Revelation Ch4-5 - God's In Charge

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, we're going to be looking at chapters 4 and 5, so we're going to read almost all

of it.

Let's hear God's word together.

John writes,

Well, let's keep our Bible open there.

Let's pray.

Father, we thank you that you have given us your word written down for us today so that

we might see your greatness and your glory.

That we might see the living almighty God.

And that is what we want to do today.

We want to see you with our minds.

We want to know you in our hearts.

We want our lives to be changed.

We don't want to be the same.

We want to be different.

We want to be more like the Lord Jesus.

We want our church to be the way you've called us to be.

We want to be the same.

We want our church to be the same.

We want to be the same.

We want to be the same.

We want to be the same.

We want to be the same.

We want to walk on in our faith with confidence and assurance.

We don't want to settle for anything less

than living for you.

so would you by your spirit

make all what we have just prayed

a reality

in each of our lives today

we ask this in Jesus name

for his glory

Amen

so when you look out in the world

you turn on the television

and listen to the news

or read your social media

who do you think

is in charge

I bet most of you are thinking

well that's easy

God

God's in charge

and of course we'd be right

wouldn't we

but do we really believe it

do we live as if God is in complete control

over all things

and all people

you see we look at the world

and we see

tragic accidents

we see pandemics and wars

we experience the cost of living crisis

and shortages of energy

we watch as world leaders

threaten nuclear missiles

and invade countries at will

and rather than control

we see what is more like

chaos

destruction

and instead of sitting in peace

we are running around in panic

we fear and we worry

that God has lost the reins of power

and that the forces of evil

are encroaching

and are taking over

it's how the church felt

as John wrote down

his vision of revelation

the might of Rome

and the power of the emperor

were squeezing

and crushing the church

for a believer

at that time

to stand up

and speak out

would certainly leave you

isolated

and without a job

and to claim that

well

Jesus Christ

was Lord

well that would get you killed

things were not getting easier

they were getting a whole lot worse

who's in charge

round here

is God in control

of course the same pressures

are felt today

the subtle voices

that remind us

that Christianity

is completely irrelevant

and outdated

and done for

it's over

the constant silencing

of the church

and the objection

to God's word

we feel squeezed

and crushed

and in our private moments

when we're on our own

we're questioning

is God

is God really in charge

well let's look

and see what John sees

have a look at chapter 4

verse 1

after this

he says

so this is after his

first vision

back in chapter 1

so after this

I looked

and there before me

was a door

standing open

in heaven

we can picture John

there

as this

in his mind

he sees this

this door open

and

well we're invited

with John

to step

into

heaven itself

look at the rest

of verse 1

and the voice

I had first heard

speaking to me

like a trumpet

that loud

blaring blast

of a voice

come up here

and I will show you

what must take place

after this

from our

new vantage point

in heaven

we are going to see

history in the world

from God's

perspective

we literally

move from the

chaos that we are

in on earth

into the

calm

of heaven

through this

vision

we are entering

God's

control room

now we must

keep our eyes

wide open

because

as we enter

through the door

there's

lots of things

to see

we're not going

to be able to

stop and look

at them all

but we're going

to see the

main things

and the message

is clear

don't panic

God rules

his world

don't fear

God controls

your destiny

and don't worry

God is being

worshipped

so

don't panic

God rules

his world

three things

we see

that tell us

this

first

we see a throne

verse 2

at once

I was in the

spirit

and there

before me

was a throne

in heaven

well we know

what thrones

are for

they're for

kings and

rulers

people who

have power

and authority

so we are

entering into

the place

of sovereign

rule

in fact

John doesn't

want us to

forget

so everywhere

we look

we see

this throne

when John

describes something

it's always in

relation

to the throne

follow with me

as we look at

this chapter 4

verse 5

from the throne

came flashes

of lightning

in front

of the throne

were seven

lamps blazing

verse 6

in front

of the throne

there was

what looked

like a sea

of glass

in the centre

round the throne

were four

living creatures

chapter 5

verse 1

then I saw

on the right

hand of him

who sat

on the throne

verse 11

then I looked

and heard

the voice

of many angels

numbering

thousands

upon thousands

they encircled

the throne

can you

see

the throne

don't forget

the throne

John is telling

us

there's not

chaos

and anarchy

this is the

place of

power

and authority

well a throne

may symbolise

rule

but it's not

much good

unless somebody

is sitting

on it

is it

an empty

throne

is no good

to anyone

we need

someone

to rule

so the second

thing we see

is God

verse 2

at once

I was in the

spirit

and there

before me

was a throne

in heaven

with someone

sitting on it

this is

God's throne

for God

is the supreme

ruler over all

things and

all people

look at his

description

can you

see his

beauty

verse 3

and the one

who sat

there had

the appearance

of jasper

and ruby

these crystals

these jewels

of brown

and red

and not only

that but

there was

shining this

rainbow

that shone

like an

emerald

which encircled

the throne

so it's not

just kind of

our normal

rainbow

it's a

rain circle

if you like

multitude

of colours

glistening

bright

and dazzling

to reflect

and display

God's

majesty

his

beauty

but not

only that

can you see

his power

verse 5

from the throne

came flashes

of lightning

and rumblings

and peals

of thunder

and in front

of the throne

seven lamps

were blazing

you've been

in a storm

where you've

seen the

lightning crack

the sky

lightning up

and the

house almost

shakes

well multiply

this by

by ripples

and peals

of thunder

and fire

this is

earth

shattering

power

and it's

terrifying

but then

we can also

see his

calm

look at

verse 6

also in

front of

the throne

there was

what looked

like a

sea of

glass

clear as

crystal

we think

of the

sea

and we

think of

waves

crashing

into the

rocks

but here

the sea

is like

glass

completely

smooth

absolute

peace

and stillness

utter calm

as we

look at

God

on the

throne

we are

at once

together

in unison

blinded

and attracted

by his

staggering

beauty

we are

shaking

in fear

at his

awesome

power

and we

are overwhelmed

by his

calming

presence

this is

our God

who sits

on the

throne

ruling

and reigning

over all

things

and all

people

no one

and nothing

can compare

to his

magnificence

and greatness

God

can't be

contained

to something

manageable

and

controlled

God

is bigger

and awesome

as we

try to

grasp

his

beauty

his

power

and his

calm

this is

our

God

we see

a throne

we see

God

and we

see

worship

as we

look at

God

on the

throne

we also

see other

people

who were

there

and

creatures

and they're

all

surrounding

the

throne

picture

the throne

in the

middle

and on

the outer

circle

look at

verse 4

surrounding

the throne

were 24

other thrones

and seated

on each

throne

were 24

elders

now these

elders

most likely

represent

all God's

people

from all

time

so 24

12

patriarchs

representing

the old

covenant

believers

12

apostles

representing

the new

covenant

believers

24 in

total

this is

all of

God's

people

from all

time

and all

places

all

gathering

around

and then

we move

closer to

the inner

circle

look at

the middle

of verse

6

in the

center

round the

throne

were four

living

creatures

and they

were covered

with eyes

in front

and behind

they're looking

at everything

they see

everything

they know

everything

verse 7

the first

living creature

was like a

lion

the second

was like

an ox

the third

had a face

like a

man

the fourth

was like

a flying

eagle

these

strange

creatures

represent

the

whole

of

creation

think of

the lion

who

rules

the wild

animals

or the

ox

who is

the strongest

of the

domesticated

animals

man

who is

over all

humanity

the eagle

who soars

over the

skies

and the

mountains

each

creature

is a

picture

of power

and rule

in their

own

little

domain

and realm

but let's

not get

caught up

with

who they

are

but what

they are

all doing

can you

see what

these

elders

and creatures

are doing

they're all

facing and

focused on

God

who sits

on the

throne

they're not

dwelling on

their

particular

position

or power

they're

worshipping

the one

who rules

over all

and they

burst

into

song

verse 8

holy

holy

holy

is the

Lord

God

almighty

who is

and who

is

and who

is to

come

and

whenever

the

living

creatures

give

glory

honor

and

thanks

to

him

who

sits

on

the

throne

who

lives

forever

and

ever

well

there's a

ripple

effect

that goes

out to

the

outer

circle

verse 10

the 24

elders

when they

hear it

well they

fall down

before him

who sits

on the

throne

and worship

him who

lives

forever

and ever

and they

lay their

crowns

before the

throne

and they

say

you are

worthy

our

Lord

and God

to receive

the glory

and honor

and power

for you

created all

things

and by

your will

they were

created

and have

their

being

you see

God

is at

the center

of the

universe

not

me

not

you

not

any

earthly

power

of course

leaders

and influencers

live as if

they were

seated on

the throne

we

sometimes

think

we're

sitting

on the

throne

and act

as if

we are

in charge

but here

we are

invited

to step

through

heaven's

door

and we

see the

world

in history

from

God's

perspective

we see

God

on his

throne

no

rivals

no

questions

no

doubts

there is

only

one

ruler

the

Lord

God

almighty

who

was

and who

is

and who

is

to

come

never

was

there

a

time

when

he

did

not

rule

and

never

will

there

be

a

time

when

he

is

not

ruling

kings

and emperors

come and

go

and they

all

die

Putin

and

Biden

and

Martin

they

will

all

come

to an

end

governments

and

councils

the

UN

and

the

G7

they'll

all

come

crashing

down

but

God

lives

forever

and

forever

so

carry

a line

Baptist

church

when

you

feel

the

world

is

against

you

when

you

feel

the

church

is

under

threat

and

you

feel

isolated

and

alone

as

a

Christian

and

you're

wondering

are the

powers

of

evil

greater

and

better

don't

panic

God

rules

the

world

second

don't

fear

God

controls

your

destiny

again

as we

walk

around

heaven's

control

room

we

see

three

things

first

we

see

a

scroll

chapter

5

verse

1

then

I

saw

on

the

right

hand

of

him

who

sat

on

the

throne

so

God

is

seated

on

the

throne

and

he's

holding

in

his

right

hand

a

scroll

with

writing

on

both

sides

and

it's

sealed

it's

closed

up

it's

locked

with

seven

seals

what's

this

scroll

what's

written

on it

what's

the

secret

why is

it

hidden

well look

back to

chapter 4

verse 1

where John

was invited

to come

up here

and I

will show

you what

must take

place

after this

you see

God is

continuing

to unveil

and to

reveal

to

John

all

that

must

take

place

in

other

words

what

is

written

on

the

scroll

is

what

is

to

take

place

God's

purposes

and

God's

plans

for

history

in the

world

all

from

the

resurrection

of

Jesus

to

the

return

of

Jesus

our

future

destiny

the

history

of

the

world

where

we're

heading

what's

going

to

happen

is

all

wrapped

up

and

sealed

in

this

scroll

and

notice

chapter 5

verse 1

this

scroll

has

writing

on

both

sides

there's

no

room

there's

no

gaps

you

can't

add

anything

more

to

it

it's

complete

you

see

the

world

and

our

future

is

not

unfolding

by

chance

there's

no

random

event

it's

all

according

to

God's

design

and

order

it

has

been

written

down

our

future

destiny

is

in

God's

hands

but

we've

got a

problem

haven't

we

did

you

see

what

the

problem

was

no

one

can

open

this

scroll

there's

nobody

that

can

be

found

who

can

carry

out

God's

plans

and

purposes

verse

4

so

I

wept

and

wept

because

no

one

found

who

was

worthy

to

open

the

scroll

or

look

inside

you

see

God's

purposes

and

God's

plans

are

great

but

unless

they're

put

into

action

unless

they

become

a

reality

well

we're

done

for

the

world

and

our

future

destiny

is

lost

forever

there

will

be

no

end

to

the

suffering

and

the

struggle

darkness

and

death

will

reign

forever

and

ever

Satan

and

evil

will

win

the

day

no

wonder

John

is

weeping

the

scroll

containing

our

future

destiny

is

of

no

use

it's

useless

unless

somebody

can

come

and

open

it

and

carry

out

God's

purposes

for

the

world

what's

going

to

happen

is

there

anybody

who

can

do

it

are

you

going

to

stand

up

and

say

I'll

carry

out

God's

purposes

well we

just need

to look

back over

the history

of the

world

from the

very

beginning

where God

put Adam

and Eve

in the

garden

and said

Adam

and Eve

I want

you to

rule the

world

on my

behalf

I want

you to

be like

a king

and queen

to live

out my

purposes

to do

as I

please

so that

my

reign

will

fill

the

earth

they

failed

miserably

and in

our

attempts

all we've

done is

created

more chaos

and destruction

and disaster

there is not

one person

who is able

to fulfill

and live out

God's

purposes

and plans

but there

is one

because we

see not

just the

scroll

but we

see Jesus

verse 5

then one

of the

elders

said to

me

do not

weep

stop

your crying

see the

line of

the tribe

of Judah

the root

of David

is triumphed

he is

able to

open the

scroll

and its

seven

seals

this is

Jesus

God's

promised

king

he is

able to

open it

he is

the one

who is

able to

carry out

God's

plans

and purposes

why

because

verse 5

he has

triumphed

he has

triumphed

over sin

and Satan

he has

conquered

darkness

and death

he is

God's

victorious

champion

and how

did he

do it

well let's

read on

verse 6

then I

saw a

lamb

looking as

if it

had been

slain

I mean

what's

going on

here

our minds

are a

boggle

just a

moment ago

we were

looking at

the lion

the roaring

lion

now he's

a slain

lamb

beaten

up

rather

than

power

we see

a picture

of

weakness

instead

of

victory

there's

defeat

but look

where

this

lamb

is

then I

saw

a lamb

looking as

if it

had been

slain

standing

at the

centre

of the

throne

you see

God's

victory

comes

through

suffering

it is

through

the

death

of

Jesus

Christ

on

the

cross

that

the

powers

of

darkness

were

destroyed

it was

through

the

sufferings

of

Jesus

that

the

rule

of

sin

was

defeated

as

Jesus

died

on

the

cross

it

seemed

all

was

lost

it

was

as

if

hell

was

cheering

in

celebration

but

it

is

through

the

cross

that

Jesus

reigns

and

has

victory

over

all

things

and

all

people

so

can

you

look

now

and

see

where

the

lamb

is

and

what

he

looks

like

it

looks

as if

he

had

been

slain

but

now

middle

of

verse

6

the

lamb

had

seven

horns

and

seven

eyes

which

are

the

seven

spirits

of

God

set

into

all

the

earth

what's

all

these

sevens

about

well

the

seven

horns

his

perfect

power

the

seven

eyes

his

complete

knowledge

the

seven

spirits

his

eternal

presence

Jesus

Christ

is the

all

conquering

victorious

champion

he is

power over

all things

he knows

all things

he is

present in

all things

he is

the one

who will

carry out

God's

purposes

and plans

Jesus

Jesus

can open

the

scroll

and unfold

our

future

destiny

because

he

has

triumphed

we

see a

scroll

we

see

Jesus

and

we

see

worship

once

again

the throne

of God

from where

Jesus

reigns

is the

focus

of our

attention

it's

pulling

us

in

like

a

magnet

the

song

of

praise

that

revolves

round

and

round

it

reminds

us

of all

that

Jesus

has

done

verse

eight

and

when

Jesus

had

taken

it

the

four

living

creatures

and

the

twenty

four

elders

fell

down

before

the

lamb

verse

nine

and

they

sang

a

new

song

saying

you

are

worthy

to

take

the

scroll

and

to

open

its

seals

because

you

were

slain

and

with

your

blood

you

purchased

for

God

persons

from

every

tribe

and

language

and

people

and

nation

and

you

made

them

to be

a

kingdom

and

priest

to

serve

our

God

and

they

will

reign

on

the

earth

this

is

what

Jesus

has

done

he

died

for

us

he's

purchased

you

he's

bought

you

with

his

own

life

so

that

we

might

become

his

kingdom

people

ruling

with

him

and

for

him

on

earth

forever

and

forever

so

Carragoline

Baptist

Church

don't

fear

your

future

destiny

is

secure

God

has

rescued

you

so

that

you

might

rule

for

him

on

earth

yes

suffering

will

come

our

way

yes

we

may

feel

squeezed

and

crushed

we'll

face

opposition

and

persecution

Satan

may

stand

against

his

church

but

through

the

death

of

Jesus

our

victory

is

secured

death

has

been

defeated

and

destroyed

we

are

on

the

winning

side

so

don't