The Prelude
Living in the days that precede the Last Seven Years, the Days of Wrath
1Ch 12:32 Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs {were} two hundred; and all their kinsmen {were} at their command.
The sons of Issachar were intelligent men, who understood the signs of the times, well versed in political affairs, and knew what was proper to be done in all the exigencies of human life; and who now perceived that it was both the duty and political interest of Israel to advance David to the throne.
Today we seek sons and daughters of Issachar, men and women who understand the times we are living in and know what is to be done in all the exigencies of human life to advance King Jesus to His throne.
Rev 3:22 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' "
There is a common word being heard by those in the true Church that have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. That word is “prepare”. But the big question is, prepare for what? And, how should we prepare? What we do know is that change is coming, and in fact is already here. We do know that there is great turmoil throughout the world. We do know that Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled in the Middle East and in Israel. We do know that we are caught up in a great spiritual battle that is raging all around us. What in the world is really going on? And more important, how are we as Christians to live in the midst of a world seemingly spinning out of control?
We find ourselves participants in a great drama. The drama deals with the days that precede the Great Day of the Lord Almighty. These days are called the days of the birth pangs of the Messiah. To prepare to live victoriously during these days we must know what events are about to transpire, what the challenges and conditions of these days will be, and we must be equipped and trained like good soldiers to be able to carryout our assignments in this great drama of the last days.
To understand the events of these days we will examine Revelation 6. Revelation 6 deals with the events that immediately precede the rapture of the Church and the beginning of Daniel’s last 7 years of tribulation that end with the second coming of the Lord. We will also look at scriptures that tell us about key conditions that will exist during these days. Given these events and conditions, we will then ask ourselves, how then should we live?
For those who know, and believe, the Bible, we have entered an unprecedented time in history. Each day draws us closer to the days of Revelation 6 and the breaking of the seals of the great scroll. I believe that we will see the days of Revelation 6 and the breaking of the first six seals. These will be days of trial, turmoil, war, famine, and great spiritual warfare. But they will also be the days of the Church’s finest hour. With the earthquake of the sixth seal and the marking of the 144,000 Jewish witness (Revelation 7), I believe that the true Church will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
1 Thess 4:16-18 (NKJV 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
We will not be here on the earth to witness the effects of the breaking of the seventh seal. We will not see the fire from the altar of God in Heaven, His wrath, being poured out upon the earth (Revelation 8:5).
1 Thess 5:9-11 (NKJV) 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
However, we will be here on earth for the prelude to these events. And even now, the prelude begins! How are we to live, what are we to do during such a time as this? In general the answers are clear. We are to be holy in conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, being diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. We are to be about the Father’s business. We are to be the continuance of the Lord Jesus’ works. We are to be preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom in all the world, we are to be doing Isaiah 61:1-4 and destroying the works of the enemy!
Isaiah 61:1-4 (NKJV) 1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." 4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
In this study we will look at specific events and conditions that will exist during this period of time just before the rapture. Our quest is to clarify our response to these conditions and specifically, what we as Christians are to be found doing during these times.
Revelation Chapter 4
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Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door {standing} open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like {the sound} of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
We first note that all we will be shown next comes after “these things”, these things being the letters to the churches or the church age. The voice like a trumpet is the voice of the Lord. This is a revelation of things to come from Jesus to His Church.
Further insights:
A. I looked and heard (visions) -
1. Gen 15:1, 17; 46:2
2. Ezek 1:1; 11:24; 37:1
3. Acts 9:10; 10:3, 10, 11
B. Paul’s direction by visions -
1. Acts 18:9; 22:18; 23:11; 16:9; 26:19
2. 2 Cor. 12:1-4
C. Heaven opened -
1. Matt. 3:16
2. Acts 7:56; 10:11
3. Rev. 19:11
D. I will show you -
1. Dan. 2:22
2. Amos 3:7
3. John 15:25-26
4. Rom. 16:25-26
5. 1 Cor. 2:10
Rev 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
John is transported from our physical world into the spiritual world (heaven). In our day we are seeing more and more of this crossing over between these two worlds, both the good and the evil. God is revealing Himself and things of His world through signs and wonders, healings, appearances, and even in jewels and gold dust. There are also a rising number of demonic manifestations occurring. Many believe the UFO phenomenon is just this. These things are primarily happening in areas like China, India, the especially in the hard-core Muslim areas where there is a great last days revival going on even today.
Further insights:
A. In the spirit -
1. Rev. 1:10
B. God’s throne –
1. Ps. 45:6; 103:19
2. Isa. 66:1
3. Matt. 5:34
4. Rev. 20:11
Rev 4:3 And He who was sitting {was} like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and {there was} a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
God, the Ancient of Days, appears to John as an image clear as diamonds and deep red like rubies. Surrounding the throne is a band of light green emerald light.
Further insights:
A. Jasper
1. Ex. 28:17, 20
2. Rev. 21:11
B. Sardius
1. Rev. 28:20
C. Rainbow
1. Ezek. 1:28
2. Rev. 10:1
D. Emerald
1. Rev. 21:19
Rev 4:4 Around the throne {were} twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones {I saw} twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
Around God’s throne are 24 other thrones. Sitting on these thrones are 24 elders, older men who are patriarchs or leaders. They are clothed in the righteousness of Christ (the white linen garments). These are the white robes of redemption given to those redeemed by the blood of Christ. They possess golden crowns, rewards given to God’s people. These crowns are stephanos, or victor’s crowns given to those who have overcome or “won the race” (1 Cor 9:25). Other crowns are also given to God’s people (2 Tim 4:8, Jas 1:12, 1 Pet 5:4, Rev. 2:10, Php 4:1, 1 Thes 2:19).
There are also hints in scripture that the OT elders like David and the NT Apostles are promised leadership roles or “thrones” in the Kingdom to come.
Eze 34:24 "And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the LORD have spoken.
Mat 19:28 And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
It seems likely therefore that the 24 elders are the Apostles and 12 of the key OT elders like David, Adam, Abraham, Joseph, Isaiah, etc. Note that these are leaders among the twelve tribes of Israel.
Further insights:
A. 24 elders
1. Rev. 3:21; 19:4
2. 1 Cor. 6:2
B. White garments
1. Matt. 17:2
2. Rev. 7:9; 3:5, 18; 19:8
C. Golden crowns
1. 1 Cor. 9:24, 25
2. 2 Tim. 4:8
3. Rev. 3:11; 4:10
Rev 4:5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And {there were} seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
In the spiritual world things not only appear as shapes but also as sound and light. Before the throne of God are 7 lamps of fire, which we are told, are the seven Spirits of God.
Further insights:
A. Lightning and thunder
1. Ex. 19:16; 20:18
2. Job 37:2-5
3. Ps. 18:13-15
B. 7 lamps of fire
1. Ex. 25:37
2. Rev. 1:20
C. 7 Spirits of God
1. Isa. 11:2
2. Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 5:6
Rev 4:6 and before the throne {there was something} like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.
Before the throne is a floor of sorts that appears as a crystal like substance. In the center and also around the throne are 4 living creatures. The phrases, around the throne, before the throne, or in the center of the throne, seem to imply that these things are almost a part of the throne itself. (Isa 6:2-3, Ezek 1:5-28, 10:1-22)
Further insights:
A. God’s throne
1. Rev. 20:11-13
B. Sea of glass
1. Rev. 15:2
Rev 4:7 The first creature {was} like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature {was} like a flying eagle.
These living beings or creatures all reflect Jesus, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the ultimate sacrifice, the human man, and the Spirit. These living creatures also seem to reflect Christ in His fourfold aspect in the four Gospels respectively. They also reflect four basic characteristics of Jesus:
(1) Kingly righteousness with hatred of evil and judicial equity, answering to the "lion";
(2) Laborious diligence in every duty, the "ox";
(3) Human sympathy, the "man";
(4) The contemplation of heavenly truth, the "eagle."
Further insights:
A. Creatures
1. Ezek. 1:5-28
Rev 4:8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY {is} THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME."
Isaiah 6:1-3 (NKJV) 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"
a) Seraphim, majestic beings with 6 wings, human hands or voices in attendance upon God
Ezek 10:20 (NKJV) 20 This is the living creature I saw under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew they were cherubim.
a) Cherubim, an angelic being
1) as guardians of Eden
2) as flanking God's throne
3) as an image form hovering over the Ark of the Covenant
4) as the chariot of Jehovah
These living creatures are worshippers.
Further insights:
A. 6 wings
1. Isa. 6:2
B. Day and night
1. Isa. 6:3
C. Unending praise
1. Ps. 35:28; 71:6; 104:33; 145
D. Holy
1. Rev. 15:4
2. Ex. 15:11
3. Ps. 99:9
E. Almighty
1. Job 42:2
2. Ps. 115:3
3. Isa. 43:13
4. Matt. 19:26; 14:36
5. Luke 1:37
F. Was, is, and is to come
1. Ps. 135:13; 145:13
2. 2 Pet. 3:8
3. Rev. 1:8
Rev 4:9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
Further insights:
A. Glory
1. 1 Chron. 29:11, 12
2. Matt. 15:31
3. Acts 4:21
B. Honor God
1. Ps. 29:2; 34:3; 57:5; 107:32
2. Isa. 25:1
3. Rev. 4:21
C. Thanks to God
1. Ps. 50:14; 92:1
2. 1 Thes. 5:18
3. 1 Tim. 4:4
Rev 4:10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
When the living creatures worship Jesus, the elders worship Him and cast their crowns before Him. What a symbolic act of humility. These full well know that their crowns are not their own but gifts from God to them won by His Spirit working through and for them.
Further insights:
A. Elders worship
B. Gen. 22:5
C. Ex. 3:5; 34:8
D. Ps. 4:4; 33:8; 89:7
E. 2 Chron. 7:3
F. Neh. 8:6
G. Job 1:20
Rev 4:11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."
Jesus is worshipped as the creator of all things.
John 1:1-3 (NKJV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Further insights:
A. Worthy
1. 2 Sam. 22:4
2. Rev. 5:12
B. Create
1. Gen. 1:1
2. Neh. 9:6
3. Ps. 102:25
4. Acts 14:5
5. Heb. 11:3
6. 1 John 1:1-3
Clearly, the things revealed in Revelation 4 and following are revelations of future events. The reality of a spiritual world much more complex than our physical world, is also revealed as John is allowed to enter this world. These scriptures give us a glimpse of a marvelous world of sights and sounds, of living beings, of angels and of God Himself. Everything seems to be alive and everything worships God in His fullness. We see a world of intense emotion, visual marvels, and sounds of voices like trumpets and thunder and intense worship. What a marvelous glimpse this is into our homeland.
In Revelation chapter 4 it appears the John has been invited into a gathering or convening of the heavenly hosts for some great event. Present are God the Father, Jesus the Son, the seven fold Holy Spirit of God, the human elders of the heavenly Sanhedrin, Cherubim and Seraphim, and all the heavenly host of angels, great and small. Revelation chapter 5 will reveal the purpose of this great gathering.
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