25.17
"I knew that
they were cherubim."
00:53:25.20\00:53:28.14
So somehow we have here
00:53:28.17\00:53:29.90
the highest rank of
the heavenly angels there.
00:53:29.93\00:53:33.47
And scholars,
they argue and agree
00:53:33.50\00:53:36.20
with that that actually
they are representatives
00:53:36.23\00:53:40.63
of the whole creation of God.
00:53:40.66\00:53:45.99
That's why we have
here the symbolic language
00:53:46.02\00:53:48.07
the way how they are
protrayed, but about all.
00:53:48.10\00:53:53.90
Let's go and bring our
discussion to the conclusion.
00:53:53.93\00:54:00.11
You see there,
00:54:00.14\00:54:01.51
we have God sitting
there on the throne.
00:54:01.54\00:54:04.33
We have the Holy
Spirit present there.
00:54:04.36\00:54:08.26
We have the multitude--
00:54:08.29\00:54:09.66
huge multitude of
the heavenly beings
00:54:09.69\00:54:14.25
assembled there
in the throne room.
00:54:14.28\00:54:16.28
It's a huge number
00:54:16.31\00:54:17.68
that even you
cannot number them there.
00:54:17.71\00:54:19.49
You have 24 elders.
00:54:19.52\00:54:21.66
You have the
four representatives
00:54:21.69\00:54:25.21
of the exalted angels
there in the heavenly places.
00:54:25.24\00:54:28.08
What are they doing?
00:54:28.11\00:54:29.48
If you go to the conclusion
of chapter 4 verse 9--verse 9,
00:54:29.51\00:54:33.28
"And when the living
creatures give glory and honor
00:54:33.31\00:54:35.68
and thanks to Him
who sits on the throne,
00:54:35.71\00:54:37.88
to Him who lives
forever and ever,
00:54:37.91\00:54:39.88
24 elders will
fall down before Him
00:54:39.91\00:54:42.63
who sits on the throne.
00:54:42.66\00:54:44.03
And will worship Him
who lives forever and ever.
00:54:44.06\00:54:47.00
And they will cast their crowns
before the throne, saying,
00:54:47.03\00:54:50.34
'Worthy are You,
our Lord and our God.
00:54:50.37\00:54:54.35
To receive glory
and honor and power,
00:54:54.38\00:54:57.60
for you created all things.
00:54:57.63\00:54:59.63
And because of
your will they existed,
00:54:59.66\00:55:02.37
and were
created.'" Who is that God?
00:55:02.40\00:55:03.86
He is the creator God.
00:55:03.89\00:55:05.49
And the heavenly beings
are there to worship Him
00:55:05.52\00:55:08.58
and to give Him glory.
00:55:08.61\00:55:11.05
But there is
somebody who is missing here.
00:55:11.08\00:55:16.49
The second person of
the God head is not there.
00:55:16.52\00:55:22.15
Actually, you will see
00:55:22.18\00:55:23.55
when we come to
our next presentation.
00:55:23.58\00:55:26.36
He steps on the scene
and He enters the throne room
00:55:26.39\00:55:31.47
in chapter 5 because
all the celebrations,
00:55:31.50\00:55:39.20
all the heavenly
assembly that is found there
00:55:39.23\00:55:42.17
in the throne
room is because of Him.
00:55:42.20\00:55:45.21
And I want now to
introduce our subject is.
00:55:45.24\00:55:49.52
They are waiting
for Jesus to welcome Him
00:55:49.55\00:55:54.84
after His death on the
cross and after His resurrection
00:55:54.87\00:56:01.49
and to glorify His victory,
what He has accomplished
00:56:01.52\00:56:07.36
because it is on the cross
00:56:07.39\00:56:09.64
that He paid the
ransom for human beings.
00:56:09.67\00:56:12.86
And now with Him,
00:56:12.89\00:56:15.21
He took the first fruit
of His redemptive sacrifice,
00:56:15.24\00:56:20.07
24 elders that they are
to celebrate His triumph,
00:56:20.10\00:56:23.97
but much more.
00:56:24.00\00:56:25.81
They are there to
celebrate a greatest occasion.
00:56:25.84\00:56:31.51
What occasion, you have to
watch the next program. Amen.
00:56:31.54\00:56:38.52
Chapter 4, He is
telling us that our God,
00:56:38.55\00:56:44.22
who created us,
00:56:44.25\00:56:45.72
He's only one worthy
of being worshiped amen,
00:56:45.75\00:56:50.95
When I see all
these heavenly beings,
00:56:50.98\00:56:53.08
how they glorify
and they worship God,
00:56:53.11\00:56:55.75
then I ask myself a question,
who am I as a human being?
00:56:55.78\00:57:01.45
But I know that my
God, He wants me as I am.
00:57:01.48\00:57:09.13
Whenever heavenly
beings they come before God,
00:57:09.16\00:57:11.96
they worship Him. What about us?
00:57:11.99\00:57:14.85
By the way, the Revelation
Chapter 4 is the preparation.
00:57:14.88\00:57:18.42
It sets the stage for
the next scene to come.
00:57:18.45\00:57:21.33
I would like to invite
you to join me next time
00:57:21.36\00:57:24.06
and to see about
that main message
00:57:24.09\00:57:26.61
and the splendor of the
heavenly room in Chapter 5.
00:57:26.64\00:57:29.81