Last week, the topic of discussion was called, "The Heavenly City." It is based on Revelation 21:15-27 and Dr. Jeremiah shares several biblical cross references (click on outline link above).
The entire portion of Scripture is described through the use of the beauty of precious stones. One part that I remember so vividly is when he was describing The Pearly Gates (Revelation 21:12, 17-18, 21.)
Revelation 21:21 - And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Revelation 21:12, tells us how high the walls and gates were. They were huge!
Revelation 21:12 - And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
Now, notice that every gate was of one pearl. Dr. Jeremiah shared that human logic (and scientifically knowing how large oysters usually grow) might tend to lead a skeptic from believing that such a passage is meant to be taken as literally true. But what he said next astounded me. He mentioned that in order for an oyster to create a pearl, it needs to be injured first. His analogy of Christ's wounds and sacrificial death for our sakes can be seen as symbolism leading to the creation of 12 giant pearl gates at the entrance to heaven. I thought that was fascinating to realize!
If you go through the outline and read the Scripture verses, you will get additional information about that segment of the series.
Now, I would like to share the notes that I took on this mornings sermon.
It was on the subject of Worship in Heaven.
To Christians who are serving God here on earth, there are three elements that comprise worshipping God.
1. Praising of God.
2. Praying to God.
3. Preaching for God.
Notice that when believers get to heaven, only #1 will be done there!
There will be no need to pray anymore.
There will be no need to preach either - for all believers will know the full counsel of God.
Therefore, praise and worship should be a priority in our lives! Learning to praise and worship while on this earth will prepare us in doing so for all eternity!
In Revelation 4:1, through a vision provided by Jesus himself, John looks through an open door into heaven.
Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
John sees the worship service going on in heaven!
Remember. John was the one disciple who was with Jesus during the crucial moments in his ministry here on earth.
1. He was with Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane. (see Matthew 26)
2. He was with Jesus at the Crucifixion, when most of the disciples ran and hid in fear. (see John 19:25-27)
3. John outran Peter to the tomb. (see John 20:3,4)
4. John was there at the Transfiguration. (see Matthew 17:1-8)
5. John was there when Jesus ascended into heaven. (see Acts 1:9-11)
John also experienced much pain in his life. He was in exile on Patmos,(Rev. 1:9) alone, old and without any information about his friends and family and their fates. In the midst of this, John was able to mentally walk through that door to heaven! It must be hard to describe what that was like!
Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
In Revelation 4:2-3, the key word is "throne." That term appears 46 times in the book of Revelation. It speaks of sovereignty.
The contrast of these two pictures cannot be missed! Even though the events on earth seem chaotic, God is seated on the throne in heaven. He is in control!
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne.
John tries to describe what he sees. He symbolically describes it all by using the beauty and magnificience of precious stones.
Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and [there was] a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
John is witnessing a worship service in heaven and describes it:
Rev 4:4 And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
John wrote about the magnificence of the occasion. The 24 seats of the elders represents all of the church (people, not a building).
There was an excellent quote that I missed (unfortunately) because I couldn't write it down fast enough! But I did copy down a part of what Dr. Jeremiah said:
What is praise? Praise is worship designed to quicken the heart to the holiness of God. [He listed several other points too. If anyone else knows who this quote came from and can add to this, please post it in the comment section! Thanks!] This should be the goal of every worshipper on earth.
Here, Dr. Jeremiah focused in on Revelation 5:8-10. I want to expand upon this.
In a Bible study that I participated in on the book of Revelation, we did an inductive study on Revelation 5:1-14. Here is the NKJV of that portion of Scripture:
The Lamb Takes the Scroll
5And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open *and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and *to loose its seven seals."
6 And I looked, *and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Worthy Is the Lamb
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made *us kings* and priests to our God;
And *we shall reign on the earth."
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
"Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the *twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped *Him who lives forever and ever.
Footnotes:
5:4 NU-Text and M-Text omit and read.
5:5 NU-Text and M-Text omit to loose.
5:6 NU-Text and M-Text read I saw in the midst . . . a Lamb standing.
5:10 NU-Text and M-Text read them.
5:10 NU-Text reads a kingdom.
5:10 NU-Text and M-Text read they.
5:13 M-Text adds Amen.
5:14 NU-Text and M-Text omit twenty-four.
5:14 NU-Text and M-Text omit Him who lives forever and ever.
Who is this Lamb who is worthy? Jesus Christ! Notice in verse 4 that John weeps because no one could be found worthy to open the scrolls! But then, the elders point to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who is worthy! (Rev. 5:5-10).
Pastor Chuck Smith commentary on Rev. 5:1-5:
v.1-5 The scroll contains the title deed to the earth. When Jesus gave His life on the cross, He redeemed the earth back to God, but God hasn't taken possession of it yet.
Next, notice this.
10 And have made *us kings* and priests to our God;
And *we shall reign on the earth."
We get a "do over" here on the new earth!
For the sake of clarity, here is a commentary by Jamieson, Fausett & Brown:
we shall reign on the earth--This is a new feature added to Rev 1:6 . Aleph, Vulgate, and Coptic read, "They shall reign." A and B read, "They reign." ALFORD takes this reading and explains it of the Church EVEN NOW, in Christ her Head, reigning on the earth: "all things are being put under her feet, as under His; her kingly office and rank are asserted, even in the midst of persecution." But even if we read (I think the weightiest authority is against it), "They reign," still it is the prophetical present for the future: the seer being transported into the future when the full number of the redeemed (represented by the four living creatures) shall be complete and the visible kingdom begins. The saints do spiritually reign now; but certainly not as they shall when the prince of this world shall be bound (see on JF & B for Re 20:2-6). So far from reigning on the earth now, they are "made as the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things." In Rev 11:15, 18 , the locality and time of the kingdom are marked. KELLY translates, "reign over the earth" (Greek, "epi tees gees"), which is justified by the Greek (Septuagint, Jdg 9:8 Mat 2:22 ). The elders, though ruling over the earth, shall not necessarily (according to this passage) remain on the earth. But English Version is justified by Rev 3:10 . "The elders were meek, but the flock of the meek independently is much larger"
[BENGEL].
Look at the numbers of the worshippers:
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
Everyone will recognize the honor, glory and power of God the Father and the Lamb of God, His Eternal Son, Jesus Christ!
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
"Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the *twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped *Him who lives forever and ever.
-to be continued-
Next: The Crescendo of Worship in Heaven.
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