Kings and Priests, You and I

Excerpt from Daniel and Revelation - by Uriah Smith

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The Song.--

It is called "a new song," new, probably, in respect to the occasion and the composition.

They were the first that could sing it, being the first that were redeemed.

They call themselves "kings and priests."

In what sense they are priests has already been noticed. They assist Christ in His priestly work. In the same sense doubtless they are also

Page 421

kings, for Christ is set down with His Father on His throne, and doubtless these as ministers of His have some part to act in connection with the government of heaven in its relation to this world.

The Anticipation.--

"We shall reign on the earth." Thus, notwithstanding they are redeemed and surround the throne of God and of the Lamb, where all is glory ineffable, their song contemplates a still higher state when the great work of redemption shall be completed, and they, with the whole redeemed family of God, shall reign on the earth, the promised inheritance and the eternal residence of the saints.

(Romans 4: 13, Galatians 3: 29; Psalm 37: 11; Matthew 5: 5; 2 Peter 3: 13; Isaiah 65: 17-25; Revelation 21: 1-5.)

*******

Rom 4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Gal 3:29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Psa 37:11  But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness

Isa 65:17  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isa 65:18  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Isa 65:19  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

Isa 65:20  There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

Isa 65:21  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

Isa 65:22  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Isa 65:23  They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

Isa 65:24  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Isa 65:25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

*******

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The four beasts, the twenty-four elders all sing a NEW song.

The Lamb that was slain, WORTHY to take the book, WORTHY to open the seals.  

He was SLAIN in order to REDEEM the four beasts, the twenty-four elders, and ALL who are CHRIST'S.

Worldwide salvation. There is no corner of the earth- no kindred, no tongue, no people, and no nation that will NOT have those among them who are saved by the Blood of the Lamb!

In saving us, our Savior gives us the promise of being king and priests- those who truly are HIS and HIS alone! 

We truly need to comprehend the reality of what we are to be given, what we are promised.

A new heaven, a new earth, an existence unlike anything we will ever have here and now. Our promise is one of the future, one that will fulfill these  prophecies.

Please, Savior, please Lamb of God, slain to redeem us, please help us to look to YOU, to lean not to our own understandings, but to trust in You with ALL our hearts knowing YOU and YOU alone can save us now and forever!

Amen!

The prayers of the saints

Excerpt from the book- Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

Revelation Chapter 5

Verse 8 And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

"Vials Full of Odors."--From this expression we form an idea of the employment of those redeemed one represented by

Page 420

the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders. They have golden vials, or vessels, full of odors--or, as the margin reads, incense--which are the prayers of saints. This is a work of ministry such as pertains to priests.

The reader will remember that in the ancient typical service the high priest had many assistants. When we consider that we are now looking into sanctuary in heaven, the conclusion at once follows that these redeemed ones are the assistants of our great High Priest above.

For this purpose they were doubtless redeemed.

What could be more appropriate than that our Lord should be assisted in His priestly work for the human race by noble members of that race whose holiness of life, and purity of character, had fitted them to raised up for that purpose?

We are aware that many entertain in a great aversion to the idea of there being anything real and tangible in heaven. But though the Revelation deals largely in figures, it does not deal in fictions.

There is reality in all the things described, and we gain an understanding of the reality when we get a correct interpretation of the figures. Thus, in this vision we know that the One upon the throne is god.

He is really there.

We know the Lamb symbolizes Christ.

He too is really there.

He ascended with a literal, tangible body, and who can say that He does not still retain it?

If, then, our great High Priest is a literal being, He must have a literal place in which to minister.

If the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders represent those whom Christ led up from the captivity of death at the time of His resurrection and ascension, why are they not just as literal beings while there in heaven as they were when they ascended?

*******

Reality.

So many would have us FICTIONALIZE God. So many would have us make Him stuff of mythologies, story book fodder. People will throw up in our faces that Zeus is a real god to people, that Diana and others are gods and goddesses and people throughout time have called them real and worshipped and sacrificed to them as if they were real. In the time of the Bible happenings people believed in these false gods. Over and over those false god were proven false.  Who doesn't remember this-- Elijah said to Ahab--

1Ki 18:24  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

(Do you see what is being said here?  A challenge has been issued- call on your gods, the FALSE gods, and Elijah would call on the LORD he followed, and whichever answered would be GOD.)

1Ki 18:25  And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

1Ki 18:26  And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

1Ki 18:27  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

1Ki 18:28  And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

1Ki 18:29  And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

(Their gods did NOT answer the challenge, they couldn't they were false gods!  Now I'm not saying evil spirits, of whom Satan is one, can't impersonate things and seemingly bring to life false gods, they can, they are false gods themselves in what they do. Satan himself can appear as an angel of light. All the evil spirits are NOT gods and will never be gods!)

1Ki 18:30  And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

1Ki 18:31  And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

1Ki 18:32  And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

1Ki 18:33  And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

1Ki 18:34  And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

1Ki 18:35  And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

1Ki 18:36  And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

1Ki 18:37  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

1Ki 18:38  Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

1Ki 18:39  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

*******

The point I'm trying to make is, people want God to be a myth and treat Him as such. He is REAL. Our Savior became flesh and died in that flesh, was resurrected in that flesh and transformed in that flesh, taking on immortal, incorruptible flesh.  In this flesh, the same flesh all humans will inherit upon translation to heaven when Christ returns and raises those who died in Him and those who live in Him, our Savior has live in, in heaven.  In the sanctuary in heaven He is completing the work entrusted to Him, work that will bring an end to evil, and return to God all those who choose to love Him and accept the sacrifice of our Savior. 

Prophecy has come to pass, and prophecy will come to pass.  The prophecy of the return of Christ to find saints living in Him will come to pass and nothing can prevent this from happening.  Babylon ruled- as prophesized. Following Babylon, the Medes-and Persians ruled- as prophesized well in advance. Following the Medes and Persians, Greece ruled and then Pagan and Papal Rome ruled, and then there was a division as predicted. All of it was prophesized!  So why, tell me why the rest will NOT come to pass?  Time will never destroy prophecy.

2Pe_3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

This is TRUTH!

We must believe that our SAVIOR is a REALITY in heaven.

And in heaven there are real servants of Christ, serving Him, just as here on earth we TRULY serve our Savior.

*******

The Savior took the BOOK and when He took the book from His Father, the four beasts, the 24 elders all fell down to worship Him!

These had this-

'…golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.'

The PRAYERS of the saints!

These are REAL!

And this is REAL…

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

We are to PRAY always and our prayers are not wasted breath but very important!

Please LORD teach us the importance of prayer, of praying always!

All through the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Now and forever.

AMEN.

Eye salve to see... a book to be opened

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

Rev 5:7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Daniel and Revelation - by Uriah Smith-

"Seven Horns and Seven Eyes."--Horns are symbols of power and eyes typify wisdom. Seven is a number denoting completeness, or perfection. We are thus taught that perfect power and perfect wisdom in here in the Lamb.

"He Came and Took the Book."--Commentators have found an incongruity in the idea that the book was taken by the Lamb, and have had recourse to several expedients to avoid the difficulty. But is it not a well-established principle that any action which could be performed by the person or being represented by a symbol, may be attributed to the symbol? The Lamb, we know, is a symbol of Christ. We know there is nothing incongruous in Christ's taking a book, and when we read that the book was taken, we think of the action, not as performed by a lamb, but by the one of whom the lamb is a symbol.

*******

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

The WORTHY ONE took the book.

The WORTHY ONE is the ONLY ONE who can open this book.

The book was being held out for the taking but only the One worthy to open the book could take it, in any other's hands it would be pointless.

God the Father would have us KNOW what will come to pass, but only in a way that would protect generations and generations of people all the way to the end of the world as we know it. Books are sealed and protected, books are closed until their allotted time of comprehension.  Eyes are allowed to be blind, ears allowed to be deafened. On the other hand - eyes are allowed to be opened, and ears unstopped.  God is all in all and all things will unfold in His time. We can only hope and pray to have the eyesalve we so need to keep our eyes opened to all the truth that we NEED. We cannot decide what we need or when we need it, God alone can do that for us.

Our Savior - the LAMB SLAIN, the PERFECT Savior went to God the Father and took the PERFECT book because He alone was worthy of opening the perfect book to reveal God's truth to us.  We will know, and we will NOT have the excuse of ignorance to use. None of us will be able to say that God did not reveal the truth we would need to be prepared for the arrival of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

As all things come to pass, which they will because history has proved so much has already happened that was prophesized, there will be God's ELECT who will be His in the end.

More on this tomorrow… by God's WILL, through God's GRACE.

All in HIS LOVE.

John weeping no more

Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

Revelation 5-

Verse 5 And one of the elders saith unto me,

Weep not:

behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,

hath prevailed to open the book,

and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst

of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb

as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

*******

John is not permitted to weep for long.

God is not willing that any knowledge which can benefit His people shall be withheld from them.

Provision is made for the opening of the book.

Hence one of the elders counsels John, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof."

Why one of the elder in preference to some other being, should impart this information to John, does not appear, unless it is that having been redeemed, they had an acquaintance with Christ, and would be especially interested in all that pertained to the welfare of the church on earth.

Christ is here called the "Lion of the tribe of Judah." Why called a lion? And why of the tribe of Judah?--As to the first question, it is probably to denote His strength. As the lion is the king of beasts, the monarch of the forest, he thus becomes a fit emblem of kingly authority and power. As to being "of the tribe of Judah," He doubtless receives this appellation from the prophecy in Genesis 49: 9, 10.

"The Root of David."--Christ was the source and sustainer of David in his position and power. That David's position was specially ordained of Christ, and that he was specially sustained by Him, there can be no doubt. David was the type, Christ was the antitype. David's throne and reign over Israel was a type of Christ's reign over His people. He shall reign

Page 418

upon "The throne of His father David." Luke 1: 32, 33.

As Christ appeared in the line of David's descendants when He took upon Himself our nature, He is also called "the offspring of David," and "a rod out of the stem of Jesse." Isaiah 11: 1, 10; Revelation 22: 16. His connection with the throne of David being thus set forth, and His right thus shown to rule over the people of God, there was a propriety in entrusting to Him the opening of the seals.

"Hath Prevailed."--These words indicate that the right to open the book was acquired by a victory gained in some previous conflict.

We find the account of this triumph set forth later in this chapter. The next scene introduces us to the great work of Christ as the Redeemer of the world, and the shedding of His blood for the remission of sin and the salvation of man. In this work He was subjected to the fiercest assaults of Satan. But He endured temptation, bore the agonies of the cross, rose a victor over death and the grave, made the way of redemption sure--triumphed! Hence the four living beings and the four and twenty elders sign, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood."

John looks for the Lion of the tribe of Judah and beholds a Lamb in the midst of the throne and of the four living beings and the elders, as it had been slain.

"In the Midst of the Throne."--

Phillip Doddridge translates thus: "I beheld . . . in the middle space between the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, . . . there stood . . . a Lamb."  In the center of the scene was the throne of the Father, and standing in the open space which surrounded it was the Son, set forth under the symbol of a slain lamb. Around these there stood those saints who had been redeemed: first, those represented by the four living creatures, then the elders forming the second circle, and the angels (verse 11) forming a third circle. The worthiness of Christ as

Page 419

He thus stands forth under the figure of a slain lamb, is the admiration of all the holy throng.

"As It Had Been Slain."--John C. Wood house, as quoted in the Comprehensive Commentary, says: "The Greek implies that the Lamb appeared with a wounded neck and throat, as if smitten at the altar as a victim." On this phrase, Adam Clarke says: "As if now in the act of being offered. This is very remarkable; so important is the sacrificial offering of Christ in the sight of God, that He is still represented as being in the very act of pouring out His blood for the offenses of man."

*******

Revelation 5 verse 5 And one of the elders saith unto me,

Weep not:

behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,

hath prevailed to open the book,

and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst

of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb

as it had been slain…

Yesterday we talked about John weeping, the depths of his despair was very real and we don't know exactly how long he wept, it could have been only a minute of intense grief, or several minutes.  We do know that the next thing revealed to us is one of the 24 elders speaking to John.  The elder told him not to weep.  The elder KNEW there was HOPE. Where John did not know, this elder did know. This elder told John to stop crying and the only way John would even want to stop crying would be if there were hope after all that there was one worthy to open this perfect book of prophecy.  The elder told him just that- the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.  And the elder stopped speaking and John SAW- right there near the throne, the four beasts, and the elders- STOOD A LAMB AS IT HAD BEEN SLAIN.

Joh_1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Joh_1:36  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

The Lamb of God.

Jesus was SLAIN,  the Lamb of God was slain, and this alone brought forgiveness to ALL who would choose to have faith in the Son of God, the Lamb slain.

John saw the LAMB slain standing.  Can you even imagine comprehending the hope, the reality of the hope he knew was found in our Savior?

More on ALL of this tomorrow by the grace of our LORD, our SAVIOR!

God's will be done!

Amen.

The importance of the book sealed with seven seals.

The Importance of the Book With Seven Seals.

Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

Page 415

Revelation Chapter V

The Challenge of the Sealed Book

Verse 1 And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

As a new chapter opens, the same view is still before the mind of the apostle. By the words, "Him that sat on the throne," is evidently meant the Father, as the Son is later introduced as "a Lamb as it had been slain."

The book which John here saw, contained a revelation of scenes that were to be enacted in the history of the church to the end of time.

That the volume is held in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne may signify that a knowledge of the future rests with God alone, except so far as He sees fit to reveal it to others.

The Sealed Book.--

The books in use at the time the Revelation was given were not in the form of books as now made. They did not consist of a series of leaves bound together, but were composed of strips of parchment or other material, rolled up. On this point, John Wesley remarks:

"The usual books of the ancients were not like ours, but were volumes, or long pieces of parchment, rolled upon a long stick, as we frequently roll silks. Such was this represented, which was sealed with seven seals. Not as if the apostle saw all the seals at once: for there were seven volumes wrapped up on within another, each of which was sealed: so that upon opening and and unrolling the first, the second appeared to be sealed up till that was opened, and so on to the seventh."

This book was not written within and on the backside, as the punctuation of our common version makes it read.

Page 416

"Grotius, Lowman, Fuller, etc.," says the Cottage Bible, "remove the comma thus: 'Written within, and on the back (or outside) sealed.' " How these seals were placed, is sufficiently explained.

Verse 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

The Challenge.--

In the vision God, as it were, held forth this book to the view of the universe, and a strong angel, one doubtless of great eminence and power, came forth as a crier, and with a mighty voice challenged all creatures in the universe to try the strength of their wisdom in opening the counsels of God. Who could be found worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? A pause ensued. In silence the universe owned its inability and unworthiness to enter into the counsels of the Creator. "No man in heaven, "  oudeis, no one, signifies not merely no man, but no one, no being, in heaven.

 Is not this proof that the faculties of angels are limited, like those of man, in respect to penetrating the future and disclosing what is to come? When the apostle saw that no one came forward to open the book, he greatly feared that the counsels of God which it contained in reference to his people would never be disclosed. In the natural tenderness of his feelings, and his concern for the church, he wept much. "How far are they," says John Wesley, "from the temper of St. John, who inquire after anything rather than the contents of this books!"

Upon the words, "I wept much," Joseph Benson offers the following beautiful remarks: "Being greatly affected with the thought that no being whatever was to be found able to understand, reveal, and accomplish the divine counsels, fearing they would still remain concealed from the church. This weeping

Page 417

of the apostle sprang from greatness of mind. The tenderness of heart which he always had, appeared more clearly now he was out of his own power. The Revelation was not written without tears: neither without tears will it be understood."

*******

"I wept much- BECAUSE- no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

(ISV)  I began to cry bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

There it was, placed before the apostle John's sight, this wondrous book, this PERFECT book. A book with the perfect number of seven seals sealing it so that it could not be read unless those seals of perfection were broken so the book could be opened and read.  Did John know what was in that book? No. But He knew merely by the One holding the book that it was of the utmost importance. God held that book in His right hand.

What sorts of things could be in that book?

We know books contain knowledge and John was being given these visions and being told to write down these visions and all who would read what John was told to write down would be blessed if they kept the things they read. John wanted to be used of God to bring others to God. Every single apostle desperately wanted to do the work given to them to do through the power of the Holy Spirit sent to them. They wanted to spread the news of God's love, of His plan of redemption through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. They wanted to share the news of the resurrected Savior who was preparing a place for all who would be His. They wanted to bring HOPE to those who comprehended that this WORLD in its fallen, sinful state is NOT the only home they could live in. They wanted people to realize their lives as pilgrims upon this earth in its fallen state. They wanted people to know that they are but strangers here and it's no wonder they realize that the awfulness of this world exists. We realize that this awful world, with the awful sinful acts committed over and over by people is NOT what was intended for us! We have HOPE, but the hope is not found in us or anything we do, but outside of us in what our SAVIOR did and does for us.  This is the hope that John wanted to share.  He knew already that every single person who would read and keep the words of the Revelation of Jesus Christ he was being shown, would have that hope.  So when he was shown this amazing book he knew that such a precious, perfect book desperately needed to be opened, to be shared.  When no one was found worthy to open the perfect book it broke John's heart. 

We've all wept bitterly before, we know the agony of bitter tears, of a heart aching in those tears. John's  weeping much because…

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

… not a single entity existed - not in HEAVEN, not in EARTH, not UNDER the earth… none, dead or alive, not a single angelic being, not one principality or power existed that could open the book and read the words in that book. 

We can imagine this on a much lesser scale. You have the precious formula for curing cancer, or any disease that can kill a person and that cure is in a book set before you and yet NO ONE can open that book! The cure is there but it is out of reach! Just imagine how you'd feel especially if you have a loved one dying right then of one of these diseases. How bitterly would you weep over such a circumstance? 

In our sin-sick and dying world, where eternal death, the second death is a very huge reality to John, he knows the truth within the book of perfection right there in God the Father's right hand, a book that could unveil truths necessary for the blessing of people to the end that they might know the truth and be saved by that truth, Jesus Christ, he knows it's unattainable and weeping is his reaction. Deep, bitter, much weeping is all that's left to him in that moment.

We need to pause here and think about the importance of that book, the contents of that book with seven seals, that book in the hand of God in the vision John was given.  The GREAT importance placed upon that book is something worth contemplation.  It's too easy for us to just pass over this offhandedly. We need to feel the depths of John's disappointment along with him.  Just because we might know what comes next because we've read ahead another couple sentences, doesn't mean John knew what would happen, HE DIDN'T KNOW.  In that moment He cried heartbrokenly, believing the book before him would NEVER be opened!

We don't know the exact time frame that took place between the realization no one was worthy to open the book and John's crying. We have no clue as to how long he cried. I know for a fact I've cried bitter, agonizing tears that lasted only minutes, but the depths of those tears was so great they affected me for days afterwards.  I've also cried agonizing tears that last days, those tears were interspersed with exhaustion emotional, mental, physical exhaustion.  We can't know the length of John's crying, it could have only been a few moments of intense tears. What we do know is those tears were real and heartfelt on John's part.  The tears of hopelessness, who among us hasn't felt them?

Hopelessness.

No one worthy.

No hope.

Is it any wonder John was weeping much?

More tomorrow as we contemplate the reality of this situation John found himself in and just how immensely important the book in the hand of God sealed with seven seals must be.

All by the GRACE and MERCY, the LOVE of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, NOW and FOREVER!

Amen!

I Choose to Believe

I choose to believe.

Excerpts from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith

Revelation 4 -

Verse 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

Page 408

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.

In the Spirit.--

Once before in this book we have had the expression, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1: 10), where it was taken to express the fact that John had a vision upon the Sabbath, or true Lord's day. If it there expressed the state of being in vision, it would denote the same thing here. Consequently the first vision ended with Revelation 3, and a new one is here introduced. Nor is it any objection to this view that previous to this, as is learned from the first verse of this chapter, John was in such a spiritual state as to be able to look up and see a door open in heaven, and to hear a voice like the mighty sound of a trumpet calling him up to a nearer prospect of heavenly things.

Stephen, also, full of the Holy Ghost, looked up and saw the heavens open, and the Son of man on the right hand of God. To be in the Spirit denotes a high state of spiritual elevation. On what day this vision was given, we are not informed.

Being again in heavenly vision, John first beheld a throne set in heaven, and the Divine Being seated upon it. The description of the appearance of this personage, clothed in garments of mingled colors, is such as at once to suggest to the mind a monarch vested with his royal robes. About the throne there was a rainbow, which added grandeur to the scene, and reminds us that though He who sits upon the throne is an almighty and absolute ruler, He is nevertheless the covenant-keeping God.

The Four and Twenty Elders.--

Who are these beings who surround the throne of glory? It will be observed that they are clothed in white raiment and have on their heads crowns of gold, which are tokens of both a conflict completed and a victory gained. From this we conclude that they were once participants in the Christian warfare, they once trod the earthly way with all saints; but they have been overcomers, and in

Page 409

advance of the great multitude of the redeemed, are wearing their victor crowns in the heavenly world.

Indeed, they plainly tell us this in the song of praise which they ascribe to the Lamb:

"They sung a new song, saying, Thou are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Revelation 5: 9.

This song is sung before any of the events in the prophecy of the seven seals take place; for it is sung to set forth the worthiness of the Lamb to take the book and to open the seals, on the ground of what He had already accomplished--their redemption. It is not therefore thrown in here by anticipation, having its application in the future, but it expresses an absolute and finished fact in the history of those who sang it. These, then, were a class of redeemed persons--redeemed from this earth, redeemed as all others must be redeemed, by the precious blood of Christ.

Do we in any other place read of such a class of redeemed ones? We think Paul refers to the same company when he writes to the Ephesians thus: "Wherefore He saith, When He [Christ] ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." The marginal reading is He led a "multitude of captives." Ephesians 4: 8. Going back to the events that occurred in connection with the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, we read: "The graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." Matthew 27: 52, 53.

Thus the answer to our question comes unmistakably from the sacred page. These are some of those who came out of their graves at the resurrection of Christ, and who were numbered with the illustrious multitude which Jesus led up from the captivity of Death's dark domain when He ascended in triumph on high. Matthew records their resurrection, Paul their ascension, and John beholds them in heaven, performing the sacred duties which they were raised up to accomplish.

Page 410

In this view we are not alone. John Wesley spoke as follows concerning the four and twenty elders: " 'Clothed in white raiment'--This and their golden crowns show that they had already finished their course, and taken their places among the citizens of heaven. They are never termed souls, and hence it is probable that they had glorified bodies already. Compare Matthew 27: 52." [1]

Particular attention must be given to the fact that the four and twenty elders are said to be seated on thrones.

Our translation reads "seats;" but the Greek is thronoi, thrones, the same word as is used three times in verses 2 and 3 and once in verse 4 immediately preceding. Thus the Revised Version reads "Round about the throne were four and twenty thrones, and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting." Consequently this passage throws light on the expressions found in Daniel 7: 9, "I beheld till the thrones were cast down." These are the same thrones, and as has been shown in comments upon that passage, the meaning is not that the thrones were overturned, or cast down, in the ordinary sense of that expression, but placed, or set. The figure is taken from the Eastern custom of placing mats or divans for distinguished guests to sit upon. These four and twenty elders (see comments on Revelation 5) are evidently assistants of Christ in His mediatorial work in the sanctuary on high. When the judgment scene described in Daniel 7: 9 began in the most holy place, their thrones were placed there, according to the testimony of that passage.

The Seven Lamps of Fire.--

In these lamps of fire we have the antitype of the golden candlestick of the typical sanctuary, with its seven ever-burning lamps. This candlestick was placed by divine direction in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. (Exodus 25: 31, 32, 37; 26: 35; 27: 20.) Now when John tells us that a door was open in heaven, and in the apartment thus disclosed to view he sees the antitype of the candlestick

Page 411

the earthly sanctuary, it is good proof that he is looking into the first apartment of the sanctuary above.

*******

Verse 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 honor 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 honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.

The Sea of Glass.--

Not composed of glass, but a broad expanse resembling glass--"glassy, i.e., transparent," as James Strong says in his Greek Dictionary. This idea is further carried out by the likening of the sea to crystal, which is defined to mean "anything concrete and pellucid, like ice or glass." The position of this sea is such as to show that it bears no analogy to the laver of the ancient typical service. It may extend under, and be the foundation of, the throne and even of the city itself. It is again brought to view in Revelation 15: 2, as the place where the overcomers, in the ecstatic joy of final victory, will soon stand. There we shall praise Him who has given us the victory.

The Four Living Creatures.--

It is an unhappy translation which has given us the word "beasts" in this verse. The Greek word , zoon, denotes properly "a living creature." Bloomfield says in his comment, " ' Four living creatures' (not beasts). So Heinr. renders it. . . . The propriety of this correction, is now, I believe, generally agreed upon by commentators. The word is very different from [therion, wild beast], used to designate the prophetic beasts in the 13th and following chapters. (Scholefield.) It may be added, that Bulkeley adduces several examples of ?, to denote, not only creature, but

Page 412

even a human being, especially one from Origen, who uses it of our Lord Jesus." [2]

Similar imagery is used in the first chapter of Ezekiel. The qualities which would seem to be signified by the emblems are strength, perseverance, reason, and swiftness--strength of affection, perseverance, in carrying out the requirements of duty, reason in comprehending the divine will, and swiftness in obeying. These living beings are even more intimately connected with the throne than are the four and twenty elders, being represented as in the midst of it, and round about it. Like the elders, these in their song to the Lamb ascribe to Him praise for having redeemed them from the earth. They therefore belong to the same company, and represent a part of the great multitude, who, as already described (see remarks on verse 4), have been led up on high from the captivity of death. Concerning the object of their redemption, see remarks on Revelation 5: 8.

They Rest Not.--

"O happy unrest!" beautifully exclaims John Wesley. The theme of their constant worship is, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." No sublimer strain ever issued from created lips. They repeat it "day and night," or continually, these terms only denoting the manner in which time is reckoned here, for there can be no night where the throne of god is. (Revelation 21: 23, 25.)

We mortals are likely to tire of the repetition of the simple testimony we bear here to the goodness and mercy of God. We are sometimes tempted to say nothing, because we cannot continually say something new. But may we not learn a profitable lesson from the course of these holy beings above, who never grow weary of the ceaseless repetition of these words, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty;" and to whom these words never grow old, because their hearts ever glow with a sense of His holiness, goodness, and love? Praise does not be-

Page 413

come to them monotonous, for with every utterance they gain a new view of the attributes of the Almighty. They reach a greater height of comprehension in their vision of His perfections; the horizon expands before them; their hearts enlarge; and the new emotions of adoration draw from them a fresh utterance of their holy salutation, new even to themselves, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!"

So, even with us here, though words are often repeated concerning the goodness, the mercy, and the love of God, the value of His truth, and the attractions of the world to come, these should not grow stale upon the ear. We should all our lives be rising to new conceptions of the blessings embraced in these glorious themes.

"Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power." How worthy, we never shall be able to realize until, like the holy beings who utter this language, changed to immortality, we are presented "faultless before the presence of His glory." Jude 24.

"Thou Hast Created All Things."--

The works of creation furnish the foundation for the honor, glory, and power ascribed to God. "For Thy pleasure [or through Thy will they are, and were created." God willed, and all things came into existence; and by the same power they are preserved and sustained.

*******

The beginning and the end.

Rev 4:11  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 CREATOR of ALL THINGS.

ALL THINGS WERE CREATED for the CREATOR'S PLEASURE.

We have this grand misconception that our existence is one of instant entitlement. We exist therefore we are all important, all deserving, we are the all in all. What a LIE.

We ONLY exist because we were CREATED.

We were CREATED for a purpose.

The PURPOSE of our CREATION was for the PLEASURE of our CREATOR.

It is by our CREATOR'S discretion that we exist at all.

Our outlook upon our world, upon our lives often determines our view of our CREATOR.

Some will say we have no CREATOR.

Others will say we have a sadistic CREATOR.

Still others will say we have a loving CREATOR.

And there are those who will say we have an indifferent CREATOR.

And all shades of gray in between those four beliefs.

We have a CREATOR of this I am positive beyond ANY doubt whatsoever.

I was created for my CREATOR'S pleasure.

My CREATOR has revealed true love in the plan of redemption.

My CREATOR created out of LOVE.

My CREATOR is LOVE.

My CREATOR is WORTHY to receive ALL glory, ALL honor, ALL power!

I choose to believe I have a loving CREATOR who loves perfectly, who loves purposefully, who loves and is desirous for us to know love, to love and be loved.

In heaven my CREATOR reigns, my CREATOR works towards my end- redemption by HIM.  I cannot FORGET, I cannot choose to IGNORE this truth, my CREATOR, my SAVIOR is active on my behalf.

I choose to believe in love, perfect love, in my Savior.

All honor, all glory, all power unto HIM always!

AMEN.

Another View

Excerpt from - Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

Page 407

Revelation Chapter 4

Before the Throne of God

Verse 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 show thee things which must be hereafter.

In the first three chapters, John presented the vision he had of the Son of man. He described His majestic person, and recorded the words which He uttered with a voice as the sound of many waters. A NEW scene and a NEW vision now open before us.

The expression "after this" does not denote that what is recorded in Revelation 4 and onward was to take place after the fulfillment of everything recorded in the three preceding chapters. It means ONLY that after the prophet had seen and heard what is there recorded, he had the new view which he now introduces.

"A Door Was Opened in Heaven."--

Let it be noticed that John says, "A door was opened in heaven," NOT into heaven.

This expression reads literally in the Greek, "Behold, a door open in heaven." It was not an opening of heaven itself before the mind of John, as in the case of Stephen (Acts 7: 56), but some place in heaven was open before him, and he was permitted to behold what was taking place WITHIN. That what John saw open was the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY, will plainly appear from other parts of the book.

"Things Which Must Be Hereafter."--Compare this with Revelation 1: 1. The great object of the Revelation seems to be the presentation of future events which will inform, edify, and comfort the church.

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John

*******

When we are stressing something important about to take place, do we often stress it by talking about it more than once and sometimes when we talk about it more than once we talk about it in different ways, all towards the same end. This is truth! We don't lie when we tell our tale in a different way, we encourage a deeper understanding by relaying it in a new way. Our Savior throughout the book of Revelation will do this. We are being shown TRUTH, and our Savior really wants us to know the truth. Our Savior wishes to give us EVERY opportunity possible to know Him, to know Love, real love.

By His grace may we learn! Bless us LORD, bless us!

We would know all that You would have us know!

All in Your love!

Now and forever, amen!