Participants: Ranko Stefanovic
Series Code: RCK
Program Code: RCK000007
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00:20 Welcome again to our program,
00:24 "Revelation of The Coming King." 00:29 I'm Ranko Stefanovic, professor of New Testament 00:34 in Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, 00:37 Andrews University. 00:39 I don't know that most of you 00:41 who are watching this program, 00:45 you already watched the previous presentations, 00:47 but my special welcome to all of you 00:50 who are watching this program for the first time. 00:53 I just want to inform you 00:55 that we are trying to be engaged 00:59 in systematic study of the Book of Revelation, 01:03 going chapter by chapter. 01:07 But the purpose of these presentations 01:09 is not to give us all answers to the questions 01:13 that we have about to the Book of Revelation, 01:15 because it is impossible to explore 01:18 the chapter just in 1 hour, 01:20 but simply to stimulate our appetite, 01:23 to provide that broad picture 01:25 of each chapter of the Book of Revelation. 01:27 So at the end of each presentations 01:31 we would like you to take those tools, 01:35 the different books written on the Book of Revelation 01:38 that can help you to go 01:39 and to dig much deeper in the text. 01:42 These presentations actually follow 01:45 the content of this book 01:47 that is titled "Revelation of Jesus Christ." 01:53 It's a product of many years of research. 01:58 It's made by me, 01:59 but not everything that is here came to me, 02:02 it came from many other people 02:04 that God gave the time to do much deeper study 02:08 into the Book of Revelation. 02:09 So if you really want to continue 02:11 and to study the Book of Revelation, 02:14 once these presentation are over, 02:16 I would like to suggest to you to go 02:18 and to take this tool or some other tools 02:21 and join the group of your fellow believers 02:26 in your local congregations 02:28 and then go and take chapter by chapter, 02:30 make the discussions, study for yourself 02:33 and believe me what a great change 02:36 you will experience in your life. 02:39 May God bless you and be with all of you 02:43 who are so eager and motivated to study the Word of God. 02:48 Actually, our topic today it's very interesting. 02:52 As you know that last time 02:56 we tried to understand little bit about the messages 03:02 addressed to those churches 03:05 of the time of John in Asia Minor, 03:07 the messages to the seven churches. 03:10 But now we are moving to chapter 4 03:13 and we will say more about that-- 03:15 but I would like to tell you that if you want to follow us, 03:19 there are many pages here 03:21 that you will have to read and to check, 03:24 starting with page 163, but at this moment 03:28 actually I will build on pages starting with 185. 03:34 Okay, but occasionally I will reflect 03:37 to those pages starting with 163. 03:41 So at this moment, I would like to ask you 03:44 before we go into the text, 03:47 that we ask God for help 03:50 and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 03:53 Our Heavenly Father, thank you so much 03:57 for giving us this Revelation of Jesus Christ. 04:02 Father, we find many, many things in this book, 04:07 very difficult for us to grasp and to understand, 04:10 but thank you for the promise given to us 04:13 that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all the truth. 04:16 So please be with us and help us 04:20 in understanding of this text, 04:22 the last Book of the Bible. 04:24 We are asking you that humans be hidden in Christ, 04:28 because we would like to hear 04:30 your voice speaking to our hearts. 04:32 And, Father, we pray all of this 04:34 in the precious name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 04:38 Amen. 04:44 I would like to ask you if you can open your Bibles 04:49 and turn to Revelation Chapter 4. 04:53 And I would like us to read verse 1. 05:00 So, Revelation Chapter 4, 05:03 we would like to read verse 1. 05:08 Please, I need your help. 05:10 "After these things--" Which things? 05:17 After the messages to seven churches, 05:19 okay, so Jesus finished, 05:22 okay, with addressing the situation 05:25 and needs of those churches in Asia. 05:27 He's also speaking to us today. 05:29 "I looked, and behold a door standing open in heaven--" 05:34 Please notice, that now the situation moves 05:38 from the earth to heaven, and says, 05:43 "And the first voice which I have heard--" 05:47 What was the voice? 05:49 In Revelation 1:12, actually 9-11, 12, the voice of Jesus. 05:56 "Like a sound of a trumpet speaking with me, 05:59 said, 'come up here, and I will show you 06:05 what must take place after these things.'" 06:10 Let's stop her while, this verse 1. 06:14 Let me remind you one more time 06:18 what we talked about before. 06:21 Do remember in 1:19 06:25 when the exalted and glorified Christ appeared to John? 06:29 It's a beautiful vision of Jesus Christ. 06:32 And when John was so much afraid 06:33 and fell there before Jesus, 06:35 Jesus lifted him up and then He said to him, 06:39 "John stop being afraid, 06:41 I am the first and the last," Amen. 06:44 "I'm the first and the last. 06:45 I have the keys of Death and Hades." 06:48 And now, in verse 19 Jesus said to John, 06:51 "Now write the things that you have seen, 06:54 the things which are and the things 06:59 that will take place after these things 07:03 which are the things which are," okay. 07:07 So the things which are, the present tense, 07:11 refers to the time of John, present tense. 07:16 And we just finished the messages to seven churches 07:20 that address the situation 07:22 and the needs of those Christians 07:24 in Asia Minor at the time of John, 07:26 we just finished it with the last message 07:29 to the church of Laodicea. 07:31 In that last message, we see the picture of Jesus, 07:37 standing at the door and knocking 07:44 and telling the members in the church of Laodicea, 07:48 "If you hear this knocking and my voice" 07:51 with voice of Jesus telling him 07:52 "please would you let me in. 07:54 If you hear that voice and if you open the door, 07:58 I will enter and I will dine with you 08:03 and you will dine with Me." 08:05 By the way, I'm now tempted to talk too much about that. 08:09 It is beautiful picture. 08:10 If you want to understand it, 08:11 there are several Old Testament background 08:14 which one is the Song of Songs. 08:20 When that Beloved one is standing there at the door 08:24 and knocking and say, 08:25 "Please, my dear one, open the door, 08:29 I would like to come to you." 08:31 So you see this call of Jesus, 08:33 standing at the door, is a love call. 08:37 Amen. 08:38 He says, "I will come in and we will eat together." 08:43 I tell me students there at Andrews, 08:47 when you meet that lady 08:50 and somehow you become found of her 08:52 and you see something is taking place in your heart, 08:57 what is the first thing that you do 09:00 when you approach her? 09:01 Say, "Can I take you to McDonald's?" 09:08 You don't have money, you go and borrow money, 09:11 you don't take her to McDonald's, 09:12 you taking to most expensive restaurant. 09:15 Am I correct? Yes. 09:17 And you eat together. 09:19 And as you eat together the bonds are created. 09:24 You know, the best business is made 09:27 when people eat together. 09:30 When the church wants to meet together 09:33 and to have good fellowship, 09:35 it's associated with meal. 09:38 But the loving relationships are built around the meal. 09:41 This is actually what Jesus loves. 09:44 He's calling the church of Laodicea, 09:48 "Open the door, I love you, 09:50 yes, I have to rebuke you. 09:53 But because I love you, and I want to establish 09:56 that close relationships with you." 09:58 That message is just concluded 09:59 also with a promise given to the church of Laodicea, 10:02 but that will come little bit later. 10:04 And Jesus just finished these messages. 10:07 And now John said suddenly, 10:10 "There is another reality before me," 10:13 he said, "The door is open in heaven and the same voice 10:17 that was speaking to those churches" 10:20 now telling me, "John, come up here--" 10:23 now please pay attention "I want now to show you 10:28 what will take place after these things." 10:31 After which things? 10:33 After those seven churches. 10:35 So he's telling us that with 4:1, 10:39 we are now moving to a new period of history 10:43 that actually comes after the 1st century 10:47 after the time of John. 10:50 Are you with me? 10:51 So this is very important-- 10:53 this is very, very important to keep in mind. 10:57 But you'll notice something else. 11:00 With this new moment, 11:04 as the scene moves there to heaven 11:07 also the language of the Book of Revelation changes. 11:10 Up to this point, you notice, 11:12 those messages, it's not difficult to understand. 11:16 The language is very straightforward. 11:19 You have the rebuke of Jesus, 11:22 then you have the call of Jesus, 11:24 then he is urging the church to repent. 11:28 The language is very straightforward, 11:29 but now you will noticed the Book of Revelation 11:33 is not from this point on easy to understand any longer. 11:38 And something else we have to understand 11:41 as we are moving here to this section. 11:43 It's very important to understand. 11:46 We have here two chapters. 11:50 So this presentation and the following presentation 11:52 we're dealing with two chapters. 11:54 But these two chapters, 11:56 they function as one unit, 11:59 but still there is a sharp distinction 12:02 between these two chapters. 12:03 Please let me put it here on this of blackboard, 12:06 chapter 4 and chapter 5. 12:11 So these two chapters are related to each other, 12:16 but there is a basic difference, 12:18 please, I will elaborate on that few moments later, 12:22 but we have to make some preliminary remarks, 12:25 because if you do not do it you'll be confused later 12:29 because it's necessary to explain what we have here. 12:33 We will see that here in chapter 4, 12:37 John is portraying what he saw there in heaven. 12:44 There is a multitude of the heavenly beings there 12:46 before the throne of God. 12:48 There is a constant thanksgiving to God 12:51 and the heavenly beings who are worshiping God. 12:55 And what is here in chapter 4, 12:57 you can find very similar 13:01 also in Isaiah Chapter 6, 13:06 you can find in Daniel Chapter 7, 13:10 you can find in Ezekiel Chapter 1 and 2, 13:13 and some other portions of the Old Testament. 13:16 All of this suggest to us, what? 13:22 That what we have in chapter 4 13:24 is something that takes place regularly there in heaven 13:28 before the throne of God. 13:30 Whenever the heavenly beings come before God, 13:33 they are always worshiping God 13:35 and there are different groups there 13:38 of the heavenly beings in the presence of God. 13:40 Are you still, friends, with me? 13:42 That's why what you have in chapter 5 13:45 is very similar that is found in others 13:49 so called "Throne Visions" of the Old Testament. 13:55 There are many similarities, you will see many parallels. 13:58 However, when we come here to chapter 5, 14:02 suddenly there is something different. 14:04 What we have in chapter 5 14:07 is not found anywhere in the Bible, 14:10 in any throne visions. 14:13 So while here we have the general realities in heaven, 14:16 in chapter 5, we have a certain point in history 14:22 that is very crucial to understand and-- 14:25 let me tell you, what we have in chapter 5, 14:27 is the most decisive point in the history of planet earth 14:32 and the history in the plan of salvation. 14:34 This is very important to keep in mind. 14:35 So, now, we have to clear up some things. 14:43 Jesus makes very clear to John, 14:46 "Come here, and I will show you 14:49 what will take place after these things." 14:51 One more time, after what things? 14:54 After the seven churches in the 1st century. 14:58 Now you'll ask yourself a question, 15:00 as we're trying to understand especially here chapter 5 15:03 together with chapter 4 is, 15:05 we will see actually the chapters 4 and 5 15:08 portrays something that took place at least 60 years 15:13 prior to the time of the Book of Revelation. 15:17 Prior to the time of the writing of the Book of Revelation 15:20 is related to Jesus ascension there to the heavenly places. 15:24 So how is that, that Jesus says to John, 15:28 "Come here, I will show you what will take place 15:32 after the seven churches." 15:35 But chapters 4 and 5, 15:37 they talk about something that took place before. 15:41 So please, it's very important that we address that issues. 15:45 When Jesus said to John, "Come here, 15:48 I will show you what will take place after these things." 15:50 What is that that Jesus wanted to show to John? 15:54 The history of the church and the history of the world 15:59 from the 1st century until the time of the end. 16:03 Are you still with me? 16:05 That history of the church, 16:07 you will see that it's symbolized 16:10 by the opening of the seven seals 16:13 and the history of the world 16:15 is symbolized by the blowing of the trumpets. 16:19 Please, it's very important to keep in mind. 16:22 That actually when Jesus said to John, 16:24 "I will show you what will take place after these things" 16:27 is the history of the church 16:29 and the history of the world 16:30 symbolized by the seals and the trumpets. 16:34 But let me tell you-- let me ask you, 16:36 why do those seals, why do those trumpets 16:39 can take place to mark that course of history? 16:43 Why? 16:45 You see before giving us that information, 16:48 John was to tell us why the seals 16:53 and why the trumpets with chapter 6. 16:56 He's telling us that this is possible 16:59 because Jesus Christ is enthroned 17:02 there in the heavenly places. 17:05 All the destiny of the church 17:08 and the destiny of the humanity, 17:09 is put into His hands 17:11 and he can unroll the history until its very end. 17:15 Let me use one illustration. 17:17 Please, I told you, 17:19 I had to invent different illustrations 17:22 to explain sometimes things to my students. 17:25 I tell them, "can you imagine" 17:27 that's what I tell my students in the class room, 17:29 "can you imagine-- I tell you, 17:30 next week in our midst we will have one great scholar" 17:35 and I mentioned his name 17:37 he will lecture to us on 144,000. 17:41 You have to be in the class, 17:42 because his lecture is very, very important 17:46 and you cannot miss it." 17:47 What is the question that my students are asking? 17:50 What actually am I talking about? 17:51 I'm talking about something 17:53 that will take place in the future. 17:54 I'm announcing my students that next week, 17:57 we will have something in our class room. 17:59 What are the questions that come 18:01 to the mind of my students? 18:03 Why so much important that he comes to lecture to us? 18:06 Why don't you lecture to us? 18:08 You see, I anticipate the questions of my students 18:11 and I'm telling them, you see, 18:13 this scholar got a degree from Harvard, 18:16 he spent 10 years researching this issue 18:19 in the Book of Revelation 18:21 and actually he reached many interesting conclusions 18:26 that today even we Seventh-day Adventist adopted. 18:29 I'm just inventing an illustration. 18:31 Are you still with me? 18:32 When I am explaining to the students, 18:35 why so much important that they are be there, 18:38 and talking about the scholar, 18:39 what tense am I using? 18:42 The past tense. 18:44 Because what that scholar did in the past 18:48 gives him the credential for our class 18:52 about something that will take place 18:53 in the future next week. 18:56 So before John-- what he sees 19:00 in the vision tried to tell us 19:01 what Jesus show him to take place in the future 19:05 with opening of the seals and the trumpets, 19:07 he first want to tell us about the credentials of Jesus. 19:12 Why Jesus can break those seals? 19:17 Why he can let the history unroll 19:21 and to go to the very end? 19:23 So in order to describe it, he has to tell us 19:26 what Jesus did in the past. 19:30 What are the credentials 19:32 that Jesus has and the authority actually to do it 19:35 Does it make sense to you? 19:36 So chapters 4 and 5 is not when Jesus told him, 19:40 "I will tell you what will take place after these things." 19:43 Actually, the seals and the trumpets, 19:45 but chapter 4 and 5 is an introductory vision 19:49 that describes Jesus and introduces Him 19:53 as new actor there on the scene. 19:55 So now please, I'm asking you if you go-- 19:59 you can go with me to this chapter-- 20:01 there are many things that actually 20:05 we can understand here, please. 20:08 So we are now going to verse 2, 20:10 John said, "Immediately I was in the spirit 20:15 and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, 20:20 and one he was sitting on the throne. 20:24 And he who was sitting was like a jasper stone 20:28 and sardius in appearance 20:31 and there was a rainbow around the throne 20:35 like an emerald in appearance." 20:37 Please, I would like if you can just allow me 20:40 to skip verse 4, we'll come back to that verse. 20:43 Because John keeps on describing the throne 20:47 and he says in verse 5, 20:48 "And out of the throne come flashes of lightning 20:53 and sounds and peals of thunder 20:56 and there were seven lamps of fire 20:59 burning before the throne 21:01 which are the seven spirits of God. 21:03 And before the throne was something 21:06 like a sea of glass like a crystal 21:10 and in the center and around the throne 21:12 four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind." 21:18 So now, you would notice here 21:20 that actually John was taken 21:24 through the open door there in heaven. 21:28 And suddenly he finds himself 21:33 into the heavenly throne room. 21:36 Actually he made the statement, 21:38 he said, "I was in the spirit." 21:41 By the way, that expression is used several times 21:44 in the Book of Revelation 21:45 and whenever John uses this expression, 21:49 he wants to tell us, "I am in the vision." 21:54 What is the first thing that John sees in the vision 21:57 there in the heavenly throne? 22:00 You'll notice something very interesting is, 22:02 when you go to all other throne visions in the Old Testament, 22:07 what is the first thing that the prophets see in the vision? 22:12 It's always God. What about John? 22:17 The first thing that he mentions is the throne. 22:21 Why? 22:23 Because evidently the throne is here 22:26 the central object of chapter 4 22:31 and you will see also of chapter 5. 22:35 You will notice in the Book of Revelation 22:37 how many times John mentions the name of God, 22:40 but he does not name God here. 22:43 He simply refers to him 22:44 as the one sitting on the throne. 22:47 But notice something else when you read, 22:49 we just read in these verses, 22:52 everything in the throne room is portrayed 22:54 in relation to the throne. 22:57 He says around the throne, 23:00 from the throne, before the throne, 23:04 in the midst of the throne he's telling us 23:06 that actually the central object 23:09 of the entire vision is the throne of God. 23:15 So it means, that the entire scene 23:22 of chapters 4 and 5 is related to the throne 23:27 because the throne is the central concept here. 23:31 By the way as we mentioned 23:33 John was not the first one 23:35 to observe the splendor of the heavenly throne room. 23:38 I'm giving you here the text, in 1 Kings 22:19, 23:45 we see Micaiah saw the similar things. 23:48 Isaiah 6:1-3, Isaiah saw similar things, 23:52 Daniel 7:9-10, Daniel saw similar things. 23:58 But I would like to suggest to you 23:59 when you have the time, 24:01 go and open and read Ezekiel Chapter 1 24:03 and you can read all up to Ezekiel Chapter 10, 24:06 where you will find so many parallel similarities. 24:09 So he's telling us while John is watching in chapter 4, 24:12 is the same what the prophets saw before him 24:15 in the Old Testament times. 24:17 So in all those throne visions 24:21 God is regularly seen sitting on the throne. 24:25 In ancient world, a throne denoted power and authority. 24:31 The person who is sitting on the throne it means, 24:34 he is ruling over a certain territory. 24:38 You see, the throne of God 24:40 does stand for His ruling authority 24:44 and power over the universe. 24:48 But we will come later in the Book of Revelation. 24:52 In the book there is another throne 24:55 that is mentioned is the throne of Satan. 25:00 And that throne of Satan is associated 25:03 with the throne of the beast which is telling us, 25:07 that God claims the sole authority 25:10 over the universe or the plant earth. 25:12 But there is another entity that is rebellious against God 25:17 and trying to usurp the God's authority. 25:21 That's why the vision of chapter 4 and 5 is so much, 25:25 so much important that actually it is with these two chapters 25:31 that John begins the second major division of his book. 25:35 But see, John is not even trying to attempt to describe God. 25:41 Usually, the prophets, we go to the Book of Daniel, 25:45 we have the gray hair of God, 25:47 His eye is penetrating, 25:49 you know-- John does not do it. 25:51 He even does not make any-- 25:52 he instead focuses on the radiant glory of God 25:57 that is coming out of God's throne. 26:01 And then we go to the Old Testament, 26:03 we can go to the Book of Psalms. 26:05 There are so many passages there telling us 26:08 that God on his throne there in the heavenly places, 26:11 He's surrounded by great glory. 26:13 By the way, Paul, in 1 Timothy 6:16, 26:17 he tells us "The God that dwells in an approachable light 26:21 who no man has seen or can see Him." 26:25 But tell me how to portray the glory of God? 26:29 Please find me an expression even in English language 26:31 how to describe it? 26:32 There is no way. 26:34 There's only one way, to use the pictures of precious stones. 26:40 And when you have light what's taking place-- 26:42 this is the only way to portray that glory of God, 26:46 but there is something very, very important. 26:49 The three stones like jasper, 26:53 sardius and emerald in ancient war were regarded 26:57 as the representative of the precious stones. 27:00 All those stones that are mentioned 27:02 actually in chapter 4 to describe the glory of God 27:07 actually are mentions among those precious stones 27:10 which adorn Lucifer, in the Book of Ezekiel 8:13 27:17 who has portrayed in the picture of the King of Tyre. 27:24 Friends, the selection of these three precious stones 27:28 acts in the theological significance in the scene. 27:32 Sardius and jasper were the first 27:35 and the last stones on the breastplate 27:38 of the high priest in the Old Testament. 27:41 And we know that Ruben was the eldest 27:43 and Benjamin was the youngest of Jacob's son. 27:47 The fourth stone that is mentioned here, 27:50 the emerald, actually represented Judas. 27:56 And this is very, very important 27:58 because all these stones are found 28:01 also at the foundation of New Jerusalem. 28:04 So it's telling us something, 28:06 that this vision is not just an ordinary vision. 28:10 There are so many symbolic elements 28:13 that are collected there. 28:14 Because this is one of the most decisive points 28:19 in human history, because chapter 4 28:21 sets the stage for chapter 5. 28:25 This is about the throne of God. 28:27 You see, as you have that glory 28:30 that flashes out of the throne 28:32 then you have lightning, you have sounds of thunder 28:36 and peels of thunder issuing from the throne. 28:38 There is some amazing scene there 28:41 that John observes there in the throne room. 28:44 Evidently everything is in a state of great expectancy. 28:48 What will now happened 28:49 because this is not a normal situation 28:51 as in the Old Testament throne visions of God. 28:58 But there are some heavenly beings that are present there. 29:02 The first one that John observes 29:06 that is mentioned here is God himself. 29:08 He's sitting on the throne. 29:12 John does not refer to his name, 29:14 but he's the one sitting on the throne 29:17 and he is the object of the heavenly worship. 29:20 If you go to the conclusion of chapter 4 29:23 what do you read? 29:24 Verse 8, the heavenly beings there, 29:27 they don't stop worshipping God, 29:29 they're shouting Holy, Holy, Holy. 29:32 It's interesting, three time holy, ah. 29:36 Like in Isaiah Chapter 6, 29:38 "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God the almighty, 29:41 who was and who is and who is to come." 29:45 When you go to the Old Testament 29:47 "who was, who is and who is to come" 29:50 actually is the divine name Yahweh. 29:53 God who was in the past, 29:54 God who is be our God in the future 29:58 but He is God who is with us even in the present. 30:02 But you'll notice that there's somebody else 30:06 who is there in the throne room. 30:08 And that one is referred 30:10 to as the seven spirits of God in verse 5. 30:17 Keep in mind that the Book of Revelation 30:19 is the symbolic book. 30:21 So when John refers to the Holy Spirit, 30:23 he calls Him seven spirits. 30:26 Why the seven spirits? 30:27 There are several reasons for that. 30:29 Because in the Book of Isaiah Chapter 11-- 30:32 one more time, we're talking about the Septuagint, 30:36 Greek translation of the Old Testament 30:38 we've the seven fold manifestation 30:41 of the Holy Spirit there. 30:44 But keep also in mind we have seven churches in Asia. 30:51 And at the end, you remember of each message, 30:53 "Who has ear, let him hear 30:55 what the spirit says to the churches." 30:58 We know that the number seven is the number of fullness. 31:01 So when you have the seven spirits of God, 31:03 it refers to the fullness of the work 31:07 of the Holy Spirit in the churches. 31:09 Keep in mind the number seven is the number of fullness. 31:13 So the Book of Revelation is a symbolic book. 31:16 So you have the God the Father, 31:19 you have the Holy Spirit, 31:21 but there's somebody that is not present 31:28 at this point in the vision and who is that? 31:32 The second person of the God head. 31:35 Actually, he comes, 31:37 he steps there into the heavenly throne room in chapter 5, 31:41 we have to wait up to this point. 31:44 But then John observes 31:45 somebody else there in the throne room. 31:49 Do you remember we skipped one verse? 31:51 It's verse 4? So please let's go and see this. 31:56 Around the throne were 24 other thrones. 32:02 So how many thrones were in the throne room, 32:06 actually 25, God's throne and 24 other thrones. 32:11 He said, "And upon the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting close 32:19 in white garments in golden crowns" 32:23 stephanos crown, no diadems, okay. 32:28 You remember we're talking about 32:29 stephanos crown, they were on their heads. 32:34 Friends we're coming here very interesting 32:37 to the very interesting questions. 32:40 Revelation 4:4. The question is, 32:43 who are these 24 elders? 32:50 And people are debating. 32:53 Usually commentators they have a very sound answer 32:56 because it comes from the Bible. 32:58 But many people have a very interesting explanation 33:01 for these 24 elders. 33:04 But there is one thing that appears very clear to us. 33:09 So, please, I'd like to ask you to pay attention to that. 33:13 Do you remember, what we mentioned 33:16 that's what is taking place here, 33:20 the same took place in the Old Testament times, 33:23 the prophets, so in those different throne visions? 33:28 Everything and all the attendantse here in the assembly 33:33 that is found in chapter 5, 33:35 is also found in other throne visions, 33:39 except this group. 33:43 24 elders are not found in any throne visions of God 33:50 in the Old Testament times. This is for the first time 33:55 that they are seen in any throne vision 33:58 and it's chapter 4. 34:00 These leads to the conclusion, that this is a brand new group. 34:10 They did not exist before. 34:13 They never before came there to the throne room. 34:17 And most likely, there for the first time 34:21 assured there due to throne room in Revelation Chapter 4. 34:25 So who are they? 34:27 If you take any different Bible commentary, 34:34 then you will see 34:36 how the biblical commentators are divided. 34:40 Many Bible students, many commentators they say, 34:44 these group even though they agree 34:47 that the number is very symbolic, okay? 34:50 But they generally agree that group 34:52 agree among themselves 34:54 that these 24 elders are actually angels. 34:59 Some people they don't want to go too far 35:02 and to say they're angels, 35:03 they say that are kind of a heavenly beings, 35:07 representatives there from the universe, 35:10 a ruling party is certain part of the universe, 35:13 that's why they are sitting there on the throne. 35:18 I must say I agree with that conclusion 35:22 because such a view is completely contrary 35:27 to the description of the 24 elders 35:31 in the Book of Revelation. By the way, the 24 elders 35:36 appear for the first time in chapter 4. 35:39 But you'll find them in chapter 5, 35:42 you'll find them in chapter 7, 35:44 you'll find them in chapter 11, 35:46 you'll find them in chapters-- chapter 19 etcetera. 35:49 They are found in many different places in the Bible. 35:53 You'll notice that sometimes they're offering incense to God, 35:57 they are involved in priestly ministry there. 36:00 In chapter 7, one of the 24 elders 36:03 explained to John who actually 144,000 are. 36:08 And in some different chapters in different scene 36:12 some of the elders always is ready there 36:14 to help John in understanding something 36:16 that he sees in the vision. 36:18 But you will notice also when you go to chapter 5, 36:22 they are actually the leaders of the heavenly choir. 36:27 So they'll lead in the singing there, 36:30 in worshiping God there before the throne of God. 36:33 So the question is who are they? 36:36 You probably wonder why disagree 36:38 that there are some heavenly beings 36:40 or that there are heavenly angels. 36:42 There is for several reasons, 36:45 let's go back to our text and see there. 36:48 "Around the throne were 24 thrones 36:53 and upon the thrones I saw 24 elders--" 36:59 Number 1, no where in the Bible, 37:04 including the Book of Revelation the angels 37:09 or some heavenly beings are ever called elders. 37:15 This is the expression 37:17 that strictly belongs to the humans. 37:19 But please, we cannot reach any conclusion 37:22 based just from one detail. 37:24 We have to put everything here together. 37:26 It says, "They were clothed in white garments." 37:32 We already saw on different occasions, 37:35 even the promise given to the church in Philadelphia 37:38 and actually Sardis two times 37:41 that the white garments are promised 37:45 only to God's victorious people. 37:50 Now you can say, 37:51 "yeah, this is just about Sardis," 37:53 but if we go to Revelation Chapter 7. 37:55 Let's go there, if we go to Revelation Chapter 7, 37:59 then we read in verse 9, in verse 9. 38:02 John said, "After these things, 38:06 I looked and behold a great multitude 38:09 which no one could count from every nation, 38:14 all tribes, and peoples, and tongues, 38:17 standing before the throne and before the lamb, 38:20 clothed in white robes 38:23 and palm branches were in their hand." 38:27 Friends, the white robes is never promised 38:30 to angels or to some heavenly beings. 38:34 The white robe is a God's promise to the over comers, 38:38 to human beings, who will overcome sin 38:41 and one day stand before the throne of God. 38:44 Are you still with me? 38:45 But there is another element that is here very important. 38:50 It's the last statement here in this verse. 38:52 It says, "And golden crowns on their heads." 38:57 You remember we talked already 38:59 about the crowns that in Greek language, 39:05 they're two words for crown, 39:07 probably because of the viewers 39:09 who are watching this program for the first time. 39:12 The first word in Greek for a crown is diadema 39:16 from which comes the royal crown, 39:20 in English, diadem. 39:22 That crown is reserved only for God even though 39:26 Satan in Revelation Chapter 12 39:28 assumes that crown in his rebellion against God. 39:32 But the second word for the crown is the word stephanos. 39:38 This is the crown that is referred here in verse 4. 39:43 That stephanos crown is not the royal crown, 39:46 it's actually crown of victory, okay? 39:50 It's a garland given to the victor 39:54 at the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, okay? 40:00 And this is the crown that in the Book of Revelation, 40:04 not only the Book of Revelation, 40:06 also another books of the New Testament 40:09 stands as a symbol of the reward 40:12 that the faith will one day will receive 40:14 at the second coming of Christ. 40:16 You remember the 2 Timothy 4:8, 40:19 Paul said, "I finished the race. 40:23 I kept my faith. Therefore to me, 40:27 it's promise that Stephanos crown 40:30 that the Lord will give to me, 40:32 not only to me, but all those 40:34 who are waiting for His coming." Okay. 40:38 We read in the message of the seven churches. 3:11, 40:44 "Be faithful to the point of death. 40:47 And I will give you the Stephanos of life." 40:51 You can read the entire New Testament. 40:54 Whenever the Stephanos crown is mentioned, 40:57 except in secular usage, when it's used symbolically, 41:00 it's always reserved for human beings, 41:04 the victorious people of God 41:07 who will remain faithful to God 41:10 until great pressure from outside. 41:14 And one day at the second coming of Christ, 41:17 they will receive this Stephanos crown 41:19 as a token or reward that they will receive from Christ. 41:23 So friends, 24 elders, 41:27 they have these Stephanos crown. 41:31 That crown is not promised to the angel 41:33 because the angels they do not know 41:35 what it means to victorious over sin. 41:38 This crown is not given to some heavenly assembly, 41:41 ruling authorities in some different parts of the universe. 41:45 All of these, you see, the white robe, 41:49 the expression elders, and the Stephanos crown, 41:54 is suggesting to us that these 24 elders 41:59 somehow refer to human beings. 42:04 But you see we still did not get the answer 42:10 how they are related. 42:11 So let's talk little bit more about that. 42:14 You see number 24, it must be symbolic. 42:19 And you know that number 24 consists of 12 plus 12. 42:25 Oh, now we're coming here much closer 42:28 because number 12 in the Apocalyptic Prophecy, 42:32 in the Book of Revelation, 42:33 is always the symbol of the church. 42:36 Why? Because among the Jewish people, okay. 42:40 As the church of God in the Old Testament, 42:42 the symbol of God's people in the Old Testament 42:45 is made by number 12, the 12 tribes of Israel. 42:49 Okay, but when we go to the-- to the New Testament, 42:54 the New Testament Church is founded on the 12 apostles. 43:00 So evidently, these 24 elders made of 12 plus 12 43:07 stand as a symbol for God's people 43:11 both the Old and the New Testament. 43:13 How do you know that? 43:15 Because if we go to Revelation Chapter 22, 43:20 where we have the description of the New Jerusalem there, 43:25 then we find out that on the gates 43:29 of the 12 city of New Jerusalem 43:31 we have the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. 43:36 But the very foundation of the city 43:38 that we have those huge, precious stones, 43:43 12 in number, actually on them, 43:45 are the names of the 12 apostles incribed-- 43:48 it's telling us that New Jerusalem 43:50 as functions the symbol of God's people, 43:52 you remember that Jesus said to John, 43:55 "Come, I will show you the bride of the lamb." 43:58 In chapter 19, the bride of the lamb are the faithful." 44:01 But now John sees the city, new city Jerusalem-- 44:06 what is the city without people? 44:09 Because New Jerusalem actually stands 44:11 as a symbol for God's people there 44:13 but you see that city is established 44:18 on God's people of the Old Testament, 44:20 incorporates God's people of the Old Testament 44:22 and also God's people of the New Testament. 44:25 So most likely that this group that appears 44:30 for the first time in the Bible 44:33 and in the the heavenly throne room, 44:35 it's in chapter 4 that a new group, 44:38 it's somehow group of a redeemed humanity, 44:43 who are sitting there on the throne-- 44:45 the fact that they're sitting on the throne evokes 44:48 the promise given to the faithful in Laodicea, 44:53 "Everybody who other comes will sit with me on my throne 44:59 as I other came and sat with my father on his throne." 45:06 Actually that throne is not promised to any ruling-- 45:10 I don't know what that expression, 45:11 ruling party from the universe, 45:14 it's found in the Bible. Actually, it really refers-- 45:17 we have here a part of the fulfillment 45:22 of that promise that Jesus gave to the church in Laodicea 45:25 that God's victorious people 45:27 one day with the Stephanos crown 45:29 will sit with Jesus on His throne. 45:32 Let's just take just few moments 45:35 to address the word "elders." 45:40 If you go to the Old Testament, 45:42 if you go to the Old Testament, okay. 45:46 In 1 Chronicles 24:4-19, 45:50 so 1 Chronicles 24:4-19, 45:56 we read that the Jerusalem temple 46:00 during the time of David and Solomon, 46:02 the 24 divisions of priest 46:05 who took torn in the temple services 46:07 and each one of those divisions 46:10 of the priests had the chief that was actually the elder. 46:14 The Jewish work actually Mishnah called those-- 46:18 calls those chief as elders there. 46:22 Actually in the same way in the temple of Jerusalem, 46:24 the 24 orders of singers 46:27 and each one of them had the chief there, had the elder. 46:31 Are you still with me? 46:33 Well, keep in mind that those 24 elders 46:36 are involved in worshiping God, 46:39 offering incense before God, 46:41 and leading the heavenly choir there in singing. 46:46 Chapters 4 and 5, and other chapters 46:48 where 24 elders are mentioned 46:51 it's always with the reference to the heavenly throne room 46:55 and worshiping God there by the heavenly beings. 46:59 So now there is a question. 47:04 If they are the human beings, 47:07 how did they get there to heaven? 47:14 And I just want to tell you, 47:16 if you really accept as that fact 47:19 that they are human beings, 47:20 then the answer is not difficult. 47:24 The question is not difficult to answer. 47:27 If you actually go to 47:29 Matthew 27:50-53, 47:38 we read that Jesus when He died on the cross-- 47:41 I'm reading from verse 50. 47:43 So Matthew 27:50-53, "The Jesus cried out 47:48 again with loud voice and yielded up His spirit." 47:53 And He said, "And behold, 47:55 the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, 48:01 and the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 48:04 And the tombs were opened. 48:07 And many bodies of the saints 48:10 who had fallen asleep were raised, 48:13 and coming out of the tombs 48:15 after His resurrection they entered the holy city 48:18 and appeared to heaven." 48:20 May I ask you one question? 48:22 The Bible never tell us 48:24 that those people died after that. 48:30 But there is another text in the Bible. 48:33 It's in the Book of Ephesians 3:8. 48:39 And we read there, Apostle Paul says 48:42 that actually Jesus after His death on the cross 48:46 and after His resurrection, 48:48 "He ascended there on high to heaven 48:51 and He led captive a host of captives, 48:55 and after that He gave gifts to men." 48:57 What are those gifts? 49:00 Is the gift of the spirit on the day ofl Pentecost. 49:03 But you see Paul mentions, 49:04 "When Jesus went there to the heavenly places, 49:07 He took with Himself a host of captives." 49:13 Who are those captives? 49:15 Let me suggest to you that most likely that those people 49:19 who resurrected at the death of Jesus, 49:22 were the great personalities of the Old Testament, 49:26 like Samuel, Isaiah, 49:32 maybe David. Amen. 49:34 These are good guess, huh? 49:36 Jacob, could be Abraham, could be Isaac. 49:42 Can you imagine when those people 49:44 entered there in Jerusalem, 49:46 when they started telling people, 49:48 "Do you know whom you crucified?" 49:50 Who are you? I am Abraham. 49:52 Who are you? 49:53 No wonder when 40 days later, 49:56 Peter stood and he started preaching, 49:58 3,000, 5,000 people were baptized 50:02 because they were already prepared for that occasion. 50:06 This is most likely who those 24 elders are 50:10 that there in heavenly places. 50:13 Because there in heaven, had to begin a special session 50:17 that we call pre-admin judgment. 50:20 And those people at that judgment, 50:22 they had to represent the following humanity 50:25 there in the heavenly court. 50:27 That's all what I can say at this point. 50:30 Everything else, 50:31 it's our good speculations and calculations. 50:34 That can be true. 50:35 But they won't just stick to the Bible. 50:37 Yes, we have those who understand 50:39 what human problems are there in the heavenly court. 50:43 And we have one who experiences 50:44 all the temptation that we are experiencing. 50:47 He is our advocate and He is our judge 50:49 there in heavenly places. 50:50 What else do we want? Amen. 50:52 That's what the Book of Revelation is all about. 50:53 So you see that's why these people, 50:55 these 24 elders are introduced 50:58 for the first time here in the scene. 51:00 Somehow just before-- before the ceremony started, 51:03 they are brought there in the heavenly room 51:06 there to represent the fallen humanity. 51:08 But there is also another group. 51:12 When we read in verse 6, 51:13 John said that, "Around the throne, 51:15 He saw four living creatures full of eyes 51:19 in front and behind. 51:21 The first creature was like a lion. 51:23 And the second creature was like a calf. 51:26 And the third creature had the face like that of man. 51:29 And the fourth creature was like flying eagle. 51:32 And the four living creatures, 51:33 each one of them having six wings, 51:36 are full of eyes around and within, 51:39 and day and night they do not cease to say, 51:42 'Holy. Holy. Holy is the Lord, the almighty, 51:46 who was and who is and who is to come.'" 51:49 We don't have here serious problem 51:52 because these four living beings 51:55 that are mentioned here, very strange description. 52:00 If you go to the Book-- 52:02 if you go to the Book of Ezekiel 52:06 in chapter 10:10-20 52:12 and if you go also-- 52:13 I will mention another text is Ezekiel 1:5-11. 52:20 Ezekiel saw the same heavenly beings there 52:24 and He makes very clear. 52:26 Ezekiel makes very clear that actually they were cherubim. 52:31 Yeah, if you go to Ezekiel Chapter 1, 52:35 let's read it. 52:37 Ezekiel Chapter 1 from verse 5, he said, 52:39 "Within it there were figures resembling four living beings. 52:44 And this was their appearance, they had human form. 52:47 Each of them had four faces and four wings. 52:50 Their legs were straight 52:52 and their feet were like a calf's hoof. 52:54 And they gleamed like burnished bronze." 52:56 And then he says-- 52:58 and then he goes to verse 10 and he said, 53:01 "As for the form of their faces, each had the face of man, 53:04 all four had the face of a lion on the right 53:07 and the face of a bull on the left. 53:09 And all four had the face of an eagle. 53:12 Such were their faces." 53:13 And then you go to Ezekiel-- 53:16 if you please go to Ezekiel 10:20-22, 53:20 he makes very clear and he says, 53:22 "They were--" actually Ezekiel says, 53:25 "I knew that they were cherubim." 53:28 So somehow we have here 53:29 the highest rank of the heavenly angels there. 53:33 And scholars, they argue and agree 53:36 with that that actually they are representatives 53:40 of the whole creation of God. 53:46 That's why we have here the symbolic language 53:48 the way how they are protrayed, but about all. 53:53 Let's go and bring our discussion to the conclusion. 54:00 You see there, 54:01 we have God sitting there on the throne. 54:04 We have the Holy Spirit present there. 54:08 We have the multitude-- 54:09 huge multitude of the heavenly beings 54:14 assembled there in the throne room. 54:16 It's a huge number 54:17 that even you cannot number them there. 54:19 You have 24 elders. 54:21 You have the four representatives 54:25 of the exalted angels there in the heavenly places. 54:28 What are they doing? 54:29 If you go to the conclusion of chapter 4 verse 9--verse 9, 54:33 "And when the living creatures give glory and honor 54:35 and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, 54:37 to Him who lives forever and ever, 54:39 24 elders will fall down before Him 54:42 who sits on the throne. 54:44 And will worship Him who lives forever and ever. 54:47 And they will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 54:50 'Worthy are You, our Lord and our God. 54:54 To receive glory and honor and power, 54:57 for you created all things. 54:59 And because of your will they existed, 55:02 and were created.'" Who is that God? 55:03 He is the creator God. 55:05 And the heavenly beings are there to worship Him 55:08 and to give Him glory. 55:11 But there is somebody who is missing here. 55:16 The second person of the God head is not there. 55:22 Actually, you will see 55:23 when we come to our next presentation. 55:26 He steps on the scene and He enters the throne room 55:31 in chapter 5 because all the celebrations, 55:39 all the heavenly assembly that is found there 55:42 in the throne room is because of Him. 55:45 And I want now to introduce our subject is. 55:49 They are waiting for Jesus to welcome Him 55:54 after His death on the cross and after His resurrection 56:01 and to glorify His victory, what He has accomplished 56:07 because it is on the cross 56:09 that He paid the ransom for human beings. 56:12 And now with Him, 56:15 He took the first fruit of His redemptive sacrifice, 56:20 24 elders that they are to celebrate His triumph, 56:24 but much more. 56:25 They are there to celebrate a greatest occasion. 56:31 What occasion, you have to watch the next program. Amen. 56:38 Chapter 4, He is telling us that our God, 56:44 who created us, 56:45 He's only one worthy of being worshiped amen, 56:50 When I see all these heavenly beings, 56:53 how they glorify and they worship God, 56:55 then I ask myself a question, who am I as a human being? 57:01 But I know that my God, He wants me as I am. 57:09 Whenever heavenly beings they come before God, 57:11 they worship Him. What about us? 57:14 By the way, the Revelation Chapter 4 is the preparation. 57:18 It sets the stage for the next scene to come. 57:21 I would like to invite you to join me next time 57:24 and to see about that main message 57:26 and the splendor of the heavenly room in Chapter 5. |
Revised 2014-12-17