Revelation, Part 4

This is part 4. We will finish it up next on trumpets. Part 5 on the book of Revelation, an end-time prophecy. Because, contrary to other church leaders, I don't want you to fear anything. God did not give us the spirit of fear, but a power and love and a sound mind. So I will... That's why I was going through this. So, as you can see, God's in charge.

Revelation is a very interesting book, but not one of the needed for salvation, as other people want to use it. Well, we have, in part 1, we covered a little bit about the first chapter of Revelation. We went through some of the points there and let us understand about symbols, symbolism, the Bible, and that this was part of a vision, and that John was given.

And then we actually covered in two other messages about the churches of Revelation. So today I want to go into something and cover it very quickly. It doesn't take long. Revelation 4 and Revelation 5. Because why is it important? Why are we covering it? Well, the title of today's sermon is, What's in Your Bowl? What's in Your Bowl?

Okay. It's the title. Does it really matter to you what's going on up there? Does it? Are you apathetic about what's going on at the throne of God? Do you feel like God is apathetic about what's going on down here? Well, He's not. But I want you to understand that up there is in here.

Up there is in here. And that's what I want to cover and why I want to cover it to date. So that you can have a thorough understanding. Exactly who's in charge, because we know God is in charge. He's still on His throne, and Christ is still at His right hand. But do you understand who, what, when, and why? There is a reason God put chapter 4 and chapter 5 in the Bible. He put it there for us, for us to have a better understanding.

I'd like you to turn back to Daniel, if you don't mind. Let's go back to Daniel, chapter 7. Daniel, chapter 7. Daniel is also given a vision of up there. Up there. And in Daniel 7 and verse 9, He said, I watched till thrones were put in place. Or set up. What kind of thrones were these? Who was sitting on those thrones? You might find that in Revelation 11, 16, if you want to turn there.

I'll go on through here, because I want to stick with the story flow. He said, I watched till thrones were put in place. And the ancient of days was seated. Who is the ancient of days? Who? No. God the Father. This is one of the few places in the Old Testament where actually God the Father and the Son are pictured together. It was interesting for all those scribes and Pharisees who couldn't understand that there were two eternal beings that Jesus Christ was talking about. But it says, and the ancient of days was seated. So here was God the Father, a vision of God the Father.

His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. His throne was like a fiery flame, and its wheels a burning fire, which you can cross-check in Ezekiel if you know your Bible. A fiery stream issued and came forth from him. Thousands, thousands, millions, ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated and the books were opened.

Judgment began. Now down in verse 13, Daniel said, I was watching in the night visions, and behold one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He, who is this? That's known as Jesus Christ. He came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. So actually, and they brought him, Jesus Christ, near God the Father. Then to him was given dominion. Him, like my wife always has a problem with my poor use of pronouns, where I don't specify that. I guess Daniel had the same thing. Then to him was given dominion, this was Jesus Christ, and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and language would serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away in his kingdom, the one which shall not be destroyed. Where is he? To read that scripture, I asked the question, where is he? Where was and is the Holy Spirit? Here we're given a glimpse of the King of the throne. And here we have God the Father and Jesus Christ. If you believe in the Trinity, as this seminary guy was taught, the pastor didn't want to booklet anymore.

If the Trinity teaches, the teach of Trinity, teach that it is a person, a third part of the Godhead, where is he? He's not up there. He's not up there. As also, another proof to debunk that is just read Paul's letters. Almost every one of them. I may be thinking there's one that doesn't. But all his letters, he addresses and thanks God the Father and Jesus Christ. But he doesn't say a thing about the Holy Spirit being that person. Now, I don't know that that's a problem here. It's very easy using those two examples to debunk. The Holy Spirit is a person. It's not. It's actually the essence, as I've said before, the essence and power of God.

So, in the fourth and fifth chapters, if we can turn back there, let's turn to the fourth chapter of Revelation. In the fourth chapter and the fifth, we are given not only a glimpse, but we get to see what's going on up there and who is up there. Okay? Who's up there? When you study this, for those who need to debunk something else that we do not go to heaven, you'll find that there are beings up there, but there are some people, if you believe in going to heaven, when you die.

There's a problem that that doctrine that churches teach poses, because as we get a glimpse of this heaven and heavenly throne, there's no Moses, or there's no Elijah, as we talked about the transfiguration. Where were they? They should be hanging up there with God! Right? Can't find them. There's no Abraham, for those who want to take it the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, literally. No Abraham up there. David?

No. John the Baptist. He's not up there either. And neither is Enoch, who disappeared. None of those guys are up there. But we do find angels, elders, four living creatures, which are known as seraphim, and we see that there's a festal gathering in the third heaven.

Now, before you can take something literally there, as the Bible teaches us, we can do another study on that sometime. There are three heavens. There's a first heaven. Matter of fact, I've been the first heaven before on an airplane. Matter of fact, we've got a couple of pilots here.

One sitting in the very back. Another one sitting looking at me now. They've been to the heaven by themselves, right? Matt, you didn't see Elijah up there somewhere, did you? Orlando, you didn't see Enoch. No. So there is a first heaven, which is what we see in the clouds, and then there's outer space.

The next, as you go up, the second heaven. And then there is a heaven, which is called where God's throne is. Even our Hubble telescope hasn't gone that far yet. So let's read chapter 4 and verse 1. I'll go through this very quickly. You may have questions if you do. Write them down. We'll cover them sometime. In chapter 4 and verse 1, as John is there, he says, After these things I looked and behold, a door standing open to heaven. And the first voice, which I heard, was like a trumpet, speaking to me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this. Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne set in heaven.

And the one sat on the throne. So there's someone sitting on that throne. And he who sat there was like a jasper in Sardis stone in appearance. And there was a rainbow around the throne in the appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. And on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting clothed in white robes. And they had crowns of gold on their head.

And from the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God, which we covered in the very first chapter. They were the angels for the churches. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal. And in the midst of the thrones and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in the front and in the back.

A real freak show here, according to us. If you were up there all the time, probably not. The first living creature, which is a seraphan, which is a type of angel. We have caribbean, we have seraphan, we have other angels. But it said the first living creature, which was a seraphan, was like a lion. The second living creature like a calf. The third living creature had the face like a man. And the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.

And they do not rest day or night saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.

So what are they teaching us? As a matter of fact, one manuscript there in verse 8 actually says, as I brought up before, holy nine times.

So these living creatures are saying God is what? Very, very, very holy.

And John is seeing this. And that's what we need to know.

That God is very, very holy. And it says then in verse 9, Whenever the living creatures give 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 they worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things and by Your will they exist and they were created.

How about us? How about us?

Do we do it like the seraphim? Like the 24 elders?

Do it, I mean pray.

Do we pray like that? As it says, do we give glory and honor and thanks to God the Father?

It's a question.

What's in your bowl?

What's in your bowl?

Let's go to chapter 5.

Now 14 verses in chapter 5. Powerful verses that teaches a great deal if you care to study.

It says in verse 1, And I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Who was that?

Who sat on the throne? Come on. That's right. The Father. He's on the throne.

I saw in the right hand, as I brought you last week and talked about a scroll and having seven seals. Well, I wanted you to understand about the seven seals. But in reality, that scroll, because those are made like different scrolls. In reality, at that time, they would have scrolls.

And these scrolls, they would roll out. And some were up to 30 foot long. Can you imagine? A scroll, almost as long as a stage, and then you would roll it up.

Well, it said, I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?

As we understand that the seals, the scroll, as these seals are opened, the book of Revelation will be unveiled.

We're going to see about the seven seals that you have in front of you on that piece of paper. Did you guys get one of those? Do we have any more of those?

Do you have one, Mary?

I think there is one. So here is a scroll, and it is in the hand of God.

And they said, who's worthy to open the scroll, which is going to contain what we read in the rest of Revelation?

Who can open it? Or who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? And in verse 3 it said, And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. Want to see what's in here. So I went much because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at it. So they are saying, the angel is saying, Well, nobody is worthy to open this. No one! So, sorry, John, that's it.

And so he was very upset, because he wanted to see what's in God's hand. What's in God's hand?

But one of the elders said to him, Do not weep. Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.

So, the one who died, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, is worthy to open that scroll. And I put a little, because I use clear tape to make this demonstration. But I want to give you a demonstration of kind of what it looks like, because it always helps if you have a visual.

When you're looking at the scroll, and so they had a seal on it. As seals were done out of paraffin or wax or something, they put a seal on it.

I had clear tape. But when you open the seal of this that you had here, and we will see later on, this seal was opened, and it rolled.

Just a little further.

And here was the first seal. And here then, it revealed the first seal. And then there was another seal up under it. The second seal, as you pull that out. And then you come down, and you see the third seal. And here it had to be opened again. This other seal. So here on this scroll, you had seven seals. And that's what you had to open. And each seal that was opened, broke a seal off, revealed more of what's going to happen at the end time. So that's what this scroll is all about. So I want you to understand, as you look at those seals, and you read them, that each part revealed another one, and another one.

Now, I want to go to a place. Because I think we need to see what is said, and why it's so important, and why this is laid out for us.

I mean, if I teach you nothing, that's what I'm worth. Nothing.

But I must teach you something so that you can take this and go and study, or you can explain this to someone else, so that you can teach.

I'd like you to go back to one of my wife's favorite psalms.

Psalm number eight.

Because it has something very important that involves you. It involves me. And it involves the destiny of even Jonathan, and Hannah, and even Lisa, and Nathaniel, and so many.

Now, this is something very powerful that you need to teach, because this is our destiny. And Psalm eight, it's very short, just nine verses. I want to read eight. Okay, Psalm eight. I'm going to read this from the New King James.

And it says, O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name, in all the earth. We sing a song from Psalm eight. You who set your glory above the heavens, out of the mouths of babes and infants, you have ordained strength because of your enemies, that you may silence the enemy and the avenger. But then something interesting is about to take place. He's about to tell you something that a lot of people, they don't grasp.

In verse three, When I consider your heavens, this is David writing this Psalm, When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, being he laid out there so many nights with his sheep, looking up at the stars and talking to God in the sky, and hopefully you have done this too, when you look up at the full moon or just the stars, and you realize that he's in charge.

God's up there. That's what's going on up there, and he's still in charge.

The moon and the stars which you have ordained, are you made.

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you may, what does it say, care for him? It says visit, but care for him.

So it is an awesome thing to be standing out by the oceans on an evening, whether it's not a full moon, and the stars are out even brighter, and you hear that ocean and you can see it, and you realize how awesome it is and how awesome the sky is, and you think to yourself, What is man that thou shall be mindful of him? Or you might say, What am I? God, that you care about me, that you brought me to this understanding, and the billions and billions of people don't even know you're out there, and those who don't care.

I remember Neil Armstrong, when he put his foot on the moon, way back in the late 60s, and I remember my father bringing it out when he stood there, and then he was able to look with the camera back at the earth, and he thought, and he said the same, What is man that thou shall be mindful of him?

But then something interesting takes place in verse 5.

It says, For you have made him a little lower than the angels. Is that what you have? A little lower than the angels. Well, you have to realize when you see that that's not the correct word.

The Hebrews put that in the Hebrew, because they could not grasp that we wouldn't just be angels.

You know how they teach today? Here you see all these movies about angels, man becomes an angel, and you had, what, all those TV shows touched by an angel, and highway to heaven, you had all these, and that's what so much of the world believes, that we're just, that's our destiny is to become an angel.

It's not. It's so much more powerful than that if they would just read the Scriptures.

And if we could totally and truly see it, we would be so fired up every day, we'd get up out of bed going, let's go get it done.

Let's go get it done. I'm looking forward to my destiny.

But it's interesting because the New Living Translation, which I quote fairly often, actually in Daniel, because the New Living Translation was translated by linguists, and so they pretty well put the words as the words were. Because Hebrews put this in because they go, no, we can't compare ourselves to God's.

But actually, in Psalm 7, Psalm 8, and verse 5, it says, Yet you made them only a little lower than God, because the word there is Elohim, God's, God's plural, and crowned them with glory and honor. Now, what am I coming to?

So you have crowned him with glory and honor. And verse 6, You have made him to have dominion over the works of your hands. You have put what? All. Did we get it? All things under his feet.

All sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field, and the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and that passes through the paths of the sea.

See, I don't think we think about it because I want to read this from the New Living.

It says, When I look at the night sky, chapter 8, verse 4, and I see the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set, what are mere mortals that you should even think about them? You have made them only a little lower now than the gods, than Alleluim. And crowned them with glory and honor, you gave them charge of everything you make.

Do we get it? Everything that you made. Okay. Remember what we just read in Revelation 4 and verse 11? How you, talking to God the Father, you did what? You created all things by your will. They exist and they were created.

And what is he telling us? That you will have dominion over all the works.

That's our destiny over all things. Dominion means rule and authority.

That is our destiny.

I mean, just think about all things that were made by God, planets created, right? Stars created, angels created.

We're not going to be angels.

We will have dominion and authority over angels. I didn't say that, the book says that. The Word of God.

Angels were created. You remember Ezekiel 28 as it talks about Lucifer?

One of the great angels, he said, when I created you.

And that's why Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 6 verse 3. He's telling those in the church, Corinthians, because they're arguing with each other and wanting to take each other to court. And they're like, oh, this and that. He says, what are you doing? Get the vision. Wake up. He says, do you not know that you, that you will judge angels? Yes.

Our destiny is not to be an angel, but to be a God.

And some people think it's blasphemy.

But that's what God says.

1 John 3, 2. Read it. That's why God is so vehement about us being zealous and getting on the ball and looking towards his kingdom and feeling juiced when we get up in the morning. We're one day closer to the kingdom of God.

Back to Revelation 5 verse 6.

Revelation 5.

Revelation 5 verse 6. And I looked and behold, in the midst of the throne and in the and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elder stood a lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Remember those angels over the churches?

We talked about in chapter 1. 1 John 3 verse 7. Then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of God who sat on the throne. So Jesus Christ came and he took the scroll. It's his.

He can open it now.

And he will reveal the seals that you have that paper in your hands.

He will reveal to you what's going to happen.

Verse 8. Now, when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb. Can you picture it? Can you see it?

Here you have the throne of God, right? And then you have 24 thrones with 24 elders or angels.

And the four living creatures, these seraphim, who are there at the throne. And up comes the glorified Jesus Christ.

And he goes and he takes the scroll. And when he's able, because they realize he's worthy to take it, they do what?

Fall down on their knees. What are they doing? What does it say they're doing? They're worshiping him, right?

So get this vision, because it's very important. Because it's got something to do with you today, tomorrow, and the next day. We have to grasp this. We have to get this in our head, because if we don't, we're not going to get it.

And it says, they fell before the lamb, each having a harp.

I always want to know where it said you'd go to heaven and harp. Well, that's what they're thinking. But these 24 elders and the four living creatures had harp. But you know what else they had? That's what it says. And golden bowls. I didn't have a gold bowl. My wife wouldn't let me paint this one.

Golden bowls. So here they had a harp in one hand, and they had a bowl in the other.

All of them! What's in your bowl?

Let's see. And it says, And golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Do you get it? Which are the prayers of the saints.

Our prayers. Think about it. Our prayers are gathered, and they're presented. Do we understand that? Do we grasp it? Do we realize that our prayers are collected? Remember what I said in 1 Samuel, as God was talking to Samuel? And he said, Not a word of your prayers fall to the ground.

When we pray, that's why I had four or five sermons on prayer. It's so important. It's so important for us to have the realization that these prayers are so important.

Bowl. And you realize that it says a golden bowl. You know why gold? You know why it's referenced in the Greek? Because it was the most valuable thing there was. So God gives these 24 elders, and he doesn't be a golden bowl, because your prayers are so precious, they couldn't be in anything else.

Is that not an awesome thought?

And they're collected, and if you look at it, as it says there, they're collected and presented to God the Father.

And sometimes I wonder, is my prayer going anywhere?

Ever had that? Did my prayer just hit the ceiling and bounced down?

Your prayers, our prayers are so precious. That's why we pray for each other. That's why we pray, our kingdom come.

They're collected, and they're presented.

As, okay, go over to, let's turn with me to Revelation 8. Revelation 8, verse 3. Said, then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar, and he was given much incense that he should offer it with, what? the prayers of the saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne.

Incense was always laid out in the temple as a sweet, something sweet smell. It's like entering your house, and there's a certain smell. But when we want to reach God, it was the way he did things. He instructed, so there's this sweet smell. It's like a positive affirmation that you're talking to God.

And these incense were always burnt.

And he's saying, not only that incense comes up, but your prayers. That's why I used a big bowl.

How big is your bowl?

Is it a little bitty bowl? Little bitty bowl will go, wow, there aren't many prayers in that thing. Here, God, let me bring this little teacup out here.

That's all I got.

What's in your bowls, brother?

That's what's so important. That needs to be presented. To before God the Father, who has power over everything, unlimited.

Go back to Revelation 5 now. And verse 9 as we continue here, as we wrap this up.

So if someone else asks me, well, what are the 24 elders doing? Do they just stand around praising God all day?

It's part of their job. They're tied to us.

Revelation 5, verse 9. Something happens then, because you have the 24 elders, you have the seraphan, the four living creatures, and the angels. And what happens in verse 9? And they sang a what?

What's that say? Tell me. A new song. Why do they need a new song? What's a new song? What's a new song got anything to do with it?

Oh, but let's look at the song. Okay, there's probably something you've never looked at before.

The song says, You are worthy to take the scroll, to open its seals, for you were slain and have redeemed us to God. Does that sound like a good song?

Yes, right?

What are they talking about?

These are angels. Christ didn't redeem them. Right?

Blood was for humans. Blood was not shed for angels. Right?

Why does it mean us?

Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever read that and said, Well, wait a minute. What's he talking about? Those are angels. They're singing this new song. Then let's finish it. For you have redeemed us to God by your blood, and out of every tribe and tongue and people and nations, angels didn't come from any tribe or nation, did they?

Oh! Then you can come up with what? Too many people in the world have said, Oh! Then that means that people have died, and they're up in heaven. There, the 24 elders are humans who died, and they went up there.

But we know that's not true.

The rest of the Bible contradicts that. So what are we talking about here?

Well, let's go down and it says in verse 10.

And have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth.

Now, if you have a new King James or the old King James, you realize some of those words right there are not in the original. You remember seeing that in you that I went through, and that M for manuscript? You notice how those words are there? Which tells, there's two words there that have been put in there.

By man, that were not in the original manuscript. Okay? So let's read it as it was in the original Greek.

It says, and have made them, see they put us. Why? Because they thought that's what, there were humans up there. And that's what this was. And have made them kings and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. You can see the little numbers by the words there, and see what they really meant.

So you go, well, that doesn't make sense either, does it? Oh, yes, it does. Makes perfect sense.

Who are they and who are them? Who are them and who is us?

Have you ever studied it to that detail?

Well, we have a new song.

This is a new song before Jesus Christ.

You can appreciate this being a singer, that Carl is.

There's a new song to be sung here. And the angels are singing it before Jesus Christ. But that new song is also sung a little bit later. Remember how we talked about last week of Bible study, the 144,000?

Let's go to Revelation 14.

Revelation 14, verse 3.

And this 144,000, you remember who they were? You remember how they were redeemed from the earth? Remember the song? This is what we had here.

You have redeemed us.

That's 144,000.

You know, they were redeemed from the earth, 12,000 from each of the tribes. Remember that?

But they're not in the first resurrection, right? But they will actually live over and be first fruits of the kingdom of God in the kingdom. Now, let's look and see what it says. And I heard a voice from heaven in verse 2, like the voice of many waters and the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. And they sang as it were a what? A new song. Before the throne, before the four living creatures, before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn that song except what? The 144,000 who were what? Redeemed from the earth.

That is their song.

So can you understand how it makes sense if you go back to it? They are going to sing this song.

These 144,000, those who are pulled out, sealed so they won't die in the tribulation. So they will live over into the kingdom of God. This 144,000 who will realize by that time they were sealed, they were protected during the tribulation, they will sing this song, You are worthy to take the scroll. Because why? Because they are a follower of Jesus Christ. To open its seals, for you were slain and you were redeemed for us.

To God by your blood. You redeemed us. You remember what redeemed means? You go back and read the story of Ruth. Of how it was redeemed? You were bought. You were bought by His blood.

You have redeemed us to God for your blood, and out of every tribe and tongue and people and nations. Remember? Not only the 144,000 who were sealed, but the innumerable multitude, verses after it, that we talked about, and have made them kings and priests. Or it says, a kingdom of priests. Who's them?

Ask yourself what your name is.

Them. Them.

They. The ones who will be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, who will be raised.

And have made them kings and priests, or God. And they shall reign on the earth. Does that make sense now? Hopefully it did. It made perfect sense to me, but if you just read it, you would not grasp it. But that's the new song. The 144,000 will sing, and it's about... They're singing about not only God redeemed us, saved us, sealed us, but that He gave His...

call that one the sons of God, those who have His Holy Spirit, you've made them kings and priests, and you will reign on the earth.

Revelation 5, verse 11, as we wrap this up. I said, Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and the living creatures, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. What are we talking about? Angels by the millions.

I think the New Living Translation puts tens of millions of angels are around the throne, worshiping.

That's what I had when I talked about the Sabbath and the Holy Days. These are holy convocation, Kadesh Mikros.

These... the angels gather at that time.

Just like the Sabbath, we may have 40 people in here. Guess what? There's tens of millions of angels gathering, because it's holy time to the sons of God. And these angels, just think about it. We don't even think about it. Here, we're sitting here today, and I realize the angels are present. We have an audience with God right now at this service. And what happens? They are looking down, and even though they see us, they know that someday they're going to be singing this song and working for us, and being under our authority.

And the humility that it will take to be an angel who has powered and not limited by this physical body. And someday they're going to be serving these little pieces of dirt that was turned from dirt to the divine. And they did it.

And they do it without a doubt, and will do it for eternity. Can you understand how Satan with his ego was not going to buy into that?

In verse 12, Saying with a loud voice, This ten thousand times ten thousand, Worthy is a Lamb who is slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such are in the sea and all that are in them, I heard saying, symbolically allegory, that all the world, all the world will eventually come to the understanding of what Jesus Christ was, and all will worship him.

And it says, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sets on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever. Then the four living creatures of seraphim Said, Amen! And the twenty-four elders did what? Fell down and worshiped him, who lives forever and ever and ever.

The angels, the seraphim, they all do it. They all bow down and they worship God and they praise God.

How about us? Do we do it enough? I bet you we don't. If we saw what John saw, I bet we would do it more often, wouldn't we? If we saw a glimpse of the glory of God or what our destiny will be, we would be doing it more often.

There was a TV show a few years back called, Frasier. I can't remember the guy that was in it, but he was a radio talk show host in Seattle.

And he always had this saying as he came on, Seattle, I'm listening.

Do we understand? Do we grasp that God is listening?

Do we understand? Do we take it seriously that God rather is listening?

Well, He is listening.

What's in your bow?

What's in your bow? Will you be able to fill this bow up this week?

We have an opportunity this week to fill up our bow and have those prayers. Your very words presented to God by the 24 elders and the four living creatures.

You know, the NSA makes a big thing out of listening to everything these days.

Well, they're not important.

Whether they think they are or not, the most important thing in this entire world and entire universe is God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. The highest power that exists in the Third Heaven, brother, is waiting for you. He's waiting for your prayers to be delivered to Him.

What is in your bow?