"Who Is is Charge?" Sermon: Revelation 6:1-8 (video)

 "Who Is in Charge?" Sermon: Revelation 6:1-8 (video) (youtube.com)

"Who Is in Charge?" Sermon: Revelation 6:1-8 (manuscript)

 

“Who Is in Charge?”

Revelation 6:1-8

1/28/24 YouTube

As we looked at chapter five of Revelation, we saw John’s vision of the throne of God, the beings around the throne, and the worship that is given to God in Trinity.  The chapter ends with the scene of all of Creation being asked who can open the scroll with the seven seals, and no one is initially found.  Then John sees the Lion of Judah, the root of David, and the slain Lamb, Who is praised as worthy to open the seals of the scroll.

As we begin to look at the opening of the scrolls, it is important – as always – to remember that the book of Revelation is a book written to comfort the Christians of the first century who are suffering horribly for their faith, and all Christians going forward.  Jesus says to the disciples, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV).

          Jesus is Sovereign over the chaos.  What Jesus says gives His people peace.  In this life, believers will suffer for their belief in Jesus – to various degrees – though we ought to be ready for the worst tribulation but hold on to the peace that Jesus gives.  In the midst of the suffering, we will endure for Jesus, we ought to take comfort in knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and the suffering and the chaos that we endure. Paul writes, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (II Timothy 3:12, ESV).

          As we see the slain Lamb – the Lamb Who shed His blood sacrificing Himself to pay the debt we owe God for our sin – we see the slain and living Lamb open the first four seals. The opening of these seals show us “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” – as they are called together – popularly – and in an attempt to terrify the very people that Jesus said to be at peace and to take comfort – because no matter what horrible thing happens to us – and evil will befall us – Jesus tells us to take comfort – He has triumphed over the world and over the chaos – for us.

          That doesn’t mean everything will be honey and roses.  But it does mean that Jesus is in charge.  The One Who loves everyone who will believe throughout time and space. It does mean, as we will see, Jesus directs and controls the horsemen to carry out His direction.

          Many of us will know some sort of horror story about the four horsemen – like the boogeyman or the headless horseman.  This is something different from those stories.  It is an image that is used elsewhere – as in the book of Zechariah:

“On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, ‘I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. Then I said, “‘What are these, my lord?’” The angel who talked with me said to me, “‘I will show you what they are’” (Zechariah 1:7-9, ESV).

“Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong” (Zechariah 6:1-3, ESV).

          “Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “’Come!’”

          As the Lamb opens the first of the seals, one of the seraphim speaks with the voice like thunder, calling the first horseman – “Come!”

“And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.”

We will remember that white is the symbol for holiness.  The color of the horse reflects the Rider of the horse.  The rider of the horse is a conqueror Who conquers, and a crown is given to Him. He is given the crown of the winner of the athletic events – even the crown of royalty. These are given to Him.

John tells us who this is later in the book of Revelation:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:11-16, ESV).

As we have noted before, the book of Revelation is a series of cyclical tellings of the same story.  We ought not read the book of Revelation straight through as a linear story.  It is the same story told seven times with different symbols and intensities.

The sons of Korah sing of King David and forshadow the greater David, Jesus, Who was to come and is to come, “In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you” (Psalm 45:4-5, ESV).

What is Jesus, the Rider on the white horse, doing? 

We ought to note here that each of the riders are given something.  There is something that each rider has to be given to accomplish his task – something that he does not innately have.  In the case of the Rider on the white horse – Jesus – rather being born of normal human generation, He was given to be born by the Holy Spirit, the Son of Mary and the Son of God.  He is given to be both wholly God and wholly human, indwelled by God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus – in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension – conquered sin and death and hell.  He because our Substitute before God as the slain Lamb – Jesus is the Victory, the Conqueror, and He has made all we who believe conquerors with Him.

Jesus rides on through history on behalf of His people.  He is riding through the world and history to spread to Gospel and comfort the Church in the midst of tribulation.  The other horses and their riders are to be seen as part of the promise given to the Church of comfort – and victory – even though there will be tribulation until the return of Jesus.

Jesus is the Rider on the white horse – the King – Who is the Lamb – and gives His people comfort in Him as He leads us through the tribulation to eternity in His conquest.

          Three horses and their horsemen follow Jesus, and Jesus is in charge of them.  We do not need to be afraid of them because we will never be separated from the love of Christ Jesus.

“When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, ’Come!’ And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.”

The second seraphim cries out with a loud voice – Come! – and the second horse and his rider comes forth.

This is a disturbing promise – and it goes against those who teach that once we believe in Jesus we will be healthy, wealthy – and wise – a lie.

This is the persecution of the Church throughout time and space.  And Jesus gives the rider on the red horse permission to slaughter – especially those of the Church – with a great sword.  Why would Jesus allow this?

Jesus told the disciples, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Matthew 10:34-36, ESV).

Jesus promises: “As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’ And Jesus answered them, ‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

‘Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come’” (Matthew 24:4-14, ESV).

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (II Timothy 3:12, ESV).

War, bloodshed, and tribulation will come upon all true believers – to one extent or another – to show Who this is Who saves His people for the due punishment of their sins.

The red horse and his rider are symbolic of the tribulation – even to death – that the Church will suffer before Jesus returns – like the tribulation the Church was suffering then and that continues today. But be comforted:  all those who believe savingly in Jesus will come through the tribulation into the Kingdom that is being prepared for us.

“When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come!’ And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!’”

Again, the third seraphim cries out, “Come!” and the black horse and his rider comes forth. And he has been given a pair of scales.

The scales are not scales of truth or justice. The scales are the scales of inflation that leads to famine. Inflation is when the money you have today buys less than it did yesterday. Here we see that the rider on the black horse has been given permission to cause extreme inflation so what we need to buy today – not luxuries, but necessities – cost many times more than they did yesterday.  This will lead to extreme poverty.

          Here we see that one denarius will buy a quart of wheat, and a denarius will buy three quarts of barley. Yesterday, one denarius bought a quart of wheat flour, and a denarius bought three quarts of barley flour.  Today, the same amount of money will not buy flour, only the grain.  The same amount of money will buy food that is worth less.  Inflation. As it takes more money and more work to buy the necessities of life, you slide into poverty.

          The oil and the wine can only be purchased by the super rich.

          Jesus gives the rider of the black horse the power to cause inflation to the point of famine.  All the things that are necessary for life will be beyond the purchase of many.

          Yet, remember the words of Jesus to the Church in Pergamum, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17, ESV).

“When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, ‘Come!’ And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.”

          A fourth time, the fourth seraphim cries out, ‘Come!’ A pale horse comes out and the rider’s name is death.  He is given the authority to kill one fourth of the earth – twenty-five percent of the earth.  He is given the authority to kill with the sword, famine, pestilence, and wild bests.

          Why? Why is he given the authority to kill one fourth of the earth?  Why is he given the authority to kill twenty-five percent of the earth?

          We know due to the sin of our first parents, we will all die unless Jesus returns first.  So, why – here and now – are twenty-five percent of the earth given to the rider of the pale horse to kill?

          The answer is that twenty-five present is all Jesus allows the rider of the pale horse to kill.  Remember that Jeus is in charge.  Jesus is always sovereign over all. Jesus is victorious over all. The Lamb Who was slain is our God and King and Savior. He allows some of the Church to be slaughtered.  He allows some of the Church to suffer extreme poverty.  He allows some of the Church to die by sword and famine, and plaque, wild beasts, and natural disasters.

          Even so, we are persevered through the tribulation.

          “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-37, ESV).

          Christians can see the work of the four horsemen more clearly that the rest of the world.

          We understand that all these things are happening under the Sovereignty of the Triune God, and that knowledge should give us a God-centered realism.  God tells us all we need to know for faith and salvation, and we understand that Jesus is in charge.

          Let us pray:

          Almighty God, when we look at the world around us, we can be afraid at the wars and diseases and persecutions we see.  Comfort us in knowing that You are in charge of every molecule in all of Creation.  Help us to read about the four horsemen and see that Christians will suffer until Jesus returns, yet, in His Sovereignty, He draws a line before the horsemen and tells them, “This far and no further.” Everything that occurs comes from the Hand of Him Who loves us – though we will suffer.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"The Throne, Pat 2" Sermon: Revelation 5:1-14 (video)

 "The Throne, Part 2" Sermon: Revelation 5:1-14 (video) (youtube.com)

"The Throne, Part 2" Sermon: Revelation 5:1-14 (manuscript)

 

“The Thone, Part 2”

Revelation 5:1-14

YouTube January 14, 2024

          The last time we looked at the book of Revelation, we looked at the initial vision John had of the Throne.  We saw God the Father on the throne, Jesus at His Right Hand, and the Holy Spirit before them – ready to go out into all the world for the sake of the elect. We saw the twenty-four elders – symbolizing the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles – all believers through time and space. We saw the four creatures on their thrones – the seraphim.  And we saw that the creatures and the twenty-four fell before the throne of the Triune God in worship.

          We continue in the Throne room and see there is a sealed scroll that no mere human or creature can open.

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.”

It was not unusual to write on both sides of a scroll to save paper.  Scrolls were used for last wills and testaments, records of history – the deeds of kings, and other important information. This scroll is in the Right Hand of God the Father, and it is sealed with seven seals.  Scrolls were sealed in transit or to be saved for a future date.  We remember that seven is symbolic of completion. So, what would this scroll be?

Daniel gives a clue:  he hears a voice speaking, but he does not understand it, and we read: “I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, ‘O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?’ He said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end’” (Daniel 12:8-9, ESV).

Ezekiel records: “And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.” (Ezekiel 2:9-10, ESV).

Isaiah is told of Jerusalem: “And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, ‘Read this,’ he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed.’ And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, ‘Read this,’ he says, ‘I cannot read’” (Isaiah 29:11-12, ESV).

Daniel is told that the scroll has in it the outcome of these things.

Ezekiel is told that the scroll has words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

Isaiah is told that the scroll is sealed to those who are unworthy or unable to open it.

          This scroll is the history of the suffering and the judgment of humans.  It is the history of what will come at the end of time when Jesus comes in Glory to bring His people into His Kingdom, and for the eternal worship of God to commence by the mouth of all those that have been saved and by the restored creation.

          What is written on this scroll is the history of humanity and the response of each one who is brought into the Kingdom of God.  As Paul writes, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18, ESV).

          On the scroll is written the Sovereign Plan of God – the book of the Reign of Christ.

          But the seven seals – the seals that contain the fullness – the completion – of the Plan of God cannot be opened by any mere human – no sinner can open the seals on the holy and certain history enclosed.

          And John wept because he understood that he is a sinner who cannot open the seals and read the scroll.

          Second, one of the elders told John to stop weeping because there is One Who can open the seals and read the scroll.

          Notice quickly that this message is not given to John by one of the angels, but by one of his fellow humans, because humans have understanding of the works between God and man.  As Peter writes: “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (I Peter 1:10-12, ESV).

          “And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’”

          And as Christians, we automatically say, “Well, this is obviously Jesus.   Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Root of David.”  The only problem is that Jesus is never called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, nor the Root of David. The closet we find to these names are found:    In Genesis: “Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?” (Genesis 49:9, ESV).

          Isaiah records: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1, ESV).

          Perhaps the parallels between the lion and the root are technically enough.  We leave this here and accept Jesus as the fulfillment of the text.

          And the elder says that the Lion and the Root have the authority and ability to open the scroll and the seals.  He has conquered.  He has accomplished the ministry He is given.  He has ransomed the people of God.  He has made the elect of God a Kingdom and priests of God.  As we read in the opening of Revelation: “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6, ESV).

          Having been reassured of what the Lion and the Root can do the image changes.

          “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.  And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.”

          The Lion and the Root are gone and John sees between the Throne of God and the seraphim and all of the believers throughout time and space – in the fulfillment of the sacrificial system – he sees a Lamb standing between them – a Lamb that had obviously been slain and killed – though He is standing up among them.

          This is a picture of the Gospel.  John himself proclaimed, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (John 1:29, 35-36, ESV).

          Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb – the sinless and holy human Who is also God – so He is able to give Himself up as the offering for all we who believe throughout time and space. Being a Slain Lamb indicates that He is a sacrifice.  As the author of Hebrews writes, “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22, ESV).

          And the lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, and the seven eyes are the seven spirits that go throughout the earth. Again, seven is complete.

          Horns.  Moses blesses the tribe of Joseph using the symbol of the horn to mean strength and power. “A firstborn bull—he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples,all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh” (Deuteronomy 33:17, ESV).

          The Lamb has seven horns.  He has the completeness of power.  He is omnipotent.  There is none more powerful than the Lamb.  He has all power.

          The Lamb has seven eyes.  Zechariah tells us, “For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:10, ESV).

          The seven eyes of the Lamb are His Omniscience. The Lamb can see all things everywhere at once.

          Interestingly, we are reminded of the seven spirits which we understand to mean the Holy Spirit. Here we are told that the seven eyes are the seven spirits which are sent into the world at once. The Holy Spirit is sent by the Lamb into the whole world seeing everything all times at once as part of His ministry.

          And the Lamb took the scroll from the Hand of God the Father.  He can do so because He is 100% God and 100% human in One Person Who gave Himself to pay the debt for our sin, and Who rose from the dead, crediting His Righteousness and Holiness to each one who believes.  Thus, He can take the scroll and open the seven seals of the scroll.

          “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’”

          When the Lamb takes the scroll, the seraphim and every human believer falls down in worship before the Lamb.  There is no question as to the identity of the Lamb.  Each seraph and believer hold a harp signifying heavenly worship and a golden bowl of incense, symbolizing the prayers of the saints.

          And they sang a new song:

          “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth”

          Why is this a new song?

          This is a new song – a most glorious song – because it reveals Who the Savior is, how He will save His people, and what they will become through salvation. This was not known by the angels, and it was not known by the believers prior to the Lamb accomplishing His Work.  This is a new song because it is new.  It reveals what they now know about Gods plan for the salvation of His people. And it makes it clear that salvation is for the people He ransomed from every tribe, language, people and nation. This salvation is particular, not universal.

          And these people that are ransomed will reign over the earth.

          What can we say about this?  Some will say this is about the millennium.  Lord willing, we will look at that in the twentieth chapter of Revelation.

          For now, we can say every person that Jesus ransoms from the Wrath of God for our sins will reign on the earth.  As we saw before the ransomed will be a kingdom of priests.

          Third, our response and the response of every living creature is to worship.

          “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,”

          Notice who is worshipping the Triune God: all of the seraphim, all of the believers, and many myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands – an incalculable number of angels. Every creature that exists, and especially the believers that Jesus has ransomed, cry out in their loudest voice:

          “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

          Can we conceive of this at all?  The Worth of the Lamb Who shed His Blood for us – all that He is worthy of – all that we ought to give to Him and to have in response and correct use to Him.

          “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

          Paul writes, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:19-23, ESV).

          Paul writes of a time when all of Creation – your cats and dogs, goldfish and whales, deer and bison, hawks and goldfinches, and every other creature – whether living now or waiting for the return of the Lamb of God – it will be freed from the corruption that we brought it into in the Garden and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God with – at the same time – that believers are redeemed and restored in the redemption of our bodies.

          Can we imagine what a day it will be when we worship before the Lamb and our Triune God?  Can we hear every believer and every seraph and every angel and every bear, pig, ant, and crab bow at the feet of the Lamb, our Redeemer, and Praise Him forever for Who He is? Can we put it any better than the vision John received that day?

          There is a scroll with seals on it that no mere mortal can open, But Jesus, the Son of God, the Lion of Judah, the Root of Jesse, the Sacrificed Lamb opened it, revealing the whole plan and history of God. Knowing this is true and we have been redeemed gives us hope and every reason to worship Him on and throughout infinity.

          Let us pray:

          Almighty God, we thank You for this vision of the Lion Who is the Lamb, Who chose to shed Hs Blood to redeem us.  Let us begin to worship Him now and always for Who He is and what He has done, for He is Worthy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Review: "God Crowns His Own Gifts"

 

God Crowns His Own Gifts: Augustine, Grace, and the Monks of Hadrumetum by Ian Hugh Clary.

Based primarily on two letters Augustine wrote, the author looks at the growth in Augustine’s understanding in his view of grace and free will. Early on, Augustine had a more flexible understanding which allowed for human free which will change God’s plan. Later on, as he debated the Arians, he came out strongly in favor of Absolute Predestination.

The Monks of Hadrumetum were one group that Augustine had contact with that did not understand and embrace his change in views.  If the scholarly debates came from the theologian Augustine, then the explanation given to the monks was pastoral instruction.

In recent years, there has been an argument put forth that ministers are to be pastor/theologians, both being involved in the academy and in the ministry among the people of the church. In this, pastors grow in knowledge and in grace. A minister who only lives in books is lacking in ability to minister, as is the person who only lives in social problem.  Take Augustine to learn what it means to be a pastor/theologian,

Review: "When in Rome"

When In Rome by Ngaio Marsh is billed as one of her best novels.  I reluctantly disagree;

Ngaio Marsh made a real trip to Rome so she would be able to correctly portray the workings of the Italian police and to describe the buildings and art around – she was not very impressed.

Inspector Alleyn takes a trip to Rome as part of a group travelling on vacation. One of the vacationers is murdered and in Alleyn’s attempt to find the killer – which he does – he also gets mixed up with a drug ring.

I think my difficulty with the novel is its being place oriented and less people and discussion oriented

I will continue to read Marsh’s books – I have enjoyed them quite a lot overall.  But this one was not for me.

"The Throne, Part 1" Sermon: Revelation 4:1-11 (video)

 "The Throne, Part 1" Sermon: Revelation 4:1-11 (video) (youtube.com)

"The Throne, Part 1" Sermon: Revelation 4:1-11 (manuscript)

 

“The Throne, Part 1”

Revelation 4:1-11

December 31, 2023 YouTube

          We have looked at the seven churches of the book of Revelation. Jesus’ evaluation of them, and His words to them.  These were seven real, historical churches in what we now call Turkey, and the words to them apply to every church, minister, and Christian throughout time and space.

          After looking at the seven churches – where John is shown the sufferings of the churches and the Christians in them, John moves into the main part of the letter which is the book of Revelation. 

          As we move forward, let’s notice something about the structure of the book. In my experience, there is an idea that the book of Revelation is a single telling of one prophecy that we read from chapter one through chapter twenty-two, and that is how it will all come to pass.  The problem with reading it that way is the text presents trials of the Church and then judgment and the Second Coming, then the trials and the Second Coming, then the trials and the Second Coming.  In fact, what we see in the text of the book of Revelation is seven cycles of the same story being told with different imagery and with increasing intensity.  The book of Revelation is the telling of a prophecy in seven different ways.  The book of Revelation does not teach through a straight line but through seven cycles of the same prophecy.  Seven times, we will remember, indicating completion and perfection.

          Chapters four and five of the book of Revelation are a vision of the throne and throne room of God. We look at chapter four today having heard what Jesus says to the seven churches.

          First, we see the throne and the thrones.

“After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!”

In John’s day, there was great persecution against the church, and we saw that the church in Laodicea had become lukewarm, yet Jesus stood outside the church – not trying to get people to convert, but waiting for the believers left in the church to repent of their sin and to be filled with zeal by the Holy Spirit, the door again being open.

 “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.’”

John hears the voice and is told that he will now see how things truly are.  He will not merely hear about what is true, but he will see what is and what must take place “after this.”

Remember that Revelation is written in symbolic language.  When we are told that John goes up into heaven, how are we to take that?  Paul writes, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:4-6, ESV). We are already seated in the heavenly places.

“At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.”

The God Who appears to John has the appearance of stones that are found on the clothing of the priests.  More will be explained about this in chapter twenty-one.  And the rainbow like an emerald ought to remind us of the creation of the rainbow when Noah departed from the Ark and God gave it as a sign of the covenant between God and man that God would never again destroy all the world with water.  More generally, it refers to the covenant that God has made with believers through Jesus for our salvation.

Ezekiel describes a similar encounter and his response:

“And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking” (Ezekiel 1:26-28, ESV).

The picture we are given of God is that He is Sovereign – Absolutely Sovereign – over all things, and this One True God is worthy of all worship now and forever.  We ought to have the door open, our faces to the floor filled with zeal to worship and to act according to the will and the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

And there are more thrones:

“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.”

The throne of God sits in the center of twenty-four other thrones – or the throne of God is surrounded by twenty-four other thrones.  On each of the thrones, there is an elder. The twenty-four elders are the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.  The twenty-four elders are the carrying of the covenant from the Old Testament into the New Testament.  As Paul explains, the believers of the Old Testament are united with the believers in the New Testament.  Together, they are the Israel of God. These are all believers throughout time and space.

In the symbols of the twenty-four thrones with the twenty-four elders, we see that they wear white – they are purified and holy, and they wear golden crowns – they have finished the race by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And they are alive and on thrones, so believers are alive after death and are reigning now as we all wait for the Second Coming.  Just as we already saw Paul say, we believers who alive now on earth are reigning now with Christ, united with Him and all other believers.

“From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.”

From the throne of God comes sights and sounds and feelings of unsteadiness – does this sound familiar?  As Moses prepared to ascend to receive the Ten Commandments, we read, “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” (Exodus 19:16, ESV).  Even as believers, we ought to remember that coming before God is a serious thing.  As the author of Hebrews writes, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31, ESV).

Before the throne are seven burning torches which are the seven spirits of God – and we have already seen that the seven spirits are a symbol for the Holy Spirit, and the seven burning torches are also symbols for the Holy Spirit. (These are not the seven lampstands which are the churches.)  And the Holy Spirit is before the throne – not because He is less than God the Father and God the Son, but He is in readiness to go forward to do His work as the Third Person of the Trinity.

And before the throne is a sea of glass, like crystal.  The “sea” is normally the symbol for chaos, and it may be here.  Some commentators say that this may be symbolic for the waters of ceremonial washing.  This is an issue we will leave here.

          Second, the four living creatures.

“And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.”

Ezekiel gives a similar description of four creatures:

“As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies” (Ezekiel 1:4-11, ESV).

          We will remember from Isaiah’s call to the ministry:

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’” (Isaiah 6:1-3, ESV).

          And John tells us:

          “’And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’”

          The four living creatures are seraphim.  They are angels.  We are specifically told that they are angels that surround the throne of the Almighty God and confess Him as holy, holy, holy – as we have seen – in biblical writing, emphasis is shown by repetition, and repetition to the third time is the greatest of all, God is the Most Holy there can possibly be, and so the seraphim worship and praise God as the Most Holy possible, He Who is and was and will forever be – there is not and cannot be any greater than He.

          But why four?  Are there only four seraphim? There’s no reason to believe that – especially since the number four is symbolic for fullness or wholeness.  So, all of the seraphim praise God for Who He is – especially in His Holiness.

          Third, the response of worship.

          “And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’”

          God is on His throne.  The four living creatures – the seraphim – are around the throne – praising God in the highest for Who He is and forever will be – the Holiest of Holy.  The twenty-four elders – the believers of Israel and the Gentile nations – the patriarchs and the apostles – every Christian throughout time and space – they fall on their faces before God and worship Him.

          Gid is the Almighty.  God is Exalted.  God is Glorious.  God is Eternal.  God is Holy.  God Himself is the basis for all of our worship, and we worship Him by casting our crowns before Him – by acknowledging that everything we have and are – all the things we have been brought through by the Power of God Himself.  God’s Sovereignty is the basis of all of our worship. All of these are nothing before the One True God Who is Worthy, and so they, as we, throw our crowns before Him Who is Greater.

          The believers in John’s day needed to hear this as they endured great trials and times of woe.  By focusing on Who God is and worshipping Him always, believers can rejoice in Him always.  Not that trials and woes are not painful or cause us to wail, but, in our hearts, we know Jesus has saved us and no matter what happens to us and our fellow Christians, God is worthy of worship.

          That is not said easily or flippantly, Suffering and trials can be overwhelming, and they would destroy us if we did not know Who our God and Savior is.

          So let us focus on Him Who sits on the throne, surrounded by the elders and the creatures – all of whom fall down and worship – throwing everything aside for knowing the Holy, Holy, Holy God.  Let us focus on what He has done and all He has promised to His people.  Let us remember and trust Him for our futures and our lives. Let us find the joy of our lives in worshipping our Triune God.  Let us worship the Almighty God Who loves us, even as we suffer and endure trials, and the evil that is coming tries to get us to turn away from Him.  Let us know that we have already been delivered by our God and Savior.

          Let us pray:

          As we continue our look at the book of Revelation, we thank You for the visions You gave John.  We thank You that, although evil and trials and woes are real, we are Yours and already reigning with You.   We thank You that – seven times – You do not hide the suffering that has come and is coming, yet You also show – as many times – that You have already delivered us.  And so, we worship You – You Who are Worthy – You Who sit on the throne.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"Rejoice" Sermon: Luke 2:1-20 (video)

 "Rejoice" Sermon: Luke 2:1-20 (video) (youtube.com)

"Rejoice" Sermon: Luke 2:1-20 (manuscript)

 

“Rejoice”

[Luke 2:1-20]

December 24, 2023 Second Reformed Church

            On Thursday, I went to the bank, and there were two young men behind me – perhaps in their thirties, and the one young man said to the other, “I’m so sick of Christmas.  I’m not going to celebrate Christmas next year.  All this buying gifts for everybody is robbing me dry.”

            I regret that I did not say anything, but I stood there thinking:

            If he really thinks he has to give everybody gifts, he is not gift-giving; he’s fulfilling a perceived obligation.  Because no one has to give a gift – in order for a gift to be a gift, it has to be given – just because you want to – not under any obligation.  That’s why we don’t call our pay checks a “gift.”  Our pay checks are not gifts – they’re obligations.

            If I give you a gift, you should not feel under any obligation to give me a gift – and so forth.  Gifts are given freely out of joy – if they are truly gifts.

            And our gifts – I like the whole thing of gifts – especially “just because” – giving a gift because it gave me joy to give it and there was no specific date or reason.  And our gifts – to an extent – mirror the gifts of God – and especially the Greatest Gift that we especially think of at this time of year.

            And He is a gift – John wrote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV).  God the Father loved the world and gave His Son to Incarnate – to put on human flesh – because it gave Him joy to save a people for Himself through the work of His enfleshed Son.

            God is the Creator of everything that is, but in the Incarnation, God experienced being in the womb, His body’s growth, being expelled through the birth canal, experiencing the impact of His Creation on human senses, and needing help to eat and clean up after digestion.

            As Paul wrote, “Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking on the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5b-6, ESV).

            The Almighty God – in His Joy – came to earth in the Person the Son – becoming enfleshed in the person of Jesus of Nazareth – and for those years, He put aside the glory that was due Him – He kept the radiance of His Glory – except for a few glimpses – aside, and become eternally enfleshed – the One Member of the Godhead Who is also a human – and was not ashamed to put on swaddling clothes as a gift for us.

            In our text today, we see that the result of receiving a gift should be rejoicing.  Gifts ought to humble us and cause us to give thanks and praise to God and should fill us with joy.

            Luke opens this text in joy:

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to be registered, each to his own town.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.  And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.”

We remember that Luke was a historian – as well as a doctor – and he gives names and places, so, as his gospel is read, people could check what he said and confirm that it is all true – it all happened when he said and where he said and how it came to pass.

And Luke draws his line for the date of Jesus’ birth:  when Augustus Caesar reigned, crossed with when Quirinius was governor of Syria, crossed with the first census – the first registration – he took.

And Luke tells us that Joseph and Mary went – with everyone else – to the ancestral home of the husband.  In this case, even though they were living in Nazareth in Galilee – which is why Jesus would be called, Jesus of Nazareth – they went to his ancestral home – coming from the line of King David, from the city of Bethlehem in Judea.

And here we see that flashing light of joy – the people of Luke’s day  would have heard the prophecy:  “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth from me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2, ESV)

And, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1, ESV).

As Luke draws these historical lines, we can hear the joyful refrain underneath: “He was born in Bethlehem!  He was born in Bethlehem!”

And then we have the very subtle announcement: “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Perhaps so subtle at this point to give us the joy of knowing that the Savior is a human being, born of a human woman, born in the human way, born in the place that was available for them when the time came to pass.

The Savior is human like us.  The Savior understands what it is to be human.  The Savior can legally take our place before the Father as our Substitute – rejoice!

Second, the angels came rejoicing.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.”

Picture the scene:  you are out in the hills and pastures, feeding your sheep with some of the other shepherds.  You are guiding the sheep along, making sure they don’t fall into a hole, or wander off into the woods, watching out for any predators.  It’s night, and all is quiet, except for the baa-ing of the sheep.

And then – in a split second – the sky is filled with the bright and weighty light of the Glory of God, and the angel of the Lord appears.  And you and your fellow shepherds are down on the ground shaking.

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you:  you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’”

And, as angels are want to do, the angel of the Lord said, “Fear not.  Don’t be afraid.  I’ve got good news of great joy which is for every type of person who ever exists.”

The first good news is that the angel wasn’t there to kill them – or you, if you are still playing along.

The second good news is something so great and so joyful that it will be received as great and joyful by every type of person – Jews and Gentiles.  And if the shepherds had a moment to think, they probably wondered what good news would be a great joy for every type of person?

But the angel told them:  The Savior has been born in Bethlehem and He is God, the Savior.  And He is a human baby, and you will find him in swaddling cloths in a manger.

Again, if they had a moment to think:  The Savior has been born!  And He is God and He is human and He is a baby?

Maybe not – maybe they would have remembered what the prophet said, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name, Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14b, ESV). Which means, “God with us.”

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and one earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’

As this good news begins to sink into their minds, the angels break forth in praise – they can’t hold back any more – the angels rejoice from one end of the sky to another.

Luke tells us there was a multitude of hosts.  Multitude and host are synonyms for a massive number – so a massive number of massive numbers of angels appeared praising God, glorifying God – rejoicing in God – that with the birth of this Baby, Who is God, everyone with whom God makes peace is at peace.

Remember, we have said the greatest question – the biggest problem for humanity – is to find out how to be right with God – because it makes all the difference for all of eternity.  And here, the angels announce that God is going to make a people right with Himself – from every type of person – Jew and Gentile – God is going to make a people right with Himself by Himself through the Savior, God the Son, Who had just been born on that first Christmas.

And the angels were filled with joy for the Gift that God had given and was giving for the results it would have for all those who would ever believe. Salvation was made for the people of God in the birth of Jesus – rejoice!

Third, the shepherds rejoiced.

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’  And they went and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.  And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning the child.  And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them, but Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

The shepherds took the gift of the knowledge of the birth of the Savior and they went to see it for themselves – to see that it was true – to see the thing that God told them had happened.

And they went and found Mary and Joseph and Jesus in the manger.  And they told them about the angels and what they had said – that Jesus is God in the flesh come to make a people right with God of His own accord – and how they saw innumerable angels and the Glory of God and how the angels praised God and glorified Him for what He had done in sending Jesus to make all those who would believe right with God.

And the shepherds were so full of joy, when they went from the manger – they kept rejoicing – and they told everyone they met about what had happed and what they had seen in Bethlehem – the birth of the Gift of Love from the Father.  It was such great news they had to keep telling people – telling people –

And the people who they told wondered about what they said:  was it true?  Did the shepherds really see the angel of the Lord and the Glory of God and the heavens explode with angels praising and glorifying God for sending the Savior?  Did they really see the Savior in Bethlehem?  Is He really here?  Is every type of person now able to be right with God?

And we might wonder about the people who wondered:  how many of them went to check the story?  How many of them came to believe that the shepherds told the truth – the angels announced the birth of the Savior – and He is the Man, Jesus?

The shepherds were convinced – and they couldn’t keep quiet:  God the Savior has come as a baby!  Rejoice!

Fourth, Mary rejoiced.

When Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, she sang, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estates of his servant.  For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:46b-49, ESV).

Over the past nine months, Mary had showed herself devoted and humble, a woman who sought to serve her God whatever it may entail.

She rejoiced in hearing the words of the angel and the words of Elizabeth, and now, with that peaceful humility she rejoiced and quietly received the words of the shepherds – and we are told she “pondered them in her heart” – literally, “she carefully stored them away in her heart – in the deepest part of her being” – all of this – something to have joy about and to recount and ponder anew – and rejoice.

Throughout her life, Mary looked back on these words and these occurrences and rejoiced!

Did buying Christmas presents rob your wallet dry?

Perhaps you should give less presents next year and focus on the Gift that God gave to all those who will believe – the way to be right with God through His Son.

If you have received this Gift of God – if you have been made right with God through Jesus – focus on rejoicing in Him – giving Him the praise and the glory.

And then, as you are joy-filled, you may find yourself rejoicing and giving gifts to others – especially the gift of the knowledge of Jesus and His salvation.

Rejoice!

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we rejoice and give You thanks for loving us and sending Your Son that first Christmas that we would be made right with You through Him.  Help us to stay focused on this truth and joyfully let others know.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.