Monthly Archives: October 2018

Weekly Devotional 10-22-18 A View Into heaven

Weekly Devotional 10-22-18 A View into Heaven

In chapter one of the Book of Revelation, we saw Jesus standing in the midst of church holding it in His right hand. This conveyed the truth that He was and is a close observer of what happens in the church. He saw some things that are worthy of praise, but He also observed things that He condemned. In chapters two and three He went into detail about things that the church needed to address. His message was that the church was His witness to the rest of humanity and for it to be effectual it must purge out those things that affected that testimony.

John was instructed to write in a book (on a scroll) the Lord’s communication to him concerning the church. John was to dispense that book to the pastors of seven churches located in Asia Minor. However, it wasn’t just for those seven churches, but for the entire church through these many centuries.

One does not have to look very hard to see that what was occurring in those original seven churches has been occurring in the broader church through the centuries, including the church of our day. There was a promise of eternal blessing to those who were faithful and to those who struggled to be faithful. Part of that promise was that Jesus would not cause them to go through the judgments He would bring upon the earth (Revelation 3:10) in order to bring Israel back to Himself and prepare the world for His second coming. At the end of the message, John was given a view into heaven and in chapters 4 & 5 he recorded what he saw.

“4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’ 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.

5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’ 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’ 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ 14 Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

What a view and what a blessing for John and for us. Beginning with chapter six and continuing through chapter 19, a detailed account of what follows the rapture of the church (the catching up of the church) is given, but before that revelation John and we are shown that God is in control, at the end of things He will be glorified, and we will be blessed.

stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man

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