A man was delivering a motivational lecture to a group of young Navy sailors. “He explained in detail about why he joined the military and how much it meant to him. As he finished his story, he called on a fine-looking sailor in the audience and asked him why he decided to join.”
“Well, sir,” he said, “my dad was a farmer. And when he put lights on the tractor, that’s when I knew it was time to leave the farm.”
That sailor knew how to read his future. He knew his future because he watched his dad. And what his dad did revealed to him his future and the decisions he needed to make.
When we get to this part of the book Revelation, we discover what Jesus has for the future. This information should guide our decisions for our life on earth.
Chapter 4 of the book of Revelation begins the disclosure of the future.
Revelation 4:1-4 “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And The Voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with Someone sitting on it.
And The One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.”
Notice the scene is in heaven and the focus is on the praise taking place to the Father, Son and the Spirit.
First, before all the judgement on the earth is revealed, Jesus takes John to His throne in heaven. Verse 2 states that he is immediately ushered into God’s throne room.
Many times when people think about the book of Revelation – they focus on the wrong thing.
Some commentators and preachers focus on the powers of darkness; the Mark of the Beast – 666; the war of Armageddon; and so on.
Revelation can be a scary book. But Revelation is not a book that should ever cause fear in those who trust in Jesus nor was it intended to cause fear in a believer. It is to bring comfort and joy knowing our future is in God’s Hands.
We are to take in the scene of heaven in chapter 4 prior to the things that will take place after this:
- It’s Awesomeness. There is lightning, thunder, a rainbow and rumblings in the distance.
- It’s beyond earth. It’s unlike any place on earth and there are unknown creatures.
- It’s comforting. The 24 elders are in white garments and crowns representing believers.
- It’s beautiful. There are bright colors, valuable jewels and brilliance.
- There is praise. God is being worshipped by His creation both heavenly and earthly.
- There is security; In this place there is the overwhelming feeling of incredible wonder.
And importantly, we know the activity that everyone in heaven was doing:
- They’re singing praises to God.
- They are worshipping.
- Everything is centered on – Jesus seated on the throne.
- The 4 living creatures cry out: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
- The 24 elders are stating this praise: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being.”
We need to remember to keep our focus on the Lord and what He is doing, remember the big picture. Before John is told anything more specific about the future, this picture of praise is presented first. What a lesson for us as we go through this life. Communion is a reminder to stay focused on Christ and what He has done and is still doing in our lives. That means we confidently take the next step in life and thank Jesus for what’s ahead.
In 1637, a German hymn writer named Martin Reinkardht wrote…”Now Thank We All Our God.” The year that Reinkardht wrote that hymn, more than 4,000 people in his German village, including his wife and his children, died of pestilence. Reinkardht wrote this lasting hymn of praise because he trusted in God for the future.
“Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices
Who wondrous things has done, in whom His world rejoices
Who, from our mother’s arms has blest us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today
All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given
The Son, and Him who reigns with them in highest heaven
The one eternal God whom earth and heav’n adore
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”
Reinkardht must have recently read Revelation 4 since he basically quoted many of the words in this hymn. He knew his bad situation was not the final story nor to be his focus in life. He knew there would be a day when he would be with the Lord and reunited with his family for evermore.
We gather around the communion table regularly to help us keep our focus. Communion is to remind us of what Jesus has done through His atonement for our sin. The elements symbolize His body and blood that paid for our sin. We are to remember that no matter what happens in this world to us or our loved ones, one day we will be with Him in Heaven forevermore. Our future is secure.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Our tradition following the Lord’s Supper, we collect a special offering. This offering supplies for the needs for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a voluntary offering and we ask that you give as you are led. We base our giving on the Scriptural text:
I John 3:17-18; 23–24 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him? …let us not love with word or with tongue, but in-deed and truth. Now this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the people who keep His commandments abides in Him, and He in them. And we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.