Living Grace Foursquare Church
The Great Tribulation: A View From Above
Jesus described these final 3 1/2 years as "the great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved." Matthew 24:21-22 Let's look at things from a Heavenly view before we study the wrath of God upon Earth Revelation 4 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
Locations & Times
Living Grace Foursquare Church
3646 N Rancho Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89130, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
A View from Above
The apostle John has written down the letters to the angels of the 7 churches in Revelation, then he is caught up into heaven. We will get to the wrath of God in chapter 6 but first, let’s set the foundation from headquarters, the Throne in Heaven.
The apostle John has written down the letters to the angels of the 7 churches in Revelation, then he is caught up into heaven. We will get to the wrath of God in chapter 6 but first, let’s set the foundation from headquarters, the Throne in Heaven.
A Door standing open in heaven
1. Jesus is the door
2. Open doors speak of opportunity
1. Jesus is the door
2. Open doors speak of opportunity
And behold, a throne set in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
a. The bottom line of atheism or materialism is that there is no throne in heaven
b. Humanism would say, there is a throne, but man sits upon it.
a. The bottom line of atheism or materialism is that there is no throne in heaven
b. Humanism would say, there is a throne, but man sits upon it.
Oh, but there is a throne in heaven And One seated on the throne:
i. A powerful declaration of God’s presence
1. Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. AMP
2. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we can come boldly and with confidence to the throne of grace—it is no longer a throne of judgment for us; rather, it is where we have received forgiveness in mercy and righteousness in grace.
ii. A powerful declaration of God’s sovereignty--His rightful reign over all
i. “While there may be many differing interpretations, the fundamental truths are self-evident. At the center of everything is an occupied throne.” (Morgan)
i. A powerful declaration of God’s presence
1. Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]. AMP
2. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we can come boldly and with confidence to the throne of grace—it is no longer a throne of judgment for us; rather, it is where we have received forgiveness in mercy and righteousness in grace.
ii. A powerful declaration of God’s sovereignty--His rightful reign over all
i. “While there may be many differing interpretations, the fundamental truths are self-evident. At the center of everything is an occupied throne.” (Morgan)
“Oh! Child of God! Thy heavenly Father in his sovereignty, has a right to do with you, his child, as he pleases, but he will never let that sovereignty get out of the limit of the covenant. As a sovereign, he might cast you away, but he has promised that he never will, and never will he. As a sovereign, he might leave you to perish, but he has said, ‘I will not leave thee nor forsake thee.’ As a sovereign, he might suffer you to be tempted beyond your strength, but he has promised that no temptation shall happen to you, but such as is common to man, and he will with the temptation make a way of escape.” (Spurgeon)
Power, Awe, might, terror
Reminds us of God’s thunderous presence at Mount Sinai (Ex 19:16) On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
7 torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God--The Holy Spirit
Revelation 1:4. Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne
Reminds us of God’s thunderous presence at Mount Sinai (Ex 19:16) On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
7 torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God--The Holy Spirit
Revelation 1:4. Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne
“Perhaps it is safest to say that the four faces are important because they represent all of animate creation, in its utmost excellence. The lion is the mightiest of wild animals, the ox strongest of domesticated animals, the eagle king of all birds, and man is highest of all creation. “InShemoth Rabba, sec. 23, fol. 122, 4, Rabbi Abin says: ‘There are four which have principality in this world: among intellectual creatures, man; among birds, the eagle; among cattle, the ox; and among wild beasts, the lion: each of these has a kingdom and a certain magnificence, and they are placed under the throne of glory,”’ Clark
1. They exist to worship God!
a. “In Hebrew, the double repetition of a word adds emphasis, while the rare threefold repetition designates the superlative and calls attention to the infinite holiness of God.” (Johnson)
2. The worship of the 24 elders is prompted by the cherubim. Since the cherubim worship God, day and night, so do the elders.
a. It’s the resounding song of heaven!
There is also an allusion to a practice in the Roman Empire. The Emperor of Rome ruled over many lesser kings, and these kings were at times commanded to come before the Emperor and lay their crowns down before him in homage. Then he would give them back, as a demonstration that their crowns, their right to rule, their victory, came from him. “This is an allusion to the custom of prostrations in the east, and to the homage of petty kings acknowledging the supremacy of the emperor.” (Clarke)
Before we get to the wrath of God on earth, it’s important we see what’s going on in Heaven
o There is a throne
o There is one seated on the throne
o It’s noisy yet calm
§ Worship!
§ That tells me that God has everything in control when my life is spinning out of control
o There is a throne
o There is one seated on the throne
o It’s noisy yet calm
§ Worship!
§ That tells me that God has everything in control when my life is spinning out of control