We are finished,
finished, finished
00:00:30.63\00:00:32.96
and just getting started.
00:00:32.99\00:00:34.33
So we're finished
with the seven churches,
00:00:34.36\00:00:36.90
we've done the
intro to Revelation,
00:00:36.93\00:00:39.03
we've gone through
the churches of Revelation
00:00:39.07\00:00:41.10
we set up a good
foundation... that foundation is
00:00:41.14\00:00:44.14
a repeat and
enlarge, a recapitulation
00:00:44.17\00:00:46.44
a recapitulation
that we're going to see
00:00:46.47\00:00:48.71
in the seals and in the trumpets
00:00:48.74\00:00:50.08
and now we're
starting in the seals,
00:00:50.11\00:00:52.31
now the seals
begin with two chapters,
00:00:52.35\00:00:54.58
Revelation 4 and Revelation 5
00:00:54.62\00:00:56.45
and they're parallel chapters
so, it's going to take us
00:00:56.48\00:00:59.32
at least two...
maybe three meetings
00:00:59.35\00:01:01.12
to just go through
these first two chapters
00:01:01.16\00:01:03.73
before we actually
start unsealing the Book...
00:01:03.79\00:01:05.96
before the Lamb
starts unsealing the Book...
00:01:05.99\00:01:08.10
and again I just want to remind
us that this Book... Revelation
00:01:08.13\00:01:13.97
is mysterious, it's
complicated, it's challenging,
00:01:14.00\00:01:16.14
it's difficult but
it's going to be easy
00:01:16.17\00:01:18.31
because everything
we're about to study
00:01:18.34\00:01:20.38
we've already studied
once in the seven churches
00:01:20.44\00:01:22.94
and now we're just going
to see it all over again,
00:01:22.98\00:01:25.01
there's going to be some
new stuff in here, of course,
00:01:25.08\00:01:27.05
but we're going to go all the
way back to the Apostolic Age,
00:01:27.08\00:01:30.12
we're going to see what the
activities were taking place
00:01:30.15\00:01:33.15
in symbolic language here
00:01:33.19\00:01:34.52
as Jesus went to
heaven after His resurrection,
00:01:34.56\00:01:37.29
and how that impacted
the earth, Planet Earth...
00:01:37.33\00:01:40.06
the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit
00:01:40.10\00:01:41.43
and how that played out
in the history of the fall
00:01:41.46\00:01:43.63
all the way down again to
the second coming of Jesus
00:01:43.67\00:01:45.87
and then boom!
we're done with the seals
00:01:45.90\00:01:47.77
and the
trumpets... we start again...
00:01:47.80\00:01:49.67
at the Apostolic Age...
00:01:49.70\00:01:51.04
Ivor: So we're studying
the Book three times over.
00:01:51.07\00:01:53.51
James: Yes, well four
actually, and the fourth time...
00:01:53.54\00:01:56.24
it takes us right into...
just like the Laodicean church,
00:01:56.28\00:01:58.91
right into us... and
events that some have passed
00:01:58.98\00:02:02.02
but a lot of them are
yet to be played out there,
00:02:02.05\00:02:05.05
all right, so we're going
to start with a word of prayer,
00:02:05.09\00:02:07.09
Jason, pray for us
and we'll get into it.
00:02:07.16\00:02:08.66
Jason: Heavenly Father,
it's an honor and a privilege
00:02:08.72\00:02:11.89
to be able to study your
Word and we wouldn't dare do so
00:02:11.93\00:02:15.10
without asking
you to be with us,
00:02:15.13\00:02:16.77
so we ask you
for your presence and
00:02:16.80\00:02:18.33
we ask that you will help us to
comprehend what we're studying,
00:02:18.37\00:02:22.34
and to be able
to it and retain it,
00:02:22.40\00:02:24.47
and repeat it... in
Jesus' name we pray, amen. "
00:02:24.51\00:02:26.27
All: "Amen... "
00:02:26.31\00:02:27.64
James: And like we normally do,
00:02:27.68\00:02:29.21
let's just read
through the verses first...
00:02:29.24\00:02:30.88
that gives us an idea of
what we're going to be covering
00:02:30.95\00:02:33.38
and maybe Yvonne,
you can start and read
00:02:33.42\00:02:35.78
one through six
and then maybe Jason,
00:02:35.85\00:02:38.32
you could read,
seven through eleven.
00:02:38.35\00:02:41.02
Yvonne: Sure...
"After this I looked,
00:02:41.06\00:02:43.43
and, behold, a door
was opened in heaven:
00:02:43.46\00:02:45.73
and the first voice
which I heard was as it were
00:02:45.76\00:02:49.00
of a trumpet
talking with me; which said,
00:02:49.03\00:02:51.20
Come up hither, and
I will shew thee things
00:02:51.23\00:02:53.44
which must be hereafter.
00:02:53.50\00:02:54.90
And immediately I
was in the spirit;
00:02:54.94\00:02:57.41
and, behold, a
throne was set in heaven,
00:02:57.44\00:02:59.87
and one sat on the throne.
00:02:59.91\00:03:01.94
And he that sat was to look upon
00:03:01.98\00:03:04.71
like a jasper
and a sardine stone:
00:03:04.75\00:03:07.42
and there was a
rainbow round about the throne,
00:03:07.45\00:03:10.55
in sight like unto an emerald.
00:03:10.59\00:03:12.79
And round about the throne
were four and twenty seats:
00:03:12.82\00:03:15.89
and upon the seats I saw
four and twenty elders sitting,
00:03:15.92\00:03:18.96
clothed in white raiment;
00:03:18.99\00:03:20.63
and they had on
their heads crowns of gold.
00:03:20.66\00:03:22.86
And out of the throne proceeded
lightnings and thunderings
00:03:22.93\00:03:26.84
and voices: and
there were seven lamps
00:03:26.87\00:03:29.24
of fire burning
before the throne
00:03:29.27\00:03:31.21
which are the
seven Spirits of God.
00:03:31.24\00:03:33.11
And before the throne
there was a sea of glass
00:03:33.17\00:03:36.18
like unto crystal: and
in the midst of the throne,
00:03:36.21\00:03:39.18
and round about the
throne, were four beasts
00:03:39.21\00:03:41.95
full of eyes
before and behind. "
00:03:41.98\00:03:44.35
Jason: "And the first
beast was like a lion,
00:03:44.39\00:03:46.62
and the second
beast like a calf,
00:03:46.65\00:03:48.49
and the third beast
had a face as a man,
00:03:48.52\00:03:51.89
and the fourth beast
was like a flying eagle.
00:03:51.96\00:03:55.20
And the four beasts had each
of them six wings about him;
00:03:55.23\00:03:59.13
and they were
full of eyes within:
00:03:59.17\00:04:01.40
and they rest not day and
night, saying, Holy, holy, holy,
00:04:01.44\00:04:05.37
Lord God Almighty, which
was, and is, and is to come.
00:04:05.41\00:04:09.84
And when those beasts give glory
and honour and thanks to him
00:04:09.88\00:04:13.85
that sat on the throne,
who liveth forever and ever,
00:04:13.88\00:04:16.75
The four and twenty
elders fall down before him
00:04:16.79\00:04:22.19
that sat on the throne,
00:04:22.22\00:04:23.56
and worship him that
liveth forever and ever,
00:04:23.59\00:04:26.09
and cast their crowns
before the throne, saying,
00:04:26.13\00:04:28.86
Thou art worthy, O Lord,
00:04:28.90\00:04:30.97
to receive glory
and honour and power:
00:04:31.00\00:04:33.17
for thou hast
created all things,
00:04:33.20\00:04:35.34
and for thy pleasure
they are and were created. "
00:04:35.37\00:04:39.84
James: What an
incredible scene we see here.
00:04:39.87\00:04:41.68
Yvonne: Wow! Hmmm... hmmm...
00:04:41.71\00:04:43.04
James: This is
an incredible scene
00:04:43.08\00:04:44.41
and there are a lot of words...
word implications of events
00:04:44.45\00:04:49.25
that are transpired and
changes that are taking place
00:04:49.28\00:04:52.85
in Government of Heaven,
00:04:52.89\00:04:54.22
impacting planet
Earth in this picture,
00:04:54.26\00:04:57.36
this picture is not just all...
00:04:57.39\00:04:58.83
"Let me just take you to heaven
and show you what heaven's like"
00:04:58.86\00:05:01.30
and show you what God...
where He sits and what happens
00:05:01.33\00:05:03.73
around the throne, whatever,
no... as we study this,
00:05:03.77\00:05:06.40
we're going to
find that there are
00:05:06.43\00:05:08.04
certain phrases and words here
00:05:08.07\00:05:09.60
and the presence
of certain individuals
00:05:09.64\00:05:12.21
that are telling us
a story of redemption
00:05:12.24\00:05:14.71
and telling us that something
major has been accomplished
00:05:14.74\00:05:18.18
and that's why we see
this double praise to God
00:05:18.21\00:05:20.98
we see the living creatures...
00:05:21.02\00:05:22.38
the four beasts...
the living creatures,
00:05:22.42\00:05:24.19
they are saying,
"Holy, holy, holy... "
00:05:24.22\00:05:25.95
and then we see the
24 elders, who were they?
00:05:25.99\00:05:28.82
They're saying,
"Oh, honor and glory,
00:05:28.86\00:05:31.29
you are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power
00:05:31.33\00:05:33.13
for you have...
what have you done?"
00:05:33.16\00:05:34.66
And so, that's what we're
going to see here as we...
00:05:34.70\00:05:37.83
as we start to break open
chapter four in Revelation.
00:05:37.87\00:05:41.54
Ivor: I think... one of
the important things that...
00:05:41.57\00:05:45.24
we have stressed is
location and timing...
00:05:45.27\00:05:49.34
location and
timing... we saw that these...
00:05:49.38\00:05:53.42
this is answer for us in
terms of the time prophecies,
00:05:53.45\00:05:57.99
the 70 weeks, the
1,260... the 2,300...
00:05:58.02\00:06:00.66
and the Sanctuary...
00:06:00.69\00:06:02.16
in terms of
location... where are we?
00:06:02.19\00:06:03.89
And so, the question that
we want to answer right now
00:06:03.93\00:06:07.23
to kind of lay the foundation
for Revelation chapter four,
00:06:07.30\00:06:10.57
and five and
actually six and seven,
00:06:10.63\00:06:13.10
is location... where is
Jesus in Revelation chapter 4?
00:06:13.13\00:06:19.51
This is an
introduction to the seven seals
00:06:19.57\00:06:23.45
and so in order to rightly
understand the seven seals
00:06:23.48\00:06:26.58
and what they're talking about,
00:06:26.61\00:06:27.95
we need to
understand the opening vision,
00:06:27.98\00:06:30.35
and so here we see that
a throne is set in verse 1,
00:06:30.39\00:06:33.86
or rather verse 2,
and the question is,
00:06:33.92\00:06:38.69
"What throne is this,
where is this throne?"
00:06:38.73\00:06:42.20
Look in verse 5...
the Bible says there,
00:06:42.23\00:06:45.63
"And out of the throne proceeded
lightnings and thunderings
00:06:45.67\00:06:48.14
and voices: and there
were seven lamps of fire
00:06:48.20\00:06:50.57
burning before the throne,
00:06:50.61\00:06:51.94
which are the
seven Spirits of God. "
00:06:51.97\00:06:53.31
So, we're given a clue here as
to the location of this throne,
00:06:53.34\00:06:57.68
the Bible tells us
that before the throne
00:06:57.71\00:07:00.98
directly across from
the throne was this...
00:07:01.02\00:07:04.19
were the seven lamps,
00:07:04.25\00:07:05.95
now we know where
the seven lamps are found
00:07:05.99\00:07:09.49
and the
seven-branched candlestick
00:07:09.52\00:07:11.26
is found in the
Sanctuary, right?
00:07:11.29\00:07:12.96
That is found in the Holy Place,
so let's hold our place here
00:07:12.99\00:07:17.87
and go over to the Book of
Exodus chapter 26 and verse 35
00:07:17.90\00:07:22.74
and in Exodus 26, verse 35,
00:07:22.77\00:07:28.34
Yvonne, I'm going to ask
if you could read that for me,
00:07:28.41\00:07:32.78
Exodus 26 verse 35.
00:07:32.81\00:07:35.35
Yvonne: "And thou shalt
set the table without the veil,
00:07:35.38\00:07:39.02
and the candlestick
over against the table
00:07:39.05\00:07:41.99
on the side of the
tabernacle toward the south:
00:07:42.02\00:07:44.76
and thou shalt put the
table on the north side. "
00:07:44.79\00:07:47.46
Ivor: Okay, very good, so,
00:07:47.50\00:07:48.83
the Bible says that
the candlestick was located
00:07:48.86\00:07:51.67
on the south
side of the Sanctuary,
00:07:51.70\00:07:54.24
so directly across from that
00:07:54.27\00:07:56.71
was the Table of Shewbread
00:07:56.74\00:07:59.14
which is located on the
north side of the Sanctuary,
00:07:59.17\00:08:02.44
or if I were to
put it another way,
00:08:02.51\00:08:04.71
the Table of
Shewbread is located
00:08:04.78\00:08:06.95
on the "sides of the
north. " Yvonne: Hmmm...
00:08:06.98\00:08:10.72
Ivor: The sides
of the north, okay,
00:08:10.75\00:08:12.09
so let's go over to Psalm 48
00:08:12.12\00:08:14.19
and let's see why
that's significant,
00:08:14.22\00:08:16.26
Psalm 48 verse 2.
00:08:16.29\00:08:17.96
James: What was that last verse?
00:08:17.99\00:08:20.03
Ivor: That was
Exodus 26 verse 35.
00:08:20.06\00:08:22.06
Ivor: So, Psalm 48
verse 2, and Jason, find that,
00:08:22.10\00:08:29.67
could you read that for us?
00:08:29.70\00:08:31.04
Jason: Psalm 48
verse 2, all right...
00:08:31.07\00:08:38.38
"Beautiful for situation,
the joy of the whole earth,
00:08:38.41\00:08:42.85
is mount Zion on
the sides of the north,
00:08:42.88\00:08:45.75
the city of the great King. "
00:08:45.79\00:08:47.26
Ivor: Ah, okay, so...
00:08:47.32\00:08:48.82
Mount Zion... is
said to be located where?
00:08:48.86\00:08:51.83
On the sides of the
north... it is a city of... who?
00:08:51.86\00:08:55.43
The great King... so
where does the King sit?
00:08:55.46\00:08:58.47
He sits on the
side of the north,
00:08:58.50\00:09:02.40
why is that so significant?
00:09:02.44\00:09:04.77
Because if you
remember Isaiah chapter 14,
00:09:04.81\00:09:07.78
which speaks about Lucifer...
00:09:07.81\00:09:09.14
James: And his fall...
00:09:09.18\00:09:10.51
Ivor: Where did
Lucifer want to sit?
00:09:10.55\00:09:12.01
James: On the
sides of the north.
00:09:12.05\00:09:13.38
Ivor: On the sides of the north,
on the mount of the congregation
00:09:13.42\00:09:17.49
also think about that,
00:09:17.52\00:09:19.25
what's on the
Table of Shewbread?
00:09:19.29\00:09:21.62
There are
twelve loaves of bread,
00:09:21.69\00:09:24.03
those loaves of bread
00:09:24.06\00:09:25.49
represented the
Children of Israel
00:09:25.53\00:09:28.16
or what we would call,
"the twelve tribes... "
00:09:28.20\00:09:31.13
the congregation
of God, get that?
00:09:31.17\00:09:34.64
So, the sides of the north
00:09:34.67\00:09:37.17
would represent the
mount of the congregation,
00:09:37.21\00:09:39.61
God's people... and God sitting
as King over those people,
00:09:39.64\00:09:43.78
this is why Lucifer wants
to sit on the side of the north
00:09:43.81\00:09:47.58
but this side of the north
is located in the Holy Place,
00:09:47.62\00:09:51.32
so what we're seeing
here in Revelation chapter 4
00:09:51.35\00:09:56.76
is a vision of the
throne in the Holy Place.
00:09:56.79\00:10:00.96
Now here's why this
is super significant
00:10:01.00\00:10:05.13
in the context
of the seven seals
00:10:05.17\00:10:07.60
because remember we just
mentioned that this is a...
00:10:07.64\00:10:10.61
Revelation 4 and 5 is revealing
to us the story of redemption,
00:10:10.64\00:10:15.44
okay, so the significant thing
about the Table of Shewbread
00:10:15.48\00:10:19.98
is that the Priest was to...
00:10:20.02\00:10:23.15
in fact it was
Leviticus 24 verse 8
00:10:23.18\00:10:25.05
and I'll just read
it here very quickly,
00:10:25.09\00:10:26.42
it says, "Every Sabbath
shall he set it in order... "
00:10:26.45\00:10:29.72
that is the Table of Shewbread,
00:10:29.76\00:10:31.16
"in order before
the Lord continually,
00:10:31.19\00:10:33.29
being taken from
the children of Israel
00:10:33.33\00:10:35.40
by an everlasting covenant. "
00:10:35.43\00:10:36.77
So the Table of
Shewbread was to be ministered
00:10:36.80\00:10:39.43
how often?
"Ministered at... " how often?
00:10:39.47\00:10:42.84
Every Sabbath...
Leviticus 24 verse 8.
00:10:42.87\00:10:46.21
The Table of
Shewbread brings our attention
00:10:46.24\00:10:50.05
to the Word of God,
but even more specifically,
00:10:50.08\00:10:53.82
to the Sabbath
Commandment, okay,
00:10:53.85\00:10:57.39
now here's why this
is so... so... beautiful
00:10:57.42\00:11:00.46
and so, actually, important in
the context of the seven seals.
00:11:00.49\00:11:03.86
It is because the
Sabbath according to Exodus 20
00:11:03.89\00:11:08.53
is a sign of Creation,
00:11:08.56\00:11:10.40
God created the
world in six days
00:11:10.43\00:11:12.93
and rested on the seventh,
00:11:13.00\00:11:14.47
that's why He
wants us to keep it...
00:11:14.50\00:11:16.07
but there was
another reason that God gave
00:11:16.10\00:11:18.21
for us keeping the Sabbath,
00:11:18.24\00:11:19.57
it's found in
Deuteronomy chapter 5,
00:11:19.61\00:11:21.81
I'm going to read
that in your hearing
00:11:21.84\00:11:24.28
so, Deuteronomy
chapter 5 verse 14,
00:11:24.31\00:11:26.72
it says, "But the
seventh day is the Sabbath
00:11:26.75\00:11:29.82
of the LORD thy God, in it
thou shalt not do any work,
00:11:29.85\00:11:32.69
thou, nor thy
son, nor thy daughter,
00:11:32.72\00:11:34.29
nor thy manservant,
nor thy maidservant,
00:11:34.32\00:11:36.16
nor thine ox, nor thine ass,
00:11:36.19\00:11:37.53
nor any of thy cattle,
00:11:37.56\00:11:39.66
nor thy stranger
that is within they gates;
00:11:39.69\00:11:41.46
that thy manservant
00:11:41.53\00:11:42.86
and thy maidservant
may rest as well as thou.
00:11:42.90\00:11:44.53
And remember that
thou was a servant
00:11:44.57\00:11:47.57
in the Land of Egypt,
and that the Lord thy God
00:11:47.64\00:11:50.44
brought thee out
thence through a mighty hand
00:11:50.47\00:11:53.24
and by a stretched out
arm: therefore the LORD thy God
00:11:53.27\00:11:56.54
commanded thee to
keep the Sabbath day. "
00:11:56.58\00:11:58.91
The Sabbath was a
sign... not only of Creation
00:11:58.98\00:12:03.59
but also redemption,
00:12:03.62\00:12:05.19
God has drawn us out
from a terrible situation,
00:12:05.25\00:12:10.23
therefore, keep the Sabbath,
now why is that significant?
00:12:10.26\00:12:14.40
Because as you look at the...
for example the first seal,
00:12:14.43\00:12:18.53
there's a rider
on a white horse,
00:12:18.57\00:12:20.34
well, that rider
on the white horse...
00:12:20.37\00:12:22.40
we will identify as Jesus Christ
but Jesus... in Revelation 19...
00:12:22.44\00:12:27.58
He's again
sitting on a white horse
00:12:27.61\00:12:29.84
and His name is
called the Word of God.
00:12:29.88\00:12:31.78
Yvonne: Hmmm...
00:12:31.81\00:12:33.15
Ivor: In the third seal...
00:12:33.18\00:12:34.52
you find a famine
of wheat and barley,
00:12:34.55\00:12:36.92
guess what wheat and
barley make? They make bread...
00:12:36.99\00:12:39.25
okay, in the fifth
seal you find the people
00:12:39.29\00:12:44.23
are under the altar...
have been slain for what?
00:12:44.26\00:12:48.40
The Word of God and the
testimony which they held,
00:12:48.43\00:12:51.53
now, check this out,
00:12:51.57\00:12:52.90
right between the sixth
seal and the seventh seal,
00:12:52.93\00:12:56.34
you have the
introduction of the 144,000
00:12:56.37\00:13:00.24
who are sealed
with the seal of God,
00:13:00.28\00:13:04.11
what is the seal of God?
00:13:04.15\00:13:07.68
It's pointing us specifically
to the Sabbath Commandment
00:13:07.72\00:13:12.35
and why are they sealed
thus? Because they were...
00:13:12.39\00:13:17.66
the angel says, "these were they
00:13:17.69\00:13:20.16
are they who are brought
out of great tribulation,
00:13:20.20\00:13:23.80
they were redeemed,
they were redeemed... "
00:13:23.87\00:13:26.80
so the whole...
00:13:26.84\00:13:28.17
James: Just like in
the Old Testament...
00:13:28.20\00:13:29.54
when they were redeemed...
I brought you out of Egypt,
00:13:29.57\00:13:32.41
I brought you out of
bondage, here's the 144,000...
00:13:32.44\00:13:34.81
here's this great multitude,
00:13:34.84\00:13:36.38
what they... they came
out of great tribulation,
00:13:36.44\00:13:38.08
they've been sealed.
00:13:38.11\00:13:39.45
Ivor: And by-the-way,
144,000 is 12 times 12...
00:13:39.48\00:13:44.22
it's the Table of
Shewbread right there,
00:13:44.25\00:13:46.05
the 24 elders... 12 and 12...
00:13:46.09\00:13:49.72
everything that is unfolding
within the context of the seals,
00:13:49.76\00:13:54.06
should be understood
00:13:54.10\00:13:55.73
within the context of
the Table of Shewbread.
00:13:55.76\00:13:58.57
So that sets the
foundation and remember,
00:13:58.60\00:14:00.37
because the Table of
Shewbread unfolds simultaneously
00:14:00.40\00:14:03.81
with the
seven-branched candlestick,
00:14:03.84\00:14:05.17
we're going to see that
these seals and churches
00:14:05.21\00:14:08.34
basically match.
00:14:08.38\00:14:10.15
James: They line
up... and another thing
00:14:10.18\00:14:11.91
that's really... that came
to me as you were talking, Ivor,
00:14:11.95\00:14:14.28
is in the vision...
00:14:14.32\00:14:16.18
you're talking about
the Table of Shewbread
00:14:16.22\00:14:17.65
in the mount of the
congregation... God's throne
00:14:17.69\00:14:20.56
and the shewbread... the 12
representing God's people there,
00:14:20.59\00:14:23.32
well that's exactly the picture
00:14:23.36\00:14:24.79
we see here in
Revelation chapter 4,
00:14:24.83\00:14:26.33
we see a throne set
in heaven and then we see
00:14:26.36\00:14:29.03
around the throne... 24 thrones
00:14:29.06\00:14:32.03
it says, "seats"
in the King James
00:14:32.07\00:14:33.57
but the word is,
"thrones," thrones...
00:14:33.60\00:14:35.34
24 thrones around that throne,
00:14:35.37\00:14:37.54
and this is
the... these 24 thrones,
00:14:37.57\00:14:40.58
represent the people of
God, 12 and 12... twenty four...
00:14:40.61\00:14:47.05
12 and 12...
because they symbolize
00:14:47.08\00:14:49.02
the Old Testament redeemed,
the New Testament redeemed
00:14:49.08\00:14:51.65
and they are around the throne,
so if the throne represents
00:14:51.69\00:14:54.79
this Table of Shewbread...
00:14:54.82\00:14:56.96
then the thrones around
that throne will represent
00:14:56.99\00:14:59.73
the mount of the congregations,
00:14:59.76\00:15:01.53
so you've got the
symbols in the Old Testament
00:15:01.56\00:15:04.07
becoming literal in this
revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:15:04.10\00:15:07.70
So, let's break that
up just a little bit more,
00:15:07.74\00:15:10.11
let's look at
that a little bit more,
00:15:10.14\00:15:12.57
how do we know
that these 24 elders
00:15:12.61\00:15:14.98
are actually
representative of the redeemed?
00:15:15.01\00:15:17.08
Because, you know,
some people have said,
00:15:17.11\00:15:19.18
"Maybe these
guys are representives
00:15:19.21\00:15:20.68
of the unfallen worlds... "
00:15:20.72\00:15:22.05
well, there are a
number of reasons we know
00:15:22.08\00:15:23.69
that these
represent the redeemed, okay,
00:15:23.72\00:15:25.55
the first reason I
want to break down for you
00:15:25.59\00:15:27.72
is the number
24... it's 12 and 12...
00:15:27.76\00:15:30.13
that is a number that signifies
the tribes and the apostles,
00:15:30.16\00:15:34.30
it's a Kingdom
number, okay, number 2,
00:15:34.33\00:15:36.46
another number
reason why we know
00:15:36.50\00:15:39.00
because of how
they are described,
00:15:39.03\00:15:41.50
they have white robes...
00:15:41.54\00:15:43.20
that was promised to
the Philadelphian church
00:15:43.24\00:15:45.57
if you overcome,
they have crowns...
00:15:45.61\00:15:47.74
that was promised to the church
of Smyrna, if you overcome...
00:15:47.78\00:15:49.91
and they are sitting on thrones,
00:15:49.94\00:15:51.81
you know what
that was promised to?
00:15:51.85\00:15:53.65
"He that overcomes will
sit with me on my throne
00:15:53.68\00:15:57.29
as I sit with my
Father on His throne... "
00:15:57.32\00:15:59.32
that was promised to Laodicea,
00:15:59.35\00:16:00.96
so here... in other words...
00:16:00.99\00:16:02.52
John... in the seven
churches... the Holy Spirit...
00:16:02.56\00:16:06.83
and by-the-way,
here's another thought
00:16:06.86\00:16:08.20
that came to me as you
were talking about the Sabbath
00:16:08.23\00:16:09.56
and how, God came to
minister on the Sabbath,
00:16:09.60\00:16:12.03
He comes to
minister on the Sabbath,
00:16:12.07\00:16:13.40
well, John was in the
Spirit on the "Lord's Day"
00:16:13.44\00:16:16.07
when the Spirit came to minister
to him and to share with him...
00:16:16.10\00:16:19.44
on this island...
lonely island of Patmos...
00:16:19.47\00:16:21.58
to share with him... see...
the Sabbath is a time for us
00:16:21.61\00:16:25.51
to be ministered to... by God,
00:16:25.55\00:16:27.15
Sabbath was a time when God
wants to answer our prayers,
00:16:27.18\00:16:30.35
the Sabbath is the time
when God wants to recharge us,
00:16:30.39\00:16:33.46
"Is your battery running low?
Are you running out of power?"
00:16:33.49\00:16:37.43
Well, God wants to
recharge that battery,
00:16:37.46\00:16:40.10
He wants to get you back
up to where you need to be,
00:16:40.13\00:16:42.63
that's what the
Sabbath is all about
00:16:42.66\00:16:44.13
so the
Sabbath... John's alone...
00:16:44.17\00:16:45.57
and you can imagine...
he might be discouraged...
00:16:45.60\00:16:46.97
he might be struggling...
00:16:47.00\00:16:48.34
he sees what's
coming into the churches,
00:16:48.37\00:16:49.70
he sees this "falling
away" beginning to develop,
00:16:49.74\00:16:51.51
he sees... men who
want the preeminence,
00:16:51.54\00:16:53.07
and the Holy Spirit comes to him
00:16:53.11\00:16:54.88
and ministers to
him on the Sabbath,
00:16:54.91\00:16:56.81
and as God
shows him this vision,
00:16:56.85\00:16:58.68
he sees these 24 elders and
all of a sudden he's clicking,
00:16:58.71\00:17:02.18
"Wait a minute...
elders... elders... elders... "
00:17:02.22\00:17:03.95
never is the word used
00:17:03.99\00:17:06.29
in the Old Testament
and the New Testament,
00:17:06.32\00:17:07.76
that anyone other
than human beings...
00:17:07.79\00:17:09.56
angels are never called elders,
angels are never called elders
00:17:09.59\00:17:13.33
when the sons of God went
before the Lord... in Job,
00:17:13.36\00:17:17.23
these representatives
from other worlds...
00:17:17.27\00:17:18.83
they weren't called elders,
00:17:18.87\00:17:20.64
elders are not only
representatives of us,
00:17:20.67\00:17:24.01
people who've been redeemed,
but they also... play a part
00:17:24.04\00:17:27.74
in the unfolding of
the plan of Salvation
00:17:27.78\00:17:29.91
in the Book of
Revelation, there are times
00:17:29.94\00:17:32.01
when John says, "One of the
elders came to me... and said...
00:17:32.05\00:17:36.45
one of the elders
came to me and said... "
00:17:36.48\00:17:38.52
and those the special moments,
those are the special moments
00:17:38.55\00:17:41.49
that remind us of when we
get to go to someone and say,
00:17:41.52\00:17:44.63
"we... redeemed... "
00:17:44.69\00:17:46.53
we... people who are
going through the same struggles
00:17:46.59\00:17:48.93
that they are going through
can go to them and say...
00:17:48.96\00:17:51.20
it's not an angel...
it's not the Word of God...
00:17:51.23\00:17:53.34
sometimes, you know,
you can witness to someone
00:17:53.37\00:17:55.20
through the Word of God,
you give them all the doctrines
00:17:55.24\00:17:57.44
but sometimes they just
need to hear a word from you.
00:17:57.47\00:17:59.64
"How did you... what's
your relationship with Christ,
00:17:59.67\00:18:01.74
what does He mean to you?"
00:18:01.78\00:18:03.11
We're the... so those
elders represent us...
00:18:03.14\00:18:05.91
and our testimony...
and then finally, I think,
00:18:05.95\00:18:08.85
it's
important... we'll get this...
00:18:08.88\00:18:10.32
into this in verse five too
but it's important to recognize
00:18:10.35\00:18:12.82
that these elders are...
are... actually spoken about
00:18:12.85\00:18:19.59
in Matthew 27 and
in Ephesians chapter 4,
00:18:19.63\00:18:23.53
let's look at those two verses,
Jason, if you can read for us
00:18:23.57\00:18:27.20
Matthew chapter 27 and
Yvonne if you can look up
00:18:27.24\00:18:31.11
Ephesians chapter 4
00:18:31.14\00:18:32.87
and I'll give you the verses
here as soon as I get there
00:18:32.91\00:18:34.88
because I don't have
them of the top of my head
00:18:34.91\00:18:36.95
and Jason, in Matthew 27,
it's verses... we'll just read
00:18:36.98\00:18:44.55
let's read all the way
through verses 50 to 52
00:18:44.59\00:18:47.72
just to get the
contents, contents... content...
00:18:47.76\00:18:50.86
verses 50 and 52 and then...
Yvonne, when he's done with that
00:18:50.89\00:18:54.10
you can read in
Ephesians chapter 4...
00:18:54.13\00:18:57.40
you have Ephesians?
00:18:57.43\00:18:59.63
Yvonne: I do... James: You do...
00:18:59.67\00:19:02.87
okay... ah... read verse 10
00:19:02.90\00:19:05.37
and... yeah, verse
10... Yvonne: Okay...
00:19:05.44\00:19:08.24
Jason: So, Matthew 27
verse 50 through 52 says...
00:19:08.28\00:19:14.32
James: 53...
00:19:14.35\00:19:16.38
Jason: Oh, so 53...
"Jesus, when he had cried again
00:19:16.42\00:19:19.69
with a loud voice,
yielded up the ghost.
00:19:19.75\00:19:21.69
And, behold, the veil of
the temple was rent in twain
00:19:21.72\00:19:25.36
from the top to the
bottom; and the earth did quake,
00:19:25.39\00:19:28.96
and the rocks rent;
00:19:29.00\00:19:30.33
And the graves were opened;
00:19:30.37\00:19:32.00
and many bodies of the
saints which slept arose.
00:19:32.03\00:19:35.40
And came out of the
graves after his resurrection,
00:19:35.44\00:19:38.64
and went into the holy
city, and appeared unto many.
00:19:38.67\00:19:41.44
James: One things I'll
emphasize there before you say
00:19:41.48\00:19:44.61
your verse there, Yvonne,
"after His resurrection" means,
00:19:44.65\00:19:47.78
"it's permanent," He
was resurrected permanently,
00:19:47.82\00:19:51.29
so "after His resurrection"
means... "this is permanent,"
00:19:51.32\00:19:54.26
they've been in the
grave for quite some time
00:19:54.29\00:19:56.83
and they've been resurrected
after His resurrection,
00:19:56.86\00:19:59.79
now what happens to
these guys? Yvonne, go ahead...
00:19:59.83\00:20:02.70
Yvonne: Oh, Ephesians 4:10...?
00:20:02.73\00:20:05.47
"He that descended is the same
00:20:05.50\00:20:08.17
also that ascended up
far above all heavens,
00:20:08.20\00:20:11.41
that he might fill all things. "
00:20:11.44\00:20:12.97
James: Oh, I
didn't give you the...
00:20:13.01\00:20:14.94
I didn't give you
the full thing here,
00:20:14.98\00:20:16.91
it actually
starts with... verse 8.
00:20:16.95\00:20:18.98
Yvonne: Okay...
00:20:19.01\00:20:25.35
James: Actually it's
verse 8, just read verse 8.
00:20:25.39\00:20:29.46
Yvonne: Eight...
James: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:20:29.49\00:20:31.23
Yvonne: "Wherefore he saith,
When he ascended up on high,
00:20:31.26\00:20:34.96
he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men. "
00:20:35.00\00:20:38.67
James: Okay... this is talking
about Jesus' resurrection,
00:20:38.70\00:20:42.00
"captivity" are that group
of people that He resurrected
00:20:42.04\00:20:45.31
they were captive in
the earth... in the grave,
00:20:45.34\00:20:47.48
and He led them... He
led them... he let them free
00:20:47.51\00:20:49.61
and at the same time
"gave gifts unto men... "
00:20:49.64\00:20:51.05
which we could
say... is the Holy Spirit
00:20:51.08\00:20:52.68
as well as the
gifts that they received
00:20:52.71\00:20:54.25
but it's... I think
primarily the Holy Spirit
00:20:54.32\00:20:55.78
so, what you have taking place
here in Revelation chapter 4
00:20:55.82\00:21:00.22
is you have this picture, okay,
the throne is set in heaven,
00:21:00.26\00:21:02.96
the throne is a representation
of the Government of God
00:21:02.99\00:21:06.59
it's been in
controversy, now it's set,
00:21:06.63\00:21:10.67
it's set now, it's
got a rainbow over it now
00:21:10.73\00:21:13.64
now, a rainbow is a symbol
of God's justice and His mercy,
00:21:13.67\00:21:16.97
it's a symbol of...
water and sunshine...
00:21:17.01\00:21:19.67
two seemingly
opposites coming together
00:21:19.74\00:21:22.34
justice and mercy, is
God just or is He merciful?
00:21:22.38\00:21:25.31
which one? Yvonne: Both...
00:21:25.35\00:21:26.98
Ivor: So, you're saying
that perhaps there was an event
00:21:27.02\00:21:30.32
on earth that basically cemented
00:21:30.39\00:21:36.66
or established God's throne and
rid the universe of any doubt
00:21:36.69\00:21:43.43
as to the character
of various individuals
00:21:43.47\00:21:47.47
within the great controversy
and that event would have been
00:21:47.50\00:21:50.64
the cross... the death
and burial and resurrection.
00:21:50.67\00:21:53.14
James: Which chapter
five is going to bring out...
00:21:53.17\00:21:55.58
see, chapter four is
like Genesis chapter 1,
00:21:55.61\00:21:58.75
that's the creation story
00:21:58.78\00:22:01.28
and when God gives the
creation story in Genesis one,
00:22:01.32\00:22:04.02
He says... that He
made man in His image,
00:22:04.05\00:22:06.69
male and female
made He them... done.
00:22:06.72\00:22:09.29
So, Revelation 4 says,
"God's throne is set... "
00:22:09.32\00:22:12.29
there are 24 elders there,
they've been raised, you know,
00:22:12.33\00:22:15.13
captive, they've got thrones,
00:22:15.16\00:22:16.87
they've got white
robes, they've got crowns
00:22:16.90\00:22:18.83
it's all done...
00:22:18.87\00:22:20.30
chapter five tells us
"Well, how did that happen,
00:22:20.34\00:22:24.61
how did the throne get set,
00:22:24.64\00:22:25.97
how did the
rainbow get established,
00:22:26.01\00:22:27.78
how did God's mercy and
justice get established...
00:22:27.81\00:22:29.81
how did those elders...
00:22:29.84\00:22:31.18
why are they
there... how did that happen?"
00:22:31.21\00:22:32.68
Chapter 5 tells us... so
chapter 5 is like Genesis 2,
00:22:32.71\00:22:35.65
Genesis 2 now goes back and...
00:22:35.68\00:22:37.89
goes back to the
Creation story and says now,
00:22:37.92\00:22:39.65
"When God created man...
00:22:39.69\00:22:42.92
He made him out of
the dust of the earth,"
00:22:42.96\00:22:44.56
we came from dirt...
everybody knows that...
00:22:44.59\00:22:49.16
when God created woman...
00:22:49.20\00:22:51.73
ooooo, that was a
little bit different,
00:22:51.77\00:22:53.77
He went to the
man... took a rib...
00:22:53.80\00:22:55.74
so you get the details
there, so when we get to...
00:22:55.77\00:22:58.54
so these are two
parallel chapters...
00:22:58.57\00:23:00.18
they're repeating
and enlarging within,
00:23:00.24\00:23:01.81
that's what
Revelation 4 and 5 do,
00:23:01.84\00:23:03.71
Revelation 4
gives us a basic outline
00:23:03.75\00:23:05.48
and what happens is...
00:23:05.51\00:23:06.95
and this is... we
don't do this enough...
00:23:06.98\00:23:08.35
what happens is... is when...
00:23:08.38\00:23:10.79
see it's been...
thousands of years
00:23:10.82\00:23:13.96
that this controversy
has been waging, in heaven,
00:23:13.99\00:23:17.33
and it's finally been
settled, and when it's settled,
00:23:17.36\00:23:20.70
it's like... "YES!"
and "holy, holy, holy... "
00:23:20.73\00:23:23.77
and then the 24 elders...
they sit there and they go,
00:23:23.80\00:23:26.27
"Yes, worthy is the lamb... "
and they just start praising God
00:23:26.30\00:23:28.47
this happened to me...
00:23:28.50\00:23:29.84
Ivor: Not that the
controversy is going on...
00:23:29.87\00:23:32.07
not that there is
war going on in heaven
00:23:32.11\00:23:33.98
for thousands of years... but...
00:23:34.01\00:23:35.64
James: No... no... but
there's a controversy...
00:23:35.68\00:23:37.01
there's a question that
needs to be answered, yes, good,
00:23:37.05\00:23:40.38
and so they can't help it,
they just explode with praise,
00:23:40.42\00:23:43.75
but that's not... we're
not done yet... Revelation 5,
00:23:43.79\00:23:46.49
"And I saw in the right hand
of him that sat on the throne
00:23:46.52\00:23:48.39
I saw a scroll written... "
00:23:48.42\00:23:49.76
and I... so we go
through the thing again,
00:23:49.79\00:23:51.13
in a little bit more
detail as to how this happened
00:23:51.16\00:23:53.46
but in chapter 4... we started
the process of understanding
00:23:53.50\00:23:57.20
how God's throne is set,
how these 24 elders got there,
00:23:57.27\00:24:00.94
why did they get the things
00:24:00.97\00:24:02.30
that were promised to the
churches, how did that happen?
00:24:02.34\00:24:04.21
We looked at the verses
with that special resurrection
00:24:04.24\00:24:06.34
we've seen God's throne was set,
we've seen the rainbow over it,
00:24:06.37\00:24:10.05
we know that these
guys are praising God,
00:24:10.08\00:24:11.98
we know they're
saying, "Holy, holy, holy... "
00:24:12.01\00:24:13.35
we know the 24
elders are praising God,
00:24:13.38\00:24:14.92
the seven
spirits are still there,
00:24:14.95\00:24:16.82
now, the seven spirits... have
to go out into all the earth,
00:24:16.85\00:24:19.59
we'll see this in chapter
5 but not until we finish
00:24:19.65\00:24:22.26
this re-creation story, okay,
00:24:22.32\00:24:25.76
Genesis 1 and 2 gives
us the creation story,
00:24:25.79\00:24:27.86
Revelation 4 and 5 gives
us the re-creation story.
00:24:27.90\00:24:31.30
Ivor: And remember
that... that concept that
00:24:31.33\00:24:35.24
what we're looking
at in the cycle of seven
00:24:35.27\00:24:39.14
is re-creation... right,
00:24:39.17\00:24:42.84
how God is... re-doing things,
00:24:42.88\00:24:45.58
how God is bringing the
church into His likeness
00:24:45.61\00:24:49.22
and into His image
to usher us into that...
00:24:49.25\00:24:52.59
that eternal Sabbath in heaven,
and so the parallels there
00:24:52.62\00:24:58.29
between the
creation week of Genesis
00:24:58.33\00:25:01.73
and what's happening
in the cycle of sevens,
00:25:01.76\00:25:04.77
in the Book of Revelation
are again, very significant.
00:25:04.80\00:25:08.87
James: Very significant, in
fact... in the creation week,
00:25:08.90\00:25:12.91
part one, chapter one,
God rests on the Sabbath,
00:25:12.97\00:25:16.24
He's finished all His
work and rests on the Sabbath,
00:25:16.28\00:25:19.51
in re-creation... when
Jesus was on the cross on Friday
00:25:19.55\00:25:22.75
on the sixth day, He
said, "It is finished... "
00:25:22.78\00:25:26.02
and he rested on the Sabbath.
00:25:26.05\00:25:28.69
Yvonne: Yes... yes...
00:25:28.72\00:25:30.09
James: He comes
up from the grave
00:25:30.13\00:25:32.13
takes the captivity captive,
takes them up into heaven,
00:25:32.16\00:25:34.66
there they are... so we see,
00:25:34.70\00:25:36.53
the Sabbath is a
vital part of this
00:25:36.56\00:25:38.40
because even before we fell,
the Sabbath called us to rest,
00:25:38.43\00:25:43.07
in everything God had
created for us... without us...
00:25:43.10\00:25:45.67
there was nothing
we could point to...
00:25:45.71\00:25:47.24
we couldn't point
to that tree and say,
00:25:47.28\00:25:48.64
"Hey, did you see
that tree over there...?
00:25:48.68\00:25:50.68
God made the trunk,
I put on the branches,
00:25:50.71\00:25:52.55
He did the leaves... I
did... " nothing... nothing...
00:25:52.58\00:25:54.32
Yvonne: Right... right...
00:25:54.35\00:25:55.68
James: so even
before the fall, every...
00:25:55.72\00:25:58.05
all the glory went to God...
all the glory went to God,
00:25:58.09\00:26:00.89
so now, after the fall,
we have a problem with that
00:26:00.92\00:26:02.89
because we want to get a
little bit of glory, don't we?
00:26:02.92\00:26:05.53
yeah, see, but see...
Jesus trod the wine press alone
00:26:05.56\00:26:07.80
and the people
were not with Him,
00:26:07.86\00:26:10.37
so He re-creates us, by Himself,
00:26:10.40\00:26:12.90
but He does it for us.
00:26:12.93\00:26:14.27
Ivor: So the Sabbath
is a sign... the seal...
00:26:14.30\00:26:17.27
that, "I am the Lord
that sanctifies you... "
00:26:17.31\00:26:19.97
James: Yes... exactly...
00:26:20.01\00:26:21.34
Ivor: "You don't
sanctify yourself...
00:26:21.38\00:26:22.71
I sanctify you...
00:26:22.74\00:26:24.08
so if you... if you think
you can sanctify yourself...
00:26:24.11\00:26:26.51
then don't keep
the Sabbath, you know,
00:26:26.55\00:26:28.35
but the Sabbath is a sign that
00:26:28.38\00:26:29.72
I am the Lord
that sanctifies you. "
00:26:29.75\00:26:31.79
James: It's
reminding you to "rest in me. "
00:26:31.82\00:26:33.66
Ivor: "It's not
self-sanctification,
00:26:33.69\00:26:36.26
it's not self-righteousness,
I am the one that sanctifies. "
00:26:36.29\00:26:40.06
Yvonne: So for anyone who says,
00:26:40.10\00:26:42.56
"Well, the Sabbath
is just for Jews...
00:26:42.60\00:26:44.77
because it was given to the Jews
00:26:44.80\00:26:49.77
or by Moses to the people...
" that is not the case,
00:26:49.80\00:26:55.24
it was instituted at creation.
00:26:55.28\00:26:57.45
Ivor: It is a sign of redemption
00:26:57.48\00:27:00.32
so if you are
ever in tribulation
00:27:00.35\00:27:03.15
and the Lord delivered you,
00:27:03.18\00:27:04.52
He says, "I want you...
00:27:04.55\00:27:05.89
I delivered you,
keep my Sabbath... "
00:27:05.92\00:27:07.52
that's the sign
that you remember
00:27:07.56\00:27:09.99
that I delivered
you out of bondage,
00:27:10.03\00:27:12.16
bondage to
drugs, bondage to music,
00:27:12.19\00:27:14.26
bondage to... whatever it is...
bondage to being in the world,
00:27:14.30\00:27:17.03
when you are delivered,
the sign that God says,
00:27:17.07\00:27:21.07
"I want you to
keep as a... as a...
00:27:21.10\00:27:22.44
as in honor of
that... is the Sabbath. "
00:27:22.47\00:27:24.31
And if anyone watching
has a question about that,
00:27:24.37\00:27:27.68
they can send
their video questions to:
00:27:27.71\00:27:30.61
Yvonne: sss@3abn. org
00:27:30.65\00:27:34.88
sss as in Salvation
in Symbols and Signs.
00:27:34.92\00:27:37.15
James: Salvation
in Symbols and signs
00:27:37.19\00:27:39.32
and this is all about
salvation in symbols and signs,
00:27:39.35\00:27:41.52
it's all about Jesus,
00:27:41.56\00:27:43.26
take us out with a
word of prayer, Jason.
00:27:43.32\00:27:45.06
Jason: All right...
"Dear Heavenly Father,
00:27:45.09\00:27:46.76
we just want to lift you up and
praise you and thank you so much
00:27:46.80\00:27:50.27
for blessing us with
all your many promises
00:27:50.30\00:27:53.70
and the Sabbath and
giving us a day of rest
00:27:53.74\00:27:57.04
and all the signs of
the times that you provided
00:27:57.07\00:28:00.54
in Revelation which is
what we're coming to know
00:28:00.58\00:28:03.78
as a love story, thank
you for the opportunity
00:28:03.81\00:28:07.35
to be here and
learning this and helping us
00:28:07.42\00:28:10.89
to comprehend
what we are studying
00:28:10.95\00:28:12.65
we pray this in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:28:12.72\00:28:14.42
All: "Amen... "
00:28:14.46\00:28:15.79