Revelation Revealed Pt 10

THE THRONE AND THE RAPTURE
Text: Revelation 4:1-11
Something happens to the church between chapters 3 and 4 of Revelation. 
The word “church” occurs 19 times in chapters 1–3, then not again until chapter 22. 
Where did we go? 
We’ve been “beamed up” or “caught up.” The word we use is rapture, and, yes, the rapture is a concept that is in the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 4:16–17
So far, we have focused on “the things which you have seen” (chapter 1) 
and 
“the things which are” (chapters 2 and 3). 
Now it is time to turn our attention to “the things which will take place after this.”
There is much debate as to when these things will take place. We can settle on the fact that they will take place. 
THEME OF REV. 4 

• God is firmly seated on his throne as the sovereign Ruler of the universe. 
• God’s eternal greatness stands in contrast to the temporary, counterfeit powers of earthly pagan rulers. 
• God alone is worthy of worship as the holy, powerful, eternal Creator. 
• The chief activity of heaven is worship.

Isaiah 6:1-3
Seven Spirits - Isaiah 11:2
“What we see is a perfect picture of praise. It begins with who God is—holy and worthy—then moves to what He has done. He has created all things flawlessly. For just a hint at the brilliance of creation, tap on a hard surface. Now think of the molecular makeup that it took in both your hand and within that surface to make a hard tap happen. The combination of intelligence, creativity, and power necessary to go from nothing to who we are and the world we live in is mind-blowing.
What are these things that are hovering around the throne? 
If you have studied Old Testament prophecy at all, then there is likely something pinging in the back of your mind 
Ezekiel was down by the River Chebar when he encountered the creatures described here in Revelation:
Ezekiel 14:7-10
WORSHIP WILL BE THE GRAND THEME OF HEAVEN - The church’s earthly struggles of Revelation 2–3 now give way to the heavenly reality of Revelation 4–5.
Our deepest needs are met when we adjust our life to God, not the other way around.
When worship loses its God-centeredness, it loses its power to transform. 
We do well when we follow the heavenly pattern of making our worship God-centered.
Worship changes when we see our situations and circumstances through the lens of who He is instead of looking at God through then lens of what we are going through. 


Elders - angels or raptured saints