Judgment Begins – Pastor Jonathan Falwell (Full Service)

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— Sermon Notes

The Revelation Series / Revelation 4:1–8:1 (NKJV)

Over the past two weeks, we’ve started our study of the book of Revelation. The unveiling of God’s plans given to John from the words of Jesus. Let’s take a moment and recap what we’ve seen thus far.

Week 1 – Chapter 1

John sees and hears the vision of Jesus from the Isle of Patmos in about 95 A.D. Jesus begins to unveil His message for the churches and the plans for eternity.

Week 2 – Chapters 2-3

Jesus addresses seven churches before He gives us prophecy. He gives them a performance review by using the format of: Picture, Praise, Problem, Prescription, Prediction and Prize.

Week 3 – Chapters 4-7

Jesus begins to unveil the plan for future events. This vision starts in the Throne Room of God where the Lamb of God is introduced as the only one worthy to reveal God’s plan. As this plan begins to be unveiled, we see the seven seals which describe the times of the tribulation.

1. The Throne Room (chapter 4)
Vs 1

“Come up here…” – The voice of Jesus speaking to John inviting him into the Throne Room of God.
We are given a beautiful description of not only what is, but what shall be.
Vs 2a “Instantly, I was in the Spirit”

Paul also experienced the same phenomenon in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 when he was caught up into the “third heaven” and experienced the presence of God.
AND WHAT DID JOHN SEE?

A. The Trinity

God sat on the throne
Vs 2b-3

“Gordon Fee notes that in Exodus 28:17–20 “these are the first and last of the twelve stones mentioned in the description of the breastplate of the high priest” and that “both of them are red” (Revelation, 69).”

Holy Spirit (7-Fold Spirit of God)
Vs 5b

Paige Patterson states: “These are to be distinguished from the lamps as they reflected the churches in chaps. 2 and 3 but are like the seven spirits of 1:4 and indeed according to the text are the seven spirits or the Holy Spirit presented in his fullness…the Spirit is clearly in view.”

Jesus (The Lamb)
Chapter 5:6

B. The 24 Elders

Vs 4

12 tribes of Israel
12 Apostles
“11 plus Paul”
Harold Willmington states: “Some suggest that the 24 elders, who reappear several times in John’s vision, were angelic beings. Others believe they may have been a representative body of OT and NT saints…This latter view is suggested by the fact that the Greek word for their crowns is stephanos, used elsewhere in the NT to describe the crowns or rewards of victorious believers.”

C. The Four Living Creatures

Vs 6b

Angelic creatures (seraphim & cherubim)
Their eyes convey the image of God’s omniscience
Bob Bonheim states: “…the prophet Ezekiel wrote about his vision for the four besats or as he identified them as the four Cherubs, who were responsible to protect the holiness of God as they were stationed around the throne.”

D. There was nothing but worship!

Vss 9-11

2. Worthy Is The Lamb (Chapter 5)
A. A scroll with seven seals

Vs 5:1

B. Who is worthy?

Vss 2-4

No one was worthy because no one who had ever lived was sinless
But One!
C. Only One Who is worthy!

Vss 5-6

D. The Gold Bowls

Vs 8

Psalm 141:2

E. Worthy is the Lamb

Vss 9-12

3. The Seals of Judgment (Chapter 6)
Represents the 7 years of tribulation which will usher in the Second Coming of Christ

A. First Seal – the White Horse

6:2

the Antichrist marching in to conquer
“Bow” indicates a weapon of war
“Crown” indicates an emblem of victory
B. Second Seal – the Red Horse

Vs 4

This rider came in to remove peace from the earth and bring about great destruction
This symbolizes the worldwide suffering of war and shedding of blood
C. Third Seal – the Black Horse

Vss 5-6

This rider announces that famine has arrived, and with it even more destruction and death

Vs 8

Death arrives in monumental scale
One fourth of the earth is killed

Vss 9-11

These martyrs are those who have come to Christ during the tribulation
The martyrs were bound, imprisoned, scourged, racked, burnt, rent, butchered—and they multiplied.[12] – Augustine of Hippo

F. Sixth Seal – Cosmic Disturbances

Vss 12-17

4. The Sealed and the Saved (Chapter 7)
7:1-3

12,000 Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel who are saved during this time
The twelve tribes omit Dan and Ephraim most likely because of their gross idolatry and rejection of God’s Word. They are replaced by Joseph and Levi.
The number 144,000 is the multiple of the square of twelve (the number of Israel) and the cube of ten (the number of completion). It thus indicates the perfect total of Israel.[14] – Leon Morris

D. A Great Multitude

Vss 9-10
Vss 13-14

5. The Seventh Seal (chapter 8:1)
Seventh Seal – Silence
8:1

Announces the arrival of the next set of Judgments

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