Revelation Pt 2 — Billy Strachan

Revelation as a Book of Revelation, Not Mystery

So, if you'll turn to Revelation chapter 4, please, and if you've got your little paper there, you will have noticed that I've put on the little list down the side a rough survey of what we are going to look at in this next section, and you'll see that it's announcing our first parenthesis or brackets when we are moving up into heaven, and we're going to see something taking place up there before we go back down onto the earth to observe what's going to take place at that place.

Now, keep remembering the rules, please, for understanding this Revelation. It's not a book called The Mystery, it's a book called The Revelation. You have to hear it, read it, keep it. You mustn't take away from it or add to it.

Try to get the message that's facing you in the face, the stake on the plate, and not be too interested or caught up on digging under every word to see if there's anything underneath it. Just get the full-blooded message that comes staring you straight in the face, and you'll find yourself not wandering too far.

John's Revelation of Past, Present, and Future

And we found in the first chapter, John is the writer. The information he's receiving is receiving from the risen Christ, and then he gave him the key to open up this for us. Write the things that you've seen, past tense, the things which are present tense, and the things that shall be hereafter.

And we saw that in chapters two and three last week, there were all of the comments Christ made about the seven churches. And he referred to their past, and he referred to their present state, and reminded them at that present time to make any adjustments necessary or else it could affect their future.

And each of the letters finished with, He that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith to the churches, to the churches, to the churches. It had nothing whatsoever to do with the pagans of the world. But now from chapter four, verse one, to almost the end of revelation, you will find that the comments are spoken to those who have ears to hear, hear.

That's because whoever's on the earth remaining after four one is not in the church. They are in the world. And even if they end up turning to faith at that time, they will not be in the church. From Genesis through to the cross, all those who were believers are of a household of faith, and will share the new planet and the new atmosphere for all eternity with God, but they are not in the church.

The church is a special organism started at the day of Pentecost, compiled of individual people all over the world in whom Jesus Christ lives by His Holy Spirit. They are in Christ and Christ is in them.

And when the church ceases at the rapture, any coming to faith after that will be, as it were, of the household of faith, but they won't be in the unique position of being in Christ, in the church. And in the book of Ephesians and chapter two, Ephesians two, you will see that there is a purpose for the church.

In verse six, we read, and hath raised us Christians up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in the key in Christ Jesus. It's a position in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come, now that term, ages to come, would be better rendered in the endless ages yet to come.

He might show the exceeding riches of His grace and His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. In other words, the church of Jesus Christ in that new eternal kingdom on His new earth and new atmosphere will be a means of a reminder and a display to all of those from Genesis to the cross and those from the completion of the church right through to what on the new kingdom of how good He had been by His goodness to all nations all down through that period in saving people and placing them in that special body, the body of Christ, the church, the bride of Christ.

And so any other remarks in Revelation right up until near the end are made to the people that are not in Christ at all. So now in four one we read, and after this, after what? After the past and present, we are now going to move into taking a look at a future event.

The Rapture and the Church's Deliverance from Wrath

And John is writing, not verbatim, what he's hearing. Remember he's been asked to describe in the day vocabulary he had what he is seeing. So he's limited in words to describe what he's seeing, and his description is the best he can make of what is divinely inspired, and that is the vision.

So don't start digging in behind the words thinking is each word Holy Spirit inspired. He's been asked to go ahead and describe in his own vocabulary what he sees, not what he hears, and he's doing his best with his vocabulary.

And after this I looked, and behold a door was open in heaven, and the first voice which I heard was it were of a trumpet talking with me. Now remember that in the first chapter we are told that John heard a voice behind him as of a trumpet saying Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, it was the Lord himself.

So here is the Lord doing the speaking, saying come up hither, and it's an invitation from the voice like a trumpet to leave the earth and come up hither into heaven. Now in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 51 we read these words, behold I show you a mystery, we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed.

In a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump or trumpet, for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. And in the first book of the Thessalonians and chapter 4 we read in verse 16, for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, so shall we be ever with the Lord, where for comfort one another with these words. And so in Revelation 4 .1 you're having this vision being described of John of a future event which is the rapture of the church.

The trump of God, the voice of God who will sound that voice and say come up here, and John as representative of the church is caught up into heaven. Come up here. And then we read in the end of verse 1, and I will show you the things which must be hereafter.

Now that means that he's now going to view all sorts of events from heaven. And what we're now going to read from this point on is after the church is caught up into heaven, and he's going to see it from up there.

Therefore he is showing us that the church in accordance with other scriptures is delivered from the wrath to come. We do not go through this awful wrath that's going to be poured out, which is described in another part of Revelation that will come to a later week, as the wrath of the lamb.

We do not get the wrath of a lamb. In fact it's an unusual thing to think that lambs could be angry. They're usually peaceful, playful things. But here we're going to see a new thing from heaven that's the wrath of the lamb.

Now of course John the Baptist said of Christ, behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. And in another part of Revelation the church is at the supper of the lamb, the marriage feast of the lamb.

And so for us he's the lamb that takes away the sin of the world. For them he's the lamb of wrath that's going to wreak his vengeance on all those that rejected him and would not have him. But for us we do not go through that.

Noah as a Picture of the Rapture

Now this has been pictured in type in the Old Testament. Jesus was the one that said, as in the days of Noah, so shall also the days be of the coming of the Son of Man. So if you want a good idea of what to look for as signs of the end times, go study Noah.

And everything you see happening in that day, until the day that God shut the door of the ark, you will discover hints of what to observe in your society prior to my coming again. And if you go back and read Genesis you will find that prior to the Noahic flood it has these words to state, the whole earth was corrupt and filled with violence.

So two of the hallmarks of the warnings of the coming of Christ is corruption and violence all over the world. I think we're getting near. Also you will discover that the last breakthrough that really was the limit of God's endurance of the wickedness of man on the earth that made him say, that's it, now I have to take action, was when the spirit world crossed over the bounds it was not supposed to cross over and began to openly physically communicate with people on the earth.

Angels crossing the boundary that they were not allowed to cross over and there was a burst through of the spirit world to open communication with people on the earth. So one of the things you will look for towards the coming of Christ is when society is openly beginning to be actively involved in spiritism and in demon worship and in getting in touch with the spirit world and where the spirit world is going to not only spiritually communicate to people on earth but they're going to cross over that barrier again and once more there will be open intercommunication between the people on the earth and the spirit world.

Do you know anything of that happening in your community and in your country? The answer is yes. In the last 10 to 15 years the vast increase in the occult and in the dabbling of the things of the spirit world have increased tremendously even to physical communication between that world and this and one of the things you will observe in Genesis 6 prior to the flood was that the line of distinction between the descendants of Cain who were that of that murderer an unrighteous person and self-righteous person that founded the evil side of society almost but disappears and the godly line through Seth the two lines almost but blend prior to the flood so that they're almost indistinguishable and no wonder Jesus says when I shall come back shall I find faith on the earth?

Will I be able to distinguish between the Christian and the non-Christian? Will there be such compromise that the line of the world and its godlessness and the line of the Christian that was to be distinct and separate and holy will it be so near to intertwining with each other that it will be difficult to tell the difference?

I think we're getting pretty near the coming of Christ it's getting that we go to churches now and you could not tell the difference between the converted and the unconverted because there's so much of both of those worlds intermingling with each other but now we're being shown a church that's being drawn out of that up into heaven.

And when Noah and his family entered the ark they were carried above that judgment they could observe it from the windows of the ark the floods of judgment over the entire planet and they were safe and harmless caught up by the grace of God sealed in and shut in by the grace of God to the ark of the salvation a wonderful picture of the rapture of Christ that we shall be caught up above the judgment sealed into Christ protected and preserved so that we will observe it from heaven as John is going to do now in his vision.

But we will not be in it or of it we are out of it and all God's people said amen. I don't know if you're relieved but I'm relieved and I am so glad that when I read what's going to take place now I am glad I'm not going to be there.

That's why I'm not all that concerned about getting all the details right when I see the horrors of what the unconverted are going to go through that are left behind. The thing it makes me want to do is be more evangelistic and get more of them to escape that awfulness that's yet to come.

The Heavenly Throne and the Twenty-Four Elders

And immediately verse 2 I was in the spirit yes no longer physical beings were up there in the presence of God and we are worshipping him in spirit and in truth. And behold a throne was set in heaven and one sat on the throne and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardis stone.

And there was a rainbow round about the throne in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were 4 and 20 seats. And upon the seats I saw 4 and 20 elders sitting clothed in white raiment and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

So John at the present time is now viewing a scene in heaven. And there is the on his throne and at either side of them are 20 elders clothed in white raiment. Who are they. We're not told. Speculators have come up with the idea you're 12 apostles and the 12 heads of the tribes of Israel.

Who knows we're not told. All we know is that there in heaven is the king on his throne and he has his leadership around him his elders for eternity with him. And they had on their heads crowns of gold.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God. Now remember that seven is the scriptural number of divine perfection.

And so what you're seeing here is a description of the absolute total holiness and perfection of the one sitting on the throne. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto a and in the midst of the throne and round about the throne were four beasts full of eyes before and behind and the first beast was like a lion the second beast like a calf.

The third beast had the face of a man and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying holy holy holy lord god almighty which was and is and is to come.

Now if you go back in your own reading time we haven't tonight and read the first chapter of Ezekiel you'll see it is a replica description of the seraphim. The seraphim that are the winged creatures with four faces of Ezekiel's vision that he saw around the throne that spent the time day and night giving glory to god glory to god.

And so here you're seeing again that same throne and this glorification of god and this great focus in on his holiness before we see his judgment now that is an order that you know that he is just in what he is going to do.

And that he would not be god if he were not just and the old philosophy of the enemy that surely if god is love he would never spank any of us for being naughty. God is holy. God is pure. God is just.

God's Holiness, Justice, and Long-Suffering

He will never forgive sin. He has never forgiven sin. He punished christ for it by our trusting christ. We are not punished. We are forgiven because christ took the punishment that god has never forgiven sin.

And even in the days of noah the warning went out for 400 odd years and then for a final 120 as it got nearer he is declaring i'm warning you it's coming. The judgment's coming. Don't leave me with an alternative but to do it.

You could just repent that they wouldn't. They left god with no alternative. He has to meet out his just judgment. But he's not in a hurry. He's very long suffering. And even the last book of the old testament finishes with the people of god getting impatient and saying why don't you come and do something about this.

Why do people in our community get away with it raping women on the way home mugging old ladies and robbing their handbags. All of this immorality and debauchery and permissiveness countries being crooked and robbing left right and center misusing charity funds and stealing killing the poor and all of this and terrorism.

Why god don't you come and judge them. And he says in malachi chapter 3. Oh i'm coming. Don't panic guys i'm coming. But you understand when i come i start with the church. Could you make it next month.

Have a few things to tidy up before you get here. Then if you want mercy for the church allow me the dignity of allowing the world as long as i can give them to change their mind because i'm not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Please allow me more time to get the message out more time to see if men will change. But i am so holy so righteous so just that if they leave me with no alternative when the time comes judgment will come.

And that's why these creatures are saying holy holy holy lord god almighty which was and is and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat in the throne who liveth forever and ever the 4 and 20 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. Now would you please note one of the basic reasons for the creation of everything including you and i by god was to bring pleasure to his heart.

How much pleasure since we let mass last week have you brought to the heart of the almighty. Has he had lots of fun and joy and happiness and pleasure. Has it been a delight to know that he gave you life.

Has it been a delight to know that he forgave and saved you for christ's sake and forgave your sins. Has it been a week where he's been thrilled that you're his child. Here is the purpose of god behind our creation to bring pleasure to his heart.

Worship and the Purpose of Creation

Isn't it amazing that these creatures who are created to worship god do so that we the mere human beings created in his image that they are not created in we are the ones created in the image of god and have the capacity to receive total god in our lives and to have freedom to worship.

I wonder if we've ever really worshiped like that. You know the more i listen to services the more i'm convinced the christians haven't a clue what worship is. They have no real thankfulness glory honor majesty power dominion to him.

There's so very little real worship these days. And i saw in the right hand of him that sat in the throne a book written within and on the back side sealed with seven seals. And i saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof.

Who has a right to open this book and pour out the commencement continuation and conclusion of a just judgment on godless people in the godless world. And the answer is not us. We are not the judges. And no man in heaven nor on earth neither under the earth was able to open the book neither to look thereon.

And i wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said unto me weep not behold. The lion of the tribe of judah the root of david have prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.

The Lamb Who Is Worthy to Open the Seals

Yes he has already done all the work necessary to earn the right to be the only one to break each of these seals of judgment that are about to be broken to release their judgments on that godless world.

He's waited a long time. No wonder he set his face like a flint to the cross put up with the ignominy having the hair pulled from his face being spat on his back whipped like a plowed field a crown of thorns jammed on his head being told he was dwelt by the prince of demons that he was a madman that he was of the devil and they despised him they rejected him.

Yet they couldn't accuse him of one sin. And yet he didn't resist. And he allowed them to take him and crucify him because he knew my turn is coming i will truly earn the right to have my revenge and my ends.

And i beheld in low in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and in the midst of the elder stood a lamb as it had been slain. Suddenly he sees the lord in all his redemptive glory standing there as the one that took the punishment for sin having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of god sent forth into all of the earth.

And here you're being shown beyond a shadow of a doubt his equality with the almighty god already declared to be seen in the throne. It is your father son and holy spirit in totality are one god three in one all co-equal coexistent with each other.

And here he too is being shown to be that very god of very god. And at that moment the whole world will know. All the theological discussions all the university debates on whether or not jesus christ was indeed divine will no longer be essential.

They will agree because they didn't need to wait that long. They should have gone and asked the demonic kingdom for the demons even when christ was on the earth were the first to declare what have we to do with thee.

Thou son of the most high god thou holy one. It always amazes me that the demons always recognize christ is divine. It's just the theologians that have the problem. Why don't they go and ask the devil.

He would agree because he believes and he trembles. That's the amazing thing. The demonic kingdom are evangelical and don't ever forget that they believe every word of this book. James tells us the demons believe and tremble because they're so sure of what's coming.

Christ's Authority Over Demons and Judgment

That's why when he marched on earth into the first synagogue at capernaum that the people saw him waiting to read the scrolls that were brought to him. And as people came in probably they knew without looking at the sound of footsteps coming down the aisle who was coming next.

Oh that's all aggie. You can tell aggie's coming in. She's got that wee bit of a shuffle. That's her with that withered hand. Ah he's coming in. We know her shuffle. We needn't look around. That's nobody knew.

We don't need to say who's that stranger. We know that it's aggie. Oh there's all. There's all there. And now we can tell that heavy grunt and that heave of his big fat body down the aisle to his usual old seat.

We can tell him. Yes. They knew everybody that came and had their own seat in the synagogue so much so that even their hips had created an impression in the stone seat. You didn't dare sit in somebody's seat.

That's my seat. I've been sitting here for nigh on 95 years. You know. Yes. And jesus stood up to read the scriptures and one of their most regular old members suddenly stood up as a spokesman for the demonic kingdom and said what are we to do with thee.

Thou son of the most high god. Have you come to torment us. And it was a demon suddenly speaking through somebody that was regarded up until now as a very religious person always in the right place in the lord's day as it were every sabbath there he was.

And now he's a spokesman on behalf of the whole demonic kingdom. And he's saying are you here early. The actual greek is have you come to annihilate us before the time. You see they so fear and tremble their coming judgment that when christ started to preach his very first sermon in capernaum they thought is he here already.

Oh what have we got to do with you. You son of the most high god. Have you come to annihilate us before the time. And jesus cast the demon out of the man. Then the theologians began their discussion about how can this man teach like this.

Has he been through our seminary. Where did he get his learning. Isn't this the carpenter's son. Let's have a debate on it. They couldn't even see that the demon kingdom was in their terror thinking he'd come to judge already.

And now the craft of the enemy is to teach you to be philosophically more modern and intelligent. And surely in these modern days you don't. Still do you. And they are trying to get you to disbelieve what they believe to be true.

And they tremble. And here he is holy god total god on the throne. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. 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 harps and golden vials full of odors which are the prayers of saints.

The Prayers of the Saints and the Justice of God

It's amazing. You know who created the first harp. Can you remember the mention of the first harp in the bible. It was the descendants of cain the murderer. They were the first to produce music incidentally were the offspring of the murderer.

Something of the very harmony and melody and inner deep joy of heaven went out when cain refused to repent and went out into a separateness from god by choice. And it was his descendants that grew up aware that something's missing and invented music.

It's amazing. They're still at it trying to fill a vacancy within with a song of man's making rather than the very song or melody of the lord in a person's life bringing back in the real harmony from heaven.

There's a difference between the harps of cain and the harps of heaven and the golden vials full of odors which are the prayers of the saints. The church members people all down the ages who've been ascending up with prayers.

All those prayers were stored. This is god's evidence. Not only his own holiness not only the holiness of a lamb slain but the holiness of every prayer that was ever put up saying oh lord see what they're doing to us.

Avenge us from the blood of abel and all the prophets right down the age of the martyrs. Every prayer latimer and ridley their prayer. All the prayers that have gone up because of being put to death for the truth of the word of god.

God says i heard them. You thought i didn't. Because they still put the match to the faggots and burned you to death. Because they still stoned you. They still took you put you between planks and sod you in two as they did with isaiah.

I saw it i heard your cry i stored it up. These prayers are my evidence that i am just in what i'm about to do. You see all of this scene in heaven is giving us the meat on the plate that before we ever see any of those seals open.

Don't say when it happens it is not fair. It is not fair. I'm a god that made you for my pleasure. You've never given me any pleasure. I'm the god that's still almighty and on the throne that's truly worshipped in heaven but not in the earth.

I am the very lamb. I'm the very god of god that came to the earth and beyond a shadow of a doubt took the punishment for the sin of the whole world. And i am the lamb slain. And i'm here with the proof and the marks and my hands and my feet for what you have done to me when i was on the earth.

And you hear the music of the melody that i put in the hearts of my people different from your earthly music that always leaves you empty. And see bring forth the proof of all my prayers the cries of all those that have suffered for the truth of god.

The First Four Seals: Conquest, War, Famine, and Death

And they sung a new song saying thou are worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for you were slain. You have redeemed us to god by your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation and has made us unto our god kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth.

Yes we were the minority but we are going to be the majority. Hang on guys everybody that laughs at you down your street for being one of those jesus freaks one day we are going to be the majority. And i beheld and i heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders.

And the number of them that was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands. How many. You can't count them. That's what it's saying an innumerable number saying with a loud voice worthy as the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven and the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them. Heard i saying blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb forever and ever.

And it would appear that even the very creatures of creation can communicate to their maker and give him glory and honor. And the four beasts said amen so be it. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worship him that lived forever and ever.

And i saw when the lamb opened one of the seals yes he has the right to do this. All the evidence is there. That's what that chapter is showing you the evidence of his right to do what he's about to do.

And i heard as it were the noise of thunder one of the four beasts saying come and see. He didn't say go and be in it but come and see. Yes as a church you're going to observe it. But now you will see the value of all those years of being misunderstood all those laughs and jives and taunts from people that thought you were a jesus freak and one of those silly believers.

Now you're going to be able to observe their end. And i saw and behold a white horse and he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him. And he went forth conquering and to conquer. Just turn over quickly to revelation 19 and verse 11.

And i saw heaven opened and behold a white horse. And he that sat upon him was called faithful and true and in righteousness he does judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns.

And he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood. And his name is called the word of god. And john wrote in john 1 1. And the word was with god and the word was god and the word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Jesus christ himself the risen conquering king of kings and lord of lords. Now having his chance to unsheathe his sword and to arm his bow and to go forward to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal verse 3 i heard the second beast say come and see.

And there went out another horse that was red and power was given to him that sat there on to take peace from the earth and that they should kill one another. And there was given unto him a great sword a great sword in matthew 10.

In verse 34 matthew 10 and verse 34 we read these words. Think not says jesus that i am come to send peace in the earth. I am come not to send peace but a sword. For i am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against their mother and the daughter-in-law against their mother-in-law.

And a man's foe shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me. And he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it. And he that shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. And in that great future time there will be the release in full vent and fury the one who's given the power to take peace from the earth.

And yet men today are working hard to bring about peace. But there shall be no peace unless they come to know their god. And people will end up killing one another. And there was given to him a great sword.

And families will be turning against families. People will be killing people left right and center violence. No respect even for relationship ties. No loyalty anymore within a family. A child will slay a father a mother.

A mother will slay a child. I preached an attempt not too far from here a few years ago and observed a lady bringing in a whole group of teenagers some of whom came to christ that night. And i heard two weeks later she was now in jail for having stabbed her husband to death with a carving knife in their kitchen.

Yes people who can pretend to be godly or as paul put it to timothy in the last days there will be people with a form of god-likeness but denying the power thereof. And it's no surprise that when that rapture takes place the world has people like that.

And there will be just absolute lawlessness. But it is part of the judgment upon them. They're getting what they wanted the right to do their own thing. They are doing their own thing. And it's all folding in on top of them.

That is one of the things that this seal reveals. And when he had opened the third seal i heard the third beast saying come and see. And i beheld and lo a black horse and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

And i heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts saying a measure of wheat for a penny three measures of barley for a penny and see thou hurt not the oil in the wine. Great time of scarcity of famine of food shortage all over the world.

One begins to think the imminent return of christ could be any time. And when he had opened the fourth seal i heard the voice of the fourth beast saying come and see. And i looked and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was death and hell followed with him.