The Church in Heaven (Revelation 4)

So let's open to Revelation chapter 4 and we're beginning a new section

of the book.

I had said originally in that handout that I gave you that the book of Revelation

really can be broken up into sections with Revelation chapter 1 verse 19

working as sort of a built -in outline.

John says in Revelation 1 19 write the thing or this is Jesus telling John

write the things which you have seen and the things which are and the things which will take

place after this.

So the things that John saw this is the vision mentioned in chapter 1 the things

which are this is what was happening in the first century with the letters to the seven churches

and then the things which will take place after this.

This is now chapter 4 which is future prophecy.

So everything from this point forward is not just in

John's future it's in our future as well.

You say well how do you know that?

Well simple the events of the book of Revelation haven't happened yet and that that should be

obvious and this is also why you will hear chapter 4 in particular

this is why you will hear pastors say something like the next event on

God's prophetic timeline is the rapture of the church.

Who's heard a pastor say something like that before?

Yeah because Revelation chapter 4 begins right this is the future this is future

prophecy how does this start out what's the first thing John is taken up into heaven which I believe

is a picture of the rapture of the church.

So we'll talk about that but last week we finished with the seven letters

and I've mentioned the different ways that people understand those letters first and foremost it's

Jesus writing to the seven churches of Asia Minor but since the number seven

is symbolic and it keeps getting repeated in Revelation we believe it refers to

completeness, fullness, perfection.

So the fact that seven churches are mentioned we believe these to be seven like pattern churches

or maybe they represent seven ages of church history maybe a

combination of both either way chapters two and three are not disconnected from chapter

four and then five and the rest of the book.

So Revelation 4 starts out with these words after these things

I looked and of course you have to ask what after what things so what we

just saw in chapter three more specifically remember the last thing we looked at was the letter to the

Laodiceans that lukewarm church that just made Christ sick that

he wanted to vomit them out of his mouth so could it be that the Laodicean letter in

some way is representative of the church right before Jesus returns

because as we're going to see in a moment before Jesus comes at the rapture the Lord says

there will be a great falling away from the faith and I would argue that's what we're

seeing all around us right now.

So I mean that's that's bad news in in one sense but it's also good news because it means that I

think the Lord's coming is drawing near.

Okay let's read all of the verses Revelation 4 it's only 11 verses so we'll read

it all.

Revelation 4 beginning in verse 1 John writes after these things I looked and

behold a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I heard was

like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and I will show you things

which must take place after this.

Immediately I was in the spirit and behold a throne set in heaven and one sat

on the throne and he who sat there was like a jasper and a sarda stone in appearance and

there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald.

Around the throne were 24 thrones and on the thrones I saw 24 elders

sitting clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

And from the throne proceeded lightnings thunderings and voices.

Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God.

Before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal and in the midst of the

throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front

and in back.

The first living creature was like a lion the second living creature like a calf.

The third living creature had a face like a man and the fourth living creature was like a

flying eagle.

And the four living creatures each having six wings were full of eyes

around and within.

And they do not rest day or night saying holy holy holy lord god

almighty who was and is and is to come whenever the living creatures

give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne who lives forever and ever.

The 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who

lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying you are

worthy oh lord to receive glory and honor and power for you

created all things and by your will they exist and were created.

So i realize someone might read that.

And they're thinking what is going on like how do i make sense out of all this.

Well if you go through every little word every little phrase yeah i admit the book of

revelation can be very difficult to understand like everything that's happening.

So what we want to do is just get the the main idea the the main picture what's

being communicated.

So we'll go through these verses more closely in a moment.

But the main takeaway is number one john is caught up into heaven.

That's how it starts.

And the reason that's significant is because revelation is heavy on symbolism.

So you have to ask what does that represent.

The fact that john is taken up into heaven.

That's that's a fairly uncommon thing.

So what does that represent.

I believe that this is a reference to it's alluding to

pointing to uh the rapture of the church.

Now the reason i say that is because the the author jesus right.

It's the revelation of jesus christ.

He makes it a point to kind of focus in on these 24 elders.

So john sees 24 elders and nearly all commentators this is this is

something you'll find in revelation.

If you look at commentaries it's all over the place.

People are disagreeing.

What does this mean.

What does that mean.

But almost every commentator agrees that the 24 elders is

representative of the church.

Oh i have not found a single commentator who would disagree with that.

So john is taken up into heaven and he sees the elders.

What is that telling us the church is in heaven.

The church is represented in heaven in revelation 4.

Yes.

Well another thing that.

Stands out talking about the rapture.

You can't help it.

Because then the best description of that of course is 1st Thessalonians 4 16.

For the lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the

archangel and with the trump of god.

So he here it says.

And the first voice i.

Heard was like a trumpet.

Right.

You can't help it.

Yes sounds just like the rapture passage in 1st Thessalonians 4.

Right.

So in revelation the church is depicted as being on earth in chapters 2 and 3 chapter 4

the church is in heaven.

The church is not mentioned again for the rest of the book as being on earth.

So the tribulation period is chapter 6 through 18 the church is not said to be on earth.

And this just perfectly lines up with what we see in 1st Thessalonians chapters 4 and

5 which we looked at a couple weeks ago.

Okay so the church is in heaven.

Or we might say the 24 elders represent the whole of you know god's redeemed

people as a whole.

And you say well why.

Why is that.

Why is 24 elders represent the church.

Well i mean the number 24 really has no biblical significance except

that it's 12 plus 12 equals 24.

Like this.

This is the reason people believe that there's the 12 tribes of israel plus the 12

apostles of jesus christ.

12 plus 12 equals 24.

Okay.

And if you're not convinced on that like i said nearly every commentator out there they all say

the same thing.

Okay.

So john is caught up into heaven.

The church is in heaven.

What ends up happening next chapter 5 the lamb jesus christ he takes the scroll from

god the father presumably who is seated on the throne jesus loosens the seals

that's on the scroll.

And each seal is a judgment.

And that just starts the tribulation in chapter 6.

Okay so chapter 6 through 18 is the seven -year tribulation period.

Jesus returns in revelation 19 the kingdom is set up in chapter 20.

So does jesus come back before the kingdom or after or what it's before.

Right.

Therefore the the position that i'm putting forward to you tonight is called

pre -mill pre -trip.

You all know these terms by now.

Right.

If you don't know the terms it just means you haven't been paying attention the past six months.

We know the terms.

Yes.

Can i just add to that when.

We talk about jesus second coming.

His first coming is for the church in the raptures and then his coming is

with the church at the end of the tribulation.

So he comes for his church and in the air but he doesn't come to earth until

he comes with the church at the end.

So in what eight months ago ten months ago did a video did a

lesson here wednesday night about the second advent so we covered all of that.

So i believe this is the only position the pre -mill pre -tribulational rapture this is the

only position i believe that that really fits the chronology of the book of

revelation and it harmonizes all the other writings from peter and paul and

in jesus.

So the pre -tribulation rapture pre -millennial return of jesus christ the final judgment is

at the end of revelation 20.

Then the new heavens and the new earth is revelation 21 22.

And that's the end of the story.

I think it is very simple.

I know people say well you know it's just not clear to me the order of the events.

And i just don't take a position because i don't think it's it's clear.

Well i understand why people think that.

Because there's all these different voices.

You know this church teaches one thing this church teaches something else.

And if you're listening to all these different voices it will leave you confused.

But if you just look at revelation literally at face value to me it's

just laid right out what happens event to event.

So we're going to work through through these verses in a moment.

But it's important to remember revelation.

It's all connected uh john being caught up to heaven.

Remember uh in the letter to philadelphia we talked about this what two three weeks ago how

the lord said to the faithful church that i will keep you from the hour of trial which is

coming upon the whole earth.

Remember that statement.

So all of this speaks to a pre -tribulation rapture.

Nearly i guess it was 30 40 years ago when i was younger nearly every

baptist church independent church bible you know evangelical bible church

nearly all of them were teaching what i'm teaching tonight.

Obviously there were exceptions but this view is falling out of favor.

I'm not sure why but i'm convinced this is what the bible's teaching.

So even though this topic usually gets ignored these days i believe hey it's in the bible

you need to take a position.

So let let's let's do it all right let's turn to second thessalonians chapter two.

Yeah another one the first thessalonians 5 9.

God has not appointed us to wrath.

Yep no i i got that one.

I'm going to mention that uh in a little while.

So uh second thessalonians 2 return in there

scripture says.

Second timothy 3 16.

All scripture is profitable for doctrine.

So yeah it's the trend now to ignore the book of revelation.

But hey it's scripture it's profitable.

God has told us the future because he wants us to know about it.

It's also a command don't miss this in the new testament it is a command

that we need to be what ready watching.

We need to be looking for the return of jesus.

So we don't want to be one of those who ignores it when that's a command to be ready

and look for it.

Second thessalonians.

Well second thessalonians 2 1 through 5.

And i think this passage will help clarify what's going on in revelation.

All right.

Second thessalonians 2 verse 1 says.

Now brethren concerning the coming of our lord jesus christ and our gathering together to him we

ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled either by spirit or by word or by

letter as if from us as though the day of christ had come let no one

deceive you by any means.

For that day will not come unless the falling away comes first.

And the man of sin is revealed the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that

is called god or that is worshiped so that he sits as god in the temple of god

showing himself that he is god.

That's called the abomination of desolation.

Jesus mentions that in revelation 24.

And then verse 5 paul says to the church.

Do you not remember when i was with you that i i told you these things.

So it's possible.

Obviously paul taught them this in person.

But it's also possible that he alluded to this in his previous letter.

So we looked at the church of philadelphia a couple weeks ago we we saw how

god's people are going to be kept from the hour of trial in first thessalonians if you remember when we

looked at that the rapture triggers the day of the lord.

Okay so first thessalonians 4 the rapture happens.

Paul then in chapter 5 is like well concerning the time you don't have any need that i

tell you about that.

Because you remember the day of the lord comes as a thief in the night it's going to happen suddenly.

And then he said that day is not going to overtake you as a thief.

And then he says you're not appointed to wrath.

So all of these statements not appointed to wrath that won't overtake you.

It's going to happen suddenly.

You'll be kept from the hour of trial.

I mean every statement is hinting towards or explicitly telling us about

the rapture coming before the tribulation question.

Yeah in verse three here.

Second thessalonians 2 3 let no one deceive you by any means.

For that day will not come that day the day of the lord the seven year

tribulation.

That day unless the falling away comes first which i agree with you i

think we're seeing we're seeing a great falling away.

All our evangelical leaders that we once loved their readings and

followed them are are starting to compromise.

But it says here and the man of sin is revealed.

Is that man of sin.

Is that not the antichrist.

It is the antichrist.

And so when do you.

Do you feel that the oh this will be the he'll be revealed during the seven year

tribulation.

But we won't necessarily see him because we won't be here.

Right.

All right.

Yeah i mean the antichrist.

People will not know for sure that he is the antichrist until the midpoint

when he walks into the temple of god and declares himself to be god.

That's when everyone knows he's the antichrist.

Up until then it's speculation.

And it's like right now if you ask people who do you think the antichrist is.

Well i think it's this guy.

You know i think i think it's this president.

I think it's this person.

But i think it was henry kissinger.

Yeah nobody knows.

But they will know in the middle of the tribulation.

Okay.

So verse five again do you not remember that when i was still with you i told you these things.

So basically what happened was

paul writes this letter and he's speaking here.

They're they're concerned that maybe they're they're in the tribulation they're going

through persecution.

It looks like somebody wrote them a letter saying you're in the day of the lord right

now.

The persecution you're facing this is this is the tribulation.

And somebody may have forged a letter pretending to be paul and letting them know.

And paul says no that's not the case.

Remember when i was with you i told you that this isn't going to happen until the falling away

comes first.

So the falling away i believe and i've told you this before i believe we are living in

the great falling away.

It's not something that happens in an hour or a day or even one year.

I think it's a whole time period because christianity was just spreading all over the world.

Spreading spreading spreading.

And then you get to the middle of the 20th century.

Sometime in the 20th century it reached its zenith and it's been

kind of shrinking ever since.

Things have been going downhill ever since and it doesn't take a genius to figure out.

You know churches in at least in the western world are in severe decline.

Right.

You've heard me say this many times europe is almost completely finished apostate

and now it's starting to happen in the united states.

So that might discourage somebody to hear that but as one bible teacher put it he said

things are looking really really good because they're looking really really bad.

In other words the falling away is an indicate.

I mean that is a bad thing but it's an indicator that the return of christ is drawing near.

Here's what pastor john macarthur writes about second thessalonians two.

He said this is the fifth mention of christ coming in the thessalonian

letters.

He said the aspect of his particular coming in view here is identified by the

next phrase of quote our gathering together which conveys the idea of

all believers meeting together with the lord jesus.

Macarthur says obviously this is a reference to the rapture of the church.

Okay.

So our gathering together to him is a reference to the rapture.

So it's easy to understand the church is on earth.

Right.

We're to be ready watching.

Paul says concerning the rapture second thessalonians two to look at it.

He says to them do not be shaken in mind or troubled.

Then he makes reference probably to this forged letter supposedly from paul as

though you're living through the tribulation right now because they were facing persecution.

So paul tells them no you're not if i can paraphrase because i i told you this

the falling away has to come first.

So the rapture isn't going to happen until you see the falling away.

Any questions on that all.

Right.

So paul is easing their minds.

So once the falling away occurs and there is a mass defection

from christianity which again i argue is happening right now and has been happening

for a while once that happens now the the rapture can

happen at any moment.

You say pastor can the rapture happen tonight.

Yes.

I believe the rapture can happen tonight.

My dogmatic about it.

No i guess i'm not dogmatic about but i believe it could happen tomorrow.

It could happen at any time.

Once it happens paul goes on in second thessalonians 2 to talk about the restrainer that

which restrains.

So once the rapture takes place the restrainer is then taken out of the way

and then the man of sin is revealed.

Who is the antichrist.

Now who or what is the restrainer.

Holy spirit.

Yeah most agree that the restrainer is the holy spirit.

Now we need to be careful because if i've heard this once i've heard it a thousand times people say during the

tribulation the holy spirit the restrainer is taken away or removed from the earth.

What's the problem with that.

He's omnipresent.

Yeah the holy spirit is god and god he's omnipresent.

David and sans.

Where can i go.

Where can i flee from your spirit.

If i send to heaven you're there.

If i make my bed in hell you're there like the holy spirit.

You can't remove the holy spirit.

This is why it always makes me like scratch my head when i see sort of these these

worship services where people are inviting the holy spirit.

Holy spirit we invite you to join us for our worship.

It's like he's already here.

He's everywhere.

But uh yeah the the restrainer is the holy spirit.

He's not going to be removed from the world.

But the restraint is that he's working in and through the christian church.

So once the church is removed the holy spirit's influence upon the world through the church.

That's what is taken out of the way.

Okay.

So once the church is raptured i mean you know you know how bad things are in this nation.

Imagine if every bible believing christian disappeared tomorrow from the united states

there'd be no restraint.

I mean believe it or not we are keeping things in check a little bit.

You remove the church all the christians.

I mean it hell is going to break loose on the earth.

All right.

Any questions on that.

Again to me all this what he's explaining it all fits together.

And to me it's clear.

I mean i know i've studied this for years.

But hopefully it's clear for you as.

Well.

Yes.

Meg yeah just another thing that i was thinking about is the wheat in the terrace was the promise that

you know he would come and gather all the wheat before the terrace.

Yeah yeah he's gonna.

Gather all the all the wheat into the barn he's gonna rapture the church.

And then then comes the.

Fire right specifically says he needs the time to let it grow to make sure right what's weak and.

It's growing now but the time's coming.

Where there's going to be that that sifting.

Well the.

Holy spirit we are the temple of the holy spirit um he indwells us so

when when we all go um he won't he won't have these these hands these feet

these mouths uh to to use except for those that do become

born again during the tribulation and they're going to have it worse than.

Than we could ever imagine all right.

Let's go back to revelation chapter 4.

And again if you have the outline that i gave you or if you remember it there's that uh built

-in outline revelation 119 things which you have seen write the things which are and write the things

which will take place after this.

So john saw the vision in chapter 1.

That's what he saw.

The things which are that was happening then in the first century in john's day chapters 2 and

3.

So now now we're dealing with future prophecy starting in chapter 4 through the rest

of the book.

So let's just go through these verses with the time we have remaining.

Revelation 4 1.

And after these things i looked and behold a door standing open in heaven.

And the first voice which i heard was doesn't say it was a trumpet but it makes the

point to say it was like a trumpet like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up

hither or come up here and i will show you things which must take place after this.

So the the trumpet sounds so to speak.

And then john is caught up again.

A veiled reference.

Or maybe not so veiled reference to the rapture because as marcus pointed out at the beginning

first thessalonians 4 it's at the last trump.

Or that's first thessalonians 15.

But the trumpet sounds in that rapture passage.

And then the church is caught up.

Believers are caught up.

That's what you're seeing here.

Uh church again is seen in heaven with the 24 elders never seen on earth

again.

For the rest of the book verse 2 john says he was in the spirit.

Okay.

It's not.

It's not the rapture itself.

Because john isn't resurrected he never died.

So it's not a perfect analogy but it serves its purpose.

And where does john see.

He sees heaven.

But more specifically he sees heaven's throne room.

And we have to assume that it's god the father sitting on the throne.

And then john sees all these beautiful colors.

You know the like an emerald and and the rainbow.

And it's just telling us that heaven is just beyond our comprehension in its

beauty.

John i'm sure is just doing his best to describe what he sees.

And i'm sure it doesn't really live up to what he actually saw.

But immediately the focus is on the 24 elders.

So the author who is jesus himself he emphasizes these men.

Verse 4.

Around the throne were 24 thrones.

And on the thrones i saw 24 elders sitting clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold

on their heads.

So again 24 elders 12 plus 12 12 tribes of

israel 12 apostles of the land.

This is the redeemed people of god.

Remember jesus says about his people they shall rule and reign.

Or we will rule and reign with him.

Right.

Well that's what's happening.

The church is ruling and reigning with christ sitting on thrones.

The crowns and the white robes represent salvation and rewards.

Pastor and commentator john macarthur writes this that the elders represent the

church which sings the song of redemption.

That's going to be.

In chapter 5 8 through 10 he says they are the overcomers.

Remember in in the two in the letters to the seven church he who overcomes.

Well they are the overcomers who have their crowns and live in the place prepared

for them where they have gone with jesus.

You remember what.

What would you say is the first reference to the rapture of the church in all of the bible.

If you're just reading chronologically from genesis through the bible when's the first

illusion.

The first time the rapture is promised.

Any ideas.

There's a lot of things that picture the rapture.

But the first time it's explicitly mentioned or promised is in the gospel of john chapter 14 where

jesus said in my father's house are many mansions.

For not.

So i would have told you i go to prepare a place for you.

And if i go and prepare a place for you what.

I will come again and receive you and receive you to myself that where i am there you may

be also.

That's the rapture.

Jesus comes back.

He doesn't come to earth and fight the battle of armageddon and just lay waste to all his.

That's not the rapture.

He comes in the clouds takes his people to be with him.

Which where is where is he now in.

And that's what john is seeing in heaven's throne room.

So the rapture is referred to as the christian's blessed hope is

that your blessed hope tonight.

I don't know what you're hoping for.

Maybe uh you're hoping for a promotion at work.

You're hoping for.

You know all sorts of different things.

You're hoping for that vacation coming up soon.

But 70 degrees.

Yeah the greatest hope.

Our blessed hope is christ coming in the clouds.

So just knowing that that there will be a generation of

believers who never die just that thought.

I mean how amazing is that i've always thought that i was going to be in it ever

since way way back.

We should.

All this generation shall not pass away until all these things be accomplished.

But yeah who has had that idea that you you're hoping for it.

Right.

Because israel was.

Israel was born in 48 years ago.

But here's the thing even if it doesn't happen it doesn't end up that way.

You hope for it you want it you're looking forward to it.

We're supposed to feel that way.

Yeah.

So there will be a generation of believers who never die.

Could we be that generation.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

But we should live as though we are that generation.

Live in light of that hope.

All the evil in the world today.

God is gonna take his church to be with him and then he's gonna

deal.

With all the wickedness larry and it's easier to live the

christian life thinking that it could be today

because then i want to live my life to please him.

And so today i mean that's why you know we're supposed to live

today right.

Because tomorrow's the future.

Yesterday is history but we have today yeah.

And it's easier to live to please god today

because one's the history the other is a mystery.

Today is a gift present that's why they call it the present.

So if you think of the next 40 years and what could happen and i you

know i need to stay faithful for the next 20 30 40.

I mean it can be a little overwhelming thinking about all this time in the future and what could happen.

But yeah just take it one day at a time and lord could come back today.

If he doesn't it'll have the same minds one day at a time.

We could.

We.

Can all do that.

So this is the day jesus

is coming back.

Then the urgency is also there right.

It's pretty easy to get complacent when you think you got 40 years to convince your friend to come to.

Christ.

Right.

Right.

Only in hours.

There's a lot more urgency to it.

Yep.

Believing in the rapture will give you an urgency.

Yeah.

Obviously we don't want to say well it's going to happen tomorrow.

So i'm not going to bother doing anything because i'm just going to go wait on a hill.

I mean come give me a break.

Nobody nobody really does that.

There's that one group that did it.

But you know let me let me only

have a little bit of time let me address one thing.

This idea that people have that.

Okay.

I don't.

I don't know if people really think this way but they say okay i'm just gonna do my thing.

And then once the rapture happens once i see it then i'll get serious.

Oh yeah.

It's gonna get serious.

Or people think okay.

If i saw the rapture then i'd believe.

I mean there are some people who have sat in the church they've listened to this and it's okay.

I'm not gonna give my life to christ now but if the rapture happens then i'll know and then

i'll get serious.

If you won't serve god now if you won't give a testimony for the lord now

when we're all living on easy street there ain't no way you're doing it.

Uh when it can cost you your life.

I mean is it possible someone could have that attitude and get saved.

I'm not gonna say it's impossible.

But the odds are if you have that attitude now against the lord it ain't gonna change.

When you see the rapture.

It could it could.

But i doubt it.

That's not.

That's not a plan.

Is the point.

Larry.

Isn't there a verse.

That says that god will send a strong delusion so they won't

believe.

Right.

Yeah that's second.

Thessalonians 2 as well if we kept reading.

So i mean there is an argument to be made if you knowingly rejected christ

now then you couldn't believe.

I'm not sure that i would say that it's impossible to believe but yes there will be a strong delusion that people will

believe the of the antichrist.

I think there's a strong delusion going on right now with the things people believe but it's going to be that much

worse in the future and during the tribulation.

There will be at least i think at least literally 144 000 that

will be saved the tribulation saints.

Don't don't you agree.

Yes i i agree.

So beginning to wrap all this up i'll give you a chance to questions when we're done if there's anything you

want to bring up.

But a lot more going on in this chapter.

There's a lot of symbolism and i just don't want to get bogged down in every phrase and every detail just

kind of cover the the main takeaway the big picture.

But just to touch on a few things.

Verse five the lightnings thunderings voices it all kind of paints this ominous picture

of the the judgment to come you know god's fiery wrath.

The seven spirits of god is a reference to the holy spirit.

We talked about that in the past.

Verse six the sea of glass helps to emphasize i think heaven's

beauty and just all these descriptions.

The four living creatures are likely a reference to the cherubim angels mentioned in

ezekiel.

Commentators slightly disagree about the meaning of the four faces.

You know like a lion and an ox and a eagle.

One idea is that the four faces symbolize like bravery like a

lion or you know swiftness like an eagle.

I like this interpretation where it's connected to the four gospels and how christ

is depicted in each of the four gospels.

So if you think about it matthew it's christ the king.

That's the lion.

Right.

Yep mark christ the servant that's the ox luke depicts christ's humanity.

That's the face of a man the e john his deity.

That's the eagle.

I'm not quite sure why an eagle represents divinity but i mean i think that's the best explanation i've

heard.

You know why the eagle and the flies in the heavens.

I don't know.

Okay.

But you know that's one of those things we're not exactly sure about verse eight.

Worship is going on in heaven day and night.

Right.

Day and night the angels cry out holy holy holy.

So there's like this never -ending worship service in heaven.

Not that that's what a person's going to be doing 24 7 for eternity.

But it's just ongoing forever.

The angels are worshiping god.

And then the elders join in.

So the 24 elders they fall down cast their crowns before the lord.

That's you know where you kind of get that that idea that we're given our rewards which is a crown.

And then we cast our crowns back before us.

Why would you do that.

If god gives you a crown why would you just throw it back down before his feet.

Well the idea and i i think this is how it works.

A crown your reward is going to be tied in with how you serve god through eternity.

So give it throw.

Casting it before his feet is like saying okay i'm taking my reward.

I'm giving it back in service.

Whatever that whatever that looks like.

And then you see this great doxology in verse 11 the word doxology

means an expression of praise.

But before we close what's the takeaway.

Let's turn to second peter 3.

Let's try to get a takeaway from this passage.

Peter also spoke of the end times.

Second peter chapter 3.

And here i'm going to steal peter's application.

Is that.

Okay.

It's not plagiarism.

I'm giving peter credit.

Okay.

Here's peter's takeaway.

Second peter 3 10 through 13.

And he says.

But the day of the lord i'll give you one more minute to find it or one more second.

Okay.

Second peter 3 10.

But the day of the lord will come as what a thief in the night.

Right.

It's sudden because the rapture again triggers the day of the lord in which the heavens will pass away

with a great noise.

And the elements will melt with fervent heat.

And peter's kind of just compressing it all into one.

So he's taking the whole thing and just kind of putting it into one statement.

Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burnt up.

Therefore okay.

Here's the application.

Here's the takeaway.

Since all these things will be dissolved.

What manner of persons ought you to be.

In holy conduct and godliness looking for and hastening the coming of the great

day of god.

Because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire.

And the elements will melt with fervent heat.

Nevertheless according to his promise we look for a new heavens and a new earth in

which righteousness dwells.

So hearing these things it should stir us up to have that urgency to

live holy lives knowing that jesus might be his coming might be right

around the corner.

If you knew that jesus was coming back tonight at 11 o 'clock

i bet you would live a pretty holy life from now until 11 o 'clock.

Wouldn't you.

So that's what we need to do.

We need to have that mindset.

The lord could return at any time.

And if we live in light of that we will live a more godly life.