Sealed in Christ – Revelation 7:1-8

Revelation 7:1: “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.”

“After these things” refers to what transpired when the first six seals were opened. In Revelation chapter six, when the first four seals were opened, war, famine, and death broke out on the earth. When the fifth seal was opened, the Lord promised martyrs in heaven to avenge their blood. When the sixth seal was opened, a great earthquake occurred, the sun was darkened, the moon became blood red, stars fell to the earth, the sky changed, and mountains and islands came down. People cried out for mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them “from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!”

Have you heard the saying, “Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better?”

In Jeremiah 1:9-10, the Lord said to Jeremiah prior to the Babylonian takeover of the world, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.” After Babylon tore things down, God rebuilt them.

The prophecy of Jeremiah reflects the prophecy of Revelation. After the end times Babylon destroys, God makes a new heaven, new earth and new Jerusalem.

In Revelation 7:1, John sees four angels holding back the four winds of the earth.

In Jeremiah 49:36, the Lord speaks of bringing four winds from the four quarters of heaven to scatter the people of Elam, that is, to displace them from their land.

In Daniel 7:2, Daniel sees a vision by night of the four winds of heaven stirring up the Great Sea. In Daniel 7:3-28, from the Great Sea arises four great beasts which are world conquering empires one after another. They destroy many people, but then, the Kingdom of Christ appears and they are no more, and only His kingdom remains.

In Zechariah 6:5, an angel explains to Zechariah that the four horseman are four spirits of heaven. The Hebrew word for “spirit” can also mean “wind” depending on the context.

During a surgical procedure, a surgeon makes a wound to reach the inner part that needs mending. Once the wound is closed up, better health follows.

Job 5:18 says that the Lord “wounds, but He also binds up. He shatters, but His hands also heal.” Hosea 6:1 says, “Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn us, that He may heal us; He has stricken, and He will bind us up.”

In Romans 2:4, we read, “Do you despise the riches of His [God’s] goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” God allows humbling circumstances to turn us FROM sin so that we will turn TO Him.

The Book of Judges contains testimonies of God allowing pagan nations to oppress His people to bring about their repentance. When they cried out to God for help, He raised up a “judge” to deliver them from their enemies.

Are you dealing with enemies? Repent of your sins against God. Name them! Your worst enemy is sin. Cry out to God! Ask Him to forgive you! Ask Him to deliver you from whatever is oppressing you.

In Acts 26:18, Jesus told Paul that his mission was to open the eyes of people “in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

Revelation 7:2-3: Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’”

Our Lord Jesus revealed to John four angels holding back the four winds from the earth. Governments have invested millions of dollars in climate control research. God only needs four angels to manage it. They are climate control experts. Winds of change are about to be released when a fifth angel shouts to the other four not to harm the world “till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

God’s wrath is not against His servants. Remember how God protected Israel from the plagues that He sent upon Egypt?

In Exodus 9:23-26, “Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. So, there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail... And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt... Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.”

In Exodus 12:12-13, God told Moses to have people place lamb’s blood on the doorposts of their homes so that when the angel of death passed through Egypt they would be protected.

In Peter 2:7-9, the Lord, “delivered righteous Lot” from His judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot “was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked. His righteous soul was tormented from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.”

In Revelation 7:3, God ordered a SEAL to be placed on the foreheads of His servants before the four angels released the four winds.

In Ezekiel 9:4-52, God told His angel, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” Then, to another angel, He said, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion.” God protected His prayer warriors from the plagues of Ezekiel’s days.

Revelation 7:4-8: “And I heard the number of those who were sealed. 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: of the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Gad 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Asher 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Levi 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph 12,000 were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin 12,000 were sealed.”

God seals 144,000 Israelites. In Revelation 14:1, John saw “a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His Father’s Name written on their foreheads.”

In the ancient world, a king or a property owner used a seal to show ownership. The Name of the Father are on the foreheads of the 144,000 because they are in Christ.

In John 6:27, Jesus told the Jews, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” God the Father has His seal on Jesus. Being in Christ is the key to being sealed by God. Be in Christ and you are sealed by God for everlasting life.

According to 2 Corinthians 1:22, God’s seal is His Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 says, “Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” 2 Timothy 2:19 says that “the Lord knows those who are His.” Ephesians 4:30 says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” The angels of God know whom God has sealed.

The 144,000 are the saved remnant of Israel mentioned in Romans 11:24. They are elected by God’s grace! They are the natural branches grafted back into God’s olive tree!

These 144,000 Jews do not come to God by works of the Law. As with Saul of Tarsus, Christ Jesus converts them to Himself by His grace. Their unique calling and abilities are God’s grace gifts to them and to the world. The Lamb makes them outstanding evangelists.

In Revelation chapter seven, the names of Joseph and Manasseh are listed but the names of Dan and Ephraim are not. The tribe of Dan introduced idolatry into the nation of Israel according to Judges 18:30. Some speculate that the anti-Christ will come from the tribe of Dan because of Jacob’s words in Genesis 49:17. Jacob declared, “Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider shall fall backward.” A viper that causes people to fall backward. The antichrist leads people to fall away from (abandon) faith in the true Christ. Manasseh and Ephraim were the sons of Joseph. So, in essence there are 24,000 elected ones from the tribe of Joseph and none from the tribe of Dan. [1]

Usually, Joseph, though one of the twelve sons of Jacob, is not listed as a tribe of Israel. His sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, are listed as half tribes. Sometimes, Ephraim is used in the Old Testament to refer to all the northern tribes of Israel, just as Judah is used at times to refer to all the southern tribes of Israel. The northern kingdom’s capitol, Samaria, was located in the land allocated to Ephraim. Perhaps, the reason that the name Ephraim is not used in Revelation chapter seven is because of its double meaning.[2]

In Revelation 14:4, the Lord indicates that the 144,000 do not have intimate relationships with women. God also led Jeremiah the prophet not to marry. In Jeremiah 16:1-4, the Lord told Jeremiah not to take a wife to spare him from grief. The Lord said, “They shall die gruesome deaths... they shall be like refuse on the ground.” The Lord spares the 144,000 from concerns of harm happening to spouses and children.

The 144,000 are not symbolic of the Church. Celibacy was never required of the Church as a whole. God gave Christians permission to marry in 1 Corinthians 7:1-6.[3]

According to Revelation 14:4-5, the 144,000 are sealed with divine protection from apostasy. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They are redeemed by the Lamb. In contrast to the anti-Christ and his followers, they do not deceive. “No deceit was found in their mouths.”

According to Romans 10:4, during the days of wicked King Ahab and evil Queen Jezebel, God reserved 7,000 men who refused to bow to Baal. The 144,000 in Revelation chapters seven and fourteen are like the 7,000. They are sealed by God so that they can complete their mission for Christ. They are His end times harvesters of souls. They are His gift to the world. Can you imagine the harvest they will have? It only took 12 Messianic disciples to start the Church.

The underlying question of Revelation 7:1-8 is, “Am I sealed by God? Have I believed in Jesus and received His Holy Spirit?” If not, now is the time to do so. Don’t wait! When the Lord returns, He will arrive like a flash of lightning. In Hebrews 3:7, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’” Believe and receive Jesus Christ!


[1] Sermon notes from Adrian Rogers
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid

The Martyr’s Prayer is Answered – Revelation 6:9-17

Revelation 6:9-10: “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

The souls under the altar want the Lord to avenge their blood on those who dwell on the earth. They represent the cry of all martyrs from Abel to the last martyr of God.

“How Long O Lord?” They want justice. In Psalm 79:6, Asaph prayed, “Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, and on the kingdoms that do not call on Your Name.”

In Genesis 4:10-12, after Cain killed his younger brother, the Lord asked, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

The Lord gave to Cain a consequence for killing his brother. In Revelation 16:6, those who shed innocent blood receive the consequences they deserve: “They have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”

God also counts the blood of children as innocent blood. 2 Kings 21:6 says, “He [Manasseh] made his son pass through the fire...” 2 Kings 24:3-4 says, “Surely at the commandment of the Lord this came upon Judah, to remove them from His sight because of the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, and also because of the innocent blood that he had shed; for he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the Lord would not pardon.”

False religions yield no salvation. Psalm 106:37 says that “they even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.” The only One whose blood was without sin is Jesus Christ. God does not receive the blood of any other than His own Son to atone for the sins of humanity.

Innocent bloodshed is what makes horror movies so horrific. An Australian missionary once said to me, “Movies that glorify the shedding of innocent blood are satanic.” Visions of demons slaughtering innocent people is evil in God’s sight.

The devil tempts people to sin. Sin yields the curses of the Law. The devil, however, wants people to blame the followers of Christ for the world’s curses. To be their scapegoats.

In Deuteronomy 32:43, the Lord calls the nations to rejoice with His people, saying, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries. He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

In 2 Kings 9:1-3, Elisha commissioned one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu king over Israel while Jezebel was still a queen over them. The young man spoke the following words over Jehu as he anointed him, “You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.” Jehu made sure that Jezebel died the disgraceful death she deserved.

In Luke 18:7, Jesus asked a rhetorical question, “Shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” “YES!” God will avenge their death.

In Revelation 8:13, John hears an angel say with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

John, who recorded the words of Revelation for us, lost his brother James in Acts 12:2 when King Herod killed him with the sword. John saw Jesus crucified because of His love for people.

In Revelation 6:9, John saw the souls of the martyrs of Christ under an altar. The altar symbolizes a life poured out for God. Leviticus 4:7 says that the priest “shall pour the remaining blood at the base of the altar of the burnt offering.”

The Lord’s martyrs were slain for declaring God’s Word and for testifying for Jesus. Revelation 19:10 says, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” In Mark 13:9-10, Jesus said, “You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them...”

Revelation 12:11 speaks of those who overcome the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

In Revelation 12:17, the devil is at war with those who keep the commandments and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. He is at war with those who preach the Law which condemns sin, and the Gospel which points to Jesus Christ as the only Savior from sin.

In Revelation 20:4, John sees “the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God.” They refused “to worship the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.” They live and reign with Christ.

Revelation 6:11: “Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”

The martyrs are told to rest a little while longer until the rest of their fellow servants and brothers are killed as they were.

It is a painful undertaking at times to save sinners. It cost God His Son. It cost God countless faithful saints and servants. Satan is very cruel. To rescue captives from him is to risk personal harm. But the devil’s day is coming.

In Acts 17:31, Paul told the Epicurean and Stoic people of Athens that “He [God] has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

In the last six verses of Revelation chapter six, “the wrath of the Lamb” is released. Who thought a Lamb could render such harsh judgments?

Revelation 6:12-17: “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

All classes of people want mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of God and the wrath of the Lamb.

In Exodus 8:19, Pharaoh’s magicians recognized that God was plaguing Egypt. They said, “This is the finger of God.”

In Leviticus 26:1-44, God told Israel that they would be blessed if they obeyed Him and cursed if they defied Him.

As to curses, the Lord says in Leviticus 26:18, “After all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.” The Lord pauses between each set of seven judgments to give people an opportunity to repent.

Jesus Christ reveals three rounds of seven judgments in the Book of Revelation. Round one is the seven seal judgments (Revelation 6:6-7:5). Round two is the seven trumpet judgments (Revelation 7:7-15:8). Round three is the seven bowl judgments (Revelation 16:2-17:8).

Pharaoh would not have experienced ten plagues if he had repented after the first one, but he was hard-hearted. Likewise, many people in the last days will be like the Pharaoh and like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. They will refuse to admit that ungodliness is wrong. In 2 Peter 2:6, 10, Peter wrote, “They are presumptuous, self-willed...”

We can choose to defy God, but we cannot choose the consequences that of such defiance.

The key difference between saints and sinners is that saints recognize their need for Christ to bear the curse of the Law for them and sinners do not.

In Galatians 3:10, Paul wrote, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the Law, to do them.”

In Galatians 3:13-14, Paul wrote, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us... that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

The Law demands a curse on whoever breaks it. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law” means that He covers our imperfect obedience with His perfect obedience. The blessing of Abraham is a friendly relationship with God. In James 2:23, it says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God.”

As friends of God, we might experience temporary persecution from those who hate Him, but we will not experience God’s eternal wrath on sin.

God’s judgments on earth are lesser tribulations intended to save us from a greater tribulation, namely an eternity without Him in hell.

For example, in Acts 16:26- 31, the Lord called for an earthquake to open the prison cell where Paul and Silas had been locked up unjustly. The earthquake frightened the prison guard. He thought his prisoners had escaped. He was about to kill himself, but Paul stopped him and urged him to believe in Jesus. He and his entire family believed in Jesus. The earthquake prepared his heart to listen to the voice of God via Paul and Silas.

The people under the Lamb’s wrath ask who is able to stand before Him? Will you be able to stand before Him when your life is over? In Luke 21:36, Jesus said to “pray that you may be counted worthy to escape these things and to stand before the Son of Man.”

In Romans 5:1-2, we learn how to stand before God... “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand.” We must stand before God clothed in the merits of Christ and not our own.

In Psalm 52:7-9, the Lord urges us not to be like the man who trusted in the abundance of his riches. In Psalm 53:1, David wrote, “I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever because You have done it...”

I like what missionary and martyr Jim Elliott once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

The Four Horsemen – Revelation 6:1-8

In Revelation 6:1-8, the Lord revealed to John four horses with four riders. This vision relates to the vision that He gave to Zecheriah the prophet back in the days of Darius of Persia.

In Zechariah 1:8-11, the Lord showed Zechariah a man riding on a red horse, and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. Sorrel is a bright copper-red or reddish-brown. The Lord explained to Zechariah that, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth.”

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

In Zechariah 1, the horsemen found the people of earth at peace with their sin. But in Zechariah 6:1-6, the four horsemen are pulling war chariots. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses. All of the horses are strong steeds or war horses. The Lord explained to Zechariah that these four horses are four spirits of heaven. They go out from the Lord to all the earth.

As in the Book of Revelation 6:2-8, the four colored horses bring curses based on the Law of Moses against those who break God’s Law.

The horses of the first chariot were red, signifying war and bloodshed. In Revelation 6:2-8, the red horse takes peace from the earth so that people kill one another. The white horse comes with a bow and a conqueror. The black horse brings famine and insufferable economic inflation. The pale horse is followed by Death and Hades.

Cumulatively, they bring forth sword (war), famine, pestilence and death. These four judgments are like four prescriptions designed to humble people and to bring them to repentance. The words, “sword, famine and pestilence” appear together in 26 different Bible verses. Death usually follows war, hunger and disease. Death is the fourth horseman.

Prophetic voices warn against dangers of false beliefs and point people to the importance of true beliefs about God. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Thus, it is important that we work to replace false beliefs about God with truth beliefs about Him.

God consistently warns people of His judgments against false beliefs before He applies judgments. For example, in Jeremiah 14:12, the Lord said to the people of Jerusalem through His prophet, “I will consume them by the sword, by the famine and by the pestilence.”

In Jeremiah 27:8, the Lord said, “It shall be, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish, says the Lord, with the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.” In Jeremiah 29:17, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.”

In Matthew 24:7-8, Jesus spoke of sword, famine, pestilence and earthquakes.

Many today erroneously assume that God is no longer the same toward sin as He was before.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says, ”When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, these shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”

Hebrews 10:26-31 says, “If we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Like a mother bear, God’s grace has two depositions, one of warmth toward those who receive and appreciate it, and the other of vengeance toward those who insult the Spirit of His grace.

In Romans 3:31, Paul wrote, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! Yea, we establish the Law.” This means faith in Christ doesn’t nullify God’s Law, faith in Christ fulfills the Law.

In 2 Peter 1:3, Peter wrote that God’s “divine power has granted us everything we need for life and godliness.”

In 1 John 5:2, John wrote that commandment keeping is an expression of love among God’s people. “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.” God and His Word are one and the same. We love God by loving what He says and by applying His Word to our every day lives.

The four horses of judgment are comparable to the four winds of change mentioned in the Bible. In Daniel 7:2, the four winds of heaven churn up the Great Sea, from which four great beasts (worldly empires) emerge.

In Revelation 7:1, four angels stand at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds until God’s servants are sealed (Those who love and serve the Lord are protected from God’s wrath). When the four winds are released, disasters break out. The Hebrew word for wind (ruach) also means spirit or breath, connecting these winds to spiritual forces.

In Zechariah 6:7-8, we read, “Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, ‘Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.’ So they walked to and fro throughout the earth. And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, ‘See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.”

The strong steeds refers to all four horsemen. After they complete their judgments on the first three empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Graeco-Macedonia, they walk to and fro the earth until the final foe of Israel arises, namely the Roman Empire. This empire will continue in various forms until the second advent of Christ. Hence they “walk to and fro through the earth.” The last great competitive empire against God shall fall as did the previous three.

Revelation 6:1-2: “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see.’ And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.”

This conqueror on a white horse is an antichrist. The word “anti” means against or instead of Christ. He rides a white horse like the Messiah does in Revelation 19:14, but he is not the Messiah. He is a counterfeit. He conquers people militarily and ideologically. In John 5:43, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not accept Me, but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.”[1]

According to Jesus in Matthew 24:5, the appearances of antichrists are an indication that the end of the world is near. The world is looking for a hero. Currently, the largest money making films are about heroes who do great signs and wonders.

Revelation 6:3-4: “When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.”

The rider on a fiery red horse has a sword in his hand. Red is the color of blood. The last days of earth will be filled with wars. There will be class, gender, race and religious wars. The rider on the fiery red horse takes peace from the earth so that people kill each other. Peace is God’s blessing. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. If we want peace, we must have Christ.[2]

Revelation 6:5-6: “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ So, I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard 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 the wine.’”

The rider on the black horse has a scale in his hand. John hears a voice saying that a quart of wheat will cost day’s wage. Can you imagine having to work a whole day for a loaf of bread? Famine follows war as night follows day.[3]

Revelation 6:7-8: “When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”

Death rides a pale horse. The word for “pale” here is the Greek word “cloros.” It is a greenish yellow. The color of a corpse! Death sits on this horse and Hades follows him. Hades (the grave) collects what death leaves behind.[4] War, hunger, disease and calamities have snared his prey.

Did Jesus warn people about a worse tribulation than the tribulations experienced on the earth? Yes, He did. Yes, Jesus warned about hell more than any other in the Bible. Read Luke 16:19-31; Mark 9:43, 48; Matthew 10:28, 13:42, 25:30 for more details. Jesus used vivid words like unquenchable fire, outer darkness and weeping to describe hell. Jesus wanted people to repent of trying to save themselves and turn to Him (the Messiah) for salvation.

Think of it! If the consequences of sin are not severe, why did the Son of God have to die a cruel death on a cross to save us from our sin?

God’s earthly judgments are lesser tribulations intended to save us from a greater tribulation, namely an eternal judgment in hell. For example, in Acts 16:26- 31, the Lord called for an earthquake to open the prison cell where Paul and Silas had been locked up unjustly. The earthquake frightened the prison guard. He thought his prisoners had escaped. He was going to kill himself, but Paul stopped him and urged him to believe in Jesus. The prison guard and his entire family believed in Jesus. The earthquake prepared his heart to listen to the voice of God via Christ’s servants Paul and Silas. He believed in Jesus and acted upon His Word and was saved from the eternal consequences of his sin.

Have you believed in Jesus? I mean really believed in Him as though your eternity depended on Him because it does. It is eternally vital that you place all your trust in the merits of Christ for your salvation, and not in your own merits. Be like the tax-collector in Luke 18:13, who with humility and anguish for his sin, said, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” In Luke 18:14, Jesus said, “I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

[1] Sermon notes from a message by Adrian Rogers
[2] Ibid
[3] Sermon notes from a message by Adrian Rogers
[4] Ibid

The Lamb is Worthy to Open the Scroll – Revelation 5:6-14

Revelation 5:6-7: “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. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”

Please refer to my Bible notes on Revelation chapter four for extensive cross-references and explanations about the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders.

In a vision, John sees God the Father is on His throne and Jesus the Son amidst the four living creatures and twenty-four elders. Previously, in chapters 1-3, Jesus appeared in His glorious form with white hair, eyes a flame, bright clothing, a golden sash about His chest and feet like burnished brass. He displayed His glory and power. In this chapter, Jesus appears as a Lamb who had been slain, and yet is alive.

In Revelation 6:12-17, people of the world experience things like the sun and moon darkened, stars falling, an earthquake, the sky in upheaval, and mountains and islands disappearing. Their response is to hide themselves in caves and behind rocks of mountains, and exclaim, “Hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” So, they too, see God the Father on His throne and Jesus the Son as a Lamb in His midst.

In Revelation 7:10, John sees “a great multitude which no one could number.” They are from every geographical location and people group from earth. They cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

In John 1:29, John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

In Isaiah 53:7, Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah 700 years before His arrival, saying, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was like a Lamb led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.”

John the Apostle sees Jesus with “seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” The Lamb is omnipotent. Seven horns suggest perfect and complete power. The Lamb is omniscient. Seven eyes suggest perfect and complete knowing. In

Zechariah 4:10, the Lord explained to Zechariah that the seven eyes of the Lord, “scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

In Daniel 7:9-10, Jesus is described as the Ancient of Days and in Revelation 5:6-7, He is the Lamb who had been slain but is alive. In both passages, a scroll is about to be opened. In Daniel 7:10, Daniel sees more than one scroll, in Revelation 5:7, John is focused on one scroll. This is because this particular scroll is relevant to what is to be revealed in Revelation 6-16.

In Revelation 5:1, 7, and Ezekiel 2:9-10, the scroll is held out from God’s hand. It is written on both sides. In Ezekiel 2:10, the words on it are “lamentations, mourning and woes.” In Revelation chapters 6-16, as various seals from the scroll are opened wars, famine, plague and death are released on those who refuse to repent and give God glory. Their need for repentance is mentioned in Revelation 9:20-21. Their need to repent and give God glory is mentioned in Revelation 16:9.

Revelation 5:8: “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.”

The moment the Lamb takes the scroll, the four cherubim and twenty-four elders bow and worship Him. Various cults deny the deity of Christ, but it would be blasphemy for anyone to worship Jesus Christ if He was not God.

Heavens does not lack musicians. Worship in heaven is accompanied with harp music.

In Revelation 14:1-2, John see the Lamb (Jesus) standing on Mount Zion (Jerusalem) with 144,000 servants with His Father’s Name on their foreheads. At the same time, he hears “a voice from heaven,” and “the sound of harpists playing their harps.” Music and ministry go together.

In Revelation 15:1, it is written that after seven angels release the seven last plagues, the wrath of God is complete. This scene is reminiscent of Joshua 6:1-20, where the priests of the Lord marched around the kingdom of Jericho (representing the kingdom of the ungodly) seven times and blew trumpets and the mighty walls of Jericho collapsed. At this point, John sees those who got the victory over the beast standing on a sea of glass, having harps of God.

The elders present the prayers of the saints to God. God regards their prayer as a sweet-smelling incense, as if set in precious golden bowls.

In Revelation 8:3-5, an angel stands before a golden altar of incense and offers incense mixed with the prayers of all the saints to God. The smoke of the incense and the prayers of the saints ascend before God. The angel throws a censer filled with fire from the altar to the earth, and it causes noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake on earth.

In Psalm 141:2, David wrote, “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Incense has a pleasing aroma. So does the prayers of God’s people to God.

Incense needs fire to make it work. So do our prayers. In Acts 2:3-4, tongues of fire appeared on the heads of the disciples as the Holy Spirit filled them on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is the fire that ignites the incense of our prayer life.

Revelation 5:9-10: “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, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’”

They honor the Lamb for price of redemption: “For You were slain.”
They honor the Lamb for the work of redemption: “You redeemed us.”
They honor the Lamb for the destination of redemption: “You redeemed us to God.”
They honor the Lamb for the cost of redemption: “By Your blood.”
They honor the Lamb for the scope of redemption: “Every tribe, tongue, people and nation.”
They honor the Lamb for the outcome of redemption: “Made us kings and priests to our God.” [1]

In Colossian 2:15, Jesus Christ is the Redeemer “who disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (the cross).” In John 19:28-30, while on the cross, Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” When Jesus died on the cross, He removed the devil’s gateway to destroy us. Jesus disarmed the devil by removing our sin.

In Luke 19:27, wrath comes upon those who said of Messiah, “We will not have this King to reign over us.” Wrath is stored up for those who reject the Word of God. In John 5:22, Jesus said, “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.”

Jesus saves repentant sinners and judges unrepentant sinners. Some used His Name to curse and others to bless. When we die, we either meet Jesus as a Lamb or a Lion.

Look at your knees. Stick out your tongue. Philippians 2:10-11 states that every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God our Father.

Some politicians persecute Jesus, but they cannot dethrone Him. In Psalm 2:1-4, God sits in heaven and laughs at the coup attempts of kings to overthrow Him. It is impossible to dethrone God. In Revelation 12:7-12, the devil tried and failed.

Revelation 5:11-12: “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 time ten thousands, and thousands of thousands, 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!’”

Hundreds of year before John received His vision of the Lamb receiving the scroll while many thousands worshipped Him, Daniel received a similar vision of the Ancient of Days. In Daniel 7:9-10, Daniel saw thousands and thousands ministering to Him. “Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the scrolls [סִפְרִ֥ין] were opened.” These two passages speak of the same Messiah.

The host of heaven are preparing for war on evil. Countless angels join in, declaring the worthiness of the Lamb because of the redemption He accomplished. They don’t mumble praises to God. They praise Him loudly. Millions praise God! They give Him glory and honor!

Revelation 5:13-14: “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!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the 24 elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”

Wherever Jesus is present and working, there is praise and worship.

Why would anyone not want to honor Christ? In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the devil “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

The proper response to the good news of Jesus Christ according to Romans 10:9-10 is to believe in Him with your heart and to profess that Him with your mouth. He saves those who do so.

In Psalm 49:8-15, David wrote, “The redemption of their souls is costly... that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.” “Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.” “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me.”

According to Psalm 50:3-5, God keeps His promises: “Our God shall come and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: ‘Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’”

Thus, it is good to humbly pray to God as David did in Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Amen!


[1] Notes from a sermon by Adrian Rogers

Who is Worthy to Open the Scroll – Revelation 5:1-5

Revelation 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.”

In Exodus 3:7-8, the Lord did not hand Moses a scroll with woes written on it for Egypt, but He said to Moses, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So, I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land…”

The Egyptians whipped, despised, insulted, cheated, and slew Israel without pity until the Lord intervened with mighty signs and miracles. God delivered His people from their oppressors.

In Exodus 7:5, the Lord said to Moses, “The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

Revelation 1:1 states this book is, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.”

In Revelation 1:2, John states that he is bearing witness to the Word of God, to the testimony of Jesus Christ and to all things which he saw.

In Revelation 5:1, John sees a scroll that is full of words in the right hand of God. These words have been sealed up. Their meaning has not yet been revealed. The events of Revelation chapters 6-16 are contained in the scroll. It is time to open the scroll and reveal its judgments.

In Ezekiel 2:9-3:1, the Lord revealed to Ezekiel a scroll that had writing on the inside and on the outside. The words on the scroll were lamentations, mourning and woe. The Lord said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”

In Revelation 10:8-11, John sees a little book (βιβλαριδιον) in the hand of a mighty one. He is told by a voice out of heaven, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” The angel said to John, “Take and eat it! It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” So, John took it out of the angel’s hand and ate it. It was sweet to his mouth, but bitter to his stomach. And then the angel said to John, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

John had already wrote down many woes in Revelation chapters 6-9, now he has more woes to proclaim. The woes are not good news for those who love the kingdoms of this world. The woes reveal how Satan and those who serve his purposes will ultimately be cast into a lake of burning fire and brimstone, to be tormented day and night. Thus, God warns people via His prophets.

In Daniel 8:23-26, the Lord revealed that “in the latter time... when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise with fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. “He shall cause deceit to prosper.” The Lord tells Daniel to, “seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.” Hidden details of this vision are released in Revelation 12-13 when the Lord reveals to John details of Satan’s war with those who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. In Revelation 13:7, the Lord reveals to John a beast who is granted power “to make war with the saints and to overcome them.”

In Daniel 12:8-10, Daniel wrote, “Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”

In Jeremiah 32:9-15, before Jerusalem was destroyed by the King of Babylon, the Lord told Jeremiah to purchase land in the city because after Jerusalem was destroyed, it would be rebuilt. Jeremiah’s title deed to land in rebuilt Jerusalem is a scroll that contains good news for those who believe God’s Word. God will raze that which is defiled and raise that which is holy. In fact, Jeremiah’s name can either mean “raze” with a “z” (to destroy) or “raise” with a “s” (buildup or resurrect).

Revelation 5:2: “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to remove its seals?’”

“Who is worthy” is the resounding question that the strong angel asks. There is something important written on that scroll. Who can open it? Who can reveal its meaning?

The Lord does not reveal to hypocrites the meaning of the words on the scroll. In Isaiah 29:11, “The whole vision has become to you like the words of a scroll that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, ‘Read this, please.’ And he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed.’” In Isaiah 29:13-14, the Lord explained to His prophet, “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me... Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people... the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

In some cases, God gives a prophecy at one point in time, but does not make its meaning clear to people until later time. The Lord said in Daniel 12:9, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” In Revelation 10:4, John was not allowed to share what “seven thunders uttered.” He “was about to write,” but heard a voice say, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

Revelation 5:3-4: “And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.”

John wants the scroll to be unsealed. He is intrigued by what the Lord has already revealed to him. He has seen in the right hand of God a scroll with seven seals on it. He wants to know what the Word of the Lord is for the end times. He is weeping because it seems no one in heaven or earth is worthy to open it.

Revelation 5:5: “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 remove its seven seals.”

The Heavenly Father has entrusts His Word to His Son to reveal it. In Matthew 11:27, Jesus said, “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” In John 12:49, Jesus said, “The Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”

The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David are references to Jesus the Messiah!

Hebrews 7:14 says, “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah.”

The title, “Lion of the tribe of Judah” relates Jesus to a prophecy of the Messiah recorded in Genesis 49:9-10. “Judah is a lion’s whelp... The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

In Isaiah 31:4, the Lord said to Isaiah, “As a lion roars, and a young lion over his prey... so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.” Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He defeated the power of death and prevailed over it in His resurrection.

The lion is an image of strength, kingliness, vigilance. Dr. Adrian Rodgers said, “Jesus is a lamb to those who believe in Him but a lion to those who reject Him.”

The title, “Root of David” relates Jesus to prophecies of Messiah recorded in Isaiah 11:1, 10. “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.” While testifying for Jesus, Paul refers to Isaiah’s prophecy in Romans 15:12, “Again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse. He shall rise to reign over the Gentiles. In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

In Revelation 22:16, Jesus says of Himself, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

“Who is worthy to open the scroll?” “Who will reveal its meaning to us?” The resounding answer is our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Four Living Creatures – Revelation 4:5-11

Revelation 4:5: “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thundering, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

God gave John a vision of His throne room in heaven. While there hears loud thunder and voices. He sees flashes of lightning! The visions of thunder and lightning contrast with the beauty and serenity of the emerald rainbow around God’s throne that he saw in Revelation 4:4.

In Exodus 19:16, when God was about to give the Law to Moses, there were thunderings, lightnings, and the sound of a very loud trumpet. Here in Revelation, the Lord is about to judge the world with truth and in righteousness in accordance with His Law.

In Revelation 4:5, John sees seven lamps of fire before the throne of God. They represent the seven Spirits of God. The Lord gave to the prophet Zechariah a similar vision in his book.

In Zechariah 4:2, the Lord showed Zechariah a lampstand with seven lamps. In Zechariah 4:12, Zechariah sees two Anointed Ones providing oil for the lamps. The Holy Spirit and Jesus the Word of God are anointed of the Father to save the souls of people on earth. In Zechariah 4:6, the Word of the Lord is “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.” In Zechariah 4:7, the Lord speaks of a great mountain being leveled into a plain as a capstone comes forth with shouts of, “Grace, grace to it.” The Spirit and Grace refer to the Holy Spirit and to Jesus Christ. Then, in Zechariah 4:10, an angel explains to Zechariah that the seven lamps are “the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

Revelation 4:5 conveys that God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are about to intervene in the affairs of creation, and bring about major changes.

Revelation 4:6: “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal...”

In the Old Testament, before priests entered the temple, they stopped by a large basin of water to wash themselves. The washing represents repentance.

Some congregations have a baptismal font inside the entrance area of their building. They refer to the font as the womb of the church. From this perspective, the crystal sea reminds us of being buried and risen with Christ through baptism.

In Ephesians 4:21-24, Paul speaks of being taught by Jesus to put off the old man’s conduct and to put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. In Ephesians 5:25, Paul speaks of being washed by the water of God’s Word. All believers are invited to the basin of God’s Word, and to be renewed in the image of Christ by His Spirit.

Revelation 4:6-8: “...And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 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. 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!’”

In Revelation 4:8, the living creatures are described as being full of eyes around and within. “Their multitude of eyes indicates these living creatures (not “beasts” as in the KJV) are not blind instruments or robots. They know and understand, and have great perception.” [1]

The Lord let John, Isaiah and Ezekiel to see and write about the four living creatures.

After Isaiah saw these six-winged creatures, he wrote in Isaiah 6:1-3, “Above it [the throne of the Lord] stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’”

Isaiah doesn’t specifically say four seraphim, but seraphim in Hebrew is plural for saraph (שָׂרָף) which means that there is more than one. They cry to one another which indicates that there is more than one. They express the same words as the four living creatures in John’s vision.

Seraphim means “burning ones” or “fiery ones.” These are not naked baby cupids, men in dresses or women with harps, they are mighty worshippers of God.

The seraphim in Isaiah six and the four living creatures in Ezekiel one and Revelation four are described as having similar mannerisms and physical traits. In Revelation four, John's vision blends imagery from Isaiah’s and Ezekiel’s writings. Both groups stand directly around or above the throne of God in heaven. They have six wings. They declare that the Lord is holy. Most scholars view John’s description in Revelation as a prophetic “amalgam”—a combination of both Isaiah’s seraphim and Ezekiel’s cherubim.

Cherubim are angelic beings.

In Isaiah 6:6-7, one of the seraphim touched Isaiah’s mouth with a live coal from an altar in heaven and said to him, “Behold, this has touched your lips. Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” Then, the Lord asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Isaiah replied, “Here am I! Send me.” So, these creatures who proclaim God’s holiness continuously, gave Isaiah the touch he needed to be a preacher of righteousness for the Lord’s glory.

In Ezekiel 1:5-19, Ezekiel describes the four living creatures. In Ezekiel 1:13, he wrote, “As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.” Thus, they could be deemed “fiery ones” or seraphim. In Ezekiel 1:20, he wrote, “Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the Spirit went.” In Ezekiel 1:26-28, the prophet sees them near the throne of God. He sees the Lord brightly shining in their midst with the appearance of a rainbow around about Him.

In Ezekiel 10:18, Ezekiel wrote, “Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.” God’s glory departed due to the idolatrous deeds that were being done there. In Ezekiel 8:16, he saw “25 men with their backs to the sanctuary of the Lord. They were facing east, bowing low to the ground, worshiping the sun!”

Who are the four living creatures?

Adam Clarke wrote, “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. In Shemoth Rabba, sec. 23, fol. 122, 4, Rabbi Abin says: ‘Each of these has a kingdom and a certain magnificence, and they are placed under the throne of glory, Ezekiel 1:10, to show that no creature is to exalt itself in this world, and that the kingdom of God is over all.’ These creatures may be considered the representatives of the whole creation.” They glorify God!

Some early church fathers and reformation era theologians interpreted the four living creatures as representing the four Gospels. For example, saying, Matthew spoke of Christ’s kingly nature. He is the cherubim with a lion’s face. Mark spoke of Christ’s servant nature. He is the cherubim with an ox’s face. Luke spoke of Christ’s human nature. He is the cherubim with the man’s face. John spoke of Christ’s exalted nature. He is the cherubim with the eagle’s appearance. This is highly speculative and what’s more, the theologians had different opinions about whose face represented whose Gospel. The Bible does not clearly support this interpretation.

More importantly than what they are is what they do. They worship God day and night saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” Thus, heaven is full of joy and thanksgiving unto God. What a contrast with earth where people take God’s Name in vain!

In 1 Chronicles 6:31, King David brought a sense of heaven to earth when he appointed a multitude of men over the service of song in the house of the Lord. In 1 Chronicles 16:4-6, he appointed them to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord with stringed instruments, harps, cymbals, and trumpets.

Revelation 4:9-11: “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the 24 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: ‘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.’”

As the four living creatures glorify and express gratitude to the Lord, the 24 elders join with them. There is no partisan politics. There is harmony. They all happily glorify the Lord together.

The four living creatures are close to God. They dwell in His presence. What do they have to say about Him? They say, “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.”

God created us. He sustains us. He redeemed us from our sin. He has a wonderful plan for our future which includes everlasting love, peace and joy. By His grace, though we die, yet shall we live and be forever with the Lord and with all angels, saints and living creatures. Praise the Lord!


[1] Enduring Word Commentary

The 24 Elders in Heaven – Revelation 4:2-4

Revelation 4:2-3: “Immediately I was in the Spirit. And behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 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.”

In Ezekiel 1:26-27, Yahweh gave to Ezekiel a similar vision of Himself on His throne. Ezekiel wrote, “He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance.”

In Exodus 28:17–21, Israel’s high priest wore jasper and sardius gemstones along with ten other gemstones on his chest. Each gemstone represented a tribe of Israel. As the high priest wore the tribes of Israel symbolically on his chest, so Jesus, our High Priest carries us on His heart.

Jasper and sardius are the first and last gems, respectively, on the high priest’s garments, thus reinforcing the truth that Jesus is the “first and the last” mentioned in Revelation 1:8 and 22:13. Israel began with God and ends with God.

An emerald rainbow encircles the throne. The green color represents life. Life emanates from God. The rainbow forms an unbroken circle around God’s throne representing life without end.

In Genesis 9:12-13, God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”

God showed Noah a rainbow after the flood. John sees a rainbow before the current heaven and earth are replaced by the new ones. He wrote in Revelation 21:23, “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”

The rainbow reminds us of God’s grace. Hebrews 4:16 urges us to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need.

Revelation 4:4: “Around the throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.”

The 24 elders represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. In Revelation 21:12, New Jerusalem is described as having 12 gates with the name of a tribe of Israel written on each gate. In Revelation 21:14, it is described as having walls with 12 foundations with a name of an apostle written on each foundation. The 12 tribes and 12 apostles represent the Old and New Testaments, respectively. Nations have ambassadors who represent them. The 24 elders represent His redeemed people before His throne.

The 24 elders have crowns. The New Testament mentions five specific heavenly crowns. [1] An imperishable crown in 1 Corinthians 9:25 for exercising self-control and spiritual discipline; [2] A crown of rejoicing in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 for winning souls and leading others to Christ; [3] A crown of righteousness in 2 Timothy 4:8 for lovingly longing for Christ’s return; [4] a crown of life in James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10 for enduring trials faithfully even unto death; [5] a crown of glory in 1 Peter 5:4 for elders and church leaders who faithfully shepherd God’s people.

The Lord uses the twelve Jewish tribes of Old Testament and twelve Jewish apostles of the New Testament to faithfully shepherd us through their stories and teachings which are recorded in the Bible.

In Revelation 12:17, the Lord reveals that the devil is at war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The devil sifted these people like wheat, but Jesus prayed for them and their faith did not fail.

The 24 elders have kingly crowns. In Revelation 1:5-6, tribute is proclaimed to Him who loved us, washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God. In Revelation 5:9-10, the 24 elders sing a new song to Messiah, singing, “You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God.”

The white robes of the 24 elders indicate the righteousness of Christ. They have been sanctified by the blood of the Lamb.

The 24 elders are worshippers of God. They appear when John is in the Spirit and when He sees God on His throne. The 24 elders sit on thrones around the throne of God.

In Revelation 4:10-11, the 24 elders fall down before God and worship Him. They cast their crowns before His throne, and tell Him that He is worthy to receive glory, honor and power because He created all things, and by His will they exist.

In Revelation 5:6, the Lamb of God and the sevenfold Spirit of God are amidst the 24 elders.

In Revelation 5:11-12, the 24 elders join with millions of angels and four living creatures in saying with loud voices, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

In Revelation 7:9-12, the 24 elders are on their faces before the throne worshipping God.

In Revelation 7:14, one of the elders explains to John that the great multitude which he sees in heaven standing before the throne and before the Lamb came out of the great tribulation. “They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

In Revelation 11:16, the 24 elders fall on their faces and worship God after a seventh angel blows his trumpet, and after it is announced, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

In Revelation 19:1-4, the 24 elders bow and worship God after He eliminates the great whorish empire of Babylon.

Two things stand out to me about the 24 elders around God’s throne.

The first is that they love and adore the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. They magnify His Name and give to God all the glory.

Secondly, they are permanent fixtures around God’s throne thanks to Jesus. Their names are inscribed on the gates and foundations of New Jerusalem. We don’t have fear a regime change in heaven. Our heavenly representatives will always faithfully love and serve the Lord, and give to Him all the glory.

The Rapture – Revelation 4:1-3

Our Lord Jesus opens this book of prophecy with the following words recorded in Revelation 1:1, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” In the last chapter of this prophecy in Revelation 22:16, Jesus says, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.”

The Book of Revelation is Messiah’s testimony to the churches. The One who gave His life for us on the cross reveals to us the things that shall shortly come to pass.

Revelation 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.”

After John receives the Lord’s messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3, he sees a door standing open in heaven. The first voice that he hears coming from the open door sounds like a trumpet. The voice says to him, “Come up here.”

John’s experience symbolizes what shall come to pass for those who are raptured to be with the Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ opens the door of heaven, calls, and they are forever with Him.

In Matthew 24:27-38, Jesus compared the hour of His next return to the days of Noah. At that time, people were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. After the Lord took Noah and his family out of harm’s way, He released His wrath on those who rejected His words.

In Exodus 9:4, 11:7, 12:12–13, 14:26–28, God protected His people from incurring the wrath that He gave to the Egyptians.

In Ezekiel 9:4, God ordered His angel to “put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Afterwards in Ezekiel 9:6, He told others, “Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.”

The Lord will make a distinction between those who believe in Him in the last days of this world, and those who don’t. We may incur wrath from people who hate the Lord, but He will protect us, thanks to the redeeming blood of His Son over us, from His wrath on sin.

In 2 Peter 2:9, Peter wrote, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” In 2 Peter 2:5, Peter wrote, “[God] saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.” Noah and his family were taken out of harm’s way. Those who rejected the Word of the Lord, died in the flood.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, the Apostle Paul wrote, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.”

Paul says this is a mystery. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

The door of heaven will be opened, the trumpet will sound, believers shall be with the Lord!

The Heavenly Father will say to His Son, “Go get your bride.”

In John 14:3, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”

In Matthew 25, while speaking about the signs of His second coming, Jesus told three parables. In each parable, some people are taken and some are not. He takes 5 wise virgins and leaves behind 5 foolish virgins. He rewards two servants and casts one out. He takes those who did kind deeds for the least of His brethren. He casts the others out.

In Luke 17:34-37, Jesus foretold, “I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” The disciples asked Jesus, “Where, Lord?” He replied, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” The rapture will happen wherever there are believers.

Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

After Jesus comes with the clouds, and people see Him, they mourn. Why? Some people were taken and others left behind. The Lord winnowed the wheat from the chaff. Like a giant metal detector in the sky, those who believed in Him were caught up to be with Him. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 says, “We wait for God’s Son from heaven, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

In Psalm 78:23, David wrote: “He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven. Psalm 11:4 says, “The Lord is in His holy temple. The Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”

In Isaiah 57:1-2, Isaiah wrote, “The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace...” This prophecy speaks of righteous and merciful people being spared from evil and entering into peace and rest with the Lord.

In Revelation 14:13, John heard a voice from heaven say, “Write blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

In Revelation 14:14-20, there are two harvests.

In Revelation 14:14-16, during the first harvest, John sees the Son of Man sitting on a white cloud. He has on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. He thrusts in His sickle and the harvest of the earth is reaped. This is the people of God being gathered to the Lord.

In Revelation 14:17-20, he sees an angel with a sickle. The angel thrusts his sickle at the earth and threw the remainder of people into the great winepress of the wrath of God. “And blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles.” This is the people who rejected Christ.

Revelation 4:2-3: “Immediately I was in the Spirit. And behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 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.”

What will the redeemed of the Lord see when He opens the door of heaven for them, and says to them, “Come up here.” They will see the Lord and hear His voice.

In Revelation 4:4-11, the Lord revealed to John a scene of worship to the Lord in heaven. The Lord is beautiful. His throne room is colorful and bright. There are angels, elders and living creatures worshipping Him. It will be a great joy to be there and to know that we never have to return to a world where pain, crying and death exists.

Are you ready for the Lord’s return?

In Luke 21:36, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

“Dear Heavenly Father, please keep us ever mindful of our destiny to come before You, and please let us stand before the Son of Man. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.”

Sitting With Christ – Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14: “And to the messenger of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.”

In Colossians 2:1, Paul mentions that he experienced a great conflict (ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα) for the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea. The word he used for conflict in the original Greek text is ἀγῶνα from which we get our English word, “agony.” Originally, it referred to athletic contests or races in an arena, but it evolved metaphorically to mean a rigorous mental, spiritual, or physical strain. [1]

In Colossians 4:12-13, Paul wrote that Epaphras, a bondservant of Christ, always labored fervently in prayers, that the Colossians and Laodiceans would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Epaphras had a great zeal for the Colossians and for the Laodiceans.

Jesus introduced Himself to the Laodiceans as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” The phrase “Faithful and True Witness” comes from the Greek words pistos (πιστός), alēthinos (ἀληθινός), and martys (μάρτυς). Faithful (Pistos - πιστός) means trustworthy, reliable, and dependable. It describes someone whose actions match their promises and who is worthy of full confidence. True (Alēthinos - ἀληθινός) means real, genuine, and truthful in character. It stands in contrast to what is false or fake. Witness (Martys - μάρτυς) means someone who gives testimony based on personal knowledge or experience. This Greek word is the origin of our English word martyr because early witnesses for Christ often faced death to share their testimony.

Thus, the Laodiceans, like the people of Israel in the days of Jeremiah, had been given a faithful and true witness from the Lord, and were without excuse for their lackluster service unto God.

In Jeremiah 35:15, the Lord said, “I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them. Then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me.” So, what did the Lord do with Israel in Jeremiah’s days? He spewed them out of the Promised Land!

Revelation 3:15-16: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

The name Laodicea means “people rule.” The Laodiceans tasted lukewarm to God. Lukewarm is a metaphor for apathetic. Jesus warned them that He spews such people out of His mouth.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, the Lord says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” Why did the Laodiceans lack fire for the Lord? They were more carnal than spiritual. When the Holy Spirit fire came to them, they did not welcome Him. They threw resistance and hardness of heart at Him.

Revelation 3:17-18: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Laodicea was famous for worldly gold not spiritual gold. Laodicea was famous for black clothing, not garments made white by holy living. They were famous for physical not spiritual healing.

In Mark 8:36, Jesus asked us a question to help us get our priorities right. He asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Worldly speaking, the Laodiceans were rich and finely clothed. In their minds, they had mastered the art of how to be followers of Jesus and enjoy the pleasures of the world at the same time.

Jesus looked into their souls with His eyes a fire, and described to them the condition of their souls. The five Greek words Jesus used to describe them are as follows:

ταλαίπωρος (talaipōros): Wretched, miserable, or distressed.
ἐλεεινὸς (eleeinos): Pitiable, miserable, or inspiring compassion.
πτωχὸς (ptōchos): Poor, destitute, or beggarly.
τυφλὸς (typhlos): Blind.
γυμνός (gymnos): Naked, poorly clothed, or stripped. [2]

Incidentally, the English word gymnasium is derived from the Greek word γυμνός which means “naked” or “nude.” Ancient Greek athletes traditionally competed and exercised completely in the nude. Perhaps, the Laodicean Christians joined in this practice.

How many Christians nowadays are rich with worldly pleasures, but poor in their spiritual souls?

In John 9:40-41, when some Pharisees (people steeped in Bible knowledge) heard the words of Jesus, they asked Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” Because they quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they had no conviction of sin in their consciences, thus, their sin remained, and if they did not come to their senses, they would be eternally lost.

The Lord provides a good word for us about our need for ongoing spiritual discipline in Hebrews 12:7-11: “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

In 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, Paul spoke of keeping the flesh in check so that the soul may prosper. He wrote, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

In Galatians 5-6, Paul speaks about how the flesh and the Spirit struggle for control of a person’s mind. In Galatians 5:16-17, Paul wrote, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

In Galatians 5:24, Paul wrote, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” And then in Galatians 6:8, he adds, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

In 1 Peter 1:7, Peter speaks of having the genuineness of our faith tested by fire, “so that it may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is one thing to say with our mind and our mouth that we believe in Jesus, but another thing to speak for Him to others. When we profess and serve Jesus before our peers, and encounter opposition and persecution from them for His Name’s sake, we learn the true nature of our soul’s condition.

Revelation 3:19: “ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.”

William Barclay wrote, “Jesus’ great love was expressed in His rebuke. It is, in fact, God’s final punishment to leave a person alone.” Laodicea was the worst of the seven churches, but Jesus still loved them. Therefore, He brought to light the condition of their souls before Him.

In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul wrote, “When we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

In Luke 12:36, Jesus urged us to be like men who wait for their master... “that when He comes and knocks they may open to Him immediately.”

May the Lord help us to be like the lover in Song of Solomon 5:2, saying, “I sleep, but my heart is awake. It is the voice of my Beloved! He knocks, saying, ‘Open for Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My perfect one...” The Lord wants a close relationship with us.

In Jeremiah 2:2, the Lord commanded Jeremiah to, “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.” In the early days of their relationship with Him, they loved God fervently, but by and by their fire for Him went cold.

In Jeremiah 13:11, the Lord said, “For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me, says the Lord, that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.” The Lord wanted His people to be as close to Him as a beautiful article of clothing about His body, but they were defiled by their love of the world, and became a source of shame to Him.

In John 14:23, Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

In John 15:5-6, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Jesus received no respect from the Laodiceans. They left Him on the outside of their gatherings. They did not talk about Him during their personal conversations with one another.

Jesus had to knock and urge them to let Him in. The text does not say, “If the Church will open the door.” It says, “If anyone hear My voice and open the door.” It must be done by individuals. The Church gets right with God as each Christian gets right with God. Jesus told them to open their hearts to Him and He would come and sup with them.

Revelation 3:21-22: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In Matthew 19:28, Jesus told His disciples, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The one who overcomes apathy, compromise, and self-reliance, gets to sit with King Jesus. Laodicea is the worst of the seven Churches. Thus, enthronement with Christ is promised to the faithful witnesses for Christ in this Church.

[1-2] Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance