The Gospel Revealed in Scripture - 1 Peter 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:10-12 "As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look."

Introduction

Yesterday we looked at the major elements of the Gospel that we find in 1 Peter 1:1-9.  In today's post we want to consider further Peter's thoughts as he by Divine inspiration unfolds the Gospel revealed in scripture. What can be said about the manner in which God unfolded the Gospel of salvation in His word?

1. Revealed in Progression.  1 Peter 1:10-11a

It has been noted by many great Bible teachers that the nature in which God reveals Himself and His purposes is by what is termed "progressive revelation". Just as a flower opens slowly and progressively overtime to yield forth its fragrance and beauty, so it is with the revelation of God's work of salvation and wonder of glory. Peter's comments in 1 Peter 1:10-11a can be broken down into three distinct parts that explain this progress of God's revelation of the Gospel:

a. The Gospel is the same throughout scripture

Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:10 "As to this salvation". What salvation? The grammar of the text in the original leads us back through the salvation which Peter unfolded back in 1 Peter 1:1-8 and the personal salvation of each Christian that is spoken of in 1:9.  Interestingly enough, the Gospel of salvation to which Peter speaks also has to do with what the Prophets wrote and had revealed to them in the Old Testament. The truth that Abraham in the Old Testament "believed God, and that it was credited to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6), is repeated as the same pattern for people in this current age of grace. (Romans 4:3). The writer of Hebrews points out that the same Gospel that Moses preached to the Israelites is the same Gospel we hear today. (Hebrews 4:1-7)

b. The Gospel was step by step revealed. 

By being the same Gospel in both the Old and New Testament, this Gospel nonetheless was revealed in stages, step by step. Peter writes on in 1 Peter 1:10 "the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries." The prophets were captivated by what God was showing them through the various pictures, personages, symbols and institutions. Along the way you see the Prophets and Patriarchs asking questions and searching out the gradual light of truth being revealed. 

- Abram asks God in Genesis 15:2 "Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”

- Isaac, God's answer to Abram's question asks his father Abram (now Abraham) this question some 20 years later in Genesis 22:7-8b "And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together." Such a touching scene captures how the Patriarchs searched and explored what God was revealing and doing in their days.  Furthermore, the same spot Abraham had nearly sacrificed his son would be the spot where God would willing give His Son for sinners.

- Job 9:32-33 “For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him,That we may go to court together. 33 “There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.".  When Job uttered those words, he was in anguish and grief.  He ached for the day when there would be a permanent mediator between He and the God he was desiring to hear speak to him once again.  

The Old Testament saints were pining away and desiring to see more clarity. They anticipated the coming fullness of God's salvation.  Step by step it was revealed. To Adam and Eve salvation was a plan, and to Abraham and his descendants, a promise.  By David's day the promise was further specified to be about a Person who would come from his bloodline, with other prophets like Micah revealing the Messiah's birth place. Isaiah the prophet would write about how this Person of the Messiah would suffer, die and rise from the dead in Isaiah 53. Indeed this progressive revelation of the Gospel was step by step revealed. 

c. The Gospel's revealer is The Holy Spirit.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:11a "seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating." This Gospel, which is the same throughout the Bible in regards to its contents, and step by step revealed in varying forms and ways, has as its Revealer the Holy Spirit.  The title "Spirit of Christ" is used here to designate one of two things: either the Spirit is in close association with Christ and His work or He is the Spirit who is sent by Christ to reveal to the Prophets His coming person and mission. Either way, the Holy Spirit is never dis-associated from the Son, since His main task is to point the way to the Son. (Isaiah 11:2; John 16:8-15) This leads us then to the second major consideration of the Gospel revealed in scripture, namely that...

2. Revolves around the Son. 1 Peter 1:11

Undoubtedly the Spirit of Christ inspired the scriptures and gave them to us so that we could know the glorious Christ. Peter writes on in 1 Peter 1:11 "seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow." How much did the prophets know about the Son? As I heard one Bible teacher say recently: the Old Testament saints saw Jesus in black and white, whereas we New Testament believers see Him in full, vibrant color. According to Hebrews 11:26, Moses, living nearly 1500 years before Christ's incarnation: "considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward." Isaiah predicted the sufferings of Christ in Isaiah 53 and David saw Jesus Christ's resurrection in Psalm 16. Just as the planets of our solar system revolve around our natural star, the sun, reflecting its light and being held in orbit by its gravity, so too do the verses of scripture of God's revelation revolve in orbit around the Divine Son - Jesus Christ. So the Gospel revealed in scripture was revealed in progression and revolves around the Son but notice thirdly, it....

3. Remains to be preached.  1 Peter 1:12 

Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:12 "It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look." The Gospel's progressive revelation, about the Person of Christ, was meant to be preached. Twice in the above passage Peter makes mention about the Gospel being "announced" and it being "preached". The priority of preaching cannot be overestimated in the scripture, even though it is often grossly underestimated in our time and churches today. We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 1:20-21 (20) "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (21) For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." Quite literally, the Greek word translated "foolishness" in 1:21 is where we derive our word "moron".  In the eyes of men, preaching is a "moronic" method.  Often, without saying it, people express their preferences for other methods of "bringing in the people". 

Preaching is not man's method of delivering the Gospel, but God's. Consider Romans 10:14-15  "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? (15) How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” Preaching is the means of delivering the Gospel, with the scripture being the ground of the Gospel. The Holy Spirit empowering the preaching is the Supreme Evangelist.  Unless the Spirit attends the preaching of the Word, the preacher is no more effective than a glove without a hand. The scripture's power to save is unquestioned. The preacher is ever in dependence upon the Spirit speaking through those words. 

Conclusion
So what can be said about the manner in which God unfolded the Gospel of salvation in His word? First, the Gospel is revealed in progression (1 Peter 1:10-11a). Second, the Gospel revolves around the Person of Christ (1 Peter 1:11). Then finally, the Gospel remains to be preached. (1 Peter 1:12)

Four Great Truths of Salvation - 1 Peter 1:1-9

1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Introduction
The able commentator Robert Leighton writes these words in his commentary on 1 Peter about the verses we will be exploring today:
"It is a cold, lifeless thing to speak of spiritual things upon  mere report; but they that speak of them as their own, as having share and interest in them, and some experience of their sweetness, ....their hearts are straight taken with such gladness, as they are forced to vent praises. Thus our Apostle here, and St. Paul, and often elsewhere, when they considered these things wherewith they were about to comfort the godly to whom they wrote, they were suddenly elevated with the joy of them and broke forth into thanksgiving; so teaching us, by their example, what real joy there is in the consolations of the Gospel."1

As Peter aims to convince us to "stand firm" in the true grace of God (1 Peter 5:12), he begins with the foundational truths of salvation. In today's post I want us to note four such truths that are revealed in 1 Peter 1:1-8.  In other words, we can behold in these verses the following four great truths of salvation in these verses:

1. The Basis of Salvation - Chosen by God
1 Peter 1:1-2 lays out for us this eternal foundation of salvation. Peter describes the believers to whom He writes in verses 1 and 2 as those "who are chosen, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father". Such a choice by God was made in eternity. Ephesians 1:4 describes the timing of God's choosing as occurring "before the foundation of the world".  This Sovereign choice of God was determined by His choice to love those whom He saw in the beloved Son. (Ephesians 1:4-5) Why does Peter start with election? Because this basis of salvation says that God the Father had loved every child of God whom He purposed in His mind to love in Christ from all eternity.  This eternal basis of salvation tells us that salvation is not based on human performance, but God's accomplishment. Dr. Robert Jefress of the 1st Baptist Church of Dallas said this most recently: "Why did God save you? It was not based on your goodness, but His goodness."  That gets at the heart of the practical significance of God's elective purpose of grace. The purpose was for His glory and the targets of His choice are helpless people, lost and spiritually dead in Adam. (Ephesians 2:11-12) Grace said in eternity "yes", even though I was born into this world saying "no" to God. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 calls this "God's purpose of grace".  So God's Sovereign choice represents the basis of salvation, but there is a second great truth of salvation pointed out by Peter, namely...

2. The Beginning of Salvation - New Birth
1 Peter 1:3 states - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Here is a very important question: when does one's personal salvation begin? Answer: New Birth. Peter here is not taking away the need for men and women to be born again, believe and be saved. We must not confuse the basis of salvation - election, with the beginning of salvation -conversion. The New birth experience is from God, the birth from above. (John 3:3; James 1:17-18) Though God Sovereignly chose whom He will on the basis of His foreloving purposes, nevertheless until by the working of His grace a sinner receives Christ's saving work, salvation will have no beginning in that person's life. 

The paradoxical but nonetheless dual truths of God's Sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation cannot be denied, conflicted nor contradicted.  The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 defines the New Birth in conversion: "Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace."  

To bring home what Peter is speaking of here in 1 Peter 1:1-3, think of the relationship between a foundation and a building. The foundation is necessary, since upon it will be built the building.  However when the foundation is poured, that does not mean the building is finished.  The same architect who designed that foundation also includes the necessary framing, walls, roof and interior.  I don't enter into a foundation, however I do enter into a building.  Conversely, unless there had been a foundation, there would not had been any building.  So it is with our salvation.  We have as its basis God's choice (and we could say the cross of Jesus Christ and the scriptures which function as two other Divinely ordained foundations) which leads to the beginning of salvation, conversion. But now lets consider a third great truth of salvation...

3. Building of growing salvation - Sanctification
1 Peter 1:4 notes - "to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you". You may notice that the word "obtain" is in italicized print.  Why is that? The translators of the NASB included that word to make it smoother for us English readers. However the original Greek begins the verse in this fashion: "to a non-decaying, pure and non-wilting inheritance that has been guarded in heaven for you." Sanctification is that process of salvation that follows from the beginning of our salvation we call justification. It is in sanctification that I am becoming in the experience of salvation what God declared me to be in justification or the beginning of my salvation. In justification I am clad in the robe of Christ's credited righteousness, which in turn provides the power and pattern for me to live more consistently in my daily practical righteousness. The goal of sanctification is obtaining (which the NASB is helping us to understand). Sanctification is God's building project whereby He has made me both the object of construction and participator in construction. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 says the following:  "Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life." So God's choice is the basis of salvation, conversion or New Birth is the beginning of salvation and sanctification is the building of a growing salvation.  Lets consider one more vital truth of salvation in 1 Peter 1:5-8

4. Blessed Assurance of salvation - Complete Security

This final truth is truly the shining star in today's post. This final point is based upon the first, guarantees the second point, is the goal of the third point and truly is the culminating point of Peter's opening here in 1 Peter.  As you read down through 1 Peter 1:4-8, you can note four thoughts underneath this point of blessed assurance being espoused here by the Holy Ghost through Peter.  Note how they build onto one another:

a. Secured. 1 Peter 1:4-5

1 Peter 1:4-5 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away,reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Five words underlined in the above text emphasize the security of the believer.  The old term that was used for years was the term "perseverance of the saints" or "preservation of the saints". The Baptist Faith & Message 2000 is worth quoting on this point: "All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."

b. Secured through trials. 1 Peter 1:6-7

1 Peter 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ".

c. Secured through trials with joy.  1 Peter 1:8

1 Peter 1:8 "and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory."

d. Secured through trials with joy to the end. 1 Peter 1:9
1 Peter 1:9 "obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."

Conclusion

May you be blessed this day dear believers as you contemplate these four great truths of salvation spelled out by 1 Peter 1:1-8:

1. Chosen by God - salvation's basis

2. New Birth- salvation's beginning

3. Continual Sanctification-salvation's building project

4. Complete security-salvation's assurance

Endnotes

1. Robert Leighton. Commentary on First Peter. Kregel Publishers. Page 28

Oldest complete commentary on Revelation

Revelation 4:6-8 "and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”                                          

Introduction: 

Yesterday we considered the theme of Heavenly worship in Revelation 4:6-11.  We noted that heavenly worship consists of testimony, thanksgiving and total awe of God.  Undoubtedly this text is Revelation is breath-taking, and in today's post I wanted to look at it again through a different set of eyes.  The earliest complete commentary on the Book of Revelation was composed by an early Christian commentator by the name of Victorinus in the late 3rd century (nearly 1800 years ago). The full text of his insights on Revelation 4:6-8 below will serve to give the reader an example of some of the rich, unique and at times imaginative insights that can be gleaned from reading older Christian writers. I hope you find Victorinus' commentary both edifying and interesting.a  I now present to you his comments on Revelation 4:6-8 in their entirety:

Victorinus' Commentary on the Apocalypse of John.

"The four animals are the four Gospels. He says The first is like a lion, the second is like a bull, the third is like a man, the fourth is like a flying eagle; having six wings around them, eyes both inside and outside, and, he says, never ceasing to say.....b Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.

Twenty-four elders sitting, having twenty-four judgment-seats: are the books of the Prophets and the Law, relating the witness of the Judge. For the twenty-four fathers are the twelve Apostles and the twelve Patriarchs. Therefore, the animals which are different faces, have them for this reason.

The animal like a lion is the Gospel according to John, which, while all the other Evangelists announced that Christ was made man, it was for him to announce that He was God before He descended and took on flesh,The Word was God, and because he proclaims like a roaring lion, his preaching bears the face of a lion. Like a man. Matthew made an effort to announce to us the family of Mary, through which Christ received flesh. Therefore, when he recounts from Abraham up to David, and from David up to Joseph, as though spoken of a man, thus his preaching receives the image of a man. Luke also, when he recounts from the priest Zacharias offering a sacrifice for the people and the angel appears to him, because of the priesthood and the sacrifice, this writing bore the image of the bull. Mark, the interpreter of Peter, wrote a record of those things which he generally taught, but not in order, and begins with the word of prophecy announced by Isaiah.

Therefore, they begin thus, saying: John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;c this is the face of a lion. And Matthew: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, son of God, son of David, son of Abraham;d this is the face of a man. And Luke thus: There was a priest of the name Zacharias, of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron;e this is the image of a bull. Mark begins thus: The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is written in Isaiah;f it begins with the Spirit flying, therefore, it also has the image of a flying eagle.

And not only the prophetic Spirit, but also the Word of God the Father Almighty, Who is His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, bears the same images in the time of His appearance to us. For when, it was predicted like a lion, and like the cub of a liong because for the salvation of men, He was made man, conquering death and freeing all; because He offered Himself as a sacrifice to God the Father for us, He is called a bull; and because He conquered death, ascended to heaven, extending His wings and protecting His people, He is called a flying eagle. Therefore these announcements, which are four, are actually one announcement, which came out of one mouth, like the river in paradise, from one source dividing into four parts.

And these animals have eyes inside and outside, that is the preaching of the New Testament; it shows Spiritual providence, which both looks into the secrets of the heart, and also sees things yet to come, which areinside and outside. The wings are the witnesses of the books of the Old Testament, and therefore they are twenty-four, which is also the same number of elders on the judgment-seats.h As an animal is not able to fly without having wings, so neither does the preaching of the New Testament have faith without having the previously announced witnesses of the Old Testament, by which it takes off from earth and flies. For always, when what was said before is found to have happened later, this makes an undoubting faith. For again, if wings are not attached to animals, they have no way to prolong (?) life. For without those things previously announced by the prophets being accomplished in Christ, their preaching will have been made worthless."i

Endnotes:

a (the web link is:http://christianbookshelf.org/victorinus/commentary_on_the_apocolypse_of_the_blessed_john/from_the_fourth_chapter.htm) 

b The original had the Greek text translated "holy,holy,holy", namely "Αγιος, αγιος, αγιος" (hagios, hagios, hagios). 
c Jn 1.1 

d Mt 1.1 

e Lk 1.5 

f Mk 1.1-2 

g Gen 49.9 

h The curious reader may wonder why Victorinus would mention only 24 books in the Old Testament, when in our English Bibles there are 39 books.  The answer lies in the fact that in the translation of the original Hebrew manuscripts and copies of the Old Testament, some of the Bible books were originally written as one volume.  So for example, the books of 1 Samuel were originally one book of Samuel, the books of Kings were originally one book and then the books of Chronicles were also originally one book.  The twelve books at the end of our English Old Testament called the minor prophets were originally included on one scroll.  Whenever the Jews translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek (a translation call the Septuagint), the bigger books or bigger sections of the Old Testament were turned into two books or separate books without altering the words.  Hence we still have the words as originally inspired by God, even though the arrangement of the volumes may be different.  Much like older and newer editions of books that come out today, an editor at a later time may choose to take bigger books and divide them into two or three volumes for ease of use, while still retaining the identical wording and intent of the author. 
i 1Cor 15.14

Heavenly Worship - Revelation 4:6-11

Revelation 4:8 "And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”

Introduction:
The late great Bible teacher and scholar Dr. John Walvoord notes this about the worship scene in Revelation 4 - As if anticipating the ultimate consummation where all recognize the exalted name of Jesus whether in heaven or hell, Revelation 4 reveals this intimate glimpse of heaven where all created beings join in a symphony of praise and give their honor and worship to the Almighty God.  The worthiness of God to receive such praise is related to His sovereign right to rule as the One who sits upon the throne." Walvoord later writes: Wise is the soul who finds in the Scriptures the revelation of such a God and who bows now in this day of grace in faith and worship before the God whom He will serve in eternity."1  As we enter into the scene of God's Heavenly throne room once again, we are struck by the Heavenly worship being done by the angelic realm and the realm of men. The 24 elders represent believers of all ages as the church triumphant. The angelic realm is represented by a particular order of beings called elsewhere in scripture by the title "cherubim". (Ezekiel 1:10; 10:1) 

As we explore Revelation 4:6-11 in today's post, our aim is to understand what particular elements are associated with Heavenly worship. Why? Because we as the saints of God here on earth, the church militant, as well as those saints in the Old Testament - Israel, were called to heavenly-type worship. Two texts will serve as prime examples of how Heavenly worship is meant for both heaven and earth. Psalm 150:1-2 "Praise the Lord!Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. (2) Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness." Romans 15:11 "And again, 'Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, And let all the peoples praise Him.” When we think of what worship means, commentator Robert Mounce notes: "The word 'worship' originally involved the idea of prostrating oneself before Deity to kiss his feet or the hem of his garment."2 With those introductory thoughts we now ask the question: what is entailed in heavenly worship? Note the following three main thoughts:

1. Testimony.            Revelation 4:6-8
2. Thanksgiving.        Revelation 4:9
3. Total Awe.             Revelation 4:10-11

Testimony.     Revelation 4:6-8
What is a testimony? Essentially it has to do with telling who God is and what He has done, is doing or will do. Three particular features of this text bear out three particular emphasis about God in this text. 

1. Testimony of marvelous grace. 
Much ink has been spilled in trying to explain what exactly the "sea of glass" is before the throne of God in Revelation 4:6. As we have noted in past blogs on Revelation, the book of Revelation has its own built in interpretive system.  When you turn to Revelation 15:3-4 you find the saints who came out of the Tribulation, who overcame the beast, standing around this "sea of glass, mingled with fire". Now what are they doing? They are testifying of God's marvelous grace in enabling them overcome. 

The text states that they sang a combination testimony song composed of "the song of Moses" and the "Song of the Lamb". Whenever you study those passages which record songs composed by Moses for God's people (Exodus 15, Numbers 21, Deuteronomy 32), they are songs that testify of God's marvelous grace of deliverance.  The song of the Lamb speaks of the type of songs sung in Revelation 5 that extol the victory of Jesus Christ in winning salvation for His people. God will see those saints through the extreme difficulties that will attend the tribulation period. We as Christians in this currents age worship with the testimony of the grace of God revealed to us in the fullness of time. (Titus 2:11) But notice a second great theme of testimony in heavenly worship, namely...

2. Testimony of majestic holiness. 
Revelation 4:6b-7 records these words: ..."four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.(7) The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle."  The particular angels spoken of here in Revelation 4:6-7 are those same Cherubim we see in Ezekiel 1 and 10. The Cherub is an angel that was created by God to "testify" of God's character and holiness. 

Cherubim were included in the furnishings and design of the tabernacle.  For example, we read in Numbers 7:89 - "Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him." Two golden Cherubim made out of one piece of solid beaten gold composed the lid of the ark called "the mercy seat". They were associated with the very furnishing, the "Ark of Testimony" that communicated God's holy presence among His people. 

The description of these Cherubim merits some explanation, being that it contributes further to showing how these beings testify about God. You will notice how these beings have the face of a lion, calf, man and eagle. These four "animals" represent the greatest examples of God's visible creation: the lion - king of the beasts; the calf or ox, chiefest of the the domesticated animals; man, the supreme pinnacle of the visible creation and then the eagle, master of the flying creatures. These Cherubim, in representing the interests of the highest orders of earth, point to the Holy One who is responsible for life in both heaven and earth. 

Now we know that the Cherubim's purpose for existence is to testify of God's holiness. Consider Revelation 4:8 - "And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”  Much as their counterpart Seraphim sang in Isaiah 6, these Cherubim are testifying in ceaseless praise the Thrice Holy Triune God. 

In that testimony of God's holiness we see them singing about His excellent character ("holy, holy, holy"); endless power ("is Lord God Almighty") and His eternal existence ("Who was, and Who is and Who is to come"). More could be said, but we must move onward to the second element of heavenly worship, namely....

Thanksgiving.   Revelation 4:9
Revelation 4:9 states - "And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever." Let me ask you something dear reader: when was the last time you thanked God for being God? Heavenly worship certainly must testify about God, but there must be thanksgiving as well. Our problem as God's people lies in our too frequent lack of gratitude. We complain and gripe more than we celebrate and glorify God. 

We don't thank Him enough for who He is and for what He has done. These angels were moved to give thanks to God, and when you consider the numerous passages that command us to be thankful, you see why heavenly worship is meant for us Christians here on earth. Psalm 136:1 tells us - "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,For His loving kindness is everlasting." Ephesians 5:19-20 "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (20) always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father." Other texts command us as believers to be ever thankful. (Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Hebrews 13:15) 

When you and I are consistently thankful, we are mirroring conditions as they are continuously in the third heaven. In a world that is un-thankful and unbelieving (Romans 1:28), thankfulness can function as a taste of heaven invading the darkness. Heavenly worship destroys bitterness, loosens the chains of bondage and liberates heart to fully testify and thank God for Who He is and what He has done. But now let us notice one more trait of heavenly worship, namely....

Total Awe.        Revelation 4:10-11
The worship scene switches from the angelic worshippers to the human ones. Once again we see the appearance of the 24 elders in Revelation 4:10.  Who are they? These 24 elders are most likely representative of the Old and New Testament saints. Other scriptures speak of 24 orders of priests and singers representing Israel in 1 Chronicles 24-25, as well as 12 patriarchs or sons of Jacob and the 12 apostles of Jesus. These 24 elders are representative, are human beings, and depict for the reader the activities Christians are and will be doing around God's throne. 

One important point to bring out about heavenly worship as it pertains to this final aspect of total awe is that the audience is not us. Its not the angels. God and God alone is the Audience to whom we direct our attention. Our worship here as Christians here on earth ought to be marked with the total awe of God.  1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 describes a church who was in awe of her Savior - "For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come." Another text where we see the urgency to have the awe of God in our worship services, 1 Corinthians 14:25 "the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you." 

Whenever we typically consider what marks an exceptional sermon or song service, most people think in terms of "relevance" and "connection on a personal level". And rightly so. Numerous passages speak of the need to come together as a church body and connect with the Lord and with one another. (Hebrews 3:12-13; 10:24-25)  However there must needs be another theme that marks our services and sermons - total awe of God.  There needs to be times in a sermon and song service where the worshipper, and song leader and preacher are absolutely blown away by God.

This type of impulse is created inside all of us when you think about it. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Its what drives people to travel hundreds of miles to see the Grand Canyon or to peer through a telescope into the night sky or pay good money to see professional sports or to see an action packed movie.  Whenever you say the word "awesome!", that's the language of worship.  We know this to be the case in activities and entertainment.  How much more must it be in the songs we sings, the sermons we preach and the types of lives we live. We ought to be a people who are known for being in awe of God and who project to others how awesome God is. 

Conclusion:
In our time here in Revelation 4:6-11, we have discovered the following traits of heavenly worship: testimony, thanksgiving and total awe. May you and I, believer, be those who are about the heavenly worship of our Great God and Savior this day!  

Endnotes:
1. John Walvoord. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Moody Press. 1966. Page 112

2. Robert Mounce. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Eerdmans. 1977. Page 139

Satan's Disastrous Fall, Christ's Decisive Victory

Ezekiel 28:11 "Again the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God....'".

Introduction:As we turn our attention today to Ezekiel 28, we will be looking at verses 11-19. Ezekiel 28 represents a series of prophecies against the nations of Tyre (28:1-19) and Sidon (28:20-24), with a final section promising the restoration of Israel at Messiah's (Christ's) return to earth. (28:25-26) The wider context prior to Ezekiel 28 shows an extended denouncement by God of Tyre, beginning all the way back in Ezekiel 26. It is important to consider the context because it provides the springboard into what will be the prophetic account of Satan’s disastrous fall.1 The King of Tyre here in Ezekiel's prophecy would had exhibited the traits of pride and violence, thus mimicking the cosmic, disastrous fall of Satan right after creation's completion.2 Undoubtedly Tyre was held responsible for introducing idolatry into Israel - most notably the worship of Baal, during the days of Ahab and Jezebel in 1 Kings 16. Fast- forwarding some 250 years later, the meteoric rise, unimaginable pride and polluted character of the King of Tyre in Ezekiel's day propels us into the text that speaks of an ancient disastrous fall of cosmic proportions - namely Satan's fall.


Satan's identity and disastrous fallAs we turn our attention to Ezekiel 28:11-19, we see a shift in scenery from the earthly to the heavenly. As already mentioned, God is using an earlier event to emphasize why it was he was proclaiming judgment against Tyre. The figure depicted in the text is called an "anointed cherub". Depending on how much we parallel Isaiah 14:12 with this text, the name "Lucifer" or "Star" is assigned to this angelic being. His activity in heaven would not only identify him as an angel, but a very powerful one and perhaps the greatest of God's angelic creations (or at least one of them). The late great W.A Criswell notes this about Lucifer: "Who is that Lucifer whose pride, whose beauty, whose wisdom lifted him up against God Almighty? The Book says: "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth,' the one whose wings outstretched over God's creation and in whose beauty and wisdom and care, God gave the keeping of all His vast universe. In his pride and his beauty, he lifted up himself against God brought sin into heaven, brought sin into this world and destroyed God's beautiful creation." 3


From what we can gather, this grandest of Cherubim's fall was disastrous and tragic. This wondrous angel, created good by God, chose evil and thus became Satan. This disastrous fall is the first among the many subsequent judgments that God issues and will issue against Satan in scripture.4 In this particular disastrous fall, we can note the following details about him gathered from the text:


1. Master of Heavenly ceremonies. 28:11-15aWe know that Ezekiel is shifting gears by the wording of Ezekiel 28:11 "Again the word of the Lord came to me saying....". As you go down through the text, you see how Lucifer (or the anointed Cherub as deemed here in Ezekiel 28) was undoubtedly a master of ceremonies among the angels. The main verbs in the text tell us how wonderful God had made this amazing creature.


First, we see this master of ceremonies in regards to his perfection. 
Ezekiel 28:11 - “You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty...". The tragic tone is in what Lucifer, now Satan, "had". The original text brings out the fact that he had all these qualities as much as a creature could have. God spared no effort in his creation of this amazing angel. Among the firmament of heaven's hosts, Lucifer outshone them all. Whenever Lucifer led the proceedings of heaven's throngs, all eyes were on his leadership as he in turn directed all eyes to the uncreated God who gave each of them, including this former master of angelic ceremonies, the gift of life.


Then we see Satan in regards to the place he dwelt. 
Ezekiel 28:12 these words: "You were in Eden, the garden of God....". No doubt the earthly Eden had some type of heavenly counterpart, paradise of heaven as so termed by Jesus Himself to that thief on the cross in Luke 23:43. The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:4 also speaks of this Heavenly paradise, the "third heaven". This was the former grand Cherub's home and his "tromping grounds" so to speak. Right now Satan is a transient visitor who at times appears before God, like He did throughout the Old Testament, to bring accusation (for that is what the name "Satan" means = accuser). However when God created Him, he was a perfect created being, at home in heaven.

Thirdly we see the position he once held          
Ezekiel 28:14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers....". By the wording in the original we gain the sense that Lucifer stood as a screen between the angels of God and the infinitely High and exalted Triune God. Though Lucifer was just as infinitely inferior to God as the rest of creation, nevertheless among the angelic orders, Lucifer was held in the highest esteem for his integrity, character and magnetic influence. This former Cherub’s mighty wings shielded the angelic choirs who sang their praises to the God of glory. His position was about as high as any created being could be.

Fourthly, we see this creature's former perfection.                                               
Ezekiel 28:15 “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you." He was, in the wording of the original language: sound, without flaw, complete in every respect, peerless, full in every creaturely way. Then that terrible word spells the beginning of the end, "until". Unrighteousness, evil, was chosen in the heart of the creature, by the creature. Lucifer began reflecting on his creaturely perfection, rather than God's infinite perfection. He choose the good over the supreme, and a rotteness, a void, a fissure appeared, and Lucifer chose to rebel.

This Master of Ceremonies, with unrighteousness being found in him, went headlong into his...

2. Massive Fall. 28:16-18This massive fall of disastrous proportions was motivated by....aggression (28:16); Absolute Selfishness (28:17) and Alluring rebellion (28:18; Revelation 12:4). Satan's belief was that he had somehow been cheated by God, even though God gave him, above all other created beings, the most beauty and most wonderful position any creature could have. We get a clue that this former grand anointed cherub believed God was holding out by the lies he speaks to Adam and his wife in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:1-5. His aggression was fueled by his absolute selfishness. Evil's character is that of self-consumption. The more it gets, the more it wants. Evil in and of itself is not so much a substance as the absence thereof. Like a rotted place in a piece of fruit, or a shadow in an otherwise lit room, evil's dark flame consumed Satan (Ezekiel 28:18), and would soon consume 1/3 of the Angelic host in an alluring rebellion that ended in Lucifer's first disastrous fall. (Revelation 12:4)

The consequences of this massive fall would lead to....

3. Morbid outcomes.As you survey scripture, what morbid outcomes can we note? For sake of space and time we will note three main morbid outcomes of Satan's disastrous fall: 

a. Demonic realm or fallen angels (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4)
b. Fall of man (Genesis 3:1-14)
c. Curse (Romans 8:21-25

But that's not where the Bible ends. Remember, this all took place at the beginning, right after the creation week. God's plan and purposes for His creation were not frustrated. Why? Because God had already planned for....

4. Christ's Decisive victory 

Thanks be to God, Satan's disastrous fall did not render God's will frustrated and mankind without hope. Indeed, Lucifer, who became Satan and those angels who rebelled with him forever sealed their doom. However Christ would come to win a decisive victory that would aim specifically at the morbid outcomes of Satan's disastrous fall.

1. Defeated the darkness. Colossians 2:11-15
2. Delivers by grace all who by grace through faith believe on Him. Ephesians 2:11-12
3. Reverses the curse. 

Because of what Christ did, the disastrous fall of Satan did not frustrate God's will. Christ's decision to come to this earth in His incarnation eternally prefaced creation and was an agreement He, The Father and the Spirit worked out as the One glorious God. (Ephesians 1:11) How do we know that Christ's victory on the cross and at the empty tomb truly accomplished the decisive victory? Because the promise God gives to Israel in Ezekiel 28:25-26 will take place at Christ's second coming. Unless Christ had been victorious in His first coming, there would had been no basis for God promising Israel's restoration at His second coming. If God's will for Israel will succeed (and it will), then we know that His promises of redemption for His people in the here and now are not frustrated. Satan's defeat at Calvary spells his eternal destruction.

Endnotes:

1. The great commentator Albert Barnes notes: "The prophecy against the prince of Tyre. Throughout the east the majesty and glory of a people were collected in the person of their monarch, who in some nations was worshipped as a god. The prince is here the embodiment of the community. Their glory is his glory, their pride his pride. The doom of Tyre could not be complete without denunciation of the prince of Tyre. Idolatrous nations and idolatrous kings were, in the eyes of the prophet, antagonists to the true God. In them was embodied the principle of evil opposing itself to the divine government of the world."                                 

2. According to history and scripture, Ithabaal I (or Ethbaal I) was the father of Jezebel, the wicked queen who married Ahab in 1 Kings 16:30-31. Much later on another King, Ithbaal III, ruling in the days of Ezekiel's prophecy. The pride of Tyre and the wickedness that ensured from its history came to shape its place in God's program of judging the nations in Ezekiel's prophecy against it in Ezekiel 26-28. Tyre had carried the traits of pride and foolishness throughout its existence in antiquity and experienced repeated falls, never learning from its errors. Little wonder that God, in His providence, finds Tyre's propensities as being similar to those of the enemy of our souls and his ongoing efforts to rebel.
3. W.A Criswell. Expository Sermon's on Revelation - Volume 3. Zondervan. 1961. Page 49. Sixteenth Printing. 1982

4. These subsequent falls or defeats of Satan will be covered in future messages. For reference sake I will list them with their respective scriptures:

a). Disastrous fall at creation: Ezekiel 28 (Isaiah 14?)b). Disabled in Christ's earthy ministry: Luke 10:18
c). Defeated at the cross: Colossians 2:11-15; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:8
d). Decisive outcasting during Tribulation. Isaiah 14:12-23 (Ezekiel 28?); John 12:31; Revelation 12:7-17; 13:1-15:8
e). Debilitated at the Millennium (Revelation 20:1-3)
f). Destroyed eternally in Lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10)