Daily Scripture 

Posted on September 26, 2017 by growintheword

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

http://bible.com/114/pro.16.9.nkjv

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Revelation III, Bible STudy 09/06/17

Posted on September 13, 2017 by growintheword

Revelations picII

Revelation III

Synopsis of Bible Study 09/06/17

Delivered by Bishop Walker III, DMin.

I.                   Introduction

Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

  1. One of the most important things to remember is the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets, and the 7 significant signs.
  2. The #7 is about completion.
  3. When you move towards tribulation, there are some folk called redeemed. These are people who are what we call, “saved”.
  4. On last week, we saw God on the throne. In his right hand was a scroll. There was seven seals on the scroll and no one in heaven, on the earth, or under the earth, was worthy to open that scroll.
    1. Then there was a voice that said, “Behold the Lamb of God”. We found out that the Lamb of God, was worthy, because he had been slain and the elders fell down and worshiped Him.
  5. What we see now, in this lesson, is the time of tribulation. Lots of things will happen during that time, in this space we call Imagine being caught up or raptured by God.

II.               The Seven Seals

A.                 The First Seal (The conqueror)

Revelation 6:1-2 (NKJV) 6 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals;[a] and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2 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.

  1. When the first seal opened, John saw a white horse. The rider that sat on the horse, had a bow and his mission was to conquer.
  2. The rider had a crown, meaning he was guaranteed victory.
  3. The white horse represents power that no one can resist.

B.                 The Second Seal (Conflict on Earth)

Revelation 6:3-4 (NKJV) 3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.”[a] 4 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.

  1. The second living creature said, “Come and see” and John saw a fiery red horse.
  2. The rider was given a great sword and he was given power of conflict over the earth. In other words, peace was taken from the earth.

C.                  The Third Seal (Scarcity on Earthy)

  1. Revelation 6:5-6 (NKJV) 5 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. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart[a] of wheat for a denarius,[b] and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” –
  2. A third living creature says, “Come and see” and John sees a black horse and the rider has a pair of scales.
  3. This represents a time of famine over the earth.

D.                 The Fourth Seal (Widespread Death on Earth)

Revelation 6:7-8 (NKJV) 7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” 8 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.

  1. The fourth living creature says, “Come and see” and John saw a pale horse and the rider was named
  2. This horse had Hades following him. This represents death.
  3. He was given power over a fourth of the earth to kill with sword, hunger, death, and beasts.

E.                 The Fifth Seal (The Cry of the Martyrs)

Revelation 6:9-11 (NKJV) 9 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. 10 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?” 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.

  1. 5th seal was about those who were martyred. John seen the souls of the martyred people, under the altar.
  2. Many had died because of their convictions for Christ, such as the 12 apostles.
  3. These martyred souls asked when their blood would be avenged, and Lord told them to rest a while longer.
    1. These were people killed in the earth. They are in heaven alive, but resting. This suggest that those that die in the Lord, don’t die, they sleep. Remember when Lazarus died, Jesus said he was sleep.
    2. Paul also said, “I would not have you be ignorant of those when are sleep”. If somebody sleeps or dies in the Lord, there is a day that they will wake up. If you get eternal life, you don’t die. You just rest until your day to get up.
  4. Notice that they were given white robes. This was a portion of their reward. The white robes given to the martyrs in Revelation 6 no doubt symbolize that they were made white by the blood of the Lamb, and that those clothed in Christ’s righteousness may wait in confident expectation that He will avenge their untimely deaths.

F.                  The Sixth Seal (Cosmic Disturbances)

Revelation 6:12-14 (NKJV) 12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold,[a] there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon[b] became like blood. 13 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. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

  1. Please know that during this time, God will use nature to make things happen.
  2. Look at what John saw:
    1. He said he saw a great earthquake. It looks like an eclipse and stars fell like meteor showers.
    2. The sky receded like a scroll and everything shifted including the mountains.

Revelation 6:15-17 (NKJV) 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders,[a] the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 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! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

  1. The mighty men, the slaves, and the free men hid in caves, trying to hide from the wrath of the Lamb. The Lamb of God, Jesus, is the God of grace, however, there is another side of Him coming. This side of Him is called, “Wrath”. You want to fall on the grace side of the lamb, not the wrath side!
    1. Salvation is broken down like this. You regenerate. You are justified. It’s like when you buy a used car certified. The car was bought with a price. You drive off the lot, confident, because although there may have been pre-existing problems with the car, you know that it has been certified. This is justification.
    2. Because you appreciate the value of the car, you will keep it washed. This is called sanctification. You don’t want to be caught riding dirty when the Lamb of God returns. That day is going to come.

G.                 The Seventh Seal (Prelude to the Seven Trumpets)

Revelation 8:1-5 (NKJV) 8 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. – When the angel took the censer from the altar and threw it to the earth, there was thunder, lightning, and earthquakes.

  1. During the first part of seventh seal, there was a silence in heaven of half an hour. No one really knows why.
    1. Ex – Bishop explains that when his first wife died, he was in a bad place. He got to a point that he had questions for God. When he asked God for answers, God took him to this scripture listed above about the half an hour of silence. We say this to just to say, it is believed that in those 30 mins, everything you didn’t understand (concerning why God did certain things) will become clear in those 30 mins.

 

III.            The Seven Trumpets

A.                 The First Trumpet

  1. Devastation of Vegetation – Revelation 8:6-7 (NKJV) 6 So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth.[a] And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
  2. God is burning up all the vegetation from the earth as we know it now.

B.                 The Second Trumpet

  1. Destruction of the water – Revelation 8:8-9 (NKJV) 8 Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9 And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
  2. A third of the sea becomes blood and a third of the living creatures in the sea die. Also a third of the ships are destroyed.

C.                  The Third Trumpet

  1. Destruction on the water and of the land – Revelation 8:10-11 (NKJV) 10 Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
  2. A star (or meteor) comes to the earth. Back in those days, this was something that was not envisioned.
  3. The name of the star is
  4. A third of the waters became wormwood and men died from the poisons of the water.

D.                 The Fourth Trumpet

  1. Disruption in the cosmos – Revelation 8:12 (NKJV) 12 Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night.
  2. A third of the sun, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck, so a third of them were darkened.
  3. As a result, a third of the day did not shine and likewise the night.

E.                 The Fifth Trumpet

  1. The plague of monstrous locusts – Revelation 9:1-6 (NKJV) 9 Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee.
  2. Locusts come out of the bottomless pit and they were sent to torment those that didn’t have the seal of God on their forehead.
    1. This torture will last for 5 months.
    2. Revelation 9:7-9 (NKJV) 7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.
    3. Revelation 9:10-12 (NKJV) 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.
  3. Description of the locusts.
    1. They had crowns like gold on their heads.
    2. Their faces were like that of a man.
    3. They had hair like women.
    4. They had teeth like lions.
    5. They had breastplates of iron.
    6. Their wings sound like chariots and horses.
  4. They had tails like scorpions with stingers.
  5. Controlled by the angel of the bottomless pit.
  6. One woe is past and two are yet to come.

F.                  The Sixth Trumpet

  1. The Four angels – Revelation 9:13-17 (NKJV) 13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.
    1. It always seems to be a third. Remember when Satin was thrown out of heaven? A third of the angels went with him.
  2. During the sixth trumpet, a voice from the four horns at the golden altar said, “Release the four angels at the river of Euphrates that were prepared for this very day”.
  3. These four angels killed a third of mankind.
  4. The army of horsemen were about two-hundred million.
  5. Those that sat on the horses had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow.
  6. The heads of the horses was like the head of a lion and from their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone.
  7. Revelation 9:18-21 (NKJV) 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power[a] is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. 20 But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries[b] or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
    1. A third of mankind was killed by the fire, smoke and brimstone from the horse’s mouth.
    2. These horses also had tails like serpents.
    3. The rest of mankind who were not killed, still did not repent of their works, idol worship, or demonic worship.
    4. They also failed to repent from sorcery. God still gives them another chance, and they fail to repent.
      1. This reminds us of today. We have taken everything that is righteous and conformed it to a world system. We have accepted everything!

G.                 The Seventh Trumpet

Revelation 11:15-17 (NKJV) 15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms[a] of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come,[b] Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

  1. God is going to make a transfer. If you don’t release to the power of His presence, you want ever worship, because you yourself, want to be worshiped.
  2. All of our lives, God has given us power. He entrusted us to be stewards of power. The power belongs to God. Some people used the power for evil, some used it for good. That day, God will come to take it back. No power will be able to stand before him that day.
    1. Remember, Jesus was standing before Pilate and Pilate says to him, “I have it within my power to free you or crucify you”. Jesus responds to Pilate by saying, “You have no power unless my Father gives it to you” – In that day, all your power and all of your titles will be taken away.
    2. Imagine what we deal with on the earth today. We could be in a war between people’s ego and people’s power at any time.
  3. Revelation 11:18-19 (NKJV) 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant[a] was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.
    1. After death comes judgement. The temple (the place where God dwells) will be opened for access.
    2. The Ark of the Covenant was seen in the temple, in John’s vision. When you feel the hail coming down, you know the storm is coming. These recent hurricanes have shown winds up to 185 mph. Meteorologist call this, the Finger of God. If a Cat 5 hurricane and an F5 tornado is just the finger of God, imagine the whole weight of God, coming down to the earth.
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Daily Scripture 

Posted on September 12, 2017 by growintheword

16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. – Ephesians 6:16 #WordAlerthttp://appsto.re/i6Lb9p2

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Revelation Part II, Bible Study 08/30/17

Posted on September 7, 2017 by growintheword

Revelations picII
Revelation Part II

Synopsis Bible study 8/30/17

Delivered by Bishop Walker III, DMin

 

  1. Introduction
  • Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
  • When dealing with the book of Revelation, you are dealing with two heavenly places.
  • Pay attention to where each of the seven churches are located and it will give you a better understanding of the letters.
  • Revelation is about a human experience from a heavenly perspective.
  • In the letters to the churches of Asia, God offers divine solutions.

 

  1. The Fourth Letter: The Church at Thyatira
  2. Thyatira was known for its trade market.
  3. It was a small town located north of Ephesus
  4. This is the home town of a woman in the bible called Lydia. Lydia is introduced to us in Acts 16:14-15 (NKJV) where it says 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
  5. The 4 Letter: Revelation 2:19 (NKJV) says 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith,[a] and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.- The letter to the church of Thyatira starts out as saying they had done some amazing things, as it relates to works, love, service, faith, and patience. God said that this church had incredible character in these areas
    1. What then could be wrong? Revelation 2:20-23 (NKJV) 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow[a] that woman[b] Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce[c] My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.[d] 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their[e] deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. – The woman mentioned here is Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab. She not only seduced people into sexual immorality, she also called herself a prophetess.
    2. There is one thing we must know about the Spirit of Jezebel. It is not gender specific. There are some men walking around with this same Jezebel Spirit. This spirit uses sexual seduction to manipulate people and gain power.
    3. The revelation of this is letter was this. You can be a church of service, but you have to guard against seducing spirits. The Spirit of Jezebel is a seducing spirit. These spirits are brought in to pull you away from God.
    4. Another thing to know is seducing spirits always have titles. In other words, it is common to find this spirit in someone that you may follow.

 

  • The Fifth Letter: The church of Sardis
  1. Sardis was located 55miles north of Ephesus.
  2. It was called the dead church. They existed in name only. They looked live on the outside, but they were dead on the inside. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 23:27 (NKJV) when he said 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
  3. This Fifth Letter: In Revelation 3:1 (NKJV) it says 3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. – You can look the part and have all church paraphernalia, but the people inside the church can be dead as a door nail.
    1. Revelation 3:2-5 (NKJV) says 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.[a] 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You[b] have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.- God says in this letter to Sardis to be mindful, come alive, an get yourself together.
      1. Having said this, we must remember not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. This simply means, don’t kill or condemn the whole church, because of a few people that refuse to do right.

 

  1. The Sixth Letter: The Church of Philadelphia
  2. The Church of Philadelphia was called the faithful church.
  3. Revelation 3:7-8 (NKJV) says 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:[a] 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;[b] for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.- God says to the Church of Philadelphia, you are faithful and have done what I asked you to.
    1. God says, since they have done what he asked, he knew he could trust them. As a result, God would lay an open door in front of them. The open door represents the faithful person.
      1. Revelation 3:10-11 (NKJV) 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold,[a] I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.- According to the letter, the church of Philadelphia was going to be granted Immunity from the tribulation, because they were faithful.
    2. Because they were faithful, stuff would come to them. Revelation 3:12 (NKJV) says 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.- God is basically  laboring over us. God chose to put his name on them, because they were faithful.

 

  1. The Seventh Letter: The Church of Laodicea
  2. This church is fascinating.
  3. This was a wealthy city near the city of Colossae,
  4. It was known to be a strategic banking center.
  5. It was so wealthy that around 60 AD, an earthquake destroyed them and they were in a position where they were able to refuse money from Rome, because they had enough wealth to rebuild their own city.
  6. Its water supply was relevant to the message today. The water that this city used had to travel lots of miles underground before reaching this city. Because of this, it was often foul and warm when it finally reached the city.
  7. John 3:14-18 (NKJV) says 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but[a] have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. – Know that he who does not believe is condemned.
  8. God says here’s the problem. God says He would rather them be all the way or all the way out. He said the going back and forth, made him sick.
  9. Because they are lukewarm, God says, “Remember, if you come to me and stop pretending, I can fix whatever is wrong in your life”.
  10. The Seventh Letter: Revelation 3:19-21 (NKJV) says 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 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. 21 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. – When God whips the Church of Laodicea, it is because he loves them. God is at the door knocking. If you let him in, he will dine with you.
    1. We spend a couple of hours in church on Sunday and approximately one hour in Bible Study per week, so let’s say most people are spending about 4 hrs per week communing with the Lord. The problem is, this is not enough time to help us deal with all week. God says that we need to let him come in and dine with us.

 

  1. A Vision of Heaven
  2. The Throne of God
  3. John was invited to see these things in heaven.
  4. Revelation 4:2-3 (NKJV) says 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was[a] like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. – Remember, we said that the use of capitalizations on certain words used in the bible, was representative of divinity. Having said this, pay attention to the grammar and the Capitalization of words in this particular scripture.
    1. John says in the scripture that he was in the Spirit and he saw that One was on the throne. – Again, the capitalizations found in the scriptures represent God’s deity.
    2. John said he was like a jasper and sardis stone. What does this mean? Well think of the most brilliant stone you could think of. With this in mind, think about it. When he looked at God on the throne, it was so brilliant, he couldn’t make out the construct of what he was seeing. It was so brilliant and amazing, John was saying that we can’t even behold that kind of
  5. Twenty-four thrones – Revelation 4:4-5 (NKJV) says 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns[a] of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.[b] Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the[c] seven Spirits of God.-
    1. Who are these 24 elders? Some scholars argue that they were angels. Let’s take it off the table, because angels don’t have thrones, therefore, they can’t be angels.
      1. Also, angels don’t wear robes.
    2. Who then could these elders be? They are humans who represent something.
      1. You will later hear about 12 gates in the city, but lets go back to the Old Testament when God was putting Israel into order. God allowed them to be 12 tribes of Israel. In the New Testament, he chose 12 disciples. Even the one that hung himself was replaced. The disciples became apostles. The foundation was 12tribes and the manifestation of this were the 12 apostles. Just like this, the Elders are the manifestation of the redeemed Church of God.
      2. Look at how the elders were dressed. They had on white robes and they had golden crowns. Remember we used to sing the song with the phrase, “I’m going to put on my robe, tell the story, of how I made it over”? Also, remember Paul talked about a crown of righteousness being laid up for him.
    3. Lightning, thunder, and voices from the throne – Typically there is lightning, thunder, then rain. So if we look at it, there is lightning, thunder, then water. God’s voice was like the sound of rushing water.
    4. Sea of glass – This represents the progression, before the throne. It was like a reflection. What was on the throne was reflecting off the sea of glass around the throne. The closer you get to God, the more you see him in the glass. Revelation 4:6a-7 (NKJV) says 6 Before the throne there was[a] a sea of glass, like crystal.
    5. 4 living creatures. – Revelation 6b-7 (NKJV) And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 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 word of God is living. That is why it said 4 living creatures. That word was moving around the throne.
      1. Revelation 4:8-9 (NKJV) 8 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,[a] Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” – These 4 creatures had eyes in front of them and behind. They could see what was ahead them and what was behind them.
    6. The four LIVING CREATURES are CHERUBIMS (Refer to Ezekiel 10 :20, 21).
      1. In describing the four living creatures, John says that the first “beast” was like a LION. A LION is the “King of the beasts” and represents majesty. Thus Christ is portrayed in the Gospel of Mathew as “King of Kings”.
      2. The Second living creature is said to be “like a calf”. The word translated “calf” can also be translated as “bullock” or “heifer”. This of course, was an animal frequently used for sacrifice. CHRIST here is portrayed as “Sacrifice” for our sins. Mark in his Gospel presents “CHRIST as the SERVANT who was to be sacrificed.”
      3. The Third living creature “had a face as a man”. The third creature would represent CHRIST as a MAN. The Gospel of Luke presents CHRIST as the Perfect Man. Also, as described in Philippians 2, Christ left His position of Glory with the Father and became a man so that He might die on the cross for our sin.
      4. The fourth living creature was “like a flying EAGLE”. The eagle symbolizes Sovereignty and Supremacy. Thus the living creature represents CHRIST in all his DEITY. The Apostle John in his Gospel presents JESUS CHRIST as the SON OF GOD and shows His relationship with heaven.
        1. These four living creatures do not rest day or night as they protect the throne of GOD in its holiness. In the old testament we read something very much similar to Rev 4. When Israel was camping in the wilderness, there were special precautions taken with the tabernacle which was the habitation of God in their midst. The Tabernacle was always in the center of the camp and was surrounded by 12 tribes.

 

  1. EPHRAIM WEST -> OX FLAG
  • DAN NORTH -> EAGLE FLAG
  1. REUBEN SOUTH -> MAN FLAG
  2. JUDAH EAST -> LION FLAG.
    1. On the east side was Judah which had a banner of a Lion. Ephraim was on the west with a standard of the ox. Reuben was on the South with the standard of a Man and Dan was on the north with a standard of an eagle. The 4 beasties represents the 4 gospels. Eyes represent what has happened and what shall be.
  3. They did not rest – the word was moving around the throne. Once the word of God is in your life, seeing where you’ve been and where you are going, it creates a spirt of worship. When the word gives God glory, there is a corresponding action. Revelation 4:10-11 (NKJV) 10 the twenty-four 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: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord,[a] To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist[b] and were created.”- The elders fell down before him and cast their crowns. In other words, they were saying this gold crown doesn’t mean nothing right now. They exist and were created to worship!
  1. The Unopened book.
  2. Revelation 5:1-6 (NKJV) says 5 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. 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[a] 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[b] its seven seals.” 6 And I looked, and behold,[c] 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. – Abraham had Isaac who had Jacob, who married Rachael, but not before marrying tendered eyed, rejected Leah.
  3. It was rejected Leah who had sons name Simeon, Reuben, and Levi, trying to get Jacob to love her. When she got tired of bearing children for one that didn’t love her, she had one that she named Judah, which meant “praise”. She had decided that now she would just give God praise.
  4. Out of Judah came King David and eventually Jesus.
  5. There was a the Lamb – Revelation 5:7-10 (NKJV) 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 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[a] kings[b] and priests to our God; And we[c] shall reign on the earth.”- First the elders fell down before the Lamb. When the blood of lambs and bullocks wasn’t enough, God sent his son, the Lamb that had been slain.
  6. Why were they worshipping the lamb? The golden bowls of incense contained the prayers of the saints. When your prayers get to heaven, they will trigger something to happen in heaven. They were worshipping the Lamb, because Jesus is worthy to be worshiped. He was worthy to open the scroll. He is worthy, because he was the Lamb that was slain.
  7. The bible says, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess. This holds so true that in recent days, even Louis Farrakhan professed that Jesus was his savior.

 
Farrakhan
“I thank God for guiding me for 40 years absent my teacher. So my next journey will have to answer the question. I’m gonna say, I know that my redeemer liveth. I know, I’m not guessing, that my Jesus is alive. I know that my redeemer liveth and because he lives I know that I, too, will pass through the portal of death yet death will not afflict me.

 

So I say to the devil, I know I gotta pay a price for what I’ve been teaching all these years. You can have the money, you can have the clothes, you can have the suit, you can have the house but, me, you can’t have.” ~ Louis Farrakhan

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