The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse: The Lion, the Lamb, and the Scroll

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Revelation mentions a certain role of enormous significance to regulatory ranges inside on his role with Dodge in time to plan what is this mysterious, I believe, is the earth.

This is what Jesus is coming to the earth for this is his mission purchased with his blood, which was one of the times plan. His care nonbelievers have much more to good reason to share her faith until a friend or loved about Gregory's evangelistic coming up October 3 SoCal harvested Angel Stadium and live across the country. Online.more insight series on the last days based in the book of Revelation, the story about the two Christians over standing on the road side with a sign that said, the end is near turnaround before it's too late to some guy threw his brakes on gold on his window and yelled at the Griffin wanted you religious nuts. Just leave us alone and he sped off and there was a screech of tires in the huge splash. One of the Christians turned it was a Christian friend and said that we should just get a sign that says bridge instead. Right.

So here's the question, is the end it really matter have we heard this for a long time. Is Armageddon actually coming is the antichrist close to appearing. Are we going to see the apocalypse in our lifetime.

I'm in the very word apocalypse is a powerful word. I usually mean something catastrophic.

It's something really bad will say it so bad its apocalyptic there is a trend right now while theory floating around on the Internet about a zombie apocalypse right so use this word a lot but actually it's it's an interesting word. It's an interchangeable word with the word Revelation and it simply means the unveiling, or another way to translate it to pull the lid off of something that's exactly what we see happening now as we come to this new section of Revelation. The lid is being pulled off and we see a lot of powerful events are happening in rapid succession. Not unlike dominoes closely stuck together one knocking the other one over.

We have never been closer to the apocalypse and we are right now type the word apocalypse in Google and you will find 100 million pages addressing the topic but what does it mean that's what I want to talk about number of years ago Billy Graham wrote a book called approaching hoofbeats, the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and here's what really wrote and I quote some theologians and Bible scholars have thought that these scenes as described by the apostle John to be a description of past events. However, most evangelical scholars interpret them as having to do with the future as do I rights Billy, in my view, the shadows of all four Horsemen can already be seen galloping to the world at this very moment. Therefore, I want not only to apply these four symbols of events yet to come, but also for us to put our ears lowered to the ground and hear their cooked beets growing louder by the day. Graham concludes quote I can hear the hoofbeats of these sources much louder than when I first began writing this book."

He wrote that book 38 years ago. So if Billy Graham could hear the hoofbeats louder than we certainly can hear them even more.

Right now, these approaching hoofbeats have become thundering hoofbeats and I want to talk about what the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse who they are what this is all about.

But before we get to that in Revelation chapter 6 here. Revelation 5 recommend go back to Kevin for a moment and see what's happening in heaven for the four Horsemen are unleashed so read with me from Revelation chapter 5 verse one John says I found the right hand of him was found in the photo scroll written inside and on the backfield was seven seals and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and the lucid seals and no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look at it. John writes, so I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or look at it but one of the elders said to me do not we behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David is prevailed to open the scroll and the lucid seven seals and I look to behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamp as if it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth, and then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Now when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a heart that we will of arts in heaven won't wait and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, and they sing a new song, saying you are worthy to take the scroll to open it seals, for you were slain, and he redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. There so here now.

John is in heaven. A mysterious scroll is produced that has seven seals on it would give verse one of Revelation 5. Again, I saw on the right hand of him that sat on the front scroll written inside and on the backfield with seven seals that we read this and we have we have no idea what this evening so let me explain it contextually and historically, and then apply for us today. What is the scroll while back in those days. Important documents were written down on paper and rolled up in what we would call a scroll. This was something that was used back in this day to record wills, for instance, the will of the Roman emperors.

This Bayesian and Caesar Augustus were on scrolls sealed with seven seals. So what that means is you and open up this paper.

This parchment you would write down something you'd roll it and you would put a wax seal and imprint it with the insignia, then he would write something else roll that up put the seal on it again rolled a little more. Put another seal on it so when you were opening this document you will open it and break one seal read a portion of it than break another seal we little more of it and break the other seal so this was reserved for the most important documents for some sort of be like having in encryption key to a highly classified document today, so it was a seven sealed title D. So what was it. What is this mysterious scroll.

I believe it is a title deed of the earth. This is what Jesus has come to the earth for this is why he was born in the manger of Bethlehem. This is why he dies on the cross of Calvary, and this is why he rises again from the dead. This is his mission to buyback to purchase back with his blood.

That which was lost way back in the garden of Eden when our first parents, Adam and Eve sinned. There was a curse he came upon humanity, and we lost paradise and all of the effects of sin came into the human race of rent since about them, and even not send we would have never grown old.

If Adam and Eve had not said we would never die if Adam and Eve had not said I would have hair right now right so the idea is simply this, that we love something great in the garden, Jesus has come to purchase it.again, but there's only one way it can be done that is if he comes as a lamb to be slain. If you will die for the sin of the world you know the devil actually offered him a hack on this. A shortcut I remember when Christ was beginning his earthly ministry, the devil took him out of the desert and we read that he showed him all the kingdoms of the world which is kind of amazing to think about like all the kingdoms of the world. What he actually see all all these kingdoms may be of that moment of the president of the future and the devil said all this is mine, and I can give it to whomever I want to give it to.

And if you will now worship me. I'll give it to you like while first of all, if that was not true.

Jesus would've corrected him and said it's not yours you can't give it to whomever you choose, but in fact Christ did not disagree with this statement because it was true of the devil is called the father of lies. But in this particular instance. He's telling the truth. The Bible describes him as the God of this world, the prince of the power of the air who effectively has the title deed of the year prior to this event.

But now he's saying the Jesus I know what you're here for. I know you want this and I'll give it to you on a silver platter all you want to do is give me the momentary pleasure of worship and Jesus of course as it is written, you shall worship the Lord God and him only shall you serve. So Jesus knew the only way to reach this objective was by going to the cross. And so when he hangs on the cross of Calvary and he uses one word to tell a stock which is translated, it is finished.

That's what he was effectively saying finish is a stronghold on humanity finish was a miserable bondage that people are held by because of Satan and finished with Satan's possession of the title deed of the planet Earth, the parties over and the devil knows we hope you're enjoying this series were doing on the book of Revelation, and I'm very excited to tell you about a brand-new book that we have just released simply called Revelation, a book of promises I want to tell you how to get your own copy at the end of the program, but if you can wait just go to harvest.org to find out more about getting your copy of this brand-new book. This commentary on the book of Revelation called Revelation, a book of promises and no backdoor study Revelation chapter 5 the angel holds out a scroll and says who is worthy to open the scroll saw massive cosmic recruitment effort is taking place sort of a heavenly Google search to can open the scroll and no one is found don't consider.

There's a lot of heavy hitters in heaven.

We have the great patriarchs like Abraham and Moses and David. Is there prophets like Jeremiah, Isaiah, Elijah apostles, Peter James and John there all their but none of them can open this scroll. There's more angels than you can shake a stick at.

Including Michael the Archangel Gabriel and others but no one is worthy to open the scroll and John begins to weep.

By the way. Sometimes it said there's no tears in heaven while the Ritz because John is weeping at this point because no one is worthy to open the scroll. No one is found here that can change the condition of the world.

That means if it's not open the suffering, pain, sickness and death that characterize everyday life will not stop and so John begins to weep, but suddenly there's an answer. Revelation 5 verse five. One of the elders said to not we behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and loose the seals do I have to tell you this is the lion of the tribe of Judah. It's Jesus himself who is coming as a lamb. It's interesting he is appearing as both a lion and a lamb. Jesus appears and he now can open the scroll. Why because he is as a lamb who is been slain over and Isaiah is speaking of Jesus. It says that he would lay his life down and he would not protest and he would be like a lamb that had been slain, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said to his disciples, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. There's another really interesting thing we find here in Revelation 5 we find out what happens after we pray. Have you ever prayed about something and received no answer. It almost seem like God wasn't even listening and you ask it to God. Even here, that prayer look at what it says in verse eight, the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a heart and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the same lesson every prayer that you pray is recorded and noted in heaven. Every single prayer.

The Bible says he keeps our tears in a bottle which means every tear you shed is known by God in every prayer. You pray is heard by God. Any stores your prayers in heaven.

So we talked about information being in the cloud right. Your prayers are in the class that the Lord is aware of them and some he will answer straightaway.

Others, he will answer in his timing. Others, he will answer later, but will ultimately see his purposes, and plans when we get to heaven.

So here now is Jesus presented to us as a lamb you don't, Christ walked among us.

He never said his deity aside, he was God walking this planet. Not a man becoming God, that's impossible.

He was God becoming a man at the Transfiguration. Remember he shined like the sun with Moses and Elijah on each side. The miracle is not that Jesus shine like the sun on the Mount of Transfiguration, the miracle was. He didn't do it all the time because he was always shining you live out phone and and it has a flashlight feature and it always gets turned on randomly. You know, and so I get a grid of that flashlights going to drain my battery Jesus was like walking among us but he shrouded that line he'd laid aside the privileges of deity and walked among us as a man or as a lamb.

Now lambs are not strong creatures. You could not find a creature that's more opposite of a lion than a lamb. All a lion is ferocious and powerful called the king of the jungle, a lamb that dinner on four legs might as well just carry mint jelly around with them because they can run fast big big can really bite.

They can't do much of anything except God. Right so it's interesting that he's compared to both dilemmas week.

Jesus was not weak but he was meek that Jesus said of himself on meek and lowly meek meets power under constraint, so he did not fight back. He did not strike back when he was hit in the face as he was tried on false charges.

He took it meekly as a lamb. And you know it's interesting the word that you turn Revelation for lemmings a little pet plan a little pet line so when the Jewish people would celebrate the Passover, they were to slay a lamb.

As you remember, and then they were to take the blood and in the case of the first Passover apply it to the door of their house on the top and on the right and on the left, and God's judgment would Passover. So they would take that little pet lamb that they had come to love and they would offer it as a sacrifice. And the reason for that is God wanted them to feel the effects of sin.

I mean imagine sacrificing your little pet dog or little pet cat how hard that would be you know because people become so attached to animals these days in the week. They have family photos and the dogs in the photo rights and you push them around in strollers or whatever it is so it's the idea was to take something that you love and treasure and Fred so you would feel that sense of loss and the ugliness of sin and so when it's realize that Jesus is the Lamb who was slain who can open the scroll. There's an outbreak of praise and worship.

Revelation 59.

They sing a new song senior worthy to take the scroll and open it seals, for you were slain, and he redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue people and nation of this is very important out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation bring this up because sometimes the question is asked what about the person who is never heard the gospel listen to this.

Ultimately the gospel will be preached in all of the world. Every tribal here every tongue will hear every race will hear. Yes, even the person living in the middle of the jungle is that sometimes resented or the person out of the middle of the desert are all going to hear the gospel, so we get to heaven.

Everyone is represented from every background and I think this is even the celebration of our distinctions of our culture of our language is of our race and I were all together at the throne of God. Good clarification today.

Studies in Revelation with pastor Greg Laurie and there's much more to come as you tune in each day here on a new beginning. Each chapter is a building block to a complete understanding of Revelation. So we hope will be along for the Revelation series just as often as you can.

If you missed any part of today's presentation. You can get a replay by going to harvest.org look for the title of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse now, in tandem with our studies or Revelation here on a new beginning pastor Greg has just released a brand-new book on Revelation takes us even further into pastor Greg there's a lot of symbolism in Bible prophecy, you study the subject. A great deal yes how much of that symbolism. Do we know for sure what it means and how much is open to interpretation were godly people do disagree well I think it's very important to understand Bible prophecy. There are constant expectations to understand these things Jesus when he was speaking of an event called the abomination of desolation said, let the reader under Stanton.

In the book of Thessalonians. Paul writing to the believers there. He says brothers I would not have you be ignorant. Then he went on to talk about the rapture so we don't want to be ignorant. We want to understand and the very word Revelation means to on veil now. There are different ways that we can view these truths and I think godly people can and they do frankly disagree on some of these think know my position is I believe that there is an event called the rapture that could happen at any moment.

I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. Now the tribulation period is last seven years starts with the emergence of antichrist. It ends with the return of Jesus Christ.

I don't believe we as Christians will go through the tribulation. I believe will be ruptured before that time comes now that belief alone will affect you in the way that you live because if you believe you could be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and you see the signs of the time showing how close the tribulation. Could potentially be you realize of the tribulation period is close, then the rapture of the church is even closer so I can use the illustration of sing Christmas decorations up and you know they go so early.

Not only was it August or something. I can't believe Christmas decorations are up against. What if I see the decorations for Christmas going up. It says this Thanksgiving is coming casino.

Greg gets his Christmas is coming know, I know. But if Christmas is coming Thanksgiving is coming even sooner because Thanksgiving precedes Christmas doesn't it. So the point of it all is if I see signs of the times out there telling me that the tribulation period is coming and that means that Jesus is coming even sooner for his church. That belief alone will affect you in the way that you live. I talked about that a lot more in this brand-new book that I've just written called Revelation, a book of promises. It's hard cover.

It's a thick one. This is going to be a resource that you keep it home and hopefully you consulted again and again in my prayer and my hope is it will help unlock this great book.

The final book of the Bible, the only book of the Bible. I might add it as a special blessing promised to the person who reads cheers and keeps the words of it and I want you to get this book I've just written simply called Revelation about the promises will send it to you for your gift of any size and hears Dave to tell you more right will thank you very much. It's a brand-new commentary from Pastor Greg hot off the press more than 400 pages in length. If you been less than clear on your understanding of last days events. You need to get this resource to get in touch with your donation today and will thank you with a copy of Revelation, a book of promises you can write us at a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's a 24 seven phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and then you may have heard something exciting is coming up in less than three weeks. If SoCal harvested Angel Stadium pastor Greg first live evangelistic events since everything stopped for the pandemic on October 3. He welcomes Phil Wickham and for King and country and presents a powerful gospel message.

If you're here in Southern California. Be sure to join us and bring someone who needs to meet the Lord elsewhere sure to tune in online and invite someone who needs to meet the Lord to watch along with you. You can get all the details@harvest.org/SoCal next time more insights from chapters 5 and six of Revelation.

What we need to know about the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastor and Bible Greg Laurie and everybody thinks her list. Beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners.

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