Our Text …

“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”

***

Daniel the Old Testament Prophet saw a Book much like this. Notice what God told him to do … “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4

But now in the Book of Revelation, our Lord Jesus is going to unseal that Book! The time has come!

***

Dr. Henry Morris, born-again scholar and Bible commentator, says that Revelation chapter 5 is … “One of the most glorious chapters in all the Bible!”  Personally, I agree.

***

Jesus claims this august Title … Revelation 22:16 … “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

Jesus can say this truthfully, being eternal!

***

I wonder if the “seven horns” of verse 6 might at least allude to … the ancient walls of Jericho?

Joshua 6:4 … And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

Remember, the walls fell down!

Learn this for sure … “horns” in the Bible bespeak of “power!”

***

The Holy Spirit in equal Relationship with the Father and the Son …

Revelation 1:4 … John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne …

Revelation 4:5 … And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Revelation 5:6 … And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

John 14:16 … And I (Jesus) will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (the dear Holy Spirit), that he may abide with you for ever …

John 15:26 … But when the Comforter is come, whom I (Jesus) will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me …

John 16:7 … Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I (Jesus) go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

***

Watch the lesson now if you can.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Our Text …

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

***

It seems that when the “bests” (“living creatures”) praised God, the twenty-four elders followed in their steps, praising God all the more! Your excitement and worship just may impact others!

***

Next to the Cross, the greatest Christian icon (symbol) is the Crown!

***

One of my favorite “crown” verses …

Psalm 65:11 … “Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.”

***

Jesus as Creator …

John 1:3 … All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1:16-17 … For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Hebrews 1:2 … Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds …

***

I included in the class lecture today most of my notes. All the more reason for inviting you to watch …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Fewer notes tonight. Because I was able to teach most of the research material I had prepared for the Text …

Our Text …

“7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

***

Our great God is Thrice Holy …

Indicating His past, present and future!

Creation, Redemption and Consummation!

***

God and time …

Genesis chapters 1-11 consume 2,000 years!

Creation through Abraham!

But Genesis 12-50 only 300 years!

Abraham through Joseph!

Also … half of John’s Gospel describes Jesus’ last WEEK on earth!

It’s as if God weighs day and hours!

***

Here are the verses I read rather quickly in Class …

Matthew presents Jesus as King!

Jeremiah 23:5 … Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Mark presents Jesus as the servant …

Zechariah 3:8 … Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

Luke present Jesus as man, perfect man…

Zechariah 6:12 … And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD …

And John presents Jesus as God …

Isaiah 4:2 … In that day shall the Branch of the LORD (YHVH = GOD) be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

***

Watch the class now …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Read with me …

“4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”

More sights from Heaven!

There are two Greek nouns for “crown” as used in the New Testament.

The first is “Diadem” … indicating a Royal Crown! Majesty, Dignity!

(Used in Revelation 12:3, 13:1 and 19:12!)

Secondly, “Stephanos” … indicating something earned, a Victory Wreath!

(Used in Revelation 2:10, 3:11, 6:2, 12:1 and 14:14!)

***

Christians, as priests?

1 Peter 2:9 … But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light …

Hebrews 4:16 … Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace (something only a priest could do), that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

***

The “sea of glass,” which I compared to the laver in the Tabernacle and Temple …

Revelation 15:2 … And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

A sea on which one can strand! This verse made me think of Jesus, while on earth, walking on the water!

***

I closed the class with these statistics, gleaned from a Book on Bible Prophecy I’ve been reading …

MORE THAN 25% OF GOD’S WORD IS PROPHECY!

1,239 IN THE OLD TESTAMENT!

578 IN THE NEW TESTAMENT!

ENCOMPASSING A TOTAL OF 8,352 VERSES!

Amazing, thrilling!

Here’s the video class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Our glorious Text …

“1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.”

I believe this Passage depicts the Rapture of the Church!

***

In the two chapters of Revelation we just completed, chapters 2 and 3, Jesus has written seven short “Epistles” to as many Churches.

Paul did too, seven Epistles to Churches in seven locations!

Count them … Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica!

There also exist in our New Testament seven general Epistles, to God’s people, to His Churches!

James, Peter (2 separate Letters), John (3 Letters) and Jude!

I thought these were very interesting facts!

***

Doors in Revelation’s first 4 chapters …

Jesus promised the Philadelphians an OPEN DOOR!

Jesus stood outside the CLOSED DOOR at Laodicea!

The Church is invited to a CELESTIAL DOOR, as a means of leaving this sin-cursed earth!

***

God the Father, sitting on the Throne …

1 Timothy 6:16 … Who (the Only Potentate) only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Colossians 1:15 … Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature …

1 Timothy 1:17 … Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

John 4:24 … God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

So, John sees COLORS indicating God!

Such as the Jasper Stone (a diamond, glistening clear light) and a Sardine Stone (red like Blood, Scarlet or Crimson), these colors emanating from the Throne! Perhaps even pulsating!

Reminds me of Isaiah 1:18 in some ways …

Isaiah 1:18 … Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (white).

***

And that unique rainbow?

Green! Like anEmerald!

The color of a lot of God’s creation! A color easy on the eyes, pleasant! Plus, the Bible color representing LIFE!

Is this glorious, heavenly rainbow all one color, green, because God foresaw the perversion attached to the “rainbow” in wicked America?

***

The rainbows bespeaks …

1 Peter 5:10 … But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus …

Habakkuk 3:2 … O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.    

*** 

At the Rapture …

The true Church will be “caught out!”

But the religious-but-lost (lukewarm) Church will be “spued out!”

***

A good “the Church is not going through the Tribulation” verse …

1 Thessalonians 5:9 … For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen!

***

Watch the class with us now …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.