## The Best is Yet to Come

## Rev. 4:1-11

In introducing this magnificent book, Revelation chapter one uncovers and unveils the manifestation of the incomparable, glorious Son of God. The first time our Lord came into this world, He came in the veil of flesh. He is revealed in Revelation as the risen, reigning, resurrected, exalted, glorified Lord. John saw Him as:

- A faithful witness.
- First begotten of the dead.
- Prince of the Kings of the earth.
- Our sacrifice who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
- The Alpha and Omega.

These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. It is like saying, "I am the A to Z". Jesus is everything. He meets every need.

- The Almighty.
- The One in the midst of the seven candlesticks.

He is in the middle of the churches. The church was established by His death, burial and resurrection. It is through His churches that He is to be proclaimed to a lost world. We should never lose sight of this fact.

- He was described like a King, Priest and Judge.

Hair like snow (pure and full of wisdom). Eyes as a flame of fire (keen, penetrating judgment). Feet like fine brass (judicial judgment). Countenance as the sun (bright and morning star, speaks of His glory). Voice of many waters (supreme sovereignty, all streams of divine revelation converge in Christ).

- In His right hand were seven stars, Pastors, what a joy to know that Jesus holds His preachers in His right hand.
- In His mouth a sharp two-edged sword.
- He is the one which is, and which was and which is to come.

What a picture! John saw Jesus. Someday we shall see Him too. John fell at His feet as dead. Jesus put His right hand upon him saying, "Fear not; I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death:" Revelation 1:17-18. Jesus told him to "write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter" Revelation 1:19 (the outline of Revelation). I can assure you on the authority of the Word of God that He was telling John that THE BEST IS YET T0 COME for all those that believe in Him.

Chapter four gives us four specific truths that God’s best is yet to come: When we rise at the rapture, when we recognize our Redeemer, when we rejoice with the redeemed, and when we receive our rewards.

I. Rising at the Rapture. (4:1)

A. Here we have a vivid picture of the rapture of the believers.

1. We are now about to see 'the things which must be hereafter'. because everything from 4:1 on is prophecy.

2. Revelation is the only book in all the Bible which begins by promising a special blessing on those who study it, and ends by promising a special curse on those who add or take away from it.

3. Revelation 4:1 "after this" means "after these things."

4. What things? It means after the church age; after the rapture of the believers.

B. The word "rapture" is not found in the New Testament.

1. Webster gives the definition "to transport with joy, act of seizing and carrying away; carry away to sublime happiness."

2. Man's words at their best fail in fully defining this glorious, transforming event.

3. Note: Re. 4:1 Doors and Trumpets:

a. In the Old Testament the Jews used trumpets to gather the assembly, to announce war or to announce special days.

b. God’s trumpets will call the church home.

c. In the book of Revelation there are three definite doors that are mentioned.

1) Re. 3:8, This is our door of service.

2) Re. 3:20, This is the door of complacency and unconcern.

3) Re. 4:1, Christ is the only door to heaven.

4. John saw the door and heard the words "Come up hither."

a. This is the event we call the rapture.

b. When John experienced this unforgettable scene of all that was ahead of him and every believer he knew THE BEST WAS YET TO COME.

c. Some day Jesus will open up heaven and say ‘come up hither’.

5. A beautiful passage of scripture in 1Thess. 4:13-18 paints a picture of the rapture for us.

a. Paul did not want the church at Thessalonica to be ignorant about God's Word and those that were asleep in Jesus.

b. Paul says that we are not to sorrow like people who have no hope.

c. The Christian can look beyond the grave, and can see the sunlight through his tears.

6. Then He will come with 'a shout!"

a. It will be a shout of victory over Satan and all of his hosts.

b. It will be the shout of the Bride- groom who comes to claim His bride.

c. It will be a shout of welcome as He comes to gather His loved ones home.

7. He will come with "the voice of the archangel' (Michael) and with the "trump of God."

a. These three sounds will tell Christ- ians, both dead and living, that the day of their complete redemption is at hand.

b. Some people are still looking for signs.

c. Every sign that needs to be fulfilled has been.

d. We need to stop looking for signs and start listening for sounds.

II. Recognizing Our Redeemer. 4:2,3.

A. The Throne in Heaven.

1. In these verses, John identifies from past experience something he saw in chapter one.

2. He acknowledges the validity and reality of what he saw.

3. It is significant that "a throne was set in heaven."

a. This is not the ‘Throne of Grace’ that God is now sitting upon with Jesus at the right hand.

b. This is not the ‘Judgment Seat of Christ’ nor the ‘Great White Throne’.

c. This is the eternal throne of God.

1) The throne is the center of the heavenly scene and is a symbol of the reign, power and authority of God over all.

2) Ps.103:19, "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all."

d. John is describing what he sees, but it was indescribable; therefore, John uses symbols to convey to us some of its wonders.

B. The One Upon the Throne.

1. He can’t even attempt to describe the One who sits upon the throne .

2. He only tells us that he has a presence whose glory was like a jasper and a sardine.

3. The jasper stone is described as clear as crystal, and the sardine stone was blood red.

a. Every Hebrew would instantly recall that these were the first and last stones in the breastplate of the high priest. cf Exodus 28:17-20.

b. On the breastplate of the high priest the Sardine stone represented Reuben and is mentioned first. The jasper stone represented Benjamin and was the last stone in the breastplate of the high priest.

c. The name Benjamin means "the son of my power, or right hand."

d. The name Reuben is derived from two Hebrew words meaning ‘Behold the Son.’

e. In his vision, John saw the exalted, reigning, ruling Christ of sacrifice.

4. We need to behold the throne of God by faith.

a. We need to see the Jesus Christ as the all-powerful Son of God.

b. His power is available to all today that will accept and claim it by faith.

Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

c. We have the promise of His power.

Ro. 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." d. Seeing Him who is invisible will revolutionize your life.

III. Rejoicing with the Redeemed. cf 4:4,10,11

A. John sees 24 elders with golden crowns.

1. These 24 are representative of all the redeemed by Christ.

2. There will be a definite number of God’s people, because there names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

3. When the last one comes in, when that last soul is saved, that will be the end that will be the consummation of history.

4. The last one could be saved today, tomorrow, next week, next month, this year!

B. John saw all of the redeemed rejoicing, worshipping and praising God.

1. Everyone fell down before him that sat on the throne, and worshipped Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne

2. The living creatures , angels no doubt, rested not day and night as they led the praise, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty which was, and is, and is to come,". v8

3. All creation will worship Him that sits on the throne because of His creation power.

C. John heard the songs of praise to God praising Him, the creator of all things, preserver of all things and redeemer of all things!

1. The chorus must have been beautiful, but it says one thing to us.

2. The best is yet to come.

IV. Receiving Our Rewards. 4:4,10.

A. Clothed in white raiment.

1. You remember that in the Garden of Eden God made a coat of skins to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned.

2. In order to get a coat of skins, an animal had to die and shed its blood.

3. The innocent for the guilty.

4. The Lamb of God shed His blood in order that we might have a beautifully white, righteous robe picturing our righteousness before God.

B. Crowns of victory.

1. They had on their heads crowns Of gold.

2. These crowns symbolize their rewards for service while on earth.

3. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

4. Only the believers’ works will be judged, not their sins, because our sins were judged in Christ on Calvary.

5. The lost will be judged at the Great White Throne judgment.

C. For the believer the best is yet to come.

D. However, for the lost person the worst is yet to come.

One day we will all rejoice around the throne of God as we cast our crowns at His feet. "All hail the power of Jesus' name, let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all." What we believe about the future should have a direct bearing on how we live in the present. Jesus is coming. The Bible teaches us that His coming is imminent, that is, He may come a any moment. Luke 21:28, "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Are we ready to meet Him? If you are saved, the best is yet to come! If not, why not come today and accept Christ as your Savior?