Christmas Themed Lessons and Devotionals
Bible Lessons / Small Group Studies:
Miscellaneous Subjects Concerning Christmas:
Christ Or Santa Claus? Man Am I Confused!
Should Christians Participate In The Christmas Celebration?
Tis The Season To Deny The Existence Of God
“Bethlehem” *New For 2014*
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The Christmas Story:
The Christmas Story In Matthew Part #1
The Christmas Story In Matthew Part #2
The Christmas Story In Luke Part #1
The Christmas Story In Luke Part #2
The Christmas Story In Luke Part #3
The Christmas Story In Luke Part #4
The Christmas Story In Chronological Order
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Devotionals:
Micah 5:2 – “Bethlehem”
“Micah 5:2 – Bethlehem”
(Christmas Lesson 2014)
One of the most well-known of all the Old Testament prophecies touching upon the birth of Christ is found in Micah 5:2…
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
By taking a moment to study this passage, we can learn much about our Wonderful Savior who was born in this small and greatly celebrated town of Judah.
THE SCRIPTURES:
Mic 5:2 KJV – But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Luk 2:4-7 KJV – And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
THE STUDY:
Before we begin to take a detailed look at Micah 5:2, we need to recognize that this prophecy was given to Micah approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ.
Stop and think about this amazing truth. Our sovereign God perfectly revealed to man a detailed description of the birthplace of Messiah 700 years in advance. The historical record of this prophecy’s fulfillment can be found in Luke 2:4-7…
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) … And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
He then took things a step further by giving to Micah a specific description of the Lordship and the Divinity of the Messiah that was to be born. Although the giving of this prophecy is a great miracle, it is greatly overshadowed by its miraculous fulfillment, the
birth of the Messiah…
But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
- The “house” of Jesus, in other words the place of His birth, was “Bethlehem” which means “house of bread”. This helps us to understand the importance of the Messiah… the Messiah is the “bread of life”, the source of spiritual life for sinful mankind (John 6:32-59).
When a lost man turns from his sin (repents) and trusts in the Messiah as his Lord and Savior, he is partaking of the Messiah much like a person partakes of bread. Just as bread gives strength and sustains the life to man, so too, when we partake of the Messiah through repentance and belief He secures for us forgiveness, spiritual life, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
- In this prophecy, Bethlehem is further identified as “Ephratah”. This distinguishes it from another town named “Bethlehem” that existed in the land area of Zebulun. “Ephratah” signifies “fruitfulness” or productivity. In this title of the Messiah’s birthplace, we can see the manifold accomplishments of Messiah being referenced (John 21:25). These accomplishments came about through His teachings, miracles, life-example, and His death and resurrection)
The Messiah successfully accomplished the complete mission upon which the Father had sent Him. This included: presenting truths concerning His Father to the world through His words and deeds; redeeming His people from their sins; and gaining the victory over sin and death. His life, that was begun in the insignificant town of Bethlehem Ephratah certainly was perfectly productive and bore manifold fruit for His Father.
though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
Bethlehem, which was among the thousands of cities and towns of Judah, was irrelevant in the eyes of men, it was chosen by God to be the birthplace of the Messiah!
This helps us to understand that although man may judge people, places and things as irrelevant, when God chooses to use them for His glory, they are relevant in His sight and hold great significance for His purposes.
Why does God choose that which appears irrelevant to man to hold positions of great importance in His purposes? By doing this, He rightfully secures all of the honor and glory for Himself by displaying His greatness to all. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;
When the Messiah came forth from Bethlehem, Bethlehem was giving birth to One that would be the eternal Ruler of Israel.
The Messiah, who came from the line of Jewish Kings, was recognized as the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” and was given the eternal rule over the spiritual nation of Israel (Hebs 1:8) . This spiritual nation is made up of saved Jews and Gentiles (Roms 9:6-8, Gals 3:26-29, Phils 3:2-3) all of whom will accompany Him at Armageddon and dwell with Him eternally in the New Jerusalem (Rev 17:14, Rev 21: and 22:).
whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
This same Jesus, who is the Bread of Life, the Flawlessly Fruitful One, and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is the Eternal God.
Jesus, who was born as a babe in Bethlehem, was God come in the likeness of sinful flesh (Roms 8:1-4), which allowed Him to experience temptation (Heb 4:14-16) and give His life on the cross to secure the salvation of sinners (Phil 2:5-8).
PRACTICAL APPLICATION/SUMMARY:
For this small town of Bethlehem came God Himself, born of a woman, born in the likeness of sinful flesh, to become the King of Kings and Savior of His people. As we enter this time of year may we all keep our minds on these very important truths from God’s Word…
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isa 9:6-7 KJV)
For the Christian, young and old, our central attention concerning Christmas should not be placed upon Santa Claus, gift giving, or socializing and partying. We should be placing our attention upon the Lord Jesus Christ, His coming to the earth, His ministry, and most importantly, the miracle of salvation by grace that He has accomplished through His death and resurrection.
May the Lord bless you as you seek His truth.
For more Christmas Resources please click on the following links:
Miscellaneous Subjects Concerning Christmas:
Christ Or Santa Claus? Man Am I Confused!
Should Christians Participate In The Christmas Celebration?
Tis The Season To Deny The Existence Of God
The Biblical Christmas Account:
The Christmas Story In Matthew Part #1
The Christmas Story In Matthew Part #2
The Christmas Story In Luke Part #1
The Christmas Story In Luke Part #2
The Christmas Story In Luke Part #3
The Christmas Story In Luke Part #4
The Christmas Story In Chronological Order
Christmas Devotionals:
Think On These Things Devotional Luke 2:10-11 Part #1
Think On These Things Devotional Luke 2:10-11 Part #2
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Are We Like Lions In Our Service To Christ?
Revelation 4:7 KJV
(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.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “And the first beast was like a lion…”
Revelation 4:7 KJV
(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.
In this section of John’s vision, we are introduced to four “beasts” (living creatures) which pictures for us a different aspect of our spiritual life in Christ.
The first beast is described as being “like a lion”. In the Old Testament, the lion was an animal that symbolized Kingly authority. This is why the approach to Solomon’s throne was lined with two lions (1 Kings 10:19); also, Christ Himself was described as the “lion of the Tribe of Judah” (Rev 5:5) pointing to the Kingly power that He possessed. Amazingly, the child of God is also described as a “lion” in our passage. This is helping us to understand that the people of God possess the authority to rule as Kings!
There are many aspects to this great authority that are given to the people of God. Not only are we promised to possess great authority in the world to come (our role in the judgment of the lost and dominion over the New Heavens and New Earth etc), but we also are told that we possess great authority NOW as we serve the Lord in this day and age.
This possession of ruling authority is the basis of the Christian’s New Testament title of “overcomer” or “victor”. As Christians, we are promised that we have possess ruling authority over the powers of darkness in this world…
1 John 4:4 KJV “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
1 John 5:4-5 KJV “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Folks, as the people of God, we should never feel as if the powers of darkness have been given the control over us. This is not so. Based upon our faith in Christ, and His indwelling Spirit within us, we have been given great authority over those sinful powers. The war against these great foes has already been won by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although the battles may continue, the ultimate victory is Christ’s and He will share in that victory with us.
When Satan, the sinful influences of this fallen world, the demonic powers around us, and our sinful fallen nature, attempt to gain control of our thoughts and actions, we need to always remember our Lord is in control, He has gained the victory over all of these powers and is now living inside of us. He is the One in control, He is the One that is the Lord whom we serve, He is the One that is victorious and has allowed us to, by faith, share in that victory NOW and in the world to come…
Romans 8:31-37 KJV
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
May we always look to the Lord in faith when these powers align themselves against us, knowing that He has gotten the victory and has promised to share in that victory with us NOW and in the world to come.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
The Holy Spirit Lights The Way To Communion With God!
Revelation 4:5 KJV
(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.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
Happy Thanksgiving From SIH Ministries!
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving Day To All Our Followers and Visitors To SIH Ministries…
Be Blessed, Safe, And Loved On This Day That Is Set Aside To Meditate On The Lord And His Goodness To Us!
You Have Been, And Continue To Be, A Source Of Great Encouragement To Us!
Revelation 4: Summary
SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER:
In our previous studies we have seen that Revelation chapter 4:, which begins a vision of worship taking place in heaven, contains 2 main divisions:
- Revelation 4:1-5 – The throne of God
- Revelation 4:6-11 – The worship of the four beasts and the twenty-four elders
SUMMARY OF EACH DIVISION OF CHAPTER:
- Revelation 4:1-5 – The throne of God
In this first part of the vision, John sees a wondrous vision of the throne of God in heaven. This vision displays the worship of the Lord by the spirits of the saints of God who have died and gone on before us.
John sees God’s all-encompassing authority symbolized by God sitting upon a throne. God’s appearance is associated with colors that represent His holiness, justice, mercy and wrath. Likewise the rainbow encircling the throne symbolizes God is the supremely faithful One who is the source of all physical and spiritual life.
John also sees “twenty four elders” sitting upon twenty-four thrones. These twenty-four elders represent the saints of the most high with an emphasis on their position as the eternally blessed of God. They are twenty-four in number symbolizing their number includes both OT (12 tribes of Israel) and NT (12 apostles) saints. Their white robes reveal their righteous standing before God, their crowns symbolize for us their rewards for faithfulness including the authority to rule with Christ.
This part of the vision closes with lightning, thunder and voices coming from the throne representing the greatness of God, the One sitting on the throne. Also John sees 7 lamps in front of the throne representing the one Holy Spirit ready to perform His seven-fold ministry at the bidding of God.
For a much more detailed look at this section of Scripture:
- Revelation 4:6-11 – The worship of the four beasts and twenty-four elders
In the second part of this vision, John sees sea of glass proceeding from God’s throne. This sea symbolizes the perfect way of salvation which contains the living water that gives access to eternal life. Symbolically, it also explains that this way of salvation finds its origin in God, it is revealed to mankind through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, it reveals man’s true condition and the genuine way that secures deliverance from sin.
In this vision, John also sees four beasts, which are representative of the saints of God with an emphasis on the spiritual life that they possess. Their description and the accompanying symbolism is very detailed. Basically, we are taught that those who possess eternal life from Christ: rule with Christ; serve Christ; although saved, are weak and frail due to their sinful flesh; can transcend the sin and trials of this temporal world because of their everlasting life; recognize their sin, are ashamed of it, but do not let it hinder their service to Christ; their possession of spiritual knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. We also see their main activity in heaven is worship their God by praising Him for who He is and what He has done for them.
In the final part of this vision, John sees the twenty-four elders worshipping God by casting their crowns before the throne of the Lord. This pictures for us the truth that all of our acts of service to the Lord are the result of His divine gracious enabling. Following the receipt of rewards they are given back to God as the One who truly deserves them.
For a much more detailed look at this section of Scripture:
WHAT’S COMING NEXT IN THIS SERIES?:
In the next lesson in our series, we will be looking at Revelation 5:. In chapter 5 we have a continuation of this vision seen by the Apostle John. We will have the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ as a Lamb who holds the world’s history from creation to consummation in His hands.
The following is a short outline of this entire vision…
- Vision Of Heaven 4:1-5:14
- Worship Before The Throne (4:1-11)
- The Throne Of God (vs 1-5)
- The Four Beast’s Worship Of God (vs 6-11)
- The Scroll And The Lamb (5:1-7)
- Worship Of The Lamb (5:8-14)
May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.
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Revelation 4:6-11 “The Four Beasts’ and The 24 Elders’ Worship of God”
THE TEXT:
The Worship of The Four Beasts Before The Throne Of God In Heaven:
Revelation 4:6-11 KJV
(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.
(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.
(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.
THE INTRODUCTION:
Chapter 4 begins a new section in the book of Revelation… “Jesus Christ In The Midst Of Heaven”. Prior to this section, our attention was placed upon earth and the Lord in the midst of His assemblies, communing with them and instructing them.
In chapters 4 and 5, we will have our attention switched to the great worship taking place in heaven. This worship will be pointed toward Christ and the Father.
A very brief outline of this section of Scripture:
Vision Of Heaven 4:1-5:14
- Worship Before The Throne (4:1-11)
- The Throne Of God (vs 1-5)
- The Four Beasts’ & Elders’ Worship Of God (vs 6-11)
- The Scroll And The Lamb (5:1-7)
- Worship Of The Lamb (5:8-14)
THE EXPOSITORY STUDY:
Revelation 4: –
(6) And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:
John’s description of the throne of God continues…
Flowing out from the throne was an expanse of glass stretching out like a sea . This glass was very clear, much like perfect crystal.
This sea of glass is also described in 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.”
This text helps us to see that it is solid (saints are standing on it) and reflective (the fire from the seven lamps reflected upon it)
What does this “sea of glass” symbolize for us? It pictures the way of salvation for mankind or, put another way, it is the living water of God (John 4:10-11; 7:38).
Please notice that:
- it flows from the throne of God (salvation comes from God);
- it is illuminated by the 7 lamps (the Holy Spirit reveals the way of salvation to fallen mankind),
- those who have overcome the sinful world walk upon it (it is the path that is taken by the people of God that takes them into God’s presence);
- it is crystal clear (the way of salvation is genuine, true, not tainted by sin in any way)
- it is reflective (it reflects the light of the 7 lamps and, by implication, it reveals the spiritual condition of those who walk upon it. In other words, as the chosen of God come into contact with the gospel message they see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior, much like a person sees themselves in a mirror – James 1:23-24)
These are several of the reasons we can know that the sea of glass is a picture of God’s living waters presented as the way of salvation.
and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts
John describes the throne as having four “beasts”, or living creatures, in the middle of and surrounding the throne. What does he mean by this? The throne had one beast surrounding it on each side… one to the north, one to the south, one to the east and one to the west. Each beast was in the midst, or in the middle, of the throne (each one stood in the exact middle of each side of the throne).
John begins to describe these beasts which will help us to understand what they symbolize…
full of eyes before and behind.
These living creatures possessed numerous eyes that entirely surrounded their heads. In other words they could see in every direction.
(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.
Please note they look differently one to another…
- one’s face resembled a lion – a lion is a symbol of royalty and authority
- one’s face resembled a calf (or ox) – an ox represents a service, slavery, laborer
- one’s face resembled a man – a man represents humanity, weakness, frailty
- one’s face resembled an eagle – an eagle represents deity, transcendence and all-knowledge
These four living creatures seem to be presented to us in the Old Testament in Isaiah 6:2-7; Ezekiel 1:5-25 and 10:1-22. Note the following table that emphasizes the similarities of these beasts…
| Description | Revelation 4: | Isaiah 6: | Ezekiel 1: | Ezekiel 10: |
| Lion | X | X | X | |
| Calf (Ox) | X | X | X | |
| Man | X | X | X | |
| Eagle | X | X | X | |
| Wings (4 or 6) | X | X | X | X |
| Full Of Eyes | X | X | ||
| Verbal Praise | X | X | ||
(8) And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him;
These beasts had six wings. In Isaiah 6:, we are told that two wings are used to cover their face, and two wings are used to cover their feet, and two wings were used to fly.
and they were full of eyes within:
Once again John explains the great number of eyes that could be seen surrounding their head.
and they rest not day and night,
Their constant activity is to praise the Lord day and night.
Saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (9) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Their message of praise includes:
1. “Holy, holy, holy” – a declaration of the exclusivity of God (He stands out from all others). It is only the three persons of the Godhead are sinless, just, all wise, all knowing, present everywhere etc etc etc.
- “Lord God Almighty,” – a declaration of His great strength and authority
- “which was, and is, and is to come”. – He eternally exists as Creator and Completer of all things. He existed before all things (throughout eternity past) and will exist throughout eternity future. He began everything and will bring everything to His desired end.
- “give glory and honour and thanks” – Their message gives to the Lord praise, value and words of appreciation for all He has done.
- “to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever” – Their praise is pointed towards the eternally existing God.
Who are these 4 living creatures? If we look ahead at the next chapter (5:8-10) we find that these four beasts sing a song (along with the 24 elders) that proclaim that they are redeemed by Christ’s blood, made kings and priests of God, and will reign with God on the New Earth. This clearly tells us that they represent the saved.
Please keep in mind the 24 elders represented the saved and, especially their blessed POSITION OF HONOR AS THE ETERNALLY BLESSED OF GOD.
The 24 living creatures represent for us another aspect of those who are saved… THEIR POSSESSION OF ETERNAL LIFE.
This use of different symbols to present the same basic type of being was also used in the 7 lamps of fire representing the same Holy Spirit in its seven ministries. In our text today, we see the 24 elders and the 4 beasts all picturing the saints of God. However, they symbolize different characteristics of those saints.
Please take notice of many aspects of believers represented by these 4 living creatures:
1. They are described as “beasts” (in Greek “living creatures”) This points us to the eternal life that they possess. Other titles given to these heavenly creatures are “Seraphim” (burning) point to saints as those purified ones and those who are the light of the world; and “Cherubims” (grasped ones) which point to saints as being held, protected in the hand of God.
- They surround the throne eagerly awaiting the commands of God to then do His bidding. They are pointed towards all four directions on the globe ready to take the gospel message throughout all the world.
- They were “full of eyes before and behind” – saints of the Lord possess spiritual sight and constantly are to be on guard against Satan and the influences of this world etc.
- They are pictured as a lion, ox, man and eagle – they are given great authority from God; they are the servants of God, they are fallen; sinful, weak, humanity; they are overcomers and victors in Christ transcending the sinfulness and heartaches of this world
- They had six wings (covering their face, feet, yet continue to fly) – the saints are ashamed (covering face) not wanting to look at Lord due to their sinfulness; the saints recognize their sinful walk; yet the saints fly above all these hindrances to service knowing there are servants of the Ultimate Victor over sin, death and Satan.
- “They rest not day and night” – the saints of God are constantly seeking opportunities to serve the Lord in this world and in the world to come.
- “saying holy holy holy…” – the saints praise the Lord on earth and throughout eternity with their entire being for all He has done for them.
(10) The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever,
Now, the 24 elders in response to the praise of the 4 beasts are said to “fall down before him that sat on the throne” – They fall down in humility and submission to God. How important it is for us to always allow the worship of other Christians to encourage our hearts to worship and submit to Christ’s will also.
and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
The rewards for faithful service to Christ that they have received they now give back in praise to God.
Stop and think about it… every act of service that we perform for the Lord can only be done through His gracious intercession in our lives. Our service comes from His granting us the ability to serve Him. Our words come from His enabling of our understanding and our mouths as He opens the door of ministry. Our Godly actions come from the Lord’s giving us our life, health, strength, gifts of ministry, opportunities to serve etc etc etc. EVERYTHING we do for Him is only through HIS enabling graces. That is why He is the only One that truly deserves the rewards for our service.
(11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
These 24 elders now praise the Lord for His deserving of all acts of praise and service that we can give to Him. All of our desires, words and actions that give forth praise, value, and ability are deserved by Him. We cannot “over-serve” Him.
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Why does He deserve all that we can do for Him? It is because He is our Creator, and the One who freely chose to create us of His own sovereign abilities.
CHRIST REVEALED:
In this section of Scripture, we see the results of Christ’s work continually on display.
We see that, because Christ died and rose again, His people are saved from their sins and obtain eternal life. Based upon this we see God being worshipped now and throughout eternity.
In the symbolism of the four beasts (and the 24 elders from our previous section) we can see the tremendous number of eternal spiritual blessings that sinful mankind receives through the work of Christ.
All of the activity we see in this vision is a wonderful display of the results of the effectual work of Christ on the cross. God will be honored eternally based upon the faithfulness of Christ as He gave His life on the cross for the forgiveness of His people and the securing of their eternal life.
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION (SUMMARY)
As the possessors of eternal life, we have been blessed of God in many different ways. All of these culminate in our need to prais and honor the Lord with “all that is within” us. May we all see the need to glorify the Lord as we live our lives on earth, knowing that throughout eternity we will be praising Him for all He has done!
May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.
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The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”
Revelation 4:5 KJV
(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.
Here, in John’s vision, we see the Holy Spirit described as “seven lamps burning before the throne.” Another way to describe this is the seven lamps were lighting the way that led to the throne of God.
This gives us a glorious picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in revealing God to man. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are given an understanding of the Lord and the way that leads us to the Lord. As sinners, due to our sinful condition as members of fallen mankind, we are blinded to the truths of God. It is only through the intervention of the Spirit in our lives that we are given the ability to understand our great need of deliverance from sin and the path of salvation that leads to the Lord Jesus Christ…
John 14:25-26 KJV
(25) These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
(26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
In these two verses we have many things for which to thank the Holy Spirit:
- He is our Comforter – He stands with us, enabling us, interceding for us, and comforting us.
- He teaches us all things – He gives us a knowledge, understanding of God’s Word.
- He reminds us – He brings to our mind the Word so that we may apply its principles to our lives.
What a wonderful Lord we serve that would come and dwell within us in the person of the Holy Spirit. The next time we find ourselves reading His Word and learning something new, let’s thank the Holy Spirit for revealing it to us. The next time we find ourselves understanding the proper path to take to please the Lord in life situation we face, let’s thank the Holy Spirit for bringing these principles to our mind and heart.
Folks, our entire day, in the midst of our overly busy schedules, we should take the time to appreciate all that the Lord has done for us. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is one example of the many blessings that are given to us that we may overlook during the course of our day. May we all seek God’s enablement to seek to recognize and appreciate His great works on our behalf!
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
The Greatness Of Our God On Display!
Revelation 4:5 KJV
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.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:”
Revelation 4:5 KJV
(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.
What a grand scene this must have been!
John, after seeing a throne surrounded by a green rainbow, with God’s glory shining forth as a jasper and sardine stone, now sees the presence of God manifest by lightnings, thunderings and voices. This scene is very similar to the display of God’s greatness that was seen by the Israelites in Old Testament times…
Exodus 20:18-21 KJV
(18) And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
(19) And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
(20) And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
(21) And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
In both of these instances, we can see that the sight of God’s presence is likened unto a vicious thunderstorm.
Stop and think about what a thunderstorm is like… strong winds blowing, thunder crashing, and bright flashes of light shining across the sky. What a tremendous earthly display of God’s greatness and awesome power. But sadly, how often do we watch a thunderstorm and give God no thought at all?
Folks, the next time we experience the wonder of a thunderstorm, let’s call to mind our breathtaking God. He is the One that is putting His greatness on display. He is the One that created the storm, He is the One that is controlling the storm, and He is the One that will bring the storm to an end, in His time.
In this same fashion, He is in absolute control of the storms and trials of our life. He brings the storm, He controls of the storm, and He ends the storm when it has accomplished its purpose in our lives.
May we all bring honor and glory to our Lord by remembering Him in the midst of the earthly storms that take place around us, and the storms of trials that we experience in our personal lives.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
Our Lord Is The Eternally Faithful One!
Revelation 4:3 KJV
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.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald”
Revelation 4:3 KJV
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.
As John looks at the throne of God, he sees that the throne is surrounded by a rainbow which is made up of many different shades of green. Green being representative of life, and the rainbow representative of God’s faithfulness to His promises, reminds us of God’s faithfulness to His promise of eternal life to those who trust in Him.
As a child of God, we have received a precious promise of a glorious eternal existence with Christ throughout eternity. The green rainbow around the throne assures us we can rest assured His promise of eternal life will be fulfilled at His coming with the receipt of our glorified body. As a matter of fact, the fulfillment of this promise is so sure, in God’s mind, it has already taken place…
Romans 8:29-30 KJV
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Notice in this set of verses that God’s actions performed on behalf of His people are ALL in the past tense. Our God has already foreknown, predestinated, called, justified AND GLORIFIED!
In a sense, based upon the certainty of the counsel of God and His faithfulness to His promises, His people are already glorified. It is a certainty, it will take place. There is no need to worry about losing our salvation, there is no reason to worry about God not keeping His promises, in God’s view of things our glorification is already been brought to completion!
As we enter our day, let us have confidence knowing we are a child of the King! No matter what may come our way, someday we will leave this sinful world behind us and dwell with Him eternally. No matter what affliction may cause us suffering, it is but for a moment when compared to the eternity awaiting us. No matter how tired we may be, at His coming we will enter into eternal rest with Him. All of this is true because He WILL keep His all of His promises to us..
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 KJV
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
Our Lord’s Holiness, Wrath and Mercy Shines !
Revelation 4:3 KJV
(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.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “a jasper and a sardine stone”
Revelation 4:3 KJV
(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.
Here, our God is described as looking clear and transparent (jasper) and also having a blood red color (sardine stone). When we study these colors and their symbolic application we can see the holiness, wrath and grace of God in view. How wonderful it is for us to come to understand that our God is a holy God who is both just and merciful!
If we stop and think about the holiness of God we come to a very clear conclusion… God does not commit sin. God is completely separate from personal sin this is the most evident meaning of being holy.
But divine holiness, in principle, also carries with it a different aspect of His character… because our God is a holy God, He must be a God of justice, He must reject and punish every sin that is committed.
If God recognized sin as being acceptable He would taint His holy character by placing Himself in alliance with those who work injustice in this world. If God simply excused sin without punishment, His actions would be unjust making Him guilty of personal sin. Because our God is holy, His character demands that he reject and punish all sin.
This is where the sardine (blood red color) comes in. Throughout the Bible, the punishment of sin in symbol and actuality involves the shedding of blood. The shed blood of the sacrificial animals in the OT and the shed blood of the wicked at the final judgment are two examples of this principle. When we see God described as jasper and sardine, we see Him as the perfectly Holy One who punishes iniquity.
But, by far, the greatest example of shed blood found in the Scriptures is the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ and His work on the cross (including the shedding of His blood) is one of the greatest themes found in the Bible.
Why did a sinless Christ shed His blood? It was done in payment for sins that were committed by others. Christ died so that sinners could escape the judgment of a holy God. In Christ’s death we can see both the justice and the mercy of God. God’s justice was at work in punishment of sin that was found in Christ’s shed blood and death on the cross. But God’s mercy was also on display in Christ’s death which allowed those who were guilty of sin to escape eternal punishment for that sin. In this way, we can see the blood red color of the sardine stone representing a Holy God’s mercy in the face of His wrath.
For those of us who have been redeemed through Christ and His work, we can enter this day with joyful hearts. Our God, is the God of the jasper and sardine stone. He is the Holy One who has mercifully removed the just punishment for sin that we deserved. The punishment for our sin was taken upon Himself (in the person of Christ) displaying both His wrath and mercy on our behalf. As the recipients of His mercy, we know that we have escaped eternal punishment, we have become members of God’s family, we have become joint heirs with Christ, and headed for an eternity with our Lord, the One who loved us so much He gave His life for us!
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation:
Thanksgiving Lessons and Devotionals From SIH Ministries…
For other Bible Lessons on Thanksgiving please click on link:
A Christian’s Thanksgiving Day
Therefore, O God, We Thank Thee
Let The Redeemed Of The Lord Say So
The Three Great Benefits Of Thanksgiving *NEW FOR 2014*
For Thanksgiving devotionals please click on links:
A Month of Thankfulness” 30 Part Devotional Series
“Remembering The Works Of God: The Feast Of Tabernacles” 12 Part Devotional Series
Our God Is On The Throne… Of This We Have NO Doubt!
Revelation 4:2 KJV
(2) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
For the SIH devotional on this subject:
The Revelation Of Jesus Christ: “and one sat on the throne”
Revelation 4:2 KJV
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
In this vision, John sees “a throne was set in heaven”. As he continues to look, he then sees “one sat on the throne”.
Folks, a very wonderful truth is set before us this morning… in this vision given to John, our God is pictured as one that sits upon a heavenly throne. In other words, God is revealed to John as the Supreme, Absolute, Ruler over all! He is the One sitting on heaven’s throne, exercising authority and overwhelming power over all the events of history and the events that are yet to take place.
Think about what this means for us on a very practical level. Because our God is the Sovereign over all His creation we can know assuredly HE IS IN CONTROL.
When we see the condition of the world around us, and the various occurrences of evil that take place… the acts of abuse, persecution, and injustice at every hand; the natural disasters that bring havoc upon great groups of men; and our own personal afflictions and trials; … we can rest assured that He isn’t surprised, nor ignorant of these events, but is causing or allowing them for His purposes.
As hard as this may be to understand, by faith, the people of God know that this is so. Probably the best example of this principle is found in Acts 2:22-24…
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”
(see also: Acts 3:18, 4:28, 13:26-28, etc)
The very opposition, abuse and crucifixion of Christ was part of God’s “determinate counsel”. In other words, it was a part of God’s plan for mankind which He decreed before the world began. Stop and think about it, if God had not allowed the sinful abuse and crucifixion of Christ to be a part of His plans for mankind, we would not, and could not, be saved.
Folks, no matter how difficult the trial that we may face today, no matter how bleak things may appear, we can know, with absolute certainty, what is taking place is a part of the Lord’s wonderful plan for us. It is coming to pass for our good and His glory, and He will be with us every step of the way comforting us and interceding for us based upon our every need…
Romans 8:26-28 KJV
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
James 1:2-4
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
May the Lord bless us as we seek to serve Him, the One that is so clearly revealed to us in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
For an in depth look at this section of the Revelation
Will We Open The Door Of Fellowship With Our Lord?
Revelation 3:20 KJV
(20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
For the SIH Devotional On This Subject:
Revelation 4:1-5 “The Throne Of God In Heaven”
THE TEXT:
The Letter To Laodicea…
Revelation 4:1-5 KJV
(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.
(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.
THE INTRODUCTION:
Chapter 4 begins a new section in the book of Revelation… “Jesus Christ In The Midst Of Heaven”. Prior to this section, our attention was placed upon earth and the Lord in the midst of His assemblies, communing with them and instructing them.
In chapters 4 and 5, we will have our attention switched to the great worship taking place in heaven. This worship will be pointed toward Christ and the Father.
A very brief outline of this section of Scripture:
Vision Of Heaven 4:1-5:14
- Worship Before The Throne (4:1-11)
- The Throne Of God (vs 1-5)
- The Four Beast’s Worship Of God (vs 6-11)
- The Scroll And The Lamb (5:1-7)
- Worship Of The Lamb (5:8-14)
THE EXPOSITORY STUDY:
Revelation 4: –
(1) After this I looked,
Following John’s receipt of the vision of Christ’s messages to His seven local assemblies, he begins to receive a new vision from God.
and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:
John sees a door that leads to heaven beginning to open. This helps us to understand that this vision is about to reveal activities taking place in heaven. Just like an open door allows us to see into another room, this open door will allow John to see heaven and heavenly activity taking place.
and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me;
As the vision begins, John hears a voice speaking to him. By implication, this voice appears to be coming from heaven. John describes the voice as being like a trumpet. In other words, it was a loud, clear, easily understood voice. This voice is probably the voice of an angel that will be showing John the greatness of heavenly worship..
A trumpet was used in Bible times to call an assembly to worship. This is perhaps also a part of the reason why this voice was described as being like a trumpet. It was inviting John to approach and view a scene of great heavenly worship taking place.
which said, Come up hither,
John is now invited to “come up hither”. In other words, this voice is inviting John to, through receipt of this vision, enter into heaven and view its worship.
(Please remember, John’s spirit and body are physically located on the isle of Patmos, and throughout this vision, both will continue to reside on this island. He was not literally, physically taken into heaven. He was allowed to view heaven by means of this vision, and in that sense would “come up hither” to heaven)
and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
As his vision continued, he would be shown things that would take place from this point forward. In other words, he would see events that would take place from the time he received this vision through the eternal reign of Christ on the New Heavens and New Earth.
The previous section of our study revealed to John what was taking place slightly before and during his time (the seven local assemblies and their condition before the Lord [Revelation 1:19, 2:-3:]). Now, he will gradually begin to see what will take place in his future and the future of the world which will culminate in Christ’s second coming and His eternal rule.
(2) And immediately I was in the spirit:
John was now “in the spirit”, in other words, he was surrounded by the Holy Spirit’s power as the Spirit intervened in the life of John (Rev 1:10). This allowed him to receive this vision as also the prior ones. This was a common phrase used to describe the Spirit’s intervention in a Christian’s life allowing him to serve the Lord in great ways (Rom 8:9, Gal 5:16, 25 etc), including the receipt of visions (Ezek 37:1, 17:3, 21:10),
This is not teaching us that John’s spirit left his body and ascended to heaven. Based upon a proper understanding of the Biblical phrase “in the spirit”, there is no reason to believe this is speaking of John’s human spirit within him. Also, please note “spirit” in most translations is capitalized helping us to understand that we are talking about the Holy Spirit of God, not John’s human spirit. (See NKJV, ESV, ASV, ERV, ISV etc.)
and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
As John receives the vision from the Lord, the first thing that attracts his attention is the throne of God with God seated upon it.
The throne was looked upon as a seat of authority. When one sat upon the throne, it was an outward declaration of the great authority that they held. In this case, we will see in the following verses, it is God who is sitting upon this throne clearly revealing that He is the ultimate Authority Holder over all of His creation.
(3) And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:
God is now described as appearing like a “jasper and sardine stone”.
The jasper stone was a clear stone found in multiple colors (Rev 21:11,18-19). Its clearness is a picture of the great holiness and justice of God. Upon him is no filth nor imperfections. He makes no mistakes nor is He unfair or unjust. He is the sinless God who is perfectly just and holy.
The sardine stone was a blood red stone. It points to shed blood which, in turn, reminds us of a two-fold truth about God. Firstly, it reminds us of the shedding of the blood of lost mankind as they face His wrath for their sins. Secondly it reminds us of His great grace and mercy shown in the shed blood of Christ for His people.
In both, we have seen His great justice and holiness. As a holy and just God, He cannot allow sin to go unpunished. Therefore, either the sinner must be punished, or a substitute must be punished (Christ on the cross).
and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Here the Lord’s faithfulness (rainbow) and role as Life-giver (emerald) comes into view.
Of course, the rainbow is a constant reminder of the Lord’s faithfulness. The rainbow was placed in the clouds to remind us of His faithfulness to the promise He gave to Noah. Likewise, the color of an emerald, green, reminds us of new life.
When we are told that John saw “a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald”, he seems to be describing a rainbow that is made up of varying shades of green. What a wonderful picture for us all to try to imagine. A throne surrounded by a beautiful rainbow filled with many shades of green!
(4) And round about the throne were four and twenty seats:
John now notices that surrounding the throne of God are 24 “seats”.
It is important for us to notice that the word “seats” comes from the very same Greek word as “throne”. In other words, John saw 24 smaller thrones surrounding the throne of God. This helps us to understand that whoever is sitting in these seats (thrones) are holders of authority. Implied is that their authority is delegated authority coming from the greater authority of God.
and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
24 elders are sitting on these thrones.
They are described as clothed in white raiment picturing righteousness that clothes them. This can also be a picture of the white robes warn by the priests.
They also have crowns of gold upon their heads. The Greek word for crown here is a word that is used to describe rewards given to those who are victorious. One of the great rewards believers are promised is to share in Christ’s authority. This involves the authority to judge, gain victory, and to reign with Him (1 Corinthians 6:2, Revelation 5:10, 19:14, 20:4-6, 22:5 etc). The gold on the crowns reminds us that this reward of authority originates, is delegated by, and perpetuated by, God Himself. It is all because of Him!
Who are these elders? These elders represent all of those who are saved by God’s grace from both OT and NT time frames who have died and whose spirits are now in heaven with God (Rev 5:8-10). It represents the redeemed as those who share an eternal citizenship and inheritance with Christ as members of the Lord’s nation and family. They are given the white robes as believer priests and the gold crowns of victors and ruling authorities. They are like the 12 tribes of Israel (symbolic of God’s OT followers) added to the 12 apostles (symbolic of God’s NT followers.) They are believers of all ages who possess Christ’s righteousness and receive great blessings and rewards for their faithfulness throughout eternity. They are surrounding the throne of Christ, enjoying communion and citizenship with Him (as priests), recognizing His authority and sharing in that authority (as victorious rulers).
These 24 elders represent God’s redeemed and their POSITION as the eternally blessed of God.
(5) And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:
John’s attention returns to the throne of God where he sees God’s greatness on display. John sees lightning and hears thunderings and loud voices (like trumpets), all three of these are used as pictures of the greatness of God’s presence in the Old Testament.
Some examples include His presence upon Mt Sinai at the giving of His law and as He led the Israelites through the Red Sea (Exo 19:16, 20:18, Psa 77:18). Also in Revelation, His presence during times of wrath upon the earth is symbolized by these in Revelation (8:5, 11:19, 16:18)
and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Not only did the 24 elders upon thrones surround the throne of God, but also standing in front of the throne of God were seven burning lamps (implied: they are lamps containing olive oil which represents the Holy Spirit throughout the Scriptures).
Here, we are told that the lamps represent the seven-fold ministry of the Holy Spirit (the seven Spirits of God) in the lives of God’s people. Their arrangement in front of the throne helps us to understand that these ministries of the Spirit are performed at the bidding of God the Father. This is much like servants who would approach the throne of a king awaiting the King to speak and give them His instructions.
CHRIST REVEALED:
Although Christ not specifically mentioned in this section of our study, we can learn much about Him when we recognize He is equal with God (John 5:18, John 10:30). The same attributes of the Father are shared by the Son. These include His great authority, sinlessness, justice and grace. Not only that but also He is the source of all life, being Creator of the Universe and Redeemer of His people.
What a wonderful Savior who is an equal person of the Godhead.
THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION (SUMMARY)
Our study brings to mind the preeminence of our God. As John saw the heavenly throne of God, he saw a grand display of the greatness of God. Folks, we serve a great Lord. He is a Lord who cannot be described through mere words, nor through the symbolism found in the book of Revelation. Although we see Him as a great Lord who far surpasses everyone and everything around us, we must always remember this is but a glimpse of His true supremacy. When we enter into eternity with Him, it is only then that we will begin to see Him as He is…
1 John 3:2 KJV – “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
May we always think upon His greatness and allow those thoughts to motivate us to trust Him in the fearful times, obeying Him during times of persecution and love Him no matter what our lot in life. He is the Supreme Almighty God, in whom we have the privilege to love and serve.
May the Lord bless us as we seek to see Jesus in the pages of the book of Revelation.
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