Revelation: Lesson 5
Overview
The Throne, the Lamb, and the Sealed Church
After the letters to the seven churches, John is invited through an open door into heaven itself Revelation 4. What he sees is not a description of God's body but the brilliance of God's glory—light refracted through jasper, carnelian, and emerald, the same kinds of stones once worn on the high priest's breastplate. God is not a stone; rather, His glory shines through creation the way the sun's rays flash through a jewel. Around the throne sit twenty-four elders in white robes and crowns, representing the totality of God's people: the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. They are not angels but elevated saints—the church, by grace, exactly where she belongs: in the presence of God. Before the throne lies a sea like crystal. In Scripture the sea often pictures chaos and the turmoil of sin, but here it is utterly still. Before God's throne, the chaos of sin and the threat of wrath have been calmed. All is at peace.
This vision is the heavenly counterpart to the ascension recorded in Acts 1:6-11. Where the disciples watched Jesus disappear into a cloud, John is shown what happens on the other side: the coronation and enthronement of the crucified and risen Lord. In Revelation 5, a sealed scroll lies in God's right hand—the hand that works salvation—and no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth is worthy to open it. John weeps bitterly until an elder tells him to look: the Lion of Judah has conquered. But when John turns, he sees a Lamb standing as though slain. The Lion is the Lamb. The marks of crucifixion remain, yet He stands—living forever. He alone takes the scroll, because He alone has the right to determine the outcome of human history. He rules on behalf of the Father and for the benefit of His church, and the heavenly host falls down singing, "Worthy is the Lamb."
Before the trumpets and bowls unfold, the vision pauses for an interlude in Revelation 7. John hears the number of the sealed: 144,000—twelve thousand from each tribe. This is not a literal cap on the saved (as some cults teach) but a picture of the church militant: God's people on earth in perfect order, ready to march, ready to carry out the mission Christ gave in Matthew 28:19-20. Then John looks again and sees a multitude no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, robed in white before the throne. This is the church triumphant—those who have come out of the great tribulation, washed in the blood of the Lamb, sheltered by the One on the throne, led by the Lamb to springs of living water, every tear wiped from their eyes.
The pastoral comfort is enormous. The seal placed on God's people guarantees that no matter how much suffering the church endures this side of heaven, the mission will be fulfilled and faith will be preserved. Paul says the same thing in Ephesians 1:13-14: Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit as the pledge of our inheritance. We see this seal applied every time someone is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord knows those who are His. We will die; we will suffer; but we will not lose faith, because God Himself defends it. The church militant becomes the church triumphant, and we will stand in that countless multitude, singing with the saints before the throne and the Lamb.
Transcript
Thank you so much for today. 3s
We thank you for every day that you have blessed us with this 5s
side of heaven. 10s
Lord, we thank you that today is but one day in all of 11s
eternity and that we will be called together with all the 15s
saints to glorify your holy name in your holy presence for 19s
all eternity. 23s
We ask that you would use this hour of study together that we 25s
would find comfort and joy in your word for us and that we 29s
would spend the rest of the day basking in the glory of your 34s
word. 39s
We ask this in the name of Jesus. 40s
Amen. 42s
Okay, so we're going to open up to Revelation chapter four and 43s
five. 49s
So it begins the throne room begins 51s
in the wrong spot. 60s
That's first Peter. 61s
I'm going to recognize this for Revelation. 62s
This doesn't seem right. 64s
Okay. 66s
So we had the letters to the church to the churches and then 66s
he's, we come to this door. 72s
So we're starting in Revelation four where he says after 76s
this I looked and remember those letters to the churches are 82s
preparing the church to receive the Revelation that is 85s
going to come to them through John. 91s
So he says after this I looked and there in heaven a door stood 94s
open and the first voice which I had heard speaking to me like 97s
a trumpet said come up here and I will show you what must 101s
take place after this. 104s
At once I was in the spirit and there in heaven stood a 106s
throne with one seated on the throne and the one seated 109s
there looks like Jasper and Carnelian and around the throne is 113s
rainbow that looks like an emerald. 117s
Around the throne are 24 thrones and seated on the thrones are 120s
24 elders dressed in white robes with golden crowns on their 123s
heads. 126s
Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning and rumblings 127s
and peels of thunder and in front of the throne burn seven 130s
flaming torches which are the seven spirits of God and in front 134s
of the throne there is something like a sea of glass like crystal 137s
around the throne and on each side of the throne are four living 141s
creatures full of eyes in front and behind the first living creature 144s
like a lion the second living creature like an ox the third living 149s
creature with a face like a human like a human face and the fourth living 152s
creature like a flying eagle and the four living creatures each of them 156s
with six wings are full of eyes all around and inside day and night 160s
without ceasing they sing holy holy holy the Lord God Almighty who 164s
was and is and is to come and whenever the living creatures give 170s
glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne 174s
who lives forever and ever the 24 elders fall before the one who 177s
is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and 181s
ever they cast their crowns before the throne singing you are 186s
worthy our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power for 190s
you created all things and by your will they existed and were created 196s
so this is where we are in the throne room this is where we're 200s
gonna step for a little bit so the purpose of the vision of God's 205s
heavenly court is to show us the the the coronation to show the church 210s
the coronation and enthronement enthronement of Jesus Christ the 215s
crucified and risen Lord so we're going to get to his enthronement 221s
after we talk about the throne room but but if we think about acts if you 227s
hold your hand here and then go back to the book of Acts chapter 1 233s
books or the book of Acts chapter 1 so this is right after the gospel of 238s
John and this is this is the continuation Luke wrote the book of 242s
Acts and so when Luke's gospel and it picks up again then right here in the 249s
book of Acts so chapter 1 beginning in verse 6 of the book of Acts so when 255s
they had come together this is the the apostles they asked him Lord is this the 261s
time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel he replied it is not for 266s
you to know the times or periods that the father has set by his own authority 270s
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will 274s
be my witnesses in Jerusalem in Al Judeian Samaria and to the ends of the 279s
earth when he had said this as they were watching he was lifted up and a 283s
cloud took him out of their sight while he was going and they were gazing 287s
up toward heaven suddenly two men in white robes stood by them and so then 291s
angels talked to him so this is that's the earthly perspective of the 296s
ascension of Christ to the father now we're going to go back to to 302s
Revelation because this is where we receive the heavenly perspective of Christ 307s
entering or returning to the father so so we have it's the same thing but here 314s
in Revelation we get heaven's perspective of when Christ when Christ is 323s
received by the father so John sees the throne of God he sees the throne of 330s
God he sees the one sitting on it the one is the object of all worship there's 335s
a lot of worship happening here he doesn't give us any specific facial or 343s
bodily characteristics so he doesn't describe the one on the throne but says 349s
that his appearance is like the precious stones of Jasper and some say 356s
Sardius and some this one says Carnelian and then there's a rainbow of emerald 362s
around it doesn't mean that God is a stone it does not mean that God is a stone 369s
but the appearance of God's glory think of when you hold a precious stone in the 378s
sunlight and the light reflects through and the rays shine through and is cast 382s
out like put out everywhere so the appearance of God's glory it reflects it 389s
reflects the brilliance of his presence as precious stones reflect rays of the 395s
sun so we can't look directly at the sun but we can catch a glimpse of the beauty 400s
of the sun through the reflection of those rays so so God is not a stone but his 407s
glory is brilliant his glory is brilliant Isaiah and Ezekiel also have scenes 415s
within the throne room we're not going to study those today but I thought as I 423s
was studying I thought oh that would be a really fun small group so not this 429s
coming year but look for it in the future because I think that would be a fun one so 434s
the stones Jasper Sardius emerald those are all part of the breastplate that the 437s
high priest was told to wear in Exodus when when they got all the the instructions 443s
those stones were on the breastplate of the high priest and the high priest 449s
represented Israel before the throne or before God offering sacrifice for a 453s
tonement so this is this is the setting that we're in we get to the 24 elders 460s
these 24 elders are sitting on thrones they are wearing crowns and they are 467s
they are wearing white robes they are sitting and they are wearing robes and 473s
crowns they are not angels they are not heavenly beings or heavenly creatures 480s
they are elevated saints they're elevated saints and the 24 elders are the 487s
church of the Old Testament of Israel who believed in the New Testament we have the 495s
12 tribes of Israel or the the 12 tribes from Jacob right those are represented 501s
for the Old Testament and we have the 12 apostles which are the saints of the 508s
New Church or of the church so we have the 24 right there together they're 516s
representing the totality of God's people they sit on thrones and they wear 522s
crowns because they are victorious in Christ they wear the crown of victory they 530s
have white robes because they have been cleansed through the blood of Christ 538s
they're in his presence they're in God's presence representing the church they're 546s
in God's presence because that by grace is exactly where they belong which is 556s
good news that is good news that the church belongs in the presence of God the other 563s
thing I want to talk about here is that glassy see that glassy see that is before 570s
before the throne there are a couple of things that are really interesting about 576s
this so so first of all there is there is that representation of a separation 580s
right and while we remain here on earth there is a separation between us and and 587s
God we're still separated from the eternal glory when he calls us to home to be 595s
in his presence then we will not be separated from his eternal glory but here on 601s
earth we are still separated from the eternal glory also think about how the 606s
sea is often portrayed or what it symbolizes in Scripture so often it's a 611s
raging steep sea it's chaotic it's tormenting and it's it's really representative 617s
of the evil and the wickedness and the chaos of our sinful lives and here the the 624s
sea is like crystal it's a glassy sea that is transparent it's like crystal it's 631s
still it's calm the turmoil of our sin which separates us from God before the 638s
throne of God it has been still it has been still it has been conquered and it is 647s
tranquil we don't have to fear the torment of the chaos we don't have to fear 658s
the the torment or the chaos of wrath of God's wrath and judgment because all is 666s
peaceful all is peaceful between God and his creation before the throne just calls 674s
for all of us to just take a deep breath and we know that all is at peace before 684s
the throne then we have these winged creatures that are flying to and fro Isaiah refers 691s
to them as Sarah Femme Ezekiel refers to them as Cherubem John doesn't give them 699s
either of those names he sees that that they are closer to God than any other 705s
creature and I like how one author says that they can be thought of as the 713s
choir masters leading the heavenly host in the song of praise and worship they sing 719s
praises of the Lord they initiate the worship the angels and the saints they join 726s
in as these flying creatures sing holy holy holy and that song that song continues 732s
throughout it comes up several times in revelation and there will be stanzas 741s
added to it we see this time in the throne or in the throne room it's a time of 747s
complete worship it is it is a time of singing and praising and honoring God 755s
God who is so brilliant that he can't be described this this is the scene in 762s
which we were seeing or that John John shows us so they're singing holy holy holy 769s
all the heavenly hosts are praising God the church on earth praises God and sings this song 776s
we sing this song even in suffering because we are still called to worship the Lord 790s
and we still can worship the Lord even in the midst of suffering so now we get to 799s
the really exciting part of the throne room we get to the lamb okay so we're going 809s
to go back to Revelation chapter 5 and we're going to just read the whole thing because it's so 815s
exciting it's so wonderful okay so so he's he's in the throne room he is seeing all of these 822s
heavenly hosts and the winged creatures singing and and and the majestic one the brilliant one 828s
on the throne and the church represented by the 24 elders and he says and then I saw 834s
in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside 841s
and on the back sealed okay so he sees the scroll in the right hand of God 847s
God's right hand works salvation for his people the contents of the scroll have 855s
ultimate good and glory of God's people the completeness of its contents is 863s
sealed but we know that there's a completeness of contents because it's written on the inside 869s
and on the back so it's fully fully written but it's sealed so the message is hidden 874s
the revelation is hidden it would remain closed and unknown until the worthy person 882s
came to claim it okay so let's keep going back in here so we're back to to a verse 890s
two and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the 898s
scroll and break its seals and no one no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was 905s
able to open the scroll or to look into it no one had earned the privilege or the ability 916s
to open this sealed scroll and John says I began to weep bitterly because no one was 931s
found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it then one of the elders said to me 940s
do not weep see the lion of the tribe of Judah the root of David has conquered so that he 947s
can open the scroll and it's seven seals so no one was found to be worthy no one in all of God's 955s
creation no no no one not even that an angel was worthy to open this scroll and to stand before 965s
the presence of God and lay legal claim to this scroll and then an elder an elder one of the 973s
church tells this weeping John who is so saddened so saddened that no one is found to be worthy 982s
and he's weeping bitterly and an elder representing the church he says look look to the lamb look 991s
to the lamb and he calls him the lion of Judah the lion was a messianic symbol of royal rain and 999s
power and when you think of a lion you think of a lot of power I mean we most of us have heard 1009s
of or read the Chronicles of Narnia and God is depicted as the lion aslan you know and it's this powerful 1015s
powerful being and so so we have the elder saying seeing the lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered 1023s
so he can open the scroll and it seven seals and then verse six then I saw between the throne and the 1033s
four living creatures and among the elders a lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered having seven 1040s
horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth this is an 1051s
amazing picture that we have here we have the angel announcing who's worthy who's worthy John weeping bitterly 1060s
because there's no one who is worthy to open this scroll and elder says no no no look check out it's the lion of Judah 1071s
and so John turns expecting a lion of Judah and he sees Jesus he sees the lamb the lamb who was 1079s
slain who shows the marks of the crucifixion the lion of Judah is a lamb standing in the midst of them all this 1093s
is a beautiful witness of the crucifixion of Christ because he stands the lamb as one who has been slain 1109s
but it also is a beautiful testimony of the resurrection because it is the lamb who stands he stands there in the midst of them all 1119s
living forever so we have both the crucifixion and the victory of the resurrection right there in that verse 1133s
it's amazing I had one cohort who said he pictured this scene like a boxing ring where you you know they say oh and in this corner and there's 1144s
just this light that shines on and all of a sudden it's the slain lamb in the light and so this is where we have him he has 1159s
ascended to the Father he is right there all the heavenly hosts see him and we continue yes we continue so so he went this is verse 7 1168s
he went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne when he had taken the scroll the 1182s
four living creatures and the 24 elders fell before the lamb each holding a harp and golden bowls of full of incense which are the 1189s
prayers of the saints in that beautiful the church the heavenly beings they bring the prayers of the saints that's us that's us 1197s
brought to the right hand of the Lord the lamb who has the right and legal claim to the scroll who has the right the legal claim to all of human history 1209s
they sing a new song you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people 1226s
and nation you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God and they will reign on earth then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the 1238s
throne and the living creatures and the elders they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands singing with full voice worthy is the lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom 1250s
and might and glory and honor and blessing then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them singing to the one seated on the throne and to the lamb be 1263s
blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever this is not a mass Exodus of the of the Sunday school I'm just saying they are going to sing with the saints 1277s
and the four living creatures said amen and the elders fell down and worshipped 1290s
so the action of receiving the scroll is very very important because the lamb not only reveals human humanity's destiny but it shows that he also has control 1302s
he has control no one anywhere can dominate over the contents of the scroll so what is in the scroll no one can dominate over it no one else has the power or authority over it they can't even receive the scroll 1317s
only the chosen lamb only Christ himself can receive that he alone determines the outcome of human history he rules on behalf of his father and for the benefit of his church so that the church will be protected in faith and will be protected in hope 1337s
and we'll be able to carry out the mission that it has been given so receiving the scroll that's the coronation of Jesus Christ he is the king of kings the Lord of Lords this is the beginning of the everlasting reign of Jesus Christ of God's righteousness through the exalted sun 1361s
it's a reign that is consummated at the end at the resurrection that you and I will be a part of and in that new heaven and earth which we are going to talk about the new heaven and earth next week we're going to stay here this week 1387s
remember in all of these cycles how I said that there were interludes so there are interludes that happen in here and I don't think it's a mistake that interludes happen because you read any of these plagues, scenes of the end and it's a lot 1403s
you know and John receiving this vision there's no way that he's not filled with fear he's seeing all of this happen and so there is that is that is scary so we're going to turn to Revelation chapter 7 1430s
we're going to talk about the church triumphant and the church militant so the 144,000 beginning in Revelation chapter 7 verse 1 1445s
so we're going to start here and this is after the horses or the horsemen have come so after this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or see against any tree 1459s
I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun having the seal of the living God and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea saying do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads 1479s
and I heard the number of those who were sealed 144,000 sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel and then it goes through and it's 12,000 from any names all the tribes so the 144,000 that represents God's people on earth 1497s
there are at least one cult of Christianity that claims that only 144,000 people will be in heaven we're going to see that that's wrong but this is representative of the church on earth of God's people who are in perfect order there is perfection in that order and they are ready to march 1521s
it is the church militant poised and ready to carry out the mission that it has been given so we today are part of the church militant we are this side of heaven we have a mission given by the Lord to go to all nations making disciples of all nations 1548s
baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded we read right before the ascension in the book of Acts he said you will be my witnesses to go so we are the church militant with that mission 1572s
so then we go down to chapter 9 of chapter 7 where it says after this I looked and there was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation from all tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb robed in white with palm branches in their hands they cried out in a loud voice saying salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne 1591s
and to the Lamb and all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God and it continues well actually know we are going to continue because it is too beautiful not to 1619s
and all the angels worship God singing amen blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever amen then one of the elders addressed me saying who are these robed in white and where have they come from I said to him sir you are the one that knows then he said to me these are they who have come out of the great ordeal 1638s
they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb for this reason they are before the throne of God and worship him day and night within his temple and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them they will hunger no more and thirst no more the sun will not strike them nor any scorching heat for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd and he will guide them to springs of the water of life 1664s
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes it's just incredible absolutely incredible John in this vision sees a multitude of people before God's heavenly throne from every nation every tribe the number is so great that it cannot be counted this is the church triumphant 1692s
John is allowed to see God's people he's allowed to see that God's people on earth are ready to carry out their mission as the church militant they are ready to enter into the valley of the shadow of death and then before they are taken he sees them sealed 1722s
the ceiling that they receive means that no matter what no matter how much he John and God's people no matter how much suffering we endure this side of heaven the mission will be fulfilled the mission will be fulfilled and God will protect us in faith God will protect the church militant in the faith there will be faith 1745s
suffering there will be death we all die we all have our soul separate from our bodies we all do die but we won't lose faith the church does not lose faith and God will defend the faith 1773s
in the end the church then becomes the church militant then becomes the church triumphant because we are all brought into the presence of God the church is sealed and kept in faith and elevated to glorify Christ and to live in his glory 1792s
when John sees this great church triumphant he's filled with joy he's filled with joy because he knows they are coming out of tribulation they are coming out of suffering but they have been protected and brought to glory in Christ in Revelation in verse three of chapter seven it says that they've been sealed 1817s
so God knows exactly who belongs to him and he seals them so the Christian and I had to write this exactly how it was written because it's so beautiful and it's such a comforting word that the Christian can be absolutely certain and sure of his salvation and faith because it rests on the truth of God's word and God's seal within that word 1843s
the Lord knows who's who are his it's through his word that God seals his people assures them by his spirit that they belong to him and that he will protect them in faith 1870s
Paul says Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit given to the Christian as God's pledge or guarantee of the inheritance that God has promised 1884s
it's the pledge of God's promise that seals the Christian in his heart the seal then assures the believer that he belongs to God and is known by God the Holy Spirit does this through the word of God's promise which has been brought to fulfillment by Jesus Christ 1894s
the throne room the lamb that sits upon the throne the church militant continuing to march we are a part of that but we have the assurance of God's protection we have the assurance of his promise we have the assurance that we have been sealed what do we do every single baptize or every single baptism we seal that person in the name of the Father the Holy Spirit 1911s
that they are sealed sealed in the spirit of God they are claimed the Lord knows who are his and we are promised and we should find great comfort that regardless of the suffering that we have this side of heaven that we are promised that we will be part of the multitude that is countless that we'll be singing the praises and worshiping the Father 1941s
in that glorious throne room 1968s