Basic Training Bible Ministries

Who is worthy of owning everything? Who is worthy of claiming the title deed to the earth? Jesus Christ, of course. Revelation 5:1 starts, “I saw in the right hand of Him the sat on the throne.” After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to Psalm 110:1, where was Jesus seated? “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” So, the Lord Jesus is going to have to go very far to receive this from the Father, because He's right there. “In the right hand of Him who sat on the throne, a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” What is the significance of being written inside and on the back? It was typical of a title deed in the ancient world that it would be written front and back and then it would be sealed. To break the seal, back then, you had to be the person to whom the deed was given. And so, in Revelation 5:2, John says, “I saw a strong angel proclaiming, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals? no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at it. “ Of all the great heroes none is worthy? Moses? "No one on the earth or under the Earth." None of all the greats of history are worthy to open this title deed. While weeping John reports in Revelation 5:5 that “One of the elders said to him, 'Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed.' When did Jesus prevail? Obviously, on the cross was Christ’s victory. “He has prevailed to open the scroll and to lose is seven seals. "And I looked,” John says in Revelation 5:6, “and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb.” Jesus, The Lamb of God, is standing “as though it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes.” Once again, symbolism is being used; the "horn" is a symbol of strength, power, and authority. And the eyes, intelligence. “which are the seven spirits of God set out in the earth. And he came and he took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne when he had taken the scroll. The four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints.” Did you know that every prayer you pray is on record? In Revelation 5:9,” they sang a new song.” These are the elders and those who are withthem. I include us in that group. “You are worthy to take the scroll and open a seal for You were slain. You have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue.” And notice in Revelation 5:10, “you have made us kings and priests.” These are Church age believers. No Old Testament believer was King Priest. 1st Peter 2:9 says, “we are a royal priesthood.” Are any believers in the tribulation going to be royal priests? No. Church age only. That's one of the privileges we have that no one of any other time of history had.Revelation 5:10 concludes, “…and we shall reign on the earth.“ One day each one of us will have responsibilities in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 5:11 says, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 saying with a loud voice say, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” So, the first chorus church is singing. Now the second chorus of angels starts in Revelation 5:13, “and every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and as are in the sea and all that are in them. I heard saying blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne under the Lamb forever and ever.” There is a day coming when every created thing will be singing praises to Jesus Christ. In fact, the Old Testament tells us that when the kingdom begins, the mountains and the hills and the trees and the rivers will begin to sing. You might think that this is just imagery. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the Pharisees rebuked his disciples, to stop speaking messianic prophecy. Jesus replied, “I tell you of these keep silent the rocks of the earth would cry out. I can't wait to see all creation, just joining in and singing, “blessing and honor and glory and power to Him who sits on the throne in the land forever and ever. Revelation 5:14, ends the chapter, “The four living creatures said, ‘Amen!” and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped Him, who lives forever and ever.” That is the last beautiful picture that you're going to see until Chapter 20.

Revelation 4:1 says, “After these things, I looked and behold the door standing open in heaven.” Very interesting that “standing open” is in the perfect tense, an indication that that door was opened at some point in the past and it's still open. I would take the point of opening as the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, and the now opened the door, is for us to enter into the presence of God. When Jesus said, “it is finished” in John 19:30, His work on the cross was done. The penalty for sin was paid. The way into heaven was open. It won't be closed until time is done. So, the door was opened, and John says, “the first voice that I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me.” The trumpet takes us back to chapter one saying, “Come up here.” Remember the passage in First Thessalonians Chapter 4, “for the Lord will descend with a shout.” What do you think your shout is going to be? I think it's going to be, “Come up here.” “Come up here and I will show you things which much must take place.” Again, we have the phrase “after this” or better translated, “After these things.”

Revelation 4:2-3 says, “Immediately,” John says, “I was in the spirit. And behold, a throne said in heaven. And one who sat on the throne and he who sat there was like a Jasper and sardius.” Jasper is clear and sardius is red. So what John sees is an image sitting on the throne, but he doesn't see the clear outlines face characteristics. In Revelation 4:3 he says, “and there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald. What is the rainbow remind us of? Remember at the flood it was a promise of peace. So, I would take this as a symbol of peace. A rainbow around the throne and “an appearance like an emerald” is very interesting. From verse three on, what we're actually seeing is something very similar to what Daniel saw in Daniel 7:4-13. You remember he saw “the Ancient of Day” sitting on the throne, being approached by “one like the son of man.” So very, very similar. And again, the connections between Revelation and the Old Testament are everywhere.

Revelation 4:4 says, “Around the throne, where 24 thrones and on the thrones, I saw 24 elders sitting clothed with white robes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads.” There are lots of arguments about who are the 24 elders. A lot of people think they're angels. I'm convinced they're not because of what we see in the context of the text. I think the 24 elders probably represent the church and probably we could look at them as maybe some of the great ones that come out of the church age, maybe the ones who excelled during the church age, but they represent the church as a whole. 24 elders sitting and they've got “white robes,” of course, white robes, picture of the righteousness of Christ. They had” crowns of gold on their head.” We know in the New Testament there are five different crowns promised to the overcomer, namely, those who overcome are promised a reward at the judgment seat of Christ. As our lives are evaluated by the Lord Jesus Christ, there are those that are going to receive the reward of a crown. By the way, the word “crown” “Stephanos” – “the Victor's crown.” So, this again relates back to the overcomer.

Revelation 4:5 says, “From the throne proceeded lightning and thunder, rings and voices.” Wouldn't you like to know what they said? In Revelation 10:3-4 John says the thunder spoke again and as he was going to write down as a part of this book what the thunder said, he was told not to write. Isn’t it interesting? I don't know about you, but I've heard sermons on what the seven thunders said. The truth is, we don't know. God didn't tell us. We might be better off for not knowing. We were not allowed to know at this point. Verse 5 continues, “Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.” Why the seven spirits of God? Isaiah 11:1 says, “There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” It is interesting that the Lord Jesus Christ is referred to both as “the root” and the offspring of David. As God, He is “the root of David,” as man, He's the offspring. So we have the deity and humanity of Christ pictured. Isaiah 11:2 says, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom, and understanding, the spirit of counsel, and might the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” I think all of these are simply expressing the character of the Holy Spirit. So I take this to be the seven spirits of God.

Revelation 4:6 says, “Before the Throne, there was a sea of glass like crystal.” What does that mean? I don't know. Obviously, it would imply purity. Later in the book, the sea is used as a picture of the nations. The multitudes of the nations could represent the multitudes of those who have been purified standing before the Lord. That would be the closest that I could give you. The verse continues, “sea of glass, like crystal in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.” Very interesting. Revelation 4:7 says, “The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like a calf. The third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.” If you go back to Ezekiel chapter one these same creatures are not described in the same way, but they are described as a lion, a calf, a man and an eagle. Why is that? Well, one suggestion that's been presented, these four represent the story of the life of Christ. If you think about it, a gospel of Matthew presents Christ our King of Israel, symbol as lion Jesus -- the lion of the tribe of Judah. The Gospel of Mark presents Him as the calf, or Ox, a symbol of what is servant. It's interesting that the key word of the Gospel of Mark is immediately. It's a word that was specifically used of an obedient servant. It's translated “straightaway,” or “immediately” in the Gospel of Mark. Luke, of course, places emphasis on the humanity of Christ. Luke is a very human gospel, and it deals a lot with his interactions with the down and out people. And then, of course, the eagle Flying Eagle, a picture of the Gospel of John, The Deity of Christ.

Revelation 4:7 says, “The four living creatures, each having six wings were full of eyes around and within.” The emphasis on eyes, I believe, has to do with divine intelligence or supernatural intelligence. What do our eyes through our eyes tell us? That's how we gather information. Revelation 4:8 says, “They do not rest day or night saying, Holy, holy, holy.” Where have we met these before? Is it Isaiah 6:3, “Holy, holy, holy.” Why three times? It's this Father, Son, Holy Spirit. “Holy, holy, Holy Lord, God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” Who’s that? Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:9-10 says, “Whenever the living creatures gave glory and honor, and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him, who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever and casts their crowns before the throne.” I’ve run into a lot of believers who say I'm not interested in eternal rewards. I don't care whether I get a crown or not. I'll just be happy to be there. We need to understand that winning the Crown is not for us. It's not to our credit. It's for His glory. Every one of us can win eternal rewards. He offers us the opportunity to live lives of faith and obedience so that we are, as he said in Matthew 6:20, laying up treasure in heaven. And what's the value of all that? All of it is going to speak to the glory of Christ. It's in honor of what He's done for us. It's a way of expressing, if you will, our gratitude for his sacrifice and our great salvation. So, they cast their crowns before the throne.

Revelation 4:11 says, “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.” Now, bear in mind Who's sitting on the throne of God. The Father. Right? We're about to see the Lord Jesus come into the picture. So, God, the Father is sitting on the throne. And to God the Father, Glory, “honor and power for You created all things.” This is Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Right? What does John tell us in John 1:1? “In the beginning was the word. And the word was with God. And the word was God.” And then down in verse three, “all things were made by Him. And without Him was not anything made. It was made. So, who created” the Father or the Son? The answer is “yes!” They work together, right? In Proverbs 30, the question is asked “What is God's name? Do you know it? And what is his Son's name?” That's a very interesting question. You must wonder how many ancient Hebrews pondered on that and wondered, “What does this mean”? And of course, if they pondered long enough and searched the Old Testament scriptures enough, they would know.

Message from Gene Cunningham on April 14, 2023

Did you know the Passover is perpetual? 1st Corinthians 5:7-8 says, “Therefore, purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened for indeed Christ. Our Passover was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with a level of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Paul is using Passover as an example of three great spiritual realities:

1) The first of those is salvation by grace through faith. He says, “Since you are truly unleavened for indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrifice for us.” And it's very interesting here that despite the many sins that plagued the Corinthian church, Paul reminds them that in Christ they have been made pure. If you go on into the sixth chapter, he cites many sins that were prominent at the time. And he says, “and such were some of you. Even though some had fallen back into those sins.” He says, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were clean through Christ.” So he reminds them that they are indeed “unleavened.”

2) The second great truth is cleansing from sin or cleansing from carnality. “Purge out the old leaven.” We are not to celebrate with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness.” And here I think he deals with some of those reactions that happen when sins occur in a church, namely, either boasting, or hostility and judgment. There is cleansing available for you and I on a moment by moment, daily basis.

3) The third great truth that he wanted to remind them of is that you and I have the immeasurable opportunity to live in daily fellowship with God, to live in fellowship with God day by day, moment by moment.