1 00:00:04,849 --> 00:00:10,550 Greetings, this is Pastor David Bass at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church with a moment 2 00:00:10,550 --> 00:00:15,730 of truth, where we challenge you to think through an important issue of life and faith. And today, 3 00:00:15,810 --> 00:00:21,969 I want to challenge you to think through the issue. What did the Apostle John in the book 4 00:00:21,969 --> 00:00:29,670 of Revelation find when he went through the open door into heaven that Jesus opened for him? What 5 00:00:29,670 --> 00:00:36,049 did the Apostle John find in this enigmatic, mysterious, symbolic book of Revelation? What 6 00:00:36,049 --> 00:00:41,969 did he find when he went through the open door given to him into heaven, into the presence of 7 00:00:41,969 --> 00:00:48,689 God himself? This is one of those fascinating and delightful topics in the book of Revelation 8 00:00:48,689 --> 00:00:54,750 because it also involves us, the church. We have been on the ground looking at the letters to the 9 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:58,869 churches, the seven churches of Asia. We finished that. We've been on the ground, on the earth, 10 00:00:58,869 --> 00:01:04,750 seeing the predicaments and the blessings and the victories and sometimes the defeats of the church 11 00:01:04,750 --> 00:01:11,150 throughout church history because those seven churches in Asia represent the idea of the church 12 00:01:11,150 --> 00:01:18,010 throughout redemptive history. And we have been on the ground, on seeing the reality of the churches. 13 00:01:18,590 --> 00:01:23,489 But now we're going to be transported into heaven itself and see the predicament of the churches 14 00:01:23,489 --> 00:01:30,450 before the very blessed throne room of God. And John is ushering us through that now in chapter four 15 00:01:30,450 --> 00:01:35,950 of the book of Revelation. I want to come to that here very soon. But first, I'd like to let you know 16 00:01:35,950 --> 00:01:43,969 about something related to the book of Revelation very, very heavily. And that is a Bible study that 17 00:01:43,969 --> 00:01:50,450 we're conducting. We've had such a good response to our preaching through the book of Revelation that 18 00:01:50,450 --> 00:01:57,430 we want to make available this fall a community Bible study of the book of Revelation. And it's 19 00:01:57,430 --> 00:02:04,689 entitled Revealing Revelation, A Community Study of the Apocalypse. And we want to open this up to the 20 00:02:04,689 --> 00:02:11,729 community in general to have you come in and give your feedback, positive or negative. We're not afraid 21 00:02:11,729 --> 00:02:17,849 of criticism either, and we might even be corrected in a few years here too. But we want to invite the 22 00:02:17,849 --> 00:02:25,830 community in to join us in this study, Revealing Revelation, A Community Study of the Apocalypse. 23 00:02:25,830 --> 00:02:32,409 And it's going to be held at Starbucks at 900 East 17th Street. We're going to take it off the 24 00:02:32,409 --> 00:02:37,969 grounds of the church in order to make it more community-wide based. And it's going to begin 25 00:02:37,969 --> 00:02:46,150 Thursday, October 10. Thursday, October 10. And then each Thursday thereafter. And it's going to run 26 00:02:46,150 --> 00:02:55,090 from 7 p.m. to 8.15 p.m. beginning Thursday, October 10. And both myself, Pastor Dave Bass of New 27 00:02:55,090 --> 00:03:02,789 Geneva, and Pastor Mike Gilea of Share the Sun Ministries will be team teaching this series. 28 00:03:03,129 --> 00:03:10,770 So we want to encourage you that we'll help make it even more broadly a community study in that both 29 00:03:10,770 --> 00:03:19,349 myself and Pastor Gilea will be sharing the load of teaching for Share the Sun Ministries. 30 00:03:19,830 --> 00:03:25,689 And you can call us for more information. We'd like you to call us if you plan on attending, because 31 00:03:25,689 --> 00:03:33,030 indeed it will be. We want to have some idea of how many copies of our study to print and things like 32 00:03:33,030 --> 00:03:39,129 that, and some general idea of how many will be there. So call us if you plan on attending, area code 33 00:03:39,129 --> 00:03:48,490 208-523-0196. I've already been getting some response and appreciate that. Area code 208-523-0196. 34 00:03:48,610 --> 00:03:56,610 If indeed you would like to join us for this study. Well, let's move on now to our look at 35 00:03:56,610 --> 00:04:07,150 Revelation chapter 4, verses 1-5, and unpack what we have for us on the idea of what does 36 00:04:07,150 --> 00:04:13,370 John, the Apostle John, find when he is transported through the open door into heaven, the very throne 37 00:04:13,370 --> 00:04:19,290 room, the presence of God. Oh, what a stunning chapter this is. And so I want to read it before 38 00:04:19,290 --> 00:04:30,930 we unpack its meaning. So let me read for you from Revelation chapter 4, verses 1-6. 39 00:04:31,829 --> 00:04:37,910 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice 40 00:04:37,910 --> 00:04:43,290 I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what 41 00:04:43,290 --> 00:04:49,250 must take place after this. At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne 42 00:04:49,250 --> 00:04:53,750 in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper 43 00:04:53,750 --> 00:04:59,410 and ruby, a rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne 44 00:04:59,410 --> 00:05:06,389 were 24 other thrones, and seated on them were 24 elders. They were dressed in white and had 45 00:05:06,389 --> 00:05:12,790 crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals 46 00:05:12,790 --> 00:05:18,790 of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of 47 00:05:18,790 --> 00:05:24,970 God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. 48 00:05:25,370 --> 00:05:33,670 That is Revelation chapter 4, verses 1-6a, the first part of verse 6. Now, we looked at 49 00:05:33,670 --> 00:05:41,790 last week the significance and meaning of the idea of doors, and how doors indeed allow access 50 00:05:41,790 --> 00:05:48,750 access and egress to the presence of kings and the presence of gods all through the ancient world, 51 00:05:48,810 --> 00:05:55,709 even in the Bible here. The idea of an open door is an access then to the living God. In fact, 52 00:05:55,790 --> 00:06:02,750 the promise was just in the previous chapter, just in the previous verses, that behold, I stand at the 53 00:06:02,750 --> 00:06:11,529 door and knock. He who opens, I will come in and have fellowship with him. So we've had just momentarily 54 00:06:11,529 --> 00:06:18,069 an open door, right? And now we have an open door into heaven itself. And we're going to find 55 00:06:18,069 --> 00:06:29,050 that John is bidden to the very presence of God. And this reinforces for us when our Lord bids John, 56 00:06:29,050 --> 00:06:35,410 the apostle John, that voice which he first heard, right, hearkening back to the founding vision of 57 00:06:35,410 --> 00:06:40,069 Revelation, where he says, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me of a loud 58 00:06:40,069 --> 00:06:45,089 voice like a trumpet. Well, hear this voice again. And it says, come up here, and I will show you what 59 00:06:45,089 --> 00:06:53,949 must take place after this. So we are oscillating from the earth to heaven. We are oscillating from the 60 00:06:53,949 --> 00:07:00,209 ever-dwelling presence of the Lord with the church on the earth, now to the dwelling presence of the 61 00:07:00,209 --> 00:07:05,790 Lord with his church in heaven itself, oscillating. And our oscillation will take us on a journey into 62 00:07:05,790 --> 00:07:11,029 the presence of the sovereign God in the universe. And we'll see the seven churches of Asia, that is 63 00:07:11,029 --> 00:07:15,589 the whole of the church throughout redemptive history. Remember, we've seen how this is symbolic. 64 00:07:15,589 --> 00:07:24,889 And this whole church throughout redemptive history is shepherded and superintended to her final destiny 65 00:07:24,889 --> 00:07:31,170 as the beautifully prepared bride of Christ in later chapters of the book of Revelation. 66 00:07:31,730 --> 00:07:38,029 But for now, we're scheduled for an appointment with a very important person in chapters verses two and 67 00:07:38,029 --> 00:07:47,170 three. And chapters, chapter four, verses two and three are summarized here in this point. Consistent 68 00:07:47,170 --> 00:07:53,290 with that revealed under the old covenant, we are from time to time shown God to be sovereign, 69 00:07:53,629 --> 00:08:00,170 majestic, and transcendent under the new covenant too. This open door will reveal to us that consistent 70 00:08:00,170 --> 00:08:05,290 with that revealed under the old covenant, we are from time to time shown God to be a sovereign, 71 00:08:05,290 --> 00:08:10,449 majestic, and transcendent, and transcendent God under the new covenant too. Without any intervening 72 00:08:10,449 --> 00:08:17,250 moment passing, John is filled and transported by God's spirit before the throne of God with him 73 00:08:17,250 --> 00:08:27,810 seated upon it. These will now be the fourth, fifth, and sixth uses of 40 uses of the word throne 74 00:08:27,810 --> 00:08:34,990 in Revelation. Numbers are significant, dear listener. 40, the period of testing and probation, 75 00:08:34,990 --> 00:08:41,830 this is the number 40, the period of testing and probation for the earth, for the church, and for the dragon 76 00:08:41,830 --> 00:08:48,929 is transpiring before the sovereign Godation, the throne being the very symbol of authority and sovereignty. 77 00:08:49,409 --> 00:08:57,230 And how will all of these fare in times to come? Well, we shall see, dear listener. Yes, something of the 78 00:08:57,230 --> 00:09:03,210 transcendent majesty, beauty of the surrounding presence of God is transmitted to us here in this text, 79 00:09:03,210 --> 00:09:09,190 right, with images that we see consistently throughout scripture. Revelation is rooted and grounded 80 00:09:09,190 --> 00:09:17,370 solidly in the Old Testament and the New. So these images that we see are consistent throughout scripture. 81 00:09:17,549 --> 00:09:26,090 When mortals encounter the living God, though no one sees him directly, he who sat there had the 82 00:09:26,090 --> 00:09:32,830 appearance of jasper and carnelian. And around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an 83 00:09:32,830 --> 00:09:40,289 emerald. That's all in verse three. Now, jasper and carnelian, these are stones of translucent beauty, 84 00:09:40,629 --> 00:09:47,950 ubiquitous in Idaho too, by the way, if you've ever had a chance to pick up and maybe purchase or look 85 00:09:47,950 --> 00:09:54,049 through these stones of translucent beauty that jasper and carnelian are ubiquitous in Idaho. 86 00:09:54,049 --> 00:10:00,070 And they adorned the breastplate of the high priest, carnelian being the first and jasper being the 87 00:10:00,070 --> 00:10:07,649 last of these 12, very significant here, all representing the tribes of Israel. And then we have an emerald-like 88 00:10:07,649 --> 00:10:13,990 rainbow surrounding them. We have stunning rainbows in Teton Valley, where I live, sometimes double 89 00:10:13,990 --> 00:10:20,370 rainbows. And they're radiant and they're translucent and they're mystical. And such is the presence of God. 90 00:10:20,370 --> 00:10:25,490 This is meant to communicate to us the mystical nature of the presence of God, the transcendent 91 00:10:25,490 --> 00:10:31,870 mystical nature of the presence of God. His presence is described in terms of light to contrast starkly 92 00:10:31,870 --> 00:10:39,509 with darkness. Such is the nature of his being that at the consummation of all things, as Revelation will 93 00:10:39,509 --> 00:10:47,049 tell us later, night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun for the Lord God will be their 94 00:10:47,049 --> 00:10:54,590 light, unquote. And we here are privileged to glimpse this in our worship, even in anticipation 95 00:10:54,590 --> 00:11:01,889 of that day. But that's not all we see. Verse 4. Let me give you a summary point of what verse 4 96 00:11:01,889 --> 00:11:09,009 communicates to us. That is, door. Consistent with that revealed under the old covenant, we are from time 97 00:11:09,009 --> 00:11:16,049 to time to time privy to the divine counsel before whom God presides under the new covenant. That's 98 00:11:16,049 --> 00:11:24,029 what verse 4 reveals to us. Now, as we have observed throughout Scripture, heaven is festooned with 99 00:11:24,029 --> 00:11:30,490 marvelous, beautiful, and exotic creatures. You think the earth is full of God's glory with his 100 00:11:30,490 --> 00:11:38,690 marvelous, beautiful variety of exotic creatures. Well, it's impossible to exhaust or number those in 101 00:11:38,690 --> 00:11:45,710 heaven amongst whom we will dwell and preside over, for that matter, as stewards for eternity. Think of 102 00:11:45,710 --> 00:11:52,970 it, dear listener. We, when we are translated to heaven, will be co-heirs with Christ of all of this. 103 00:11:53,590 --> 00:12:00,909 This present creation, as fallen and as sinful as it is, is resplendent itself as a picture and token 104 00:12:00,909 --> 00:12:06,929 of what's to come. It is resplendent itself with beauty and endless variety, isn't it? I love living in 105 00:12:06,929 --> 00:12:14,889 Idaho in part for that reason. Well, think of a perfected creation. Oh, it boggles the mind, and it's 106 00:12:14,889 --> 00:12:21,110 meant to boggle our mind. It's meant to put us in awe of our Creator, of the very God who has saved us 107 00:12:21,110 --> 00:12:29,750 and is bringing us to this very thing. Well, think of a perfected creation, dear listener. These 24 elders, 108 00:12:29,750 --> 00:12:37,070 for example, these 24 elders seated are such, and they are vested with a delegated authority, too, 109 00:12:37,149 --> 00:12:44,570 as indicated by their being seated on 24 thrones themselves. That's a picture, a symbol, a sign of 110 00:12:44,570 --> 00:12:50,409 delegated authority from God himself. Several options have been proposed as to precisely who 111 00:12:50,409 --> 00:12:57,990 these 24 elders are. For example, a legitimate claim might be that they're 24 literal elders of the 112 00:12:57,990 --> 00:13:05,350 church. This is a popular take. Or they might be the 12 sons of Jacob in council with the 12 apostles, 113 00:13:05,350 --> 00:13:11,889 all symbolic of the whole church. These are all legitimate options. But I have come to understand 114 00:13:11,889 --> 00:13:19,669 them as those creatures, 24 elders on 24 thrones. Personally, I've come to understand them as those 115 00:13:19,669 --> 00:13:25,730 creatures elsewhere referred to as sons of God or gods, as we encountered in the book of Job. 116 00:13:25,730 --> 00:13:34,049 And I refer you to our series on the book of Job to see, indeed, how the idea of the heavenly council 117 00:13:34,049 --> 00:13:42,149 before the throne of God are composed of sons of God, that is, those who are created directly by the 118 00:13:42,149 --> 00:13:49,169 hand of God. And we see them reflected in many ways and places. We see, for example, in Isaiah 24, 119 00:13:49,169 --> 00:13:55,649 then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed. For the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in 120 00:13:55,649 --> 00:14:03,789 Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders, his elders before God in Isaiah 24. Or, 121 00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:10,370 for example, in Job 1 verse 6, we see, now there was a day when the sons of God came to present 122 00:14:10,370 --> 00:14:16,889 themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. These are beings in the broadest, 123 00:14:16,889 --> 00:14:22,389 most general sense, the idea of the sons of God are those that are created directly by the hand of 124 00:14:22,389 --> 00:14:27,629 God. Adam, for example, is called a son of God because he was created not immediately through 125 00:14:27,629 --> 00:14:36,009 parents, human parents, but rather directly from the hand of God. And so those beings created in heaven, 126 00:14:36,529 --> 00:14:41,769 heaven is festooned with such creatures. That is, those created directly by the hand of God, 127 00:14:41,769 --> 00:14:49,789 they are called sons of God. Psalm 86 verse 8 says, there is none like you among the gods, O Lord, 128 00:14:49,929 --> 00:14:56,970 nor are there any works like yours, unquote. The idea of the gods, small g, are those sons of God, 129 00:14:57,029 --> 00:15:04,049 that is, those created directly by the hand of God. Well, these are those, these 24 elders I submit to 130 00:15:04,049 --> 00:15:10,549 you, these are those by different names. And John refers to them as elders, but they're these same 131 00:15:10,549 --> 00:15:16,529 beings, these same creatures, the sons of God. And as we will see, they have a variety of functions 132 00:15:16,529 --> 00:15:24,649 beyond that of divine counsel with the Most High. For example, 24 elders, 24. In 1 Chronicles 24, 133 00:15:24,789 --> 00:15:31,389 if you're reading your Old Testament, 1 Chronicles 24, they have priestly functions, 24 elders, 134 00:15:31,710 --> 00:15:37,889 in agreement with the 24 priestly orders of the Levites that we see in 1 Chronicles 24. 135 00:15:37,889 --> 00:15:45,250 And also, among their duties, these 24 elders, these 24 elders were to present the prayers of 136 00:15:45,250 --> 00:15:52,990 the saints and to prophesy with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals, as 1 Chronicles 25 verse 1 says. 137 00:15:53,090 --> 00:15:59,690 So, these are the 24 elders that we have before us. All of these things, these elders will do, too. 138 00:16:00,269 --> 00:16:06,490 And there is also agreement with the idea of the 12 sons of Jacob and the 12 apostles in the number 24, 139 00:16:06,490 --> 00:16:12,870 we will see in Revelation 21, for example, where 12 gates have the names of the 12 sons of Jacob, 140 00:16:13,070 --> 00:16:19,610 and the 12 foundations of the city have the 12 names of the apostles inscribed. All of this is 141 00:16:19,610 --> 00:16:27,590 consistent with our understanding of the 24 elders on 24 thrones that we see before us today. So, 142 00:16:27,690 --> 00:16:33,690 behold, 24 of the marvelous creatures of God's heavenly universe, the 24 elders. 143 00:16:33,690 --> 00:16:42,649 And then we see in verses 5 through 6, under chapter 4 of the book of Revelation, 144 00:16:42,850 --> 00:16:46,190 we also see consistent with that revealed under the Old Covenant, 145 00:16:46,950 --> 00:16:53,210 we have, from time to time, displayed the mystery of the Trinitarian nature of God, New Covenant. 146 00:16:53,409 --> 00:16:59,289 Verses 5 through 6a also reveal for us, then, the mystery of the Trinitarian nature, 147 00:16:59,289 --> 00:17:07,150 then, of God, under the New Covenant, right, revealed for us so beautifully, so marvelously 148 00:17:07,150 --> 00:17:10,630 in the New Testament, like it hadn't been in the Old. 149 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:14,049 And verses 5 through 6a, read again, let me refresh your memory. 150 00:17:14,630 --> 00:17:19,109 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder in front of the throne. 151 00:17:19,589 --> 00:17:23,910 Seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 152 00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:28,089 Also, in front of the throne, they see a glass, clear as crystal. 153 00:17:28,990 --> 00:17:34,910 We have for us here on Pact, the mystery of the Trinity, the divine nature of God, 154 00:17:35,009 --> 00:17:37,410 the mystery of the Trinity nature of God, under the New Covenant. 155 00:17:37,890 --> 00:17:43,650 The stunning, dangerous nature of being in the presence of the living God is transmitted to us. 156 00:17:44,269 --> 00:17:49,289 The phenomena which do these things to us, that is, terrify us, 157 00:17:49,289 --> 00:17:54,710 bring us into awe and the fear of God, which is a good thing, a pure thing. 158 00:17:55,130 --> 00:17:58,930 From the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. 159 00:17:59,569 --> 00:17:59,849 Yes. 160 00:18:00,490 --> 00:18:02,609 My grandsons were recently with us. 161 00:18:02,769 --> 00:18:04,710 My grandsons, Daniel and Micah. 162 00:18:05,309 --> 00:18:06,490 They're just young boys. 163 00:18:07,329 --> 00:18:12,869 And we, during their visit, we had a series of roaring contests, 164 00:18:12,869 --> 00:18:16,789 trying our best to be like terrifying lions. 165 00:18:17,430 --> 00:18:23,769 Lions have deep, resonating roars with which they stun and fill with terror their prey, right? 166 00:18:24,410 --> 00:18:29,150 Well, that roar heard throughout the jungle freezes an animal momentarily 167 00:18:29,150 --> 00:18:31,809 and just long enough for the lion to pounce, right? 168 00:18:32,210 --> 00:18:35,710 Well, my grandsons, Daniel and Micah, they have little throats. 169 00:18:36,509 --> 00:18:41,049 They're learning and they're improving, but they're no match for me, for grandpa. 170 00:18:41,049 --> 00:18:43,990 Ah, mine is no match for a full-grown lion either. 171 00:18:44,109 --> 00:18:47,369 And his, in turn, is no match for the flashes of lightning, 172 00:18:47,490 --> 00:18:50,609 the rumblings and peals of thunder from God's throne. 173 00:18:50,829 --> 00:18:56,950 Yes, meant to resonate with awe and terror, if you will. 174 00:18:57,509 --> 00:18:59,390 And it's going to be a motif throughout Revelation. 175 00:19:00,009 --> 00:19:04,990 Those of you who despise and diminish the fear of God, 176 00:19:05,289 --> 00:19:07,289 we can do two things at once. 177 00:19:07,369 --> 00:19:10,450 We can both fear God and love God, and we are meant to do both. 178 00:19:10,450 --> 00:19:16,309 Just like we fear our fathers when they are about to discipline us, 179 00:19:16,349 --> 00:19:18,210 but we also love our fathers, do we not? 180 00:19:18,269 --> 00:19:21,170 We can do both at the same time, fear and love God. 181 00:19:21,490 --> 00:19:23,710 And it's going to be a motif throughout Revelation. 182 00:19:23,990 --> 00:19:27,349 God cannot be conquered, but he, in turn, is unstoppable. 183 00:19:28,190 --> 00:19:33,470 And he triumphs at will as king of all jungles, king of all the universe, 184 00:19:33,589 --> 00:19:35,309 of all of his creation for that matter. 185 00:19:35,410 --> 00:19:39,829 We are then presented once more in this chapter with the image of the Holy Spirit. 186 00:19:39,829 --> 00:19:41,289 That's what we have before here. 187 00:19:41,369 --> 00:19:45,609 Kind of a unique one by John, but it is an image of the Holy Spirit. 188 00:19:45,789 --> 00:19:47,089 So graphic and full of meaning. 189 00:19:47,250 --> 00:19:50,329 That is, before the throne, we're burning seven torches of fire, 190 00:19:50,470 --> 00:19:52,829 which are the seven spirits of God. 191 00:19:53,410 --> 00:19:59,089 Now, we observed in verse one, the nature of those seven spirits. 192 00:19:59,210 --> 00:20:02,730 In chapter one, that is, the nature of those seven spirits. 193 00:20:02,869 --> 00:20:04,609 Remember, go all the way back to chapter one. 194 00:20:04,609 --> 00:20:10,269 And we have here, grace to you and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come. 195 00:20:10,490 --> 00:20:14,009 And from the seven spirits who are before his throne. 196 00:20:14,490 --> 00:20:15,589 All the way back to chapter one. 197 00:20:15,750 --> 00:20:19,150 And we saw there, seven being the number of fullness, 198 00:20:19,849 --> 00:20:23,490 and fire being an attribute of the spirit, right? 199 00:20:23,609 --> 00:20:25,109 God will baptize with fire. 200 00:20:25,450 --> 00:20:28,750 The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles like tongues of fire. 201 00:20:28,750 --> 00:20:32,369 Fire, fire, a, an attribute of the spirit. 202 00:20:32,769 --> 00:20:38,369 So we have here before us a beautiful picture of the Trinitarian God of the Bible 203 00:20:38,369 --> 00:20:43,210 with the lion of the tribe of Judah and the lamb of God soon to complete the picture. 204 00:20:43,769 --> 00:20:47,670 And we have the father on his throne, the spirit before the throne, 205 00:20:47,670 --> 00:20:52,849 and then the lion of the tribe of Judah and the lamb of God soon to complete that picture. 206 00:20:52,849 --> 00:20:58,910 And finally, we have here also another graphic metaphor for the transcendence, 207 00:20:59,069 --> 00:21:05,369 the complete otherness, the ultimate distance, which God the creator has by nature. 208 00:21:05,789 --> 00:21:10,910 This transcendence, this distance from his creation by nature, he has this. 209 00:21:11,549 --> 00:21:15,890 Before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal. 210 00:21:16,269 --> 00:21:19,829 This may be a mysterious and unknown image for you. 211 00:21:19,829 --> 00:21:21,250 And that's okay. 212 00:21:21,670 --> 00:21:26,410 If you know your Old Testament, though, you will immediately recognize this picture, 213 00:21:26,509 --> 00:21:30,789 this image that's given to us throughout the Old Testament for the transcendence of God. 214 00:21:31,450 --> 00:21:36,690 The sea was a place of fear, and it was a place of danger and mystery, too. 215 00:21:36,769 --> 00:21:42,049 It was also known as the abyss on the face of the earth, the sea. 216 00:21:42,289 --> 00:21:45,130 The sea also separated nations and peoples. 217 00:21:45,130 --> 00:21:50,529 God indicates his separateness from all he has by a sea. 218 00:21:51,289 --> 00:21:55,769 He demonstrates his distance, his transcendence from his creation, 219 00:21:55,970 --> 00:22:00,309 from all that he has made by the picture and the image of a sea. 220 00:22:01,049 --> 00:22:06,829 Also, that it is as crystalline glass demonstrates its beauty also, 221 00:22:07,130 --> 00:22:08,990 and its hard, adamant nature. 222 00:22:09,150 --> 00:22:10,130 It will never be crossed. 223 00:22:10,130 --> 00:22:16,509 There is no spiritual Columbus who will sail at sea to find him. 224 00:22:16,609 --> 00:22:19,089 No, no mere human that can do these things. 225 00:22:19,990 --> 00:22:22,490 So, dear listener, we have before us then, 226 00:22:22,630 --> 00:22:26,970 behold, the gate of heaven open to us now. 227 00:22:27,549 --> 00:22:31,609 Yes, behold, the door, John says, an open door to heaven. 228 00:22:32,210 --> 00:22:36,109 And we have seen, indeed, that this is not speaking of any rapture, 229 00:22:36,390 --> 00:22:37,829 future rapture to happen. 230 00:22:37,829 --> 00:22:41,710 No, that is something that has to be read into the text. 231 00:22:42,450 --> 00:22:47,730 What is the open door is what the Bible has always indicated it to be, 232 00:22:47,869 --> 00:22:50,690 that is, access to the very presence of God, 233 00:22:50,809 --> 00:22:53,289 which we have longed for for centuries, 234 00:22:53,450 --> 00:22:56,049 which we have longed for throughout redemptive history, 235 00:22:56,170 --> 00:22:58,170 which we now have in Christ. 236 00:22:58,369 --> 00:22:59,009 Do we not? 237 00:22:59,009 --> 00:23:04,710 Remember, it is him by whom we have access, right? 238 00:23:06,529 --> 00:23:14,690 Where Jesus himself says that he is the very ladder upon which we enter into his presence, 239 00:23:15,150 --> 00:23:16,829 a door standing open in heaven. 240 00:23:17,369 --> 00:23:18,569 We have access now. 241 00:23:19,150 --> 00:23:21,950 That door is open because of Christ himself. 242 00:23:21,950 --> 00:23:25,569 And we have access into the very presence of God. 243 00:23:25,569 --> 00:23:27,890 And we're going to see how the church, indeed, 244 00:23:27,990 --> 00:23:30,670 has access to the presence of God, not Christ, 245 00:23:31,190 --> 00:23:35,529 because this oscillation between heaven and earth has taken place. 246 00:23:35,589 --> 00:23:37,490 And we're now in heaven, brothers and sisters. 247 00:23:37,490 --> 00:23:39,930 We're now in heaven, at least in the book of Revelation. 248 00:23:39,930 --> 00:23:44,490 And we'll see how we are in heaven, even now, in the presence of God. 249 00:23:44,509 --> 00:23:46,250 We don't have to wait for any rapture. 250 00:23:46,569 --> 00:23:48,990 We are there in the presence of God through Christ. 251 00:23:49,349 --> 00:23:52,410 And he's going to assure us that no matter what transpires on earth, 252 00:23:52,970 --> 00:23:59,450 persecution, suffering, death, all of these things are not unknown to God. 253 00:23:59,869 --> 00:24:04,650 They don't transpire without his knowledge, permission, and his sovereign will. 254 00:24:04,849 --> 00:24:05,710 In fact, he loves us. 255 00:24:05,750 --> 00:24:06,549 He cares for us. 256 00:24:06,549 --> 00:24:12,009 And we, in a sense, in a very real way, even though we are on earth now, 257 00:24:12,089 --> 00:24:16,930 we still are in the very presence of God, heavenward, heaven-wise, 258 00:24:17,210 --> 00:24:18,529 because of Christ himself. 259 00:24:18,869 --> 00:24:19,849 We are in Christ. 260 00:24:20,109 --> 00:24:21,089 Christ is in heaven. 261 00:24:21,549 --> 00:24:23,190 Christ is seated upon his throne. 262 00:24:23,430 --> 00:24:26,250 And there's a very real mystical union that we, Christ, 263 00:24:26,349 --> 00:24:29,950 and consequently, we are in his very presence now. 264 00:24:30,109 --> 00:24:31,089 What a blessing that is. 265 00:24:31,349 --> 00:24:33,470 And we should seize it and take advantage of it 266 00:24:33,470 --> 00:24:36,170 and not postpone this idea of an open door 267 00:24:36,170 --> 00:24:39,769 to some future event in which we'll be raptured. 268 00:24:39,930 --> 00:24:40,170 No. 269 00:24:40,670 --> 00:24:42,789 We are in the very presence of God now. 270 00:24:42,950 --> 00:24:45,849 There is an open door that you have now, dear believer. 271 00:24:46,269 --> 00:24:48,309 You have now into the very presence of God. 272 00:24:48,430 --> 00:24:50,910 And you dwell in his presence even now. 273 00:24:51,069 --> 00:24:52,089 You're loved by him. 274 00:24:52,210 --> 00:24:53,390 You're cared for by him. 275 00:24:53,470 --> 00:24:55,130 Your prayers are being answered by him. 276 00:24:55,190 --> 00:24:58,890 We'll see this in a very beautiful picture with the souls under the altar. 277 00:24:58,890 --> 00:25:01,809 There are prayers answered by God even now. 278 00:25:02,230 --> 00:25:05,789 So take this into your daily life, dear listener. 279 00:25:06,309 --> 00:25:09,650 Well, we'd also like to invite you. 280 00:25:09,769 --> 00:25:17,450 We'd also like to have you take into your very life this study of the book of Revelation 281 00:25:17,450 --> 00:25:18,210 that we're planning. 282 00:25:18,549 --> 00:25:23,309 Indeed, we're planning on having a community Bible study of Revelation 283 00:25:23,309 --> 00:25:24,569 coming up here very soon. 284 00:25:24,569 --> 00:25:28,309 It's called Revealing Revelation, a Community Study of the Apocalypse. 285 00:25:28,529 --> 00:25:29,029 Join us. 286 00:25:29,210 --> 00:25:30,549 We can talk about all these things. 287 00:25:31,089 --> 00:25:33,549 And it's going to be at Starbucks on 17th Street. 288 00:25:33,750 --> 00:25:35,809 And it's beginning Thursday, October 10. 289 00:25:36,329 --> 00:25:37,569 Thursday, October 10. 290 00:25:37,650 --> 00:25:39,390 Put that date on your calendar. 291 00:25:39,930 --> 00:25:42,549 It's going to run from 7 p.m. to 8.15 p.m. 292 00:25:42,549 --> 00:25:45,970 It's going to be led by me, Pastor Dave Bass of New Geneva, 293 00:25:46,190 --> 00:25:49,210 and Pastor Mike Gillehau of Share the Sun Ministries. 294 00:25:49,589 --> 00:25:52,970 And we're going to team teach this study. 295 00:25:53,109 --> 00:25:57,089 So it's even more of a broadly community Bible study, too. 296 00:25:57,650 --> 00:25:59,410 And you can call us for more information. 297 00:25:59,690 --> 00:26:01,190 Let us know you're coming if you can. 298 00:26:01,769 --> 00:26:04,710 Area code 208-523-0196. 299 00:26:04,710 --> 00:26:11,170 And New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church meets for Holy Worship as well on Sunday 300 00:26:11,170 --> 00:26:16,930 at 10 a.m. at 101 4th Street on the corner of 4th and Boulevard. 301 00:26:17,029 --> 00:26:19,869 And I invite you to join us for Holy Worship. 302 00:26:20,049 --> 00:26:22,029 I'm preaching through Revelation right now. 303 00:26:22,089 --> 00:26:24,269 That's one of the things that's prompted our Bible study, 304 00:26:24,730 --> 00:26:25,950 preaching through Revelation. 305 00:26:25,950 --> 00:26:33,329 And join us at 101 4th Street on the corner of 4th and Boulevard, 306 00:26:33,650 --> 00:26:35,190 Sundays at 10 a.m. 307 00:26:35,369 --> 00:26:39,490 And you can call us for more information or more feedback, too, for that matter, 308 00:26:39,890 --> 00:26:44,650 at area code 208-523-0196. 309 00:26:44,650 --> 00:26:49,630 Call us, area code 208-523-0196.