 As we begin this study today, I'm going to give to you an introduction. It's going to take a little while normally mine My introductions do so I'm just going to read verse one here But what we have and I chose to entitle this particular installment of our study of Revelation I chose to entitle it a glimpse of glory and you'll see that in just a moment. So beginning at in chapter 4 just reading verse one John writes these words After these things I looked And behold a door standing open in heaven and The first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place After this we're gonna have today in chapter 4 what I've chosen to entitle a glimpse of heaven in order for me to develop that Let me give to you an introduction as I was thinking about this I was thinking how there are many books that have been written about people who have said that they have visited heaven I had gone through a list. There's so many I just gave you a few I'll give you a few of books where people have said I have gone to heaven You have visions beyond the veil returned from tomorrow angels on assignment to heaven and back a glimpse of heaven visits from heaven 90 minutes in heaven and So there's a fascination in our society about testimonies of alleged Visits to heaven, but the sad thing about these testimonies is that they're simply not true There are those who publish books or give testimony of visits to heaven a man named Gary Wood Wrote a book called I died and went to heaven and in that book he claimed that he died in 1966 and that it was medically verified that he had died He also said that he went to heaven and saw body parts a body parts room full of replacements Waiting for people who need them I'll let that sink in for a moment Gary said he learned how to access this and now people are supernaturally getting new body parts in his meetings There's a woman a South Korean woman Calls herself a pastor who who says that she's been visiting heaven for more than 20 years And she says she actually saw Jesus opened the sixth seal of Revelation 6 in September 2012 Millions bought a book written in 2010 entitled heaven is for real or they saw the movie Over six million copies were sold in 39 languages It was written by a pastor claiming his four-year-old son Colton died and went to heaven In the book various unscriptural claims were made Colton said that he saw the Holy Spirit as a kind of bluish image He said that people have wings heavenly beings have halos and Jesus has blue eyes Anyway So a pastor by the name of Tim Chalice of Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto wrote that in fact the story Colton gives is really about The heaven we want the Jesus we want not the Jesus We've really got who is worthy of worship and won't allow unholiness in heaven You see often these supposed glimpses of heaven center on how a person felt While he was there But the Bible tells us that heaven is filled with God's glory and his glory would be the most important memory Anybody would have One pastor wrote stories like Colton's are as dangerous as they are seductive Readers not only get a twisted unbiblical picture of heaven. They also imbibe a subjective superstitious shallow brand of spirituality studying mystical accounts of supposed journeys into the afterlife yields nothing but confusion Contradiction false hope bad doctrine and a host of similar evils. So I need to say this. It's obvious I don't accept the books and testimonies of those claiming to have visited heaven You see in scripture, we have accounts of those who have seen heaven Daniel chapter 7 verses 9 and 10 I watched till thrones were put in place the ancient of days was seated His garment was white as snow the hair of his head was like pure wool His throne was a fiery flame its wheels a burning fire a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him a 1,000 thousands ministered to him 10,000 times 10,000 stood before him the court was seated the books were opened Ezekiel 1 26 through 28 Above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne in appearance like a sapphire stone on The likeness of the throne was a likeness with appearance of a man high above it Also from the appearance of his waist and upward ice size that were the color of amber With the appearance of fire all around within it and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire with brightness all around Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day So was the appearance of the brightness all around it This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord So when I saw it I fell on my face and I heard a voice of one speaking Notice the emphasis on these actual accounts of glimpses of glory I say a 6 1 through 3 it was in the year King Guzai died that I saw the Lord He was sitting on a lofty throne the train of his robe filled the temple Attending him were mighty seraphim each having six wings with two wings They covered their faces with two they covered their feet with two they flew they were calling out to each other Holy holy holy is the Lord of Heaven's armies the whole earth is filled with his glory When Steve in the first martyr had a glimpse in Acts chapter 755 and 56 It says he being full of the Holy Spirit gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and said look I see the heavens open and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God and 2nd Corinthians 12 2 through 4 Paul saw heaven and he said I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago Whether in the body I do not know whether out of the body I do not know God knows such a one was caught up to the third heaven And I know such a man whether in the body or out of the body I do not know God knows how he was caught up into paradise and heard Inexpressible words which is not lawful for a man to utter when you read these passages Notice that in these descriptions God's glory and God's majesty is what they are left with Their reactions are not how they felt about it. The reaction is how majestic God is and So what we have here in this chapter is we have John's experience of seeing heaven and in this chapter We get a glimpse of glory the Bible refers to heaven Hundreds of times and John's vision is the most complete description that we find in scripture You know when you buy a home you have the opportunity of doing what they call a walk-through Well in this chapter we have an opportunity of doing a walk-through of heaven now the question is even before we begin is How do we get there? How do you get to heaven a lot of people think that the the way to get to heaven is to die You simply die and everybody goes to heaven everybody goes to heaven all good dogs go to heaven everybody goes To heaven that's kind of how people think all you need to do is die But that's not what Jesus said Jesus said let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me in My father's house are many mansions If it were not so I go I go to prepare for you if it were not so I would told you he said if I go and prepare a Place for you I'll come again receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also And so as he was speaking concerning that he says where I go You know and the way you know and Thomas said unto him Lord We don't know where you're going and how can we know the way and then Jesus said I am the way the truth in the life No man comes to the father, but by me and so let not your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me I am the way the truth in the life. No man comes to the father, but by me. How do we get to heaven through Jesus? Christ it's not just dying It's going through Christ and that's a very important point especially in these last days Because there are many people saying all you need to do is die and you go to heaven. No Everyone will see God. They say everyone will see God. That's right Everyone will kneel before God everyone will say that he is worthy everyone will every knee shall bow the scriptures Every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father and the way you enter into heaven is Through Jesus Christ. That's why Jesus told us to go throughout the whole world to preach the gospel Because it's the gospel of Christ. It's Jesus himself who allows us entrance The way for us to enter into heaven is always going to be through the door Jesus himself You come to faith in Christ you confess your sins you repent of them And you say God be merciful to me a sinner forgive me of my sin Cleanse me of my unrighteousness Lord I need a new life fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might live for you and that's how you enter in to heaven through Jesus Christ and John is doing that and as John gets this glimpse of heaven He he is introducing to us what is called the third section of the book of Revelation remember in John chapter 1 verse 19 how it reads write the things which you have seen and The things which are and the things which shall take place after this So first the things which you have seen That refers to those things recorded in chapter 1 Then he said the things which are Well, those are the things recorded in chapters 2 and 3 and So the things which shall take place after this are recorded from chapter 4 to chapter 22 What we have in chapters 4 and 5 are an introduction to the events that are revealing a Rather recorded in the rest in the book rest of the book these chapters offer a glimpse into heaven Before we see the horror of the tribulation and the events That follow is what is called these are the events that follow what is called the church age From here on the church is not mentioned Attention is centered on God's activity and that's what would be seen so notice here again in verse 1 He says after these things I looked and behold a door standing open in Heaven after these things described in chapters 2 and 3 John receives further revelation from the Lord He sees a door standing open he gets the glimpse and he says in verse 1 behold Because what he sees startles him. He's getting a glimpse into the throne room of God and it astonishes him You see Psalm 11 verse 4 says the Lord is in his holy temple the Lord's throne is in heaven So behold the door standing open in heaven Now when you read your Bible heaven the word heaven can be used to describe various things. It's used in three basic ways Heaven is used concerning earth's atmosphere It is also used to speak of interplanetary heaven the heavens But it's also refers to the throne room of God And so this door is open and it allows John to enter into God's throne room Now that's where Jesus is now after his ascension remember in the book of Acts in chapter 1 Verses 8 through 11 how Jesus was speaking to his men and he said you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria to the end of the earth And it goes on to say now when he had spoken these things while they watched He was taken up a cloud received him out of their sight and while they look steadfastly toward heaven as he went up Behold two men stood by them in white apparel Who also said men of Galilee? Why do you stand gazing up into heaven the same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven? Will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven So Jesus ascended the scripture says into heaven He's seated at the right hand of the father, which is a picture of him ruling When Paul was writing to the Colossians in chapter 3 verse 1 He said if then you were raised with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ is Sitting at the right hand of God So he's there getting a glimpse of the throne room and in verse 1 again The first voice he says I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here Like a trumpet speaks of a sound of the sound being commanding authoritative The first voice reminds us of Revelation 110 where the one speaking is Jesus and John is told come up here, which is a picture of the rapture H.A. Ironside in his lectures on the revelation said the rapture of the apostle is the symbol Now Jesus had made a promise to the faithful church in Philadelphia Remember in chapter 3 verse 10 he said because you have kept my command to persevere I also will keep you from the hour of trial which I'll come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth Well the way that the church will be kept from this hour of trial this tribulation will be the rapture in First Corinthians 50 and 51 and 52 Paul said behold I tell you a mystery we shall not all sleep But we shall all be changed in a moment and the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound The dead will be raised incorruptible We shall be changed our bodies are going to be transformed to make them capable of living in heaven in First Thessalonians chapter 4 16 through 18 Paul said the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command with the voice of the archangel with the trumpet call of God The dead in Christ will rise first After that we who are alive still alive in our left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in The air and so we will be with the Lord forever Therefore encourage each other with these words the Lord Jesus Christ the next Prophecy on what is called the prophetic calendar the next one to be fulfilled is the rapture of the church And it can happen at any moment would to God it would happen today. Some of you are saying I wish it would happen right now Would to God it would happen today Come up here Bang we're gone Everything is left behind all your trouble all your pain all your tears all your sorrow all diseases Everything is left behind and we get an opportunity to be transformed Instantly and to behold the face of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior the one who went before us to Prepare a place for us is awaiting to greet us that we might be with him And that's something we ought to comfort our hearts with look at we're just passing through Where we were pilgrims or strangers or sojourners or moving on through, you know The earth is not our home heaven is Jesus has prepared it for us and we will be with you But that's the idea that has fueled the church for 2,000 years. That's how we make it through That's how people lost everything That's how people went through so much pain and so much sorrow and so much tribulation and sometimes even into martyrdom because they saw that as just a Momentary thing a fragmentary thing because the day is coming and it won't be that long guys till we hear the name We hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ saying come up here and we hear him say to us when we see him Oh to God, I hope this is so true with us that he might say well done well done my good My faithful servant look at the things that the Lord has prepared for you And when you have an idea like that when that motivates you you can go through anything John gets a glimpse of what takes place You see the scene shifts from things that are occurring on earth to God's throne in heaven and After this we see future events. We see we'll see the tribulation. We'll see what is called the millennial kingdom We're gonna see what is referred to as the eternal state But John is now telling us what takes place after the church age the churches removed to the rapture You see in verse 2 he says Immediately I was in the spirit and behold a throne set in heaven once that on the throne John is engulfed. He's overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit heaven opens up to him in This overwhelming experience. He is transported into the presence of God and The following things that we see is an attempt to describe heaven Notice how he sees the king seated on a heavenly throne Raining as a one who brings judgment one of the commentators that I use as I study is a man by the name of Charles Feinberg Charles Feinberg was a Jewish was raised as a Jewish man was raised as a Jew Jewish believer, but he came to faith in Christ and he became one of the great Bible commentators and Charles Feinberg says That the one occupying the throne is Jesus and John 522 it says the father judges no one But has committed all judgment to the son and John 527 it says it and has given him authority to execute judgment Also, because he's the son of man So the king on the throne reveals his sovereignty as a ruler of the universe again. Let's remember man does not rule the universe Jesus does in Matthew 28 verse 18 Jesus came and spoke to them saying all authority has been given to me in heaven and on Earth and so we have a picture of his glory in John 17 He had prayed and said father glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began he went on in verse 24 of John 17 And he said father I want those you have given me to be with me where I am to see my glory the glory You have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world John gets a picture of glory and as he does it He's beginning to try and describe verse 3 He who sat he who sat there was like a jasper a sardia stone in appearance There was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald So he's beginning to describe. He's trying to reveal the glory of the king He's trying to describe his awesome majesty and he speaks of these two stones Jasper and Sardias Now, why would that be important to know Jasper and Sardias? When you look in the Old Testament Israel was led by a spiritual leader called the high priest The high priest had special garments that he would wear There were 12 stones attached to the garment of the high priest and each one of those stones represented a tribe of Israel When you look in Exodus 28 verses 17 through 21 These stones are listed as the first stone and the last stone on his garment and So this is a picture of God's covenant relationship with Israel in other words. He has a work to do for Israel Jasper Sardias and a rainbow Describes the glory of his appearance Jasper is crystal clear some say it may be a diamond is representative of purity Sardias is ruby red. It's a picture of redemption And so there's a rainbow also around the throne in appearance. He says like an emerald now remember this for a moment God gave the rainbow as a token of mercy and grace in Contrast to judgment All the way back in Genesis 9 verses 14 through 16 It says whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it And remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth The rainbow is a symbol of God's mercy and grace remember that Because today the rainbow has been hijacked To represent the things that brought his judgment in the first place Think about that the rainbow has been hijacked to replace What God in what at first had brought the flood when you read through Genesis it speaks concerning every thought every Imagination of man was only evil continually and that's why God brought Judgment through the flood and after he destroyed every living creature that that breathed Oxygen from the air He put his rainbow as a symbol that he would no long he would not again bring a flood to destroy so for Thousands of years we have recognized the rainbow as a symbol of God's grace and Mercy but again as mentioned that symbol has been hijacked to represent the things that result in judgment Keep that in mind now in verse 4 Around the throne were 24 thrones and on the thrones. I saw 24 elders Sitting clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads This describes His kingship over man 24 elders represent the church in the position of reigning There are those who say these elders are angels the they're not Angels are never portrayed as ruling in the book of Hebrews chapter 1 verse 14 It speaks of angels as ministering spirits who minister to heirs of salvation So they're not portrayed as ruling Angels are never referred to as elders because only men are referred to in scripture as elders angels Do appear in white but white garments is commonly used to speak of believers and Angels do not wear crowns the crowns that are here are victors crowns for those who overcame These are not redeemed Jews because Israel is redeemed during the tribulation They are not tribulation saints because the tribulation has yet to occur You'll see that in chapter 7 This means that those spoken of in this passage would be the church and in Matthew 1928 Jesus said I tell you the truth at the renewal of all things when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne You who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel and second Timothy 2 12 Paul said if we endure we shall also reign with him And so you're looking at those who are reigning. These are believers notice in verse 4 They're clothed in white robes. They have crowns of gold on their heads Wearing robes signifies their righteousness. They're wearing victor's crowns in first Corinthians 9 25 Paul said Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training They do it to get a crown that will not last but we do it to get a crown that will last forever He's speaking of the victors crown. These are people who are believers in Christ and they're receiving their crowns Now it goes on to describe in verse 5 from the throne Proceeded lightnings thunderings voices Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God Now he tries to do something he tries to describe God's power God's majesty In in this particular verse by the way the throne isn't isn't representing mercy and grace In this passage the throne represents judgment Because judgment is about to break forth We already saw that the seven lamps of fire is the visible represent Representation of the the Holy Spirit. We saw that in chapter 1 verse 4 and chapter 3 verse 1 Now he begins to describe it verse 6 before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal In the midst of the throne and around the throne Four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back the first living creature was like a lion The second living creature like a calf The third living creature had a face like a man fourth living creature Was like a flying Eagle now, what are you talking about? I don't know. Let's keep going. No, we'll look at that for a moment a sea of glass like crystal Now we know that the sea of glass when he uses the word see can't be literal because there's no sea in heaven It's a picture of heaven shining like a brilliant light There are those and I agree with this that made us this may describe who say this may describe the purity the holiness of God It's an attempt to describe that which cannot be described It's God's throne room and he's saying God's throne room is beautiful beyond description He speaks about four living creatures in verse 6 This is a high order of angels guarding the holiness of God their station when you look at how it's portrayed in an inner circle order and They're nearest to the throne When you look into the Bible the cherubim were placed at the entrance of Eden to keep Adam and Eve out according to Genesis 324 and I say at 37 verse 16 I say I said oh Lord of hosts God of Israel the one who dwells between the cherubim You are God you alone of all the kingdoms of the earth you have made heaven and earth Psalm 99 verse 1 the Lord reigns let the people tremble he dwells between the cherubim Let the earth be moved and so these are angels that are there that are demonstrating the holiness of God Notice their eyes the description of their eyes reveal that they're alert and they're aware of their surroundings When he begins to describe it he speaks of living creatures a lion a Calf in other words these angels may symbolize the attributes of God These images are also associated you might find this interesting with each gospel over the years Church through church tradition each gospel actually has an animal that symbolizes the gospel Matthew in the ancient the ancients would look at Matthew and they would they would speak of the gospel of Matthew portrayed as a lion Because he's majestic. He's the king of beasts. He represented omnipotence. And so Matthew is symbolized by a lion Mark the gospel of Mark is a calf or an ox a domestic animal it described patience and labor To the Jew the lion would represent Majesty to the Roman a calf or an ox would symbolize a working animal because the highest To be attained in the Roman Empire was to be a servant of Rome So the calf became that symbol because it was domestic and it was patient and it labored Luke was was intended to appeal to the Greek thinker and that's why it was symbolized by the gospel Luke is symbolized by a man Because the Greeks idealized humanity and so Luke is symbolized by a man the greatest of God's creations It signifies intelligence and and rational power and John's gospel is symbolized by an eagle the greatest of birds symbolizing sovereignty and Supremacy so these images you find here represent omnipotence patience labor intelligence power and Sovereignty and supremacy as he sees these things in verse 8 it says the four living creatures each having six wings Were full of eyes around and within they do not rest day or night Saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come This reminds us of what Isaiah saw and As it speaks here Isaiah said that it had they had two wings covering their faces because They're not to see the unveil glory of God two wings that cover their feet Because they are standing on holy ground two wings that are used for flying They're ready to serve God Instantly these four living creatures, but notice what they're saying. They're saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty who was and is and who is to come holiness I'll take a moment to share about this you know in the When I first got saved and some of you can relate to this I I came into the kingdom I Got born again. I was born again and I came into my faith in Christ from a background of Being aware of a God that I believed was distant and Powerful and the way I was raised Which It served me well now in some ways But the way I was raised in the religious training I had and the influence of those who could influence me concerning those things. I Thought God was always mad at me. I Thought God was angry at me constantly which is in a sense true Because according to John 3 36 the wrath of God abides continually on the person who doesn't have a relationship with them So in a sense, I was right about that God is angry because I was not a I wasn't a believer in him I wasn't serving him. I'd never been born again And so there in a sense there was truth to that that God is always angry But what happens is I get saved and when I get saved I enter into something that I'd never really been taught about called the grace of God Some of you can understand what I'm trying to say the grace of God. I Can still remember speaking to a friend of mine. His name is George He's the one who stood up with me when I got saved And I still remember speaking to him and telling him Oh if I get to go to heaven man if I go to heaven if I get to go to heaven and George he was only a few months older in the Lord than me But every once in a while when I would say that in the first three months of my salvation He would look at me and say but you are going to heaven And I'd say I don't I don't know how that's even possible George I still he'd say listen. He said the blood of Jesus Christ God's son cleanses you from all sin David Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior? He would tell me patiently and I'd say yes He said don't you know that the Bible says that you became the temple of God's Spirit That God's Spirit dwells in you. I'd say well I've heard that he said no and I remember the conversation It was more than once that I'd have with them perhaps some of you understand what I'm trying to say I was I was raised with this idea of works Righteousness if I work hard, then he'll he'll see my good works are Heavier and weight than my bad works and that's kind of how I was raised I I had a system of sins that I was taught that there are what are called mortal sins and that You better get rid of them and then there are what are called venial sins Which are smaller and lesser and I was taught that some of you were too But what that did is it gave to me this in this is the sense of of I need to do something better So that I can have good works outweigh my bad life And now I'm hearing about the grace of God I'm hearing that God forgives sinners and That was such that such a thought was too wonderful for me And so I was I was stuck in that and a lot of people are like that I remember a pastor who was trying to illustrate grace you sharing with the church and and he was saying to the church God's grace is a free unmarried in favor that gives to you and he had a potted plant and he lifted it up And he says I want to illustrate the grace of God. It's free. And so whoever wants this potted plant come up It's yours. Nobody would get up to take it in this this church He was nobody would get up to take it and finally a lady walks up and he says man You know saves the illustration. There you go He hands her the plant and then she walks away with it sits down He finishes his story about grace and he says it's unmarried it. She did nothing to deserve it I gave it as a free gift. All she needed to do is receive it and So at the end of the church service he went to the back He was greeting the people saying goodbye to them when the woman came with her potted plant And he reached his hand to shake her hand and she reached out and took his hand But he felt something on his palm and he looked it was a $20 bill and he looks at her and he says What is this? She said such a beautiful plant can't be free So she missed the whole picture the whole illustration of grace She was still trying to pay for something. He had he had labor to explain was free and I was that way I was raised in a mentality that if I work hard and I do good Then I received God's mercy and grace But what happened is I heard the gospel and the gospel speaks of God's unmarried in favor But I at the same time had a difficulty in receiving God's unmarried in favor I finally was able to do it, but this is what has happened in the last many years since I got saved is People many people who are professing to know Christ don't have the fear of God in them now They don't have a sense of doing right for right's sake. They don't have a sense with them Many don't have within them the sense that their lives are to be different transformed. They're supposed to be brand new That good works are not going to save them But are a part of their salvation in other words a person is is known to be saved because of the good works that they do for Christ's sake and what has happened is this concept of Nobody can go to heaven because nobody's good has been Reversed to this concept. Oh and God's grace. I can do whatever I want and still go to heaven And we're seeing a lot of that today There's a balance There's a balance Holy, holy, holy is what the scripture says Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come holy, holy, holy Holiness is one of God's attributes Holiness speaks of separation from impurity in First Samuel chapter 2 verse 2 a woman by the name of Hannah said there is no one holy like the Lord There is no one besides you. There is no rock like our God and Psalm 111 verse 9 It says he provided redemption for his people. He ordained his covenant forever Holy and awesome is his name When Moses went to the to the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments The Bible says that there was lightning and thundering in all kinds of loud noise And when Moses came down the people of Israel said you go and you talk to him We don't want to go up there They were so afraid at the awesome presence of God as they saw what was taking place I think that within us today guys We need to return to that concept of holiness When when you stand before the Lord, I promise you you're not going to be just kind of goofing off I promise you that when you see him You're going to raise your hands and surrender, you know very often when we speak concerning the raising of our hands We forget that the raising of our hands is not just simply praise the raising of your hands and scripture symbolizes surrender and submission So when you are worshiping the Lord and we say let us raise our hands to the Lord It's not simply the joyful thing. It's a surrender. Everybody knows that Everybody knows that if a if an officer says, you know, raise your hands. It's not so that you can praise him You're surrendering. That's what you're doing You're surrendering and when you raise your holy hands like Paul says in prayer raising holy He said I will let the man pray everywhere raising holy hands. It's an act of submission It's an act of awareness That God is holy and we're not without him And that our raising of our hands is surrender. We used to call it sweet surrender It's surrender to the Lord who is the almighty the glorious king The king of the universe the one who loved us the one who sent his son jesus christ to die in a cross for us The one who gave us the holy spirit who indwells us who empowers us who gifts us and by his grace He has saved us and that's why we raise our hands to the Lord. That's why Because he has done that for us That's what christianity is It's a raising of your hands and submission and we cry holy, holy, holy Lord god almighty who is who was and who is to come and we will see him Face to face in this place called heaven that is so glorious. You can't even explain it. You can't even describe it That's what's going to take place He is holy and he is awesome There's no one like him He is there's no rock hannah said like our god And what happens well verse 10 the 24 elders fall down before him Who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever They cast their crowns before the throne saying you are worthy Oh lord to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they exist And were created There's your example of worship in scripture These elders show us How to glorify worship and praise jesus christ By casting their crowns before him they recognize That if not for his grace They would never have had victory over sin and death Heaven is their home because god made it possible for them to be there heaven Is their home I've had the opportunity over the years to go into europe The first time I ever went to europe I was 25 actually 24 And when I was in france, I went to the palace there at versailles I've had a chance to go into madrid And to see the palace I've been able to See buckingham palace in england. I've seen human palaces And I have to tell you sometimes when you see these immense structures It actually can take your breath away When you walk into rooms huge room after room after room filled with priceless paintings and And decorated with such ornate opulence Blows your mind And if I were there inside of we'll say buckingham palace and queen elizabeth would come walking out I would show her respect As an american I don't bow before foreign kings or queens I would show her respect But when you go to heaven And you see jesus There's not going to be a hesitation whatsoever. You are going to see Something that can't be described. Oh, please help us lord to see this for just a moment You are going to see something so beyond your imagination You are going to see glory that you have never seen Ever on the face of the earth colors that are brighter sounds that are crisper And you're going to see the one on that throne seated there The one who gave his life for you Do you think you're going to just kind of stand there going? Yeah, this is cool Fall before him And you say oh, holy, holy, holy lord god almighty Oh god, this is my home. You prepared a place for me This is where I live and I don't have to pay rent. It's all been paid for This is for Oh god Can you get it in your heart today? Please a little bit Earth is not our home We're just passing through One day we'll see him face to face We'll fall on our faces before him and we'll worship the lord. That's called christianity That's called christianity. Yes, there'll be a glad reunion. Yes You'll get to see those who went before you a mom a dad grandmother grandfather Children who are believers who who went before you. Yes, it will be a glad reunion and yes, it'll be great It'll be wonderful But what makes it wonderful is we see Him the lamb of god who took away the sin of the world who gave me his Righteousness who filled me with his spirit who supported me every step of the way of my journey to heaven And welcomes me in that's what heaven is going to be for us and we walk in Oh god Every moment was worth it and all the complaints and the whines and the whys are left outside of the gates Left outside. I just got to ask you why you didn't give me that girl in eighth grade. I really loved her Oh, no Sin sin is not allowed in heaven No evil is allowed in heaven People make a big mistake when they think they can take their sins with them as baggage or part of their life No, it doesn't enter in there's no evil in heaven only purity and holiness and that's why the lord By his blood is washed and cleansed us from all unrighteousness So when we stand before him we're robed in his righteousness The righteousness of jesus christ the son the glory that we receive in terms of The glory he imparts to us is only because he first has it and gives us This beauty that come from him And that's why it's very important for us to know Who you are and who he is He is holy And without him we are not For his word says i am holy Therefore you be holy also How can that take place The gospel message tells us He imputes to us the righteousness of god and jesus christ He gives us a garment that enables us to enter in He gave us the story of a man who tried to enter into a wedding feast without the wedding garment And the the one who invited all to come said where is your wedding garment? He came in on his own and jesus made it very clear that that man was cast out Because he tried to come in with his own garment When the garments had been provided by the host You have to have the garment provided by the host to enter in This man didn't he was cast out how do we enter in Through the righteousness of christ Imparted to us as we said oh god be merciful to me a sinner What does that do it awakens us to our sin his holiness? What does that provoke gratitude in our heart that we might say oh god? I am a miserable wretch, but with you I have been made into your son or your daughter and for that I will worship you forever and people say oh heaven sounds boring All you do is worship and praise god that means heaven's not for you You're not ready for it. Why? Because you're wearing your own righteousness But when you get an idea a knowledge of what god has washed you clean from Gratitude is in your heart. My mom used to say we got to have an attitude of gratitude and that's true An attitude of gratitude. Thank you lord jesus for what you've done for me. John got a glimpse of heaven We're going to see a little bit more of it next time. We're together a little deeper look But john had a glimpse of heaven