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December 2, 2024 16 mins

In this Bible Story, John has been exiled after being dipped in a vat of boiling oil. As he sits on the shores of Patmos, God comes to him in a vision. John writes in poetry and metaphor to describe his vision of God’s throne room. We are taken up with John, beholding God’s majesty and glory. This story is inspired by Revelation. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.

Today's Bible verse is Revelation 4:2 from the King James Version.

Episode 242: The Apostle John, now exiled on the island of Patmos, became startled as he heard a powerful voice behind him. The voice told him to write down what he was about to see. He turned around to see who was speaking to him and saw that it was the risen Jesus. His appearance was full of majesty as He gave John a message for each of the seven churches. But the vision did not end there, John was then called up into the throne room of God where he saw it filled with the beauty and majesty only God can bring. Beautiful colors, many thrones, and massive living creatures which all shouted the praises of God Most High, and the Lamb that was slain now lives!

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Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard

Producer: Ben Gammon

Hosted by: Pastor Jack Graham

Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith

Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray, and immediately I saw in the spirit,
and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one
sat on the throne Revelation four. Two Jesus, As I
press into the deeper things of God, I thank you
that your familiar spirit of comfort and love surrounds me

(00:24):
as I bask in your glory. I thank you that
through the reading of Revelation, I can be taken up
into the beauty and splendor of your throne Room. In
the same way that John heard and saw the angels
flying around your throne. Lord, show me and let me
hear the praises of your greatness in everything that I do.

(00:50):
When I look around. Let the evidence of your glory
and splendor fill my sight as the beauty of your
throne room is revealed to me in spirit and in truth.
May your continued faithfulness be felt in my life. May
my praises echo loud in the throne Room of Grace

(01:13):
like the angels above. For no matter how glorious I
think you are, I know that, like your throne room,
there are different levels of your greatness, and I can't
wait to explore them all. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank

(01:37):
you for praying with us today. Continue your time with
God by listening to today's Bible story, brought to you
by Bible in a Year dot com.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
The Throne Room of God. In this story, John has
been exiled after being dipped in a vat of boiling oil.
As he sits on the shores of Patmos, God comes
to him in a vision. John writes in poetry and
metaphor to describe his vision of God's Throne Room. We
are taken up with John beholding God's majesty and glory.

(02:18):
Inspired by the Book of Revelations.

Speaker 3 (02:23):
Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the
Bible in a Year podcast. We are making our way
all the way through the Bible, and it is an
incredible adventure. In our previous episode, we heard the conclusion
of the Book of Acts as Paul arrived in Rome
and was able to openly share the Gospel there for
two years. Though his life eventually ended at the hands

(02:45):
of a cruel Roman despot, an evil emperor by the
name of Nero, his work and witness continues bearing fruit
even to this very day. Today we'll begin to see
through the eyes of the apostle John and the the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, a vision for the future,
and an opportunity to look at the very throne room

(03:07):
of God and the hope that we have in heaven.
So let's listen now to reading from the Revelation, the
last book of the Bible.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
Exiled on the island of Patmos, I was sitting on
the bluffs, watching the darkened waves crash against the jagged
rocks below. The clouds were dark and heavy, soon to
burst forth with rain. The wind howled against my bruised
and scarred skin. Persecution for the Gospel had left me
scarred and alone, destined to die on an island away

(03:40):
from my loved ones. I closed my eyes and sart God.
And what I heard behind me was like a bellowing thunder.
The trumpet like voice shook my bones, saying everything you
are about to see right down, for these will be
spurred among the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Aetira, Sardis, Philadelphia,

(04:02):
and layout a sea. Discerning that it was the voice
of God, I got my parchment in quill and began
to write. I turned away from the waves to see
behind me a vision of the Lord. I saw seven
golden lamp stands, glistening with flames and wonder. Among the
lamps was one like the son of Man, clothed with
a long robe in golden sash around his chest. The

(04:25):
hair on his head was pure white, not from age,
but from sheer glory. His feet were like steady bronze,
and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
I looked to see seven stars held in his right hand,
and from his mouth was a sharp, two edged sword.
His face shone like a thousand galaxies. His presence was indescribable.

(04:48):
When I saw him, I fell on to my face,
as though dead. I could not comprehend what my eyes
were seeing, and I became afraid. A gentle hand reached
out to me and touched my shoulder. His presence was
as warm as I remembered. It was Jesus. His voice
was like rushing waves in a gentle stream, all at once.
Fear not, he told me, for I am the first

(05:10):
and the last. I died, and now I live for evermore,
I alone hold the keys of death and hades. My
mind was fixed on his greatness, so he reminded me
to write what he was saying down so that it
might be known to the churches. He then uttered encouragements, rebukes,
and calls to all seven churches Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamom, Thiaterra, Sardis, Philadelphia,

(05:37):
and layout Aicea. His voice was gentle, but his tone
was resolute. After this, I looked up. There was a
door standing by itself, opened up to Heaven. From the door,
I heard a resounding voice shouting, come and see. As
the voice commanded, I was taken off of my feet
and lifted to Heaven, rushed through the gates of time

(05:58):
and space. Was in the spirit and standing before the
throne of God. He who sat on the throne had
the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian. The depth of red,
almost like blood, around the throne was a rainbow. Its
color was a deep emerald. I looked around the throne
and behold there were twenty four smaller thrones surrounding it.

(06:20):
Seated on the thrones were twenty four elders, clothed in
pure white with gold crowns. Lightning flashed violently, and I
fixed my gaze on the throne. Above all thunder rolled.
Emerging from the floor were seven torches of pure fire.
It forced me to look below where I was standing.
The floor was like a calm sea, as still as glass,

(06:43):
yet still alive and moving. I gazed upon the beings
standing behind the throne and fell backwards. Behind and beside
the throne were four living creatures. They were massive and
looming above the throne room, like majestic guardians. One creature
was like a lion, the second had the strength of
an ox, the third had the face of a man,

(07:04):
and the fourth was like an eagle. Flying in the
midst of the throne room. All beasts had six wings
and eyes wrapping around their heads. They dwelled in majesty,
singing with deep voices like thunder, saying Holy, Holy, Holy,
is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and
is to come. All were in reverence to the one

(07:26):
sitting on the throne, And as the mighty beasts flapped
their wings and sang glory to God, the twenty four
elders knelt before him, laying their crowns at his feet.
Their voices were as one, singing poetry to God. It
resounded in my very soul as they sang, worthy, are
you God to receive glory and power? For you are

(07:48):
the creator of all things, and by your will they exist.
Then all became silent. The one sitting on the throne
held a scroll in his hand with seven seals in angels.
Spoke behind me, saying, who is worthy to open the
seven seals? I looked and saw a vision of many
men and women attempting to break the seals. Yet no

(08:09):
one could open the scroll. I knew in my heart
it contained life itself and wisdom beyond measure. So I
began to weep, lamenting the unopened scroll. One of the
elders touched my shoulder from behind and whispered, weep no more,
For the lion of Judah, the root of David, has
conquered death. He can open the scroll. My tears ceased

(08:31):
when I saw him behold standing before me. Was him
the lamb of God. He bore the scars of slaughter,
still bloodied and bruised by the cruelty of man. He
took the sealed scroll in his hand. All the elders
and creatures erupted in praise, singing, worthy are you to
open its seals? For you were slain, and by your

(08:53):
blood we are ransomed. For God, every tribe, language, and
nation will know that you are God. Even more angels emerged,
singing worthy is the Lamb who was slain, honor, glory
and blessings. I watched as every living creature in heaven
and on earth worshiped the bruised and crucified King. Its

(09:13):
beauty was beyond writes.

Speaker 3 (09:21):
We begin today's reading with John on the island of Patmos.
He is an older man, exiled because of persecution, as
he said, for the word of God and the testimony
of Jesus. Many, if not all, of his friends, had
faced death for the cause of the Gospel. But God
had not yet called him home. He was not yet
finished with the apostle John, though he was the last

(09:43):
man's standing. The Lord had a message for John to deliver,
one of extreme importance about hope, the hope of heaven,
and how we can endure even under persecution as we
look forward to the return of Christ and the promise
of heaven. We heard how God spoke to John with
a thundering voice like a loud trumpet, and told him

(10:04):
to write down what he was about to say and
about to show him. He was to record what he
saw and send it in a book to the seven
churches throughout asia. As John turned towards the voice that
he heard, he saw something that was incredible. Seven golden
lamp stands, and in the center was a marvelous man
wearing a long robe in a golden sash. And this

(10:27):
picture of portrait was none other than Jesus himself. He
looked so different from when John had last seen him
on a cross, then in a resurrection, and ascending into
the clouds. But it was truly Jesus. Symbolically, he held
seven stars in his hands, signifying his sovereignty and ownership

(10:48):
over all who follow him. Out of his mouth came
a double edged sword, indicating that he is the judge supreme.
So what did John do? Did he at first run
joy to greet his friend Jesus, whom he had not
seen for decades. He was, after all, the one Jesus loved,
and John loved Jesus well. In reality, John fell on

(11:11):
his faith. It was as though he were dead. He
was in awe in wonder of what he was seeing.
He saw the glory and majesty of Christ. John felt
unworthy and even terrified. Surely he was as good as
dead because he had seen the face of God. But
Jesus spoke to him tenderly and gently, telling him do

(11:31):
not fear, for he Jesus, is the first and the last,
the Alpha and Omega, the one who holds the keys
to death and hades. Jesus again told him to write
down what he was about to see and hear. These
were important messages, beginning with specific words to the seven
churches in Asia Minor. These were words of encouragement, rebuke, comfort, correction, warning,

(11:56):
and witness. Words like these to the church at Laodicea
found in Revelation three nineteen and twenty. Those whom I
love I reprove and discipline, So be zealous and repent. Behold,
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone here's
my voice and opens the door, I will come in
to him and eat with him, and he with me.

(12:18):
And though these were specific instructions given to specific strategic
churches at the time, these are words we need to
hear today. As a matter of fact, there are no
doubt people listening to me right now and God's word
today that need to open the door of their hearts
and receive Jesus as Lord and savior. He is knocking

(12:39):
at your heart's door. And if you will open the
door by faith and invite him in. He will come
in and live in your life, and you will know
eternal life and the forgiveness of your sins. Next, John
looked up and saw heaven opening. When he heard a
voice calling him to come up and see, he was
lifted off his feet and translated up into heaven into

(13:01):
a place that he had never seen. It was God's
throne room, and it was marvelous, majestic, magnificent. The description
John gives conveys immense beauty and majesty and glory. And
in this incredible room there were twenty four elders dressed
in white and wearing crowns. These were very important figures.

(13:22):
This much is clear. These twenty four elders represent the
Church of all Ages, God's people, both Old Testament and
New Testament saints. But they weren't alone. For John saw
four living creatures with wings, the creatures saying praises to God,
worshiping him in his throne room. These were angelic messengers
and witnesses and worshipers. What an incredible sight. I can

(13:46):
only begin to imagine how overwhelming this would have been
for John. As he looked around the room, the throne
room of God, there was one unmistakable reality. God is Holy, Holy, Holy,
and Jesus Christ is Lord. He is worthy of all
of our praise. He is alone worthy, he is altogether worthy,

(14:06):
and he is always worthy. All these beings were created beings,
and it was God who created them all. Let us
never lose the wonder of the greatness of God and
the glory in the presence of God, not only in
his spirit today, but when we are in His presence forever.
As we heard in the scripture. Today, something then amazing happens.

(14:29):
A question is asked, who is worthy to open the seals,
the seals of judgment? And only one could come forward
who was worthy, the one whom we just proclaimed Jesus.
And John, though he was greatly saddened that no one
was worthy to open the seals in heaven or in earth,
he then rejoiced and was told not to weep, for

(14:50):
Jesus himself would open the seals the root of David,
the lion of Judah. He had conquered death, and he
could open the scroll. He is come all of the
history and the destiny of the world and eternity. John
saw Jesus in all of his glory, the lamb of
God standing before him. Jesus took the scroll, and all

(15:14):
began to cry out, worthy, Worthy, Worthy, Why because Jesus
is God. God is Jesus, and he is the one
we worship. It was this truth that John had embraced
so many years ago when he followed Christ on earth.
And though he had only a fate understanding of what
all of this meant, he was now given a vision

(15:37):
of heaven itself and the hope that we have in Christ.
We're told of things that are yet to come in
the earth, of great tribulation, and of an anti Christ,
and of judgment. But we're told most of all that
our God reigns. What a marvelous sight to behold. And
this was just the beginning. Let's pray God, we thank
you for the Book of Revelation, which not only speaks

(15:59):
to yet yes today, but speaks to today and tomorrow
and forever the hope that we have in Christ. What
we know is that he is alive, that Jesus is Lord,
and that we can put our faith and trust in him.
May we live every day in this hope and look
forward to the day we see Jesus face to face. Amen.

(16:20):
I want to thank you for once again listening to
today's Bible in a Year podcast. One thing that you
can do to follow up on what we're reading together
in the scriptures is to go to Jack Graham dot org.
That's me, Jack Graham dot org, and there are resources
glory that you can find and grow in your Christian faith.
There is a study in the Book of Revelation, for example,

(16:42):
that you may want to check out. We have a
book called All Things New, all about the Book of Revelation,
and you can find it at Jack Graham dot org.
So let me encourage you to go there and be
encouraged in your faith as you walk with Christ.
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