Episode Transcript
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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, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible
in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want
to let you know about a unique ebook that's yours
to download absolutely free today. Is called Breaking Free from Stress,
and my prayer is that it will help you conquer
the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress
(02:44):
in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free
from Stress today by visiting Jack Graham dot org slash stress.
That's Jack Graham dot org slash stress. In our previous episode,
we heard the conclude of the Book of Acts as
Paul arrived in Rome and was able to openly share
(03:04):
the Gospel there for two years. Though his life eventually
ended at the hands 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 inspiration of the Holy Spirit, a vision
(03:26):
for the future and an opportunity to look at the
very throne room 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 (03:41):
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
(04:03):
from my loved ones. I closed my eyes and sought 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
spread among the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thiaterra, Sardis, Philadelphia,
(04:26):
and laoud Aseea. 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 hair on his
(04:49):
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
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. When I saw him,
(05:12):
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 and the last.
(05:35):
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, Thiateryra, Sardis, Philadelphia,
(06:01):
and layout a Sea. 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
(06:21):
time and space. I 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.
(06:44):
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,
(07:07):
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,
(07:27):
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
(07:50):
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
(08:11):
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. An
angel 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
(08:33):
no 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
(08:54):
ceased when I saw him behold standing before me was
him the lamb of God 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
(09:16):
your 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
(09:37):
beauty was beyond words.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
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 God Gospel. But
God had not yet called him home. He was not
yet finished with the apostle John, though he was the
(10:06):
last man 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
(10:27):
told him 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.
(10:50):
And this 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
(11:11):
ownership 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 joyfully 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,
(11:33):
John fell on 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
(11:55):
do 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,
(12:19):
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.
(12:41):
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
(13:03):
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
(13:24):
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.
(13:45):
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
(14:09):
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,
(14:30):
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.
(14:53):
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
(15:14):
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 commanding 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
(15:38):
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
(16:00):
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
(16:23):
to yesterday, 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.
(16:44):
Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
Before we go, I want to let you know about
a unique ebook that's yours to download absolutely free today.
Is called Breaking Free from Stress, and my prayer is
that it will help you anchor the daily task and
pressures and burdens that bring stress into your life. Download
(17:05):
your free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by
visiting Jaggraam dot org slash stress. That's Jagraham dot org
slash stress.