(Happenings Ahead) the Magnificence of the Master — Willie Mullan

The Last Days and the Judgment Seat of Christ

And since we commenced this series some eleven weeks ago, we took a night or two or three looking at the last of the last days of this dispensation. And I took great care to take you through the scriptures and prove that these are indeed the last of the last days.

The last days for the nation of Israel will be glorious days, but the last days for the church, in the last days of the church, perilous times shall come. And we looked carefully at the distinction of the last days, and then at the dangers of the last days, and we took one or two or three weeks of this, and then we moved from there to see the Lord coming to the air and the saints rising to meet him.

That great moment when the saints go marching in. And then we took two weeks, and these were very solemn ones for us in the class here, two weeks at the judgment seat of Christ. And we learned that we must all stand.

And I pointed out very carefully that the we in the chapter writes through so many times, it belongs only to believers. We believers must all stand at the judgment seat of Christ. To receive the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad.

And we took great care to point out that these deeds are not sins. Oh no, my sins were judged as calvary, and they cannot appear again. You know when the Lord Jesus hung on yon cross, he bare my sins in his own body on the tree.

It's so plain, isn't it? He, his own self, the person, bare my sins, the performance, in his own body, on the tree, the place. And you know it was a mighty thing, because he bore them away, and they're away never to be found no more forever.

The book makes it clear when it says, when he had by himself purged our sins, when he had blotted them out, made an end of them. Yes, you know the moment I trusted Christ with the arms of my faith round him, God shook me by the hand and said, you know you're entering into the new covenant, Willie.

And the terms are, your sins and your iniquities, I will remember no more, once you try to settle with the covenant. My sins will never be seen again. They were dealt with in their totality for eternity at Calvary, and they're gone.

Gone, gone, gone. Blotted out. Never to be remembered no more forever. Ah, but the judgment seat, the deeds of service must be examined. What's all this preaching about? For the Baptist, for money, for me, for Christ.

What's all the praying about? What's all the singing about? Yes, the deeds done in the body, the deeds of service must be examined. And then we noticed this, that while the church had moved and stood before the judgment seat, you know there was a man of sin appeared on this planet.

There's the man of sin. We've been looking at him for a week or two. We noticed the time when he would appear and we noticed the titles he bears in this book, what a host of them. And we noticed the terrorizing things that he will do.

Now while he's making war with the 144 ,000 down here, making war with the saints, the witnesses of that tribulation period, what's going on with the Lord? And where are the saints? So rose to me. We want to try to find out what's going on ahead in the heavens there after the judgment seat has passed, while this man of sin is blasting and blighting the earth.

Revelation as the Revelation of Jesus Christ

And we're starting tonight in the book of Revelation chapter 1. Book of Revelation chapter 1. I think it's important that I bring you along each week that we get this thing drummed into our hearts. These happenings ahead.

Now we're at the book of Revelation. Let me point out for the young people again that I believe that every jot and tittle and sound and sentence of the original scriptures was God breathed. Of course I don't believe that the chapters and verses were inspired.

Man did this and it's very valuable. It's been a great help. And of course God has given help to the church. I don't believe the chapters and verses, numbers of the chapters and the numbers of the verses are inspired.

I believe the original statements given by God were God breathed. And I'm definitely sure that the heading on this book is wrong because if your Bible is the same as mine it's called the Revelation of Saint John the Divine.

And I never saw anything more popish than that. I may as well be blunt about it. I'll tell you this. That the Apostle John never called himself one Saint John and certainly never called himself Saint John the Divine.

The man who put that heading on this if he had taken time to read the chapter see verse 4? Here's how John styles himself. John to the seven churches which are in Asia. See verse 9? I, John, who am also your brother.

This ecclesiastical nonsense annoys me. I get letters from the very reverend Dr. Mullen. I get the poems that wrote it down in fiction. I'm neither the very reverend nor pastor either. Some folks call me pastor and I get so fed up telling them I have to put up with it now.

That may be a gift in the church but it is not a title for a man. That is not a title, that is a gift. The Lord gave gifts unto men. He gave son orders of gifts. I don't need titles like that. I'll tell you what they have written in the book above.

Willie Mullen. That's who I am, in case you didn't know. And no more your old ecclesiastical blarney. Two gentlemen appeared tonight. One said, hello Willie. I said, hello Willie. Called him Willie too.

The other boy behind him, he said, hello Willie. I said, hello Willie. Three Willies. The big one is Willie the first and the wee one is Willie the second and I'm Willie the third. In case you get it mixed up now.

I want you to get this. John always styled himself John. And if you read Paul's letters there are 13 of them in the New Testament and every one of them begins with the word Paul. Just like that. 13 letters, you can't miss it.

Just Paul, plain Paul. That's all. Because I don't know why they call this the revelation of Saint John the Divine at all. Because I'll tell you what the first verse says. It says, verse 1, The revelation of Jesus Christ.

Now that's the bit that is inspired. Now this is not the revelation of Saint John. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. It's a wonder they didn't put it on the book. I don't know who did this but I think John will scold him when he gets to heaven.

They didn't thought he was smart did they? Well the book says this is the revelation of Jesus Christ. And mind you that's the key to the book because this whole book it's a wonderful one. It's just God's revelation of Christ.

I believe it's a real picture book full of pictures of our wonderful Lord right through the book. And if you took it to bed with you like that I believe you could get enjoyment out of it. I'll tell you a simple way to do the book I did this for the class years ago.

If you take the first three chapters 1, 2, 3 you have God's revelation of Christ as Lord in the midst of the church. It's just the Lord walking in the midst of the church. Then if you take chapters 4 and 5 you have a revelation of Christ as Lamb.

In the midst of the throne. That's where we're going to this evening. If you take chapter 6 to the end of 18 you have God's revelation of Christ as Lion in the midst of the nations. He's Lord, He's Lion, He's Lion.

Take chapter 19 you're in at the marriage supper and it's God's revelation of the Lamb in the midst of the marriage feast. Last two chapters, 21, 22 My, you can see the Lord of the light with no need of the sun, neither of the moon.

The Lamb is the light thereof. Who is God's revelation of Christ? Of Lord, of Lamb, of Lion of Lover, of Light. Now, we were looking last week at the beast and we were looking at the system he uses down here for his diabolical purposes.

The Throne and the Coming Judgment

Now, while he's warring with the saints down here that is the 144 ,000 who were sealed off and while he's making war even against the hosts of heaven because he's got power, he gets power from the dragon and he will even attack the hosts of heaven.

In fact, we found last week in chapter 17 that he'll make war with the Lamb. Oh, the iniquity and the audacity that's there one cannot describe. There's a great phrase there the Lamb shall overcome them.

But while all that's going on in heaven going on on earth what about heaven? You know, as I see this one of these moments the Lord will come and the saints who are alive and remain shall rise to meet him and the dead in Christ shall rise and they'll all meet him together in the air and then he'll be taken to the judgment seat and those deeds of service will be examined.

And I believe this that when the judgment seat is over and the beast is still doing his diabolical work on earth the saints will go into heaven and then they'll be meeting in the air and I feel the judgment seat is there somewhere and they'll stay in heaven until the end of the day and then the Lord will bring us to the place he has prepared for us the new Jerusalem but we'll come to that in this week by and by.

But tonight we're just thinking of the saints leaving the judgment seat and going right in to heaven itself to see the glory of the Lord as we prayed in John 17 that where I am there they may be also.

And we're beginning at chapter 4 of the book of the Revelation. Sorry for the long introduction this evening but it's very worth it sometimes. Now watch this very carefully we're going to look at the magnificence of the master this evening both as Lord and Lamb in heaven.

Chapter 4, Revelation begins like this. After this I looked and behold a door was opened in heaven and the first voice which I heard was as it were of the trumpet popping with me which said Come up heaven and I will show thee the things which must be hereafter.

You know John is being called just a little higher now and there's a door opened into heaven and you'll notice that it's the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me. You need to mark that you young folks to go back to Revelation chapter 1.

See verse 10. I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice out of a trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega. I asked two Russell lads once. Who's Alpha and Omega? Who's the first and the last?

Who's the beginning and the end? He said the Lord Lord, oh you mean the Lord Jehovah. That's correct now. That's right. Why did John hear this voice say I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last. And in verse 12 he said I turned to see the voice that spoke with me and being turned I saw seven gondoled candlesticks and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like on two, quick now one of mine because that's who is Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end.

If you have any troubles about it at all the son of man he saw me clothed with a garment down to the foot and he talks about his head and his hair in 14 and his feet in 15 and he talks about his right hand in 16 and when I saw him it says in verse 17 I fell at his feet as dead and he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me fear not.

I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead. Who is this now? You have no troubles about it at all. The Lord Jesus. Yes he is the Alpha and Omega he is the first and the last. Now it's the Lord Jesus the same voice that's calling him up a little higher in chapter 4.

Just the same voice. After this I looked and behold the 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 heaven and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

Just about to reveal to John some of the great things happening ahead he says Come to show you some of the things that will happen ahead and immediately I was in the spirit and behold a throne was set in heaven.

This is a particular throne. Mind you I am going to shock you when I tell you that this is not the throne of this. No not at all. You are going to find out in a moment that this is the throne of judgment.

Because this throne is being set for judgment and the Lord Jesus as the Lamb is going to take command of it and judge the nation down below just in a moment and next week we will see him starting to judge the nation.

We are going to deal with the four false men of the revelation take in our time with them next week. Yes but I want you to get the throne that's here. You know there are great thoughts about the throne here.

You will think it was prepared a throne set in heaven. I want you to look at this great phrase and one thought on the throne. Just one. I want you to get that because that is very important. You know when we look up tonight we can see the Lord Jesus seated on the right hand of the Majesty and I.

This is a throne that we come to continually because he is our representative there as our great high priest and our advocate. Remember he is the high priest of every believer and he is the advocate of every child in the family and those two are different.

Yes he is the high priest of every believer but you know if we think we have an advocate with the Father because we are children in the family and we have got an advocate with the Father he is the advocate of every child in the family he is the high priest of every believer.

And I want you to get that this throne is different. You know we have a phrase there one thought on the throne and you will notice the phrase on the throne. You notice verse 4 round about the throne. You notice verse 6 before the throne and in the middle of verse 6 in the midst of the throne because there are great thoughts in this chapter about this throne.

You can see it was set the preparation of the throne. I have done there and then you notice this this throne is encircled by a rainbow it says and he that such was to look upon like a jasper and sardine stone.

And there was a rainbow round about the throne in sight like onto an emerald. You know why this throne is set for judgment as we shall see. You know in wrath God will always remember mercy. And he will do so even to this earth that's being terrorized by the beast as the rainbow always speaks of God having mercy on this old earth of ours.

And it's not the rainbow that we usually see. Because it's a green rainbow. It's got the fastest color the eye can light upon. And there's something comforting and something softening about this very rainbow.

The High Priest, the Breastplate, and the Throne

Round about the throne. Somebody asked me why is the one on this throne revealed like a jasper and sardine stone. I think that's very wonderful. It's symbolic language. I know. But for symbols in this book you don't use your understanding.

No that's one of the times when you lean not onto your own understanding. This book will always interpret itself by the boys that have leaned onto their own understanding. They've got a lot of ideas. I think you only need to look carefully at it.

There's a jasper and a sardine stone, two stones. You remember when I was dealing with the high priest garments. We had great nights here. Let's go back for a moment. So we see the breastplate. What is it?

It's the book of Exodus chapter 28. It is book of Exodus chapter 28. And it says in verse 15 thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work. And it's giving all the details of the breastplate.

You remember how we looked at it. It says in verse 17. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones. Even four rows of stones. The first row. First stone. Quick. Then you can look at the rest. And what's the last one.

Last one verse 20. The fourth row. A bell. An onyx. What's the last one. Jasper. Is this just a wonderful symbolical way of letting us see who's on the throne. It's the first and the last he that sat upon the throne.

But there's big difference. You know these stones as we find them here in Revelation chapter 4. Just watch the way it's worded it says. And he that sat was to look upon. You know there was an effulgence.

There was a glory. There was a shining out coming out. Ah it's the Lord Jesus Christ in all his glorious deity of God sitting on the throne. That's why the one is there. Yes he's God. You know don't ever forget this.

The first and the last. Oh he was the eternal son. The second person of the Trinity. But here.

Of God burning out in all the glory.

Of God the face of Jesus Christ first and last. He's going to judge you now. It's great to get the hold of that. You can see the preparation of the throne. It's specially set for something and the decoration of the rainbow.

The Twenty-Four Elders and Worship Around the Throne

I want you to notice the associations of the throne therefore 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.

I don't think you're going to have any trouble at all with these elders. You know when we come to chapter 5 and we're going to go right through that this evening you'll come and read chapter 6 of 5. Have a look at it now.

And I beheld and lo in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as it had been claimed having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And we'll explain that in a moment. And when he had taken the book the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the lamb having every one of them.

And I am with Walter Scott when he says this in the Greek everyone refers to the twenty four elders every one of them. It should be if we put the emphasis where we should having hearts, golden vials full of orders which are the prayers of the saints.

And they they, referring again you put the emphasis to the twenty four elders, they sung a new song. Here's the notes of it. Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof. For thou wast slain going back to Calvary and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.

You tell me you are not. They're redeemed ones. You can't sing like that except you're redeemed. You know he's a redeemed folk. I believe that these are all the saints that rose. And mind you when the Lord comes mine will be a shout.

Oh it will be the voice of the archangel. Of course you remember we talked about the archangel. He had a whole lot to do with the bodies of Old Testament saints. Yes the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout.

Oh that will be the shepherd shouting. And the New Testament saints. And the Old Testament ones are rising and they're going in. And you know friends I want you to get the hold of this. You know we've got twelve apostles who were foundation members of the church.

And we've got twelve tribes. And I think the twenty four are giving us a picture of all the saints in heaven. And they're singing thou hast redeemed us. You know the angels can't sing this. Angels can't sing about redemption.

Sure. They don't know a thing about us. Yes. And when I get to heaven the angels will fold the rings. For the angels never knew the joy that my salvation brings. And all these are redeemed from us. There's the whole picture.

Now we're risen from the earth. We have stood at the judgment seat and some of us were ashamed. And then the door opened and we went in and we saw the throne prepared for judgment for this. Then this song began when the lamb took the book.

Yes these are associations of the throne. These twenty four elders are round about the throne. I think you know that's just how it's going to be in the day to come. You know I want you to notice this.

It says in verse 9 of chapter 5. And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy. I want you to get that now when you're reading verse 11 of chapter 5 I'd be held. And I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders.

And the number of them is 10 ,000 times 10 ,000. And thousands and thousands saying what's the difference between the two. So one crowd was singing. The other crowd was saying will you get this. One crowd was singing thou art worthy.

You know you need to get up close to talk to yourself like that thou art worthy.

You should. We at the back we at the back we at the back we are worthy.

Difference between singing and saying difference between coming up close and saying thou art worthy standing at the back shouting worthy. Oh there's a vast difference. Big vast difference, great book we have.

The Seven Spirits and the Purity of Judgment

Would you get the hold of this. You know we're at chapter 4 yet. Yes we've been looking up the preparation and the decoration. And the associations in verses 5 says. Out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices.

It's what tells me of judgment. Oh that's different. That is not the throne of grace. That is the throne specially set for judgment for this earth. My when lightnings and thunders and voices come people get frightened.

When god begins to move this earth. He'll scare a few. Some nights when we have the ordinary thunder some people are nearly frightened out of their lives when we have the explosion in front of our house.

The other night I saw some boys rising quicker than they rise in the morning. I tell you I never saw people getting out of bed like that in my life. Yes I want you to get the hold of this. You know this is the demonstration.

This throne is set for judgment. You notice this bit verse 5. And there were seven lumps of fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of gods. You know this is the distinction of the throne.

You know the holy ghost is perfect in every way. You remember what it says in Isaiah chapter 11. Let's have a look at this for a moment. Isaiah 11 speaking about the Lord Jesus it says. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse.

And a branch capital B. Of course because it's Christ a branch shall grow out of his roots and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. And the spirit of the Lord is the Holy Spirit. And holiness is the first attribute as it were now getting holiness into this.

What's the rest. The spirit of wisdom and understanding. The spirit of counsel and might. The spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord. You know the Holy Ghost brings holiness. He can give wisdom and understanding counsel and might knowledge and reverence before God.

You know there's a fullness of perfection there. And this I tell you is the distinction of this throne. There are no mistakes going to be made in judgment. Holy Ghost is governing things. And you'll see this before the throne there was a sea of glass like on the crystal.

The Sea of Glass and the Word of God

You know when we were talking about the tabernacle and we had readings on the tabernacle. You remember you come in through the gate and came to the altar of burnt sacrifice. And then you came to the level full of water.

Remember that was where the priests washed their hands and their feet couldn't go in before God except the surface was made clean by the water which speaks of the word, the washing of water by the word, the Lord Jesus gave himself for the church and today he's sanctifying and cleansing it by the washing of water.

This liver even in the tabernacle was representing the word of God. And of course when the temple was built you know there was not only a liver there, there was a sea of water. I was still speaking of the word of God.

And I believe as Dr. Ironside that this would speak to us of the eternal settlement of the words.

And the throne of God is the throne of God that's what it read.

Mind you the word that you're depending on which upholds the throne above. If God gives you a promise and breaks it before the fall he'll never break his word. He's seen the throne. This is very interesting.

He's thought about the throne here. And when we come to this very difficult portion verse 7 verse 8 verse 6. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like on the crystal. And in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

First beast was like a lion. Second beast like a cow. The third beast had a face of a man. Fourth beast was like a flying eagle. You'll notice what they were like. Watch what they were saying. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about them and they were full of eyes within.

And they rest not night day and night saying saying remember not saying holy holy holy Lord God almighty which was which is and is to come. Watch what these beasts were giving. You've noticed what they were like.

You've noticed what they were saying. Watch what they give. And when these beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne to live forever and ever. That's what they do. Now these beasts what are these.

Or who are these. Or why are they here. I don't think that anybody can expound this properly. That's what I think. I believe that I see this clear enough that whatever kind of created creatures these are they're there.

To constantly declare the glory and honor and wonder.

Of God to all in country and heaven. You see one's got to see. It's like a lion and that will remind everybody about the majesty of God. The lion the lion is the king of beasts. Surely there is majesty attached here.

And then the second one is like a calf and you know how the cow the calf is the servant of man. Is it reminding all in summary that the majestic eternal gods humbled themselves to become the servant of men.

And if the first one deals with majesty and the second one deals with humanity the man deals with humanity. That bit's quite clear.

The one on the throne who is God who was servant who became man. The fourth one is talking about the evil coming in its fury because he'll judge the earth.

That's our God you know reminding everybody in heaven about God his majesty yet his humility yet his humanity that he took upon him and took to the throne with him. Reminding everybody about the fury of the fierceness of his wrath that will swoop on this world like an eagle.

It's a tremendous thing. It's a tremendous book. You know we want to get this into our minds that there's just one on the throne and it is the first and the last. And it is the one who was God and who humbled himself and became man and who will judge the earth.

Yet we want to hear them crying holy holy holy lord God almighty which was which is and is to come. You know when they give glory and honour and thanks like that four and twenty elders fell down before him that sat on the throne and they worship him that lives forever and ever cast their crowns before the throne.

That tells me that they were already at the judgment seat and had got their crowns. I think we're working it all together. Pretty well. They'd risen you know they'd been before the judgment seat. And you remember when we were there we were dealing with crowns being given.

I'd have got the crown. You know if you win anything at all you'll want to give it to the lord when you get there. Myra just coughed and let it sit. And I want you to get this bit into your mind that they'll be saying at that moment thou art worthy oh lord to receive honour glory and honour and power.

For thou hast created all things for thy pleasure. They are and were created. You know. This is the creator isn't it. This is the lord god almighty. This is the first and the last. This is the majestic eternal god who became the servant of men took upon him the form of a servant found in fashion as a man.

This is the one that will judge the world. Surely we're working the picture out all right. The bit that we must get in is almost mystery. He's god. That's the bit we're not talking about trinity just now.

We're talking about gods. That's one that's god. Remember Jesus Christ is god. Don't forget when the child was born unto us a child is born. You remember in the manger laid in the manger nearly tipping by the side.

And his name shall be called wonderful cancer. Quick. The mighty god is god. You know it almost scares you that he walked this plant. He was in the world and the world was made by him. Ah but the world isn't long.

You wouldn't have known to me that long eastern robe. Just an ordinary fellow with a beard. God! Almost staggers you almost staggers you. No wonder C .T. had said if Jesus Christ was god and died for me there is no sacrifice too great that I can make for him.

I feel that in my bones all the time people say you want to put Russian back again son. I would walk it for Christ. Walk. It couldn't give me any botheries. If Jesus Christ was god and died for me. Oh there is nothing too great that I can do for him.

The Trinity Revealed in Christ's Baptism

You know we must get that like that. Because I know that god is one. And then I know that god is three persons. Oh I know something about the trinity too. You know is I know this. That the day that Jesus Christ was baptised in the garden by a nursing if you please.

No sprinkler. No. And he was a man not a baby fifty years of age. John baptised him. And when he came up out of the water you know that heaven comes. And a voice from heaven way up there voice. You can hear it.

This is my beloved son. And in between the voice and the man on the bank there is the holy ghost descending like a dove. And you've got the father speaking and the spirit coming and the son of earth. And you've got the trinity all in one spot.

Yes I know it midstly all like good old Wesley said. And I can't bet on that. And I would never try which I don't understand. I believe. And I never let the things that I cannot understand upset the things I cannot misunderstand.

I was taught that one was a wee fellow. Well Jim McHenry used to put his armour on me and squeeze me tight. He said listen. You don't you let the things that you can't understand upset the things that you can't misunderstand.

And there's lots of things that I cannot misunderstand even I. And I wouldn't let them upset anything. I understand certain things. I want you to get this. You see that this fourth chapter is God's one.