The Church - as Seen in Revelation — G.W. North

The Church as God’s New Creation

Having reached our last occasion together for this time, I want to conclude our thinking on the Church in the book of the Revelation and look into the marvels of God's wonderful grace to us in the new creation.

I suppose that you know that great hymn which says the Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord. She is his new creation by water and the Word. From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride.

With his own blood he bought her and for her life he died. That's a wonderful, wonderful verse. It's one that I love. It's one that I think of and often quote because it's so true. And I want to look a little into this book of the Revelation with this great truth in mind, the Church.

Now you may look into the book of the Revelation to find out who are the four horsemen of the apocalypse or who this is or what these creatures are that have got stings in their tails and all that sort of thing.

It's very fascinating. One does that. In my infancy I can remember I used to like to pick up, when I say infancy, when I was a boy, I used to look up Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. But I never used to read much about death.

I used to read about the holy war that was tacked on at the end. All these sort of fascinating things. And what a truth sometimes it is to read the book of the Revelation with this marvellous thought that God had in mind about the new creation.

Bless the name of the Lord. It's a wonderful thing to find out what God has in his heart, what he had as the dear wish of his heart. You can read what he's got in his mind, what he's planned, for instance, about trumpets and seals and vials, one thing or another, that's what he's got in mind, that's his plan.

But I don't know whether I'm made that way or not, or whether it's because the Lord Jesus brought me there, or what it is, but I always want to find out what's in his heart. For my sake, you can have everybody's head, but I'd like their heart.

And I believe this is really what God wants us to enter into. And this is the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as you see in verse one. It's the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave unto him.

Amen. It's good to have the revelation that God gave to Jesus. Paul had some marvellous revelations, Peter had some marvellous revelations, and so did John. But isn't it lovely to have the revelation of Jesus that God gave to him?

Because I'll tell you what, I found out this, that a man moves toward his revelation. He lives for his revelation. Everything in his life is toward the revelation that he has, if he has a revelation. If he hasn't got a revelation, he's pretty banal.

God wants us to move in. Some people call it a vision. And I suppose that carries some kind of an idea. What's your vision? I mean, what can you see? What are you moving to? What are you aiming at? What are you trying to create?

But revelation is much better, revelation from God. Because you see, where visions are concerned, often you can see the visions of your own mind, or of your own heart. But if you have got a revelation, it didn't come from you at all.

And it's given to you from God himself. And that becomes the source of inspiration of your whole life. Now, we are shown very much in this book. And of course, I shall only be able to select a few things.

Although I should travel perhaps through some of the chapters at some speed. You will know that the book opens with John on the Isle of Patmos, and a vision to John of the Lord Jesus in the midst of the seven golden candlestick, and all that transpired there concerning the church.

John’s Vision of the Throne in Revelation 4

And after that, in chapter 4, John is given a sort of a backwards and a forwards look as well. And he's given things that are at present. After this, he says he looked and he sees a door opened in heaven.

The first voice which he heard was of a trumpet talking with him. And this trumpet said, come up hither, I will show thee things which must be hereafter. He says he was in the spirit and he saw a throne.

Hallelujah. And as it were, John is given a revelation of the movement of God from the throne. He is shown the throne of God pre-Calvary. He's shown the throne of God after Calvary or post-Calvary. And he's shown what happened on the day of Pentecost and what's been moving on from there.

Quickly into this fourth chapter, he sees the throne. Let your eyes run down through the verses in verse 2. And he sees the one that sits on the throne. He's completely, well, he just can't be explained in normal terms.

This is it. Verse 3, he was like a jasper and a sardine stone. There was a rainbow round about the throne in sight, like unto an emerald. Hallelujah. You know that's the green everlasting color, the color of eternity, green.

And you know that the bow was the first great covenant sign shown to man. It took place after the flood, when God said he set his bow in the cloud. And it was God's great covenant to man at that time.

And God often adjusted his covenant to the particular need at the time, praise God. And it was this, that he would not destroy the earth by a flood anymore. And that he has said that as long as the earth remained, there would be seed time and harvest and summer and winter and cold and heat and so on.

It was a great covenant with creation. It was a great creation covenant. It was applied. And it's in this great truth that we need to think. Because I want to talk to you about this new creation of the Lord.

And it's the eternal covenant then, in its application to the needs then. Bless the name of the Lord. It's marvelous to think that this is from the throne. And it's for you to see that the throne is set in eternal covenant.

Round about the throne was the complete rainbow. Marvelous. And here is God then in his sovereignty in eternal covenant with man. Praise the name of the Lord for that. Let's move on shall we. And about the throne there were four and twenty seats.

And upon the seats he says he sees four and twenty elders sitting. Clothed in white raiment and they had on their head crowns of gold. Well praise the name of the Lord. Twenty four elders round the throne.

And this is the reason of course beloved why there are elders sitting in the church. They actually represent the church. The four and twenty elders. Because there are elders round the throne. It's this idea of eldership that God has put into the church.

And you know elders should always be men in touch with the throne. I don't know whether they are or not everywhere. But they should be. If they're not men who are in touch with the throne. And are for governmental purpose in the church.

If they can't move in the sovereignty of God. Set in eternal covenant with his people. I should get rid of them. If you've got any elders like this in this church I should ask them to leave. They've got to be this kind of person.

It's a woeful condition in any church. Where they haven't got this kind of. I mean this business of we'll have an annual vote or every three years. And if Mr. So-and-so has got a good business here.

Then he knows how to run his business. He's the chap to be an elder in our church obviously. He can handle the money and so on. And well that's about as big a mockery as you could ever have. No wonder the church can't really get on.

All this sort of thing that's going on. Eldership is a tremendous thing. And you notice that elders wear a crown. Praise God. It doesn't mean that they're decorated. It just means that they are men who rule.

They are elders in this great kingdom of priests. That John talks about in the first chapter. Remember unto him he says that loved us. Are you looking? In verse five. In the middle of the verse. Unto him that loved us.

And washed us or loosed us from our sins in his own blood. And hath made us kings and priests. Really that should be a kingdom of priests. Unto God and his father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever.

And they represent the great kingdom of priests. Praise the name of the Lord. Because everyone in the church. As we were thinking together some of us earlier this week. Should be a priest. Everyone in the church.

What a glorious truth this is. And you can see at a later stage. Though I may not touch on it tonight. You must read this for yourself. That these elders. They had golden bowls with the prayers of the saints in them.

And it's wonderful. They also had harps. And they could lead the singing. That's very good. It's a tremendous. It's a great pity there aren't any pianos in heaven brother isn't it? Very glad there aren't any tambourines.

That's my personal taste of course. Skin and tin. They don't make a very nice noise really. And it says they were sitting round the throne. And they had these crowns of gold on their head. And out of the throne went lightnings and thunderings and voices.

And that's about the only way you could describe it. You couldn't sort of make out what was being said. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne. Which are the seven spirits of God.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like under crystal. And in the midst of the throne and round about the throne. Were four beasts or living creatures actually. Full of eyes. Before and behind.

And the first beast was like a lion. And the second beast was like a calf. And the third beast had the face of a man. And the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And there you have a representation of the four gospels.

The Four Living Creatures and the Four Gospels

The four gospels in Matthew. Which sets forth the lion or the king of the tribe of Judah. These set forth in Matthew. And there you have next the calf. Which is Mark. The lowly serving calf. The third of course has the face of a man.

Which is Jesus as the son of man. Luke. And you've got John. He was like a flying eagle. The son of God. Going right up into God. There you have four representations of the four gospels. The Lord Jesus Christ in the mysterious incarnation.

It's all represented here. Let's move on. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him. Full of eyes within. Now this is a remarkable thing. Because if you look in verse six. You're told that they had eyes before.

That's foresight. They had eyes behind which is hindsight. And they have eyes within which are insight. That's tremendous. Now isn't that marvelous? They look forward. They look back. They look within.

That's tremendous. You read the four gospels and you see that's absolutely right. They look back. Jesus Christ the son of Abraham. Jesus Christ son of Adam. Jesus Christ as he's written in the prophets.

This is Mark. Jesus Christ the son of God. John. They're looking back. Bless God. They look forward too. Amen. And they're telling you that he's coming. He's going to sit on the cloud. He's coming again.

It's all so tremendous. That's wonderful. But insight. What insight you find in these gospels don't you? Full of eyes within. You read through those gospels. And you'll really think if you're not afraid to read them.

That they're reading you all right. Amen. You'll find that the parables tell your story. They'll tell the inner secrets of what goes on in you. Your very thoughts will be put out on the pages of the gospels.

Your attitude will be revealed. All sorts of things. Let's press on. They say holy, holy, holy. Lord God almighty. Which was and is and is to come. And when those living creatures give glory and honor.

And thanks to him that sat on the throne. Who liveth forever and ever. The four and twenty elders fall down. Before him that sat on the throne and worship him. That liveth forever and ever. And cast their crowns before the throne saying.

Thou art worthy oh Lord to receive glory and honor and power. For thou has created all things. And for thy pleasure they are and were created. Bless the name of the Lord. And then he moves on. And he sees in the right hand of him that sits on the throne.

This book written within and on the back side. Sealed with seven seals. He sees the strong angel. Proclaiming with a loud voice. Who's worthy to open the book. And to loose the seals thereof. No one in heaven nor in earth.

Neither under the earth was able to open the book. Neither to look thereon. And I wept much he says. Because no man was found worthy to open. And to read the book. Neither to look thereon. One of the elders said unto me.

Weep not. Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David hath prevailed to open the book. And to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld and glowed in the midst of the throne. And of the four living creatures.

And in the midst of the elders stood a lamb. As it had been slain. Having seven horns and seven eyes. Which are the seven spirits of God sent forth. Into all the earth. And so you see. You saw the throne of God.

In its great. Related to the creation. You see the end of chapter four. Thou has created all things. Now you see the throne. In relationship to redemption. This is a tremendous thing. That he goes right back.

And you see the throne with the rainbow around it. And you understand tremendous things that God did. And before the throne you see a sea of glass. Now the strange thing about it is. If it is strange.

Is that in the beginning when God began creation. He brought everything up out of the waters. That later he called seas. Genesis one. That's how it began. The throne with just the sea. Him on the throne.

So on and so on. And all creation came up out of the sea. In other words it was born by baptism. That's right. Came up out of the water. That's right isn't it. Yeah. Hallelujah. Yeah that's good isn't it.

It's good to see and know this. And that's marvelous isn't it. And then you know God had to overflow the earth again. So he still presented with the seas. And you know what happens. He brings forth a new creation.

As it were. And here's the great covenant. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. But when John looks at the throne. He sees a sea in front of it. What's coming up out of this sea. What's going to happen here. The throne.

The sea. The elders. The living. Creatures. I hope it's all beginning to tie up in your mind. And here is what the Lord is moving to. Shows us this great state. That God in his heart. Had had all the way through.

And he had this sea in mind. When he created water in the beginning. This was what he had in mind. Praise the name of the Lord. Oh and then. He sees this book. I'll tell you what I'd like to read this book.

I reckon it's better than the bible. I've never read this book. It was all sealed up. It was in the hands of God. Nobody could open it. Nobody could even look at it. Such a tremendous book. I don't know why they couldn't look at it.

But they just couldn't. And then he sees the lamb. Just as he'd been slain. If you like. He's seeing the Lord enthroned after Calvary. You see he finishes his gospel. Bless the name of the Lord. They all finish their gospels.

These four gospel writers at the death. And the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Some even go as far as the ascension. You remember that we're told that he went up. And so on and so on and so on. You remember which gospel talk takes us as far as the ascension don't you?

Yes all right. And he goes. And he's there on the throne. Hallelujah. He takes the book. He's the only one that's able to open the book. We're told in verse 5. He prevailed to open the book. And to loose the seven seals thereof.

Why this is tremendous. And he comes in verse 7. He takes the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. And that starts. As soon as he takes the book. The four living creatures fall down.

And the elders all fall down. They have hearts. Golden vials full of roses and so on. And they sing the great new song. Hallelujah. As soon as Jesus gets that book in his hand. They start singing. Amen.

It makes everybody's heart glad. That knows the truth. They just worship. The chapter finishes up with them. Worshipping him that liveth forever and forever. And then. He watches whilst the lamb opens one of the seals.

And I heard as it were the noise of thunder. One of the four living creatures saying. Come and sing. And I saw and behold a white horse. And he that sit on him had a bow. And a crown was given unto him.

And he went forth conquering and to conquer. That's the day of Pentecost. Bless the name of the Lord. He saw the Holy Ghost come forth. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Now this is a tremendous thing.

Pentecost and the Conquering Work of the Holy Spirit

Look in Hebrew shall we just for a moment now. In the book of Hebrews and chapter one. This is so tremendous. Verse 13. To which of the angels said God at any time. Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Hallelujah. But we'll go to Acts chapter two. Why there are so many glorious insights. Into this moment in history. Or if you like into the events. Of eternity. And in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.

In verse 34. Here is Peter he says David not ascended into the heavens. But he said himself the Lord said unto my Lord. Sit on my right hand until I make thy foes thy footstool. Now that's why the Holy Ghost has come up.

He's been given a bow. He's conquering and to conquer. Blessed be the name of the Lord. I hope then there are no foes of the Lord Jesus in this room. I hope there aren't any enemies of Christ. Because you're going to have some clashes with the Holy Ghost.

He's come to make Jesus's foes. Jesus's footstool. Bless the name of the Lord. I'm so glad that I started off as an enemy. I was an enemy in my mind by wicked works. So were you. And the Holy Ghost has come to make conquest in your life and mine.

Everything's got to be subdued. Everything. Everything's got to be brought into submission by the Holy Ghost. Don't say the elders are doing it. I want you to notice that. The Holy Ghost is coming to do this.

And it's so tremendous. When a person, and I'll tell you the art of eldership brother if you're listening now. The art of eldership is so living and moving. That everybody is put under the authority of the Holy Ghost.

And the Holy Ghost does everything. Amen. It's a marvelous thing. If you know how to work with the Holy Ghost. If you know how to move with the Holy Ghost beloved. Warfare will nearly cease in your church.

Or if it won't cease altogether. Blessed be the name Lord. You won't have personality clashes. You won't have anybody challenging your leadership. If you know how to work with the Holy Spirit. Amen. Oh oddly.

Once now and again you might. You might get it. But very very rarely. Because the Holy Spirit has come forth. And he's got the honor and glory of Jesus laid to his charge. This is what Father said to Jesus.

Said see we see Jesus standing on the throne. Hallelujah. He's not a dead lamb. He's really alive. He's standing on the throne. Then Father said to him. Now you sit down son. You've done your bit. Holy Ghost is going to do it all.

Just sit down. Holy Spirit's going to do it all. Isn't that a marvelous thing. So the Holy Spirit that the Lord Jesus you see is resting. And that the Holy Ghost hasn't got through with you. On the major thing in your life.

Till you are sitting down and resting. That's the rest that he speaks of in Hebrews. Please sit down beloved. And don't make such a fuss. The Lord Jesus he's sitting down. He's not bothering. Glory be to God.

Why should he bother? The universe went on even when he died on the cross. He's got nothing to to worry about. He had he applied himself to the root cause of all warfare. Sin. He applied himself on the cross to be the remedy in the hands of the Holy Ghost.

For the destruction of everything that's anti-Christ. Anti-God. In your life. And so he sat down. And the Holy Spirit has come forth. Oh it's so wonderful. It's this that makes old Paul say. We are more than conquerors.

Holy Ghost is the conqueror. I'm more than a conqueror. Yeah you see I don't have to conquer anything. Everybody thinks they've got to sort of fight and get the victory. No you haven't. All you've got to do is to accept the position that you sit down in Christ.

You sit down. Let the Holy Ghost do everything. Now that's precious isn't it? Yeah let the Holy Ghost do everything. Now that doesn't excuse you for any laziness. Or any wrong approach to life. Or any wrong attitude to anybody.

It only means that you adopt the right attitude to yourself. And to the Lord. Sit down. This is lovely. And of course you know where you sit. I don't know whether you've ever realized this. But in the tabernacle or the temple above.

There was only one seat. God sat on that. It was called the mercy seat. God sat on it. Everybody else had to stand up. They were slaves. They were servants. Only one seat. Nobody could get at it. That was behind the veil.

Nobody had to go in there. Only God sat there I thought. And uh but you see Jesus went and he sat on it. And you'll never rest till you're sitting on it. You'll never rest. You sit there in the holiest of all.

That's where you sit. You stop in the holiest of all. You don't go in and come out. You stay in the holiest of holies. Amen. Are you like that? Sitting down resting in perfect and complete holiness. Are you?

You'd better. And if you let the Holy Ghost conquer you as you should. You'll get there. But all the time you keep coming up with your mental conflicts. Inward personality battles and troubles. That you spread like poison through your family.

And everywhere you go. Until you let the Holy Ghost do this beloved in you. You'll never sit down. You can talk about positional preaching you know sitting down in the heaven. But what's the use of that to me?

You can have everybody's head for my sake. Let me have the heart. I want to know this to sit down. It's glorious to sit down and rest. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Hope you're there. Last night we were talking about the Holy Ghost in relationship to gifts.

And powers. And ministries. How about the Holy Ghost in this religion? In your life? All right. So the Holy Ghost goes forth first. Before God starts his program with all the universe. Which it is a cosmic program.

That's revealed in this book of the Revelation. Creation. Calvary. Pentecost. Right. Bless God. He misses out all the unimportant parts. Like Kings. Chronicles. And all these things. You know they're not.

They're passed over. They have an importance. Bless God for the revelation of it. But God didn't get his bride out of that. And it's the bride that he's concerned about. He didn't get his church. They're in taken into consideration.

There are provisions made for them. But he's after this great bride of his heart. And from that breaking of the first seal. We may read through the next chapters. I don't think we will. Concerning the breaking of the other seals.

Oh they're dreadful. Perhaps we'll just touch on them. He breaks another. He breaks the second seal. Verse three. Out goes a red horse. Verse four. Let your eyes run quickly down. I mustn't spend too much time tonight.

I want to get on. Peace taken from the earth. People killing one another. And so on. And he opens the third seal. In verse five. And then he sees a black horse. And this chap. He goes. This one. He goes up.

Balances in his hand. And they're all sorts of talk about a measure of wheat for a penny. Three measures of barley for a penny. See thou hurt. Not the oil and the wine. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

These people don't seem to be suffering from inflation. And he opened the fourth seal. That's good, isn't it? And this time. Out goes a pale horse. Death and hell follow him. And there's. Killed. Hunger.

Death. Destruction. Fifth seal. In verse nine. Under the altar. The souls of them are slain for the word of God. And for the testimony which they held. And all sorts of things. The sixth seal. Vernon.

Twelve. Earthquake. Sun becomes black as sackcloth of hair. The moon turns to blood. Oh. You're at the end of Joel's prophecy by the time you've got here. In Acts chapter two. It starts. With the reason why Joel's prophecy was stated.

This is that. In Acts two. Because. Finishes. With the end of Joel's prophecy in Acts chapter two. Now you must really do some bible reading. About this. The bible all fits together when you do it properly.

And. It's all so wonderful. And. Let it be the name of the Lord. From this moment onwards. We see. The old creation. Heading for this structure. All sorts of things happen. Oh. I don't know whether you're aware of it.

The Sea of Regeneration and the New Creation

But we're going to get a clue. Now. About that sea. Let's move on shall we. We're going to move on quickly. And. We're coming to church. Sorry. To chapter 13. And in chapter 13. He's standing upon the sand of the sea.

And out of the sea. He sees a beast rise up. My word. Out of the sea. Let's move on again shall we. And in chapter 15. He sees another sign in heaven. Great and marvelous. Seven angels. Having the seven last plagues.

For in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea. Of glass. Mingled with fire. And then that had gotten the victory over the beast. And over his image. And over his mark. And over the number of his name.

Stand on the sea of glass. Having the harps of God. Praise the name of the Lord. We're beginning to move on now. Here's this great sea. In front of the throne. He sees it. The throne of course. Is the original throne.

Of which there was an adaptation. An application. In the tabernacle. Above. For the mercy. Later it's told. We're told in Hebrews. It's changed its name. It's called a throne of grace. There. And this is very very wonderful.

Because under the old covenant. They could only deal in mercy. Everybody was a sinner. They had to come and obtain mercy. This is all that the Jews. To this day know. Even if they're very orthodox. They don't want anything above the throne of grace.

They only say. They must get mercy. Because they've broken the ten commandments. And so on. And you know the evening in the ark. It was only the second set of ten commandments. Moses smashed the first set.

And so God had to give them a second set. Ten commandments. And that was very very good. And that. It emphasizes the fact that Israel. In those old covenant days. Was his first born. And they always get the double portion.

So if they squander the first one. They get the second all right. It's very very. Marvelous. So far as God is concerned. And the second set of the commandments. Was put in the ark. And God sat on that.

And he still dispensed mercy. To sinners. Now that's all that they had. Really. What they did not have. Was what we can. Is what we can have. At the throne of grace. At the throne of grace. We have more than mercy.

We can have eternal life. At the throne of grace. We can have complete regeneration. At the throne of grace. And we are to come. And we are to be. In this great place. Beloved. We move right on. To the book of the.

To the end of the book of the revelation. And in chapter 21. We see a new heaven. And a new earth. The first heaven. And the first earth. Were passed away. And there was no more sea. Amen. The sea's gone now.

The sea of glass. Has given way. To something much more grand. And it's like this. We'd better read it together. Let's go right down. It's just the time factor. He's carried away in the spirit still. In verse 10.

He sees the great city. The holy Jerusalem. Descending out of heaven from God. Having the glory of God. Her light was like a stone. Most precious. Even like a jasper stone. Clear as crystal. Boy that's what was said about God.

He looked like a jasper. Do you remember that? A jasper stone. And now the city. Is looking like jasper stone. Clear as crystal. Now this is ever so wonderful beloved. And we. He has a good look at this city.

And it says the building of the wall. Verse 18. Was of jasper. This is the very substance of God. And the city was pure gold. Like unto clear glass. Well hallelujah. Look in 21. The street of the city was pure gold.

As it were transparent. Transparent glass. Glory be to God. Now you know that. In line with the throne. Under the old covenant. There was in. In the temple of Solomon. A seat. A seat. Old Moses he just had a labor.

When he started in the temple. Of course it had to be carried around. You couldn't carry this great mould. From sea round that Solomon made. You couldn't carry a temple round. But you could carry something made of skins.

God's very sensible. And he's very practical. As a brother prayed a little earlier. He knows how to adapt himself. That's a tremendous thing. One of the things that grace does. It also enables us to adapt ourselves.

And behave ourselves rightly. In all circumstances. To answer all needs. But in Solomon's temple. What had been a labor. A little sort of a candle. Or a foot washing bowl. It became a great molten sea.

See. Glory be to God. There it is. And it was the labor. Or the sea of regeneration. And right in front of the throne. Was the sea of regeneration. That space reserved in front of the throne. Is for the regenerate.

Now. In chapter 13. We got a clue. That out of the sea. Which is of course the sea of humanity. There came up this beast. He comes up out of the sea. Now beloved. When you and I. Are brought into the new creation of God.

We can only be brought in. Via the labor. Or sea of regeneration. You and I have got to come up out of the sea. We come up out of the sea of regeneration. Hallelujah. And. There's this great sea in front of God.

It's reserved for the regenerate. Reserved for the regenerate. I want you to see something else too. This. Gray. City. New Jerusalem. It's like transparent glass. Did you notice that? Well the labor was made of looking glasses.

Not transparent. They were to reflect the face that looked into it. But transparent glass allows you to see the face that's looking through it. Yes. Amen. So. We're not beholding in mirrors. A reflected glory here.

Everything's transparent. It's really God. It's really there. Oh beloved. I wonder if you've learned the lessons of what God is trying to tell us. I wonder if you have. That God is moving on to this new creation state.

All the time. Jesus came and died and rose again. That's what the four living creatures tell us. There's the permanent record of the fact that our blessed Lord Jesus became a man. What a tremendous thing that is.

They all finish up by telling us he was the lamb. Because they all finish up at Calvary. The sacrifice lamb. So in the midst of the living creatures there appears the lamb. Is that right? Isn't the bible wonderful?

It's all so simple really. There's nothing difficult. Not when you tell the Lord to get hold of your heart and show you truth. You see. And there's the permanent record of that. But oh beloved. The great purpose of it was this.

That having ascended to there. God should move on to his great plan. And on the day of Pentecost it was initiated. All right. God initiated his great plan. Regeneration. Regeneration. By the baptism into the labor of regeneration.

Which contains the cross. As far as we're concerned. We are baptized and immersed into that which utterly destroys the old. We're immersed into that which kills it all. Stops it dead. Amen. That's it.

Hallelujah. There's no hangover. There's no bringing over anything of the old. Into this great regeneration. Blessed be the name of the Lord. The Holy Ghost. He's come forth to see to this. And it's such a wonderful thing beloved.

And you will find. I can't work it all out for you tonight. But I'll give you some lead now. I hope in this book for your reading. And you'll find that finally. These people that stand on the sea of glass.

It's brought up to those who've come through great tribulation. Those who lost their lives for the Lord. Glory that the sea is shot through with fire. You're not to think it strange. Concerning the fiery trial.

Which is to try you. As though some strange thing happened to you. And here we all get some fiery trial. It's all going to culminate up in tremendous tribulation. Some think it's very near. Some think it can't take place yet.