“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." Revelation 4:1
Last week, we looked at Revelation 4:1-3, in our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which is the literal name of the Book of Revelation. After Jesus gave the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia, seven signifying the completion of the Church Age, the next encounter the Apostle John had with the Lord is seen in Revelation 4:1. John saw an open door in heaven, or an open heaven, as we sometimes refer to an open portal in the heavens. He heard the same voice of the trumpet, or shofar, calling him to the heavenly temple, speaking with him, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things,” or after the Church Age on earth. One of the uses of the shofar in biblical times was to call workers from the fields to the temple, a perfect shadow of the upward call of the Church at the sound of the trumpet in the rapture at the end of the Church Age, as well as the upward call we have on earth as children of the Father.
The Church is not referred to as being on earth after Revelation 5, as the tribulation ensues at the beginning of Revelation 6, until Revelation 19:7, when the Bride has made herself ready, being clothed with garments of white linen, which is the righteous acts of the saints. At this point, the tribulation saints have joined the raptured Bride in heaven, many through death at the hands of the antichrist.
The Church of the Lord Jesus is made righteous by the Blood of the Lamb, spiritually. Our sins have been judged in Jesus because He paid the penalty for our unrighteousness and iniquity. Salvation does not take away the flesh, or the Lord would take us all home immediately following our salvation experience. Neither does He remove the soul, or we would be mindless, emotionless, and without a will, acting with no choice in the affairs of life. Since we were created as agents of choice, the Lord frees us to choose Him or to go the way of the world. He wants our minds renewed by the Word of God, and to have the power to choose Him. Therefore, when we stand at the judgment seat of Christ, our works, not our spirits, will be tried, as if by fire. “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-17
We are saved by the Blood of Jesus when we repent of our sin and give our hearts to Him, but we are rewarded in heaven, according to the works which we do following salvation. In one of his visions of the tribulation saints, who are still on earth, John says in Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, ‘Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:’ ‘Yea,’ saith the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.’”
The precious works, represented by gold, silver, and precious stones are those works which are according to the will of the Father. It is the will of the Father that is important, Jesus said in Matthew 7:21. Jesus did only those things which He saw the Father doing, and He drew apart in prayer and fellowship with the Father daily. It is the will of the Father that is important, not the will of man nor of any other.
Additionally, there were others who literally saw the heavens opened, in Scripture, including, Stephen, as he was being stoned to death after preaching the gospel. Acts 7:55-56 Peter’s vision of an open heaven came as he lay in a trance, in prayer, on the rooftop of a house in Joppa, where he saw the vision of the sheet filled animals of all kinds, coming down from God out of heaven. Acts 10:11-12 The Lord was calling him to preach the gospel in this vision. We know that many Christians are suffering harsh persecution, and even being killed for their faith, on the earth today, just as Stephen was.
“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
“And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Revelation 4:2-3
John received this vision, not only for his edification and instruction, but for the myriads of believers who would come after him. He was the eyes and ears of all the saints down through the ages. He heard the shofar calling him to the heavenly temple, so that he could receive the words and visions which our Father spoke and unveiled to him for the benefit of the Church for all times. The Lord never does anything in the earth unless He reveals it to his servants, the prophets, the Word of God says. He wants us to understand His plan for His people in this critical time. “I will show you what must take place after these things (after the Church Age),” the Voice called to John from heaven.
The following is an excerpt from the sermon delivered by Bro. William Branham, in Jacksonville, Indiana, on January 1, 1961:
“Now, ‘as it was in the days of Noah,’ smart men, smart men with their atomic powers and everything, could build pyramids and sphinx and so forth. ‘As it was in that day, so will it be.’ Matthew 24:37 But the work's to be cut short in this day, 'cause there's to be a raptured people taken out. Like Enoch, there's to be a people carried over. We're in that class this morning, the people that's carried over like Noah was through the flood.
But remember, before... Don't forget this. Before one drop of rain fell, before there was one thing in the sky, before Noah ever--ever had the ark completed, Enoch was taken home. Enoch was raptured without death, just started walking one day, and--and he--gravitation lost its hold on him. And he found one foot a little higher, and the other foot a little higher, and another foot a little higher, and first thing you know, he said, "Farewell, world," just walked on up into glory." (I love his description of how Enoch was taken up into heaven).
That's the same thing that takes place right here. The church was taken up into heaven, and John now is brought up with it as a type of the resurrected, as we took it last night. And find out that this same voice that summoned him to look back on earth, was the same voice that summoned him to come up.
Oh, every Christian. The very voice, Charlie, that summoned you one day down there in Kentucky, to turn around, is the same voice that'll summons you, "Come up." Aren't you glad of that, Brother Evans? The voice that said, "Turn around," same voice said, "Come up." Oh, my. There, what a summons. What a reality, clear, distinct like a trumpet, "Turn around; serve Me. Come up to where I am." (end of excerpt)
We are called to come up higher in Jesus both now and at His return.
4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
Arranged in a circle around the throne of God, worshipping Him and casting their crowns before Him, (4:10-11), were twenty-four elders and twenty-four thrones. There are different interpretations of who the twenty-four elders are. However, this Hebrew word search reveals the twenty-four elders as the entire Church, which includes the patriarchs and the twelve apostles of the Lamb. “The “24” are symbolic of Yahweh’s people-“the Israel of G-d”-Glorified and fulfilled: “a royal priesthood, a kingdom of priests”, a “holy priesthood”…worshipping and serving before the Throne of Heaven (verses 4:9-11; 5:5-14; 7:11-17; 11:14-18; 19:4; 1 Pet.1:18,19; 1 Pet.2:4-10; et al). The reality of the shadow and type on Earth. SELAH.
http://www.bnaiavraham.net/guest_articles/Rabbi%20Sivan%20Costello/thetwentyfourelders.htm
John saw the complete people of God, as represented by the number, twenty-four. Twenty-four is twelve times two, and twelve speaks of complete perfection, the complete “completeness” and perfection of the Lord of glory and His people, the one new man. Two times twelve.
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. Ephesians 2:14-17
We cast any crowns conferred upon us by the Lord or people before the feet of Jesus, for it is by His grace and help alone that we do anything that counts for eternity.
The rest of this chapter reveals the glory and majesty of the Lord and the worship by every person, angel, and creature in heaven. “"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Our God reigns! He is Faithful and True! There is none like unto Him! Beside Him, there is no savior! He is worthy of all glory, laud and honor, blessing, power, and dominion.
Worshipping the Lord will take you into His Presence where every need in your life will be met. The man who was among the tombs, tormented and tortured by the devil, after falling down at the feet of Jesus, worshipping Him, was delivered from the tormenting devils, and the Word of God says that he was clothed, sitting at Jesus’ feet, and in his right mind. Mark 5:15 Worship the Lord! The devil can’t stay where anyone is worshipping the Lord. Worship to the Lord is a powerful weapon in the arsenal of a Christian.
Psalm 149:4-6
"For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation. Let the godly ones exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand...
Psalm 150
1Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
3Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!
Worshipping the Lord from a pure heart will set you free from the schemes of the devil!
5Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
Lightnings and thunders of God came out from the throne of God, as John looked upon the wondrous vision. The awesome power and holiness of God can only be portrayed to us, in comprehensible language, by the most powerful natural phenomena we have experienced on earth. One bolt of lightning has enough electricity in it to provide power to New York City for a year, if the static electricity in the lightning could be harnessed. This verse gives us something of an idea of how miraculous and great the power of our God is.
The seven lamps of fire burning before the throne represent the complete work of the Holy Spirit. The number seven speaks of completion…God completed the Creation in seven days, seven loaves, seven baskets, forgive seventy times seven, seven thousand men who had not bowed their knee to Baal, seven churches of Asia…all speak of completion. There is one Holy Spirit, and He has many offices, functions, and gifts in the Church. His work, function, and offices are complete and perfect, as signified by the number, seven in the Book of Revelation.
6and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal;
“Seas,” in the scriptures usually speak of great numbers of people, as in the expression, “a sea of people.” The “sea of glass, like crystal,” depicts the people of God and their purity, having been washed by the Blood of the Lamb, and washed by the water of the Word. “even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27 As we walk through this world, even though we’ve been saved by the Blood of Jesus, we get the dust of the world on our feet sometimes, or our robes become soiled with spots and blemishes.
John said in his epistles to the church, by the Holy Spirit, “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10 These instructions from the Lord show us how we are to keep our garments white and our feet clean, as we walk with the Lord in holiness in this world. We are in this world, but we are not of it, Jesus said. John 17:14
James gives essentially the same message of instruction and hope to believers. “This you know, my beloved brethren, but everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
But one who looks intently at the perfect law, or the Word, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:19-27
As we continue to behold the worship of God in heaven through John’s eyes and words, we see that every creature in heaven worships and adores the Lord, for He is worthy! He is worth it all. He is beautiful beyond words, excellent in power, mighty to deliver, all that is good and pure and holy and true, our loving Father, our Risen Lord, our Constant Companion, the precious Holy Spirit! He is altogether lovely! Eternal God! Glorious Godhead, Who is indescribable!
6...and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.
7The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
8And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."
9And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
10the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." We join with the great cloud of witnesses already in heaven and with multitudes of angels and with the living creatures, worshipping the Lord, our God Who lives forever and ever! What an awesome scene to behold and to participate in, both now and forever.
The Lord gives us “days of heaven on earth,” Deuteronomy 11:21, as well as a glimpse into our promised, eternal home with Him. How wonderful He is! It is the Lord Who makes heaven, heaven.
In His hand,
@Betty Seiley
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