Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20010429.htm

REVELATION: CALL TO HOLINESS IN VIEW OF PROPHECY
Part III: The Things Hereafter'
"B. Preparing For Our Heavenly Home"
(Revelation 4:1-11)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

Have you ever stopped to think about the life you are living, and evaluate whether it is being lived the most eternally profitable way it can be lived?

We wake up in the morning, do the chores, eat breakfast, and go about our earthly lives day-after-day, month-after-month, year-after-year!

When you get to the end of this life, and, as a believer in heaven looking back on your present life on earth, will you sense great comfort in your having done the BEST with your life you could do from where you will THEN see this life?



Having a glimpse of what we will be thinking and doing after this life is over in heaven can be immeasurably valuable, for such a view shows us what we will then wish we had done NOW.

For such an invaluable glimpse into the future, and that for the benefit of adjusting our lives now, . . .



(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )



Need: "What can I do NOW to be the MOST satisfied about my earthly life once I look BACK on it after I get to heaven?!"
  1. As we have seen, Revelation 4:1-2a foreshadows the Pretribulation Rapture of the Church when believers are moved into heaven.
  2. Once we arrive in heaven, we will see God in all His great glory!
    1. As soon as John arrived in the spirit realm into heaven, his immediate focus was on One Who sat on its throne, Revelation 4:2b.
    2. From John's description, he saw God in His glory, the very One we will behold right after the rapture of the Church (as follows), 4:3:
      1. God the Father will look like a jasper stone in form, and from Revelation 21:11 we understand that to be clear as crystal, 4:3a.
      2. God the Father will also have the appearance in color as a sardine stone, a blood red stone in brilliance, 4:3b, cf. Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, footnote. God will appear in form as a clear crystal or diamond with a blood red interior glow, an overwhelming display of sheer brilliance, perfection and glory!
      3. Around about the throne of the Father will be an emerald, or light green rainbow, Revelation 4:3c. Since green is the most restful color to the human eye, and often pictures God's grace, the main attitude of God sitting on the throne in all His glory will be one of undeserved favor toward us redeemed human beings! (Ep. 2:4-7)
      4. The sights and sounds of great power about the throne (4:5a) indicate we will witness God's attributes in overwhelming glory!
  3. We will also see the whole Body of Christ in glory, Revelation 4:4!
    1. John records 24 elders sat around the throne of God clothed in white raiment with crowns of gold on their heads, Revelation 4:4.
    2. We know from Revelation 1:6 that we Christians are made kings and priests unto God the Father, and priests were dressed in white robes called ephods in the Old Testament, cf. 1 Sam. 2:18.
    3. The number 24 in Scripture is used of people only re: the 24 courses of priests established by David for temple service, 1 Chr. 24:1-19.
    4. Hence, the 24 elders represent glorified Church era believers who are priests and kings unto God the Father around His heavenly throne!
  4. We will also see the Holy Spirit in His sevenfold ministrations before God the Father's throne, Revelation 4:5b; Isa. 11:1-2.
  5. Around the throne will be four seraphs, lofty angelic beings, each reflecting the glory of God and of Christ, Revelation 4:6-7:
    1. The beings pictured in Revelation 4:6-7 have often been likened to the fourfold picture of Christ in the New Testament gospels:
      1. Like a lion, Matthew pictures Jesus as the King of the Jews, 4:7a.
      2. Like a calf, Mark pictures Jesus as the servant of the Lord, 4:7b.
      3. Like a man, Luke pictures Jesus as the Son of Man, 4:7c.
      4. Like an eagle in the heavens, John saw Jesus as the Son of God, 7d
    2. These angelic beings then likely picture the glory of Christ, Who in turn reflected the glory of the Father while on earth, John 1:18.
  6. Upon our seeing this glory of God and hearing the seraphs praise the Father, we will respond with moving worship to Him, 4:8-11:
    1. As they have done since the days of Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-3, the four seraphs constantly cry, "Separate [from sin], separate [from sin], separate [from sin], Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come," Revelation 4:8. The focus is on how amazing it is for God who is so righteous to tolerate co-existing with evil in His universe!
    2. When these seraphs glorify God this way for His unmerited favor and patience with man, we will be overcome with appreciation for God's patient, unmerited favor to US, and will fall on our faces before God's throne, casting our crowns at His feet, Rev. 4:9-10.
    3. We will then affirm that God is worthy of praise, for all things have been created by Him, and for His pleasure were they made, 4:11!
Application: To prepare for heaven, (1) believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Beloved Son, to gain eternal life, Jn. 3:16. (2) As God's child set for heaven, we should (a) treasure how GRACIOUS God is in all His RIGHTEOUSNESS to tolerate existing in a universe so polluted with sin, and (b) long for a greater separation from sin in our OWN lives. That translates into confession of sins since salvation (1 Jn. 1:9) and dependence upon the Spirit for a holy life. (c) Then, we can offer our lives as a holy, living sacrifice unto God, Romans 12:1-2 [explained in the sermon conclusion]!

Lesson: When we see God in His glory, we will be overcome at how gracious He has been to TOLERATE sin's existence in time, and how kind He has been to GET US to heaven as priests and kings! We will be overcome with appreciation and will worship Him for this His GRACE! >

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 In view of the fact that we will appreciate the unmerited favor of God toward us and toward the world when we get to heaven, the most valuable thing we can do with our lives on this earth now is to invest them in the way and for the goal of what God's will is for our lives! We do not belong to ourselves, nor were we made for our own ends, but we are made to give honor, glory and pleasure to GOD!

Romans 12:1-6 summarizes this theme in practical terms so we know how to end up satisfied with what we did with our lives from our OWN viewpoints in eternity to come (as follows):

(1) We need to believe on Jesus Christ for salvation from sin by God's grace just to make it to heaven, Acts 17:30-31 with John 3:16!

(2) As believers, we should be separate from sin, or be holy just as our Heavenly Father is separate from sin. (a) Confession of sins committed after salvation to God in prayer (1 John 1:9) followed by a (b) continual dependence upon the indwelling God the Holy Spirit for behavior control (Gal. 5:16-23) flow next toward equipping us to stay living separate from sin in our lives.

(3) Based upon the unmerited favor of God that we see directed toward us in Christ's salvation, the reasonable thing to do next is to present our bodies as living sacrifices to do God's will in life, Romans 12:1. This includes refusing to be pressed into the world's mold of the lusts of the flesh, the eyes and the pride of this earthly life, but to be renewed in our value system and outlook by God's Spirit, Rom. 12:2.

(4) This value and outlook change will mean giving up on our own agendas in life to be content with whatever spiritual gift and ministry assignment God has for us with our spiritual gifts in the local church. It means fitting into the rest of the Body of Christ to minister and be ministered unto by others of God's people as our life's ultimate achievement priority, Romans 12:3-6.