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Pentecost—1999
May 1, 1999
This is tape 2 on the sea of glass leading up to Pentecost. And I’ve done it this way so that when you come to day 49 and day 50 for Pentecost then you can put the whole picture together. And I have tried in the past to get it all together on day 49 and day 50 but everywhere I went on my trips I always had questions, “Can you tell us more about the sea of glass?” And so in giving this I ran out of space last time to get it all on one tape so I said, “Ok we will do it on two tapes.” And then you can put this together with day 49 and day 50 when they come. So let’s back up and just talk a little bit now about the throne of God and how the throne of God and the sea of glass are combined together, as we will see. But let’s go back and look at some of the scriptures that we ended up, just in review.This is tape 2 on the sea of glass leading up to Pentecost. And I’ve done it this way so that when you come to day 49 and day 50 for Pentecost then you can put the whole picture together. And I have tried in the past to get it all together on day 49 and day 50 but everywhere I went on my trips I always had questions, “Can you tell us more about the sea of glass?” And so in giving this I ran out of space last time to get it all on one tape so I said, “Ok we will do it on two tapes.” And then you can put this together with day 49 and day 50 when they come. So let’s back up and just talk a little bit now about the throne of God and how the throne of God and the sea of glass are combined together, as we will see. But let’s go back and look at some of the scriptures that we ended up, just in review.
Let’s go to Psalm 11. And I think the thing that is most interesting is this in viewing the things concerning William Tyndale, which I’ve discussed a little bit, but that those who really have the Spirit of God and want to teach the word of God, as William Tyndale did, and as anyone that God will use, they will preach the words of Christ. They will use the scriptures. And when you stop and think about it, there is nothing greater that you can use. There is nothing greater that you can preach on than the word of God. Because the word of God is true. The word of God has been sent to us so that we may understand. The word of God is given to us to bring us eternal salvation through Christ and the Holy Spirit of God. So we have here in our hands sitting in front of us the greatest possession that you could have. That’s why David said, “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.” (Psa. 119:127). Because there is no wealth in the world that can buy this. There is no wealth in the world that can buy what William Tyndale did over 460 years ago. And he did it so that it is a blessing for us today.
And part of understanding the word of God is to go through it and put it together and let God lead us in it, you see. Christ gave the promise that the Spirit will lead us into all truth, and will lead us into understanding the things which are to come. But it’s also based upon, do we love God? Because if we don’t love God then that’s not going to happen. God will leave us to our own devices. If we love power and prestige and money and things of this world, then God will leave us to our own devices. Before then He will correct us, He will work with us to bring us to repentance that we may change and grow.
And I think when we’re looking at this thing concerning Pentecost and when we are looking at the old teachings that we had in Worldwide, I think that part of the problem was this, is that in keeping a Monday Pentecost we never understood the truth of the resurrection being pictured by the day of Pentecost. That was part of the penalty that we had. And yet down through the years it was always bragged upon that, “Well, God blessed us though we kept a Monday Pentecost and what was bound on earth was bound in heaven.” Well if it was, why did God change it? Why did God bring it to their attention to do it correctly? Well that’s so those of us who remain can understand the truth. So when we get into the sea of glass we need to understand about the throne of God. And so we’re going to cover some scriptures about the throne of God and then we will go on through and into the book of Revelation and then we will see why Pentecost has to be on and pictured by the first resurrection rather than Trumpets.
Here, Psalm 11:4, “The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men.” So God knows. Now remember the account when Stephen was martyred in Acts 7? He said he saw heaven opened and the Son of man standing at the right hand of the throne of God looking down and seeing what was going to happen. “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth. Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” And we see in the book of Revelation, does God do that? No doubt about it. “For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright “ (Psa. 11:4-7). So God is on His throne.
Let’s come here to Psalm 45 and let’s see what kind of throne this is. This is really…this is a prophecy of Christ Himself. Psalm 45:6, “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre [or a righteous sceptre].” “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows” (Psa.45:6-7). That’s a direct prophecy of Christ. And of course Christ is right at the very throne of God.
Now let’s come over here to Psalm 47 and let’s pick it up here in verse 7. “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness” (Psa. 47:7-8).
Now let’s see what happened to the throne of God during the days of Ezekiel. Let’s go back and review that, because part of understanding about the sea of glass is this: that wherever God goes when He’s not on His throne He has a portable throne that’s in the Cherubim. And that’s what Ezekiel saw. Now I’m not going to go back and try and understand all of that, and try and tell you what it was that Ezekiel saw. I don’t think any man can really figure out exactly what he said. I know I’ve seen people draw pictures of it and it kind of looks like a combination of a jet plane and a flying saucer and all of that sort of thing, so I don’t know what it looks like. But it’s very possible.
But nevertheless let me just review and say this as we discussed last time. Everything that we see in this room and see around us in the world is made of the dust of the earth. Now, we’re made of the dust of the earth but that, in the flesh of human beings, is formed into a different kind than the soil out here, or the grass, or the trees, or the carpet that we have on the floor here, or the lights that we have overhead. Likewise with God. God makes things out of spirit which are not necessarily living creatures. Now, that’s the best I can explain about the Cherubim. The Cherubim may in fact be living creatures but you look at it in another way and they may in fact not be living creatures as they’re attached to this thing called the Cherubim and it is a chariot of God.
So let’s pick it up here in Ezekiel 1:21, and here’s how it went. “When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them…” Kind of sounds like collapsing wheels, doesn’t it? Almost like wheels of an airplane that they land on the wheels and when they take off the wheels close up. That’s what it sounds like to me. “…For the spirit [that is the power] of the living creature was in the wheels. And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal…” (Ezek. 1:21-22). So notice we’re going to see that the sea of glass, and around God’s throne, crystal is referred to as crystal. But I’m sure that it is something that is made out of spirit that is spirit substance that is created into the thing that God moves around in. Just like your car. Your car is made out of the dust of the earth. But you stop and think about how the dust of the earth has to be refined to make the car, to make the plastic, to make the metal, to make the tires, to give you all the things that you have with heating, with air conditioning, with the radio, with…you know, if you have a record player or a cd player…all of those things.
Now if we can do this as human beings, cannot God do more and greater with spirit? I mean after all, consider New Jerusalem that’s coming down out of heaven. That’s wholly made out of spirit, ok. So here’s “…terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.” So it’s kind of like an arch. “And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters…” Kind of like a big power thrust taking off. And that’s what the shuttle launch sounds like when you listen to it, see. And it’s got the fire breathing out the back, ok. “…As the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings” (vs. 22-24). So in other words, when it came to a stand still they let down their wings. Reminds me more of a helicopter, doesn’t it, with the wings?
“And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne [now we’re talking about the throne of God], as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of His loins even upward, and from the appearance of His loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain…” Now we’re going to see when we come back to Revelation 4 that the rainbow surrounds God’s throne. So this goes wherever He goes. “…so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face and I heard a voice of one that spoke” (vs. 25-28).
Now Chapter 2:1, “And He said unto me, ‘Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.’ And the spirit entered into me when He spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard Him that spake unto me. And He said unto me, ‘Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day’” (Ezek. 2:1-3).
Ok, let’s come to Chapter 3:10, “Moreover He said unto me, ‘Son of man, all My words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.” Boy what a lesson for us today. Absolutely, what a lesson. Do we receive all the words of God and put them in our heart and hear with our ears, let it lead us and guide us as God’s Spirit leads us? Verse 11, “‘And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.’” So there comes a time when you have to give a witness whether they will hear or whether they won’t hear. And that’s one of the reasons why we do the things that we do. Now we don’t hear from everyone who we send a care package to, but at least it is a witness to them. And if they don’t act upon it, it is a witness against them.
And as I mentioned the last time, sometimes a witness is just what people would consider a very small thing. Like God told Jeremiah, “You write this witness against Babylon. You give it to one of the captives and when they get to Babylon have them throw it in the river for a witness against them.” Well, how many people saw that? I’m sure the king of Babylon was not on the bridge when he threw it in the river, but it was still a witness against him. So what I want us to do in some of these things as we’re going along, let us really think, let us really think on the word of God and think of what God has for us. And to understand the words of God like this here. “Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, ‘Blessed be the glory of the LORD from His place.’ I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing” (vs. 12-13).
So Ezekiel got a ride in the Cherubim (laughter), that’s what he did. “So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar…” So he was actually just brought right into the captives internment center there. “…and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days” (vs. 14-15). So God just took him down and put him right there and he just sat there astonied for seven days, and I imagine everybody came by, “Who is this? Did you see how he got here? He was just kind of dropped right here.”
“And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word of My mouth and give them warning from Me. When I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt surely die’; and thou givest him no warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand” (vs. 16-18). Now you talk about a responsibility, huh, God laid it upon him. Now we need to think about that in relationship to what we are doing. Not that I want to, by any way intimate that we are going to be Ezekiel’s watchman on the wall (chuckle). As I’ve mentioned, I know of at least 8 or 10 ministers who claim that. And I think the wall is getting a little crowded you see (laughter).
Nevertheless this is why I keep encouraging the brethren, if you know other brethren, reach out to them. Send them a tape. Ask God to give you understanding which would be the best tape for you to send to them. Just this week I got…just yesterday rather, I got three letters from people who had tapes sent to them and they wrote in saying please send us care package #1. And so it is working, and we need to reach out to them, and that’s the best way we can. I don’t know who they are. I don’t know where they are. But many brethren in many places know some where they are, and others know some where they are, and we can help them in that manner.
It was recommended that one tape you could give them is called “The Living Dead.” Ok, yeah that’s when I took a Passover book up to a man who was still in Worldwide and he just looked like he was dead spiritually. But nevertheless it helped revive him. So you see, and we hope to get the Passover book out…I don’t think we’re going to make it [complete it] until sometime after Tabernacles, but we’re going to get it out and it’s going to be some book. And that we’re going to give out free. All of our things we give out free. God will provide enough so we can do that. We’ll keep the overhead down, we’ll run it lean, and clean, and slim so we can send out things for the brethren.
Now continue here. Here’s the warning, “Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Well boy, God really requires a lot, doesn't He? We really need to think on these things, and we all need to take it personally. Not that we all become an Ezekiel, but the word of God is for us, and we need to heed it and use it. “Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul” (vs. 19-21). So that was quite a message after riding on the chariot, you know, after being taken in God’s chariot over to the slave camp there where the Israelites were. Then God laid it out to be absolutely clear for them. And then you read the book of Ezekiel and you will see that he had one of the toughest, most difficult ministries to do. And the book of Ezekiel is really a very heavy book of death and destruction, and slaughter, because the people rejected God and had forgotten God. And I think we can look at what’s happening in our day and realize the same thing is going to happen again.
Now, let’s come over here to Isaiah 6, and again we have a situation where Isaiah was brought before the throne of God, as it were. Let’s pick it up in verse 1, “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.” Now I’m convinced after reading these scriptures, the ones that I’ve read in preparation for this sermon, that we’ll see in Revelation 4 and 5, that God’s throne is much closer to the earth than we have realized. But God has not given us the ability to see how close it is. He has to open up our eyes, or as we will see in Revelation 6, roll back the heavens and then the whole world will see. So there are going to be some things that are going to happen. God is not going to let this world come to an end without great and awesome things taking place.
Verse 2 now, “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke” (vs. 2-4). Here hold your place here and go back to Psalm 24, it talks about the posts and I think that has to do with Psalm 24. It just dawned on me as we’re going through here. Psalm 24:7, “Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” Now I think that’s what it’s talking about here in the posts. When Christ was accepted of God the Father the posts said this, the gates opened….
Now, back here to Isaiah 6. “…and the house was filled with smoke.” Then verse 5, “Then said I, ‘Woe is me! for I am undone…” Boy if you would be right up before God’s throne and see that you’d feel the same thing too, wouldn’t you? Because human beings when they see awesomeness of the spiritual things of God, are just like that. You realize that you are absolutely nothing. So Isaiah said, “…I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:” So he’s right there before the temple of God in the spirit. “And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, ‘Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.’ Also I heard the voice of the LORD, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then said I, ‘Here am I; send me.’ And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed’” (vs. 5-10). So God has deliberately closed the eyes of many in the world.
Let’s go right on into Revelation 4. Now as I will mention on Pentecost, go into some detail, the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 picture the harvest of seven weeks, beginning with the first day, the day after the Sabbath, including that and seven whole complete weeks coming down to seven whole weeks. Then the 50th day is Pentecost. And you will see that the 50th day is God’s special day of salvation for the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude. Well what I want to do here in the book of Revelation is to look at the whole situation concerning the throne of God and the sea of glass and why at the resurrection we will be taken to the sea of glass. So let’s begin right here Chapter 4 and verse 1.
Now the church age ends with the Laodicean epic. And so that’s why it is cut off right here. Then when the martyrdom of the saints occurs, the only Christians in the flesh alive will be in wherever the place of safety is. They’re the only ones left alive in the flesh. So that’s then why God raises up the 144,000, and He does His work, and He does His ministry, ok.
So after the church age, right when it is coming to a close, Revelation 4:1. “After this I looked, and, behold, a door opened in heaven; and the first voice that I heard was as if a trumpet were speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you the things that must take palce after these things.’ And immediately I was in the Spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one was sitting on the throne. And He Who was sitting was in appearance like a jasper stone and a sardius stone: and a rainbow was around the throne…” So again we have the rainbow. Remember we had the rainbow back in Exodus 24, where there was the sea of glass or the paving where they saw God standing. “…And a rainbow was around the throne, like an emerald in its appearance. And round about the throne were twenty-four thrones [They are actually lesser thrones.]: and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments; and they had on their heads golden crowns. And proceeding from the throne were lightnings and thunders and voices; and seven lamps of fire, which are the seven Spirits of God, were burning before the throne” (Rev. 4:1-5).
Now what I want you to do, I want you to think how similar this is compared to when God came down on Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19 and 20 and brought the Ten Commandments, when there were thunderings, there were lightnings, there was the voice of the trumpet sounding exceeding loud. And remember that was done on the day of Pentecost. Now the seven Spirits, we’ll see a little later that their job is to go to and fro in the midst of the earth and see who’s seeking God. How does God call someone? Because He does it personally. Well I think first of all one of the seven Spirits has to find out and spy out who is seeking God and let God know. Then God decides whether this individual is seeking Him in truth or not and begins to call them, begins to deal with them. How did you first begin to understand the truth? What happened? What turned the switch in your mind, because it had to happen, and it was a spiritual miracle to occur. So the seven Spirits do that.
Now verse 6, “And before the throne was a sea of glass, like crystal…” So here’s the sea of glass. Wherever the throne of God is there is a sea of glass. There is a rainbow, or in the case of the Cherubim it is a temporary throne and goes where God goes. “…And around the throne and over the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind; And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature was like a calf, and the living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle” (vs. 6-7). And that ties right in with the appearance of the Cherubim. So wherever God goes on the Cherubim He has his portable throne and He has His small replica of it just like His main throne that we’re seeing right here in Revelation 4.
“And each of the four living creatures had six wings respectively [now that ties in with what we read in Isaiah 6]; and around and within they were full of eyes; and day and night they cease not saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, Who was, and Who is, and Who is to come. And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives into the ages of eternity, The twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who sits on the throne; and they worship Him Who lives into the ages of eternity, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy, are You, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power because You did create all things, and for Your will they were created and exist” (vs. 7-11). Now you think about that brethren. For God’s pleasure you were and are created, and understand that salvation is creation right now in you. A spiritual creation that is taking place. And that you were created for His pleasure.
Now come back to Ephesians 1. Hold it here for just a minute and we’ll be back there to Revelation…let’s come here to Ephesians 1 and let’s pick it up here in verse 3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ;” because one day we’re going to be there with Christ. One day we’re going to be on the sea of glass before the throne of God. “According as He has personally chosen us for Himself before the foundation of the world in order that we might be holy and blameless before Him in love; having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will…” (Eph. 1:3-5). So let God do His good pleasure in you. Let Him create in you Christ. Let Him create in you the spiritual character and strength, which comes from God, because that’s the whole purpose of your life. Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them.” And if we do that then there’s going to be the day we will come before the throne of God.
Now then let’s come back to Revelation 5 again here. So just remember that, all things were created by God and for His pleasure. In other words God has a great and a marvelous thing that He is going to do for all of His creation and we are the firstfruits. Now Chapter 5, it talks more about the throne of God and how that Christ then was counted worthy to open the seals. Now we’ve gone through this several times here in recent past so I’m not going to go through the whole thing in great detail but let’s pick it up here in verse 5 in Revelation 5.
“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion Who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book, and to loose its seven seals.’ Then I saw, and, behold, before the throne and the four living creatures, and before the elders, was standing a Lamb as having been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God that are sent into all the earth;” (vs. 5-6). Now the seven horns pictures that Christ is the head of the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3. And Christ is the head of the Church. That’s why the seven horns are in the head of the Lamb.
Now notice, “And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him Who sits on the throne [which is God the Father]. And when He had took the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having harps and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (vs. 7-8). So somehow when our prayers go to God they help bring them to God. Just how that works I don’t know but we’re told in Romans 8 that the spirit makes intercession for us with sounds or groanings which we cannot utter. And the best way I can explain that is this. The spirit eliminates out of our prayers all the stupidity that enters in because of the weakness of our minds. Have you ever been praying and all of a sudden the thought of something having nothing to do with prayer came in? Like maybe you left the oven on, or you left the keys in your car, or you didn’t lock the door, or whatever. Or the one that bothers me is when I’m praying and then all of a sudden a stupid commercial comes clattering through my mind, you know, that I’ve heard on television or radio. Well that doesn’t go to God. I think the Spirit filters that out. The Spirit conveys your true heart to God. And then it comes before God, and it comes before His very throne, and it comes before the golden altar. So that’s something. One of these days we’re going to see that whole thing, ok.
Now, let’s come over to Chapter 6, and as I explain on Pentecost, this is somewhere down into two years of the 3 ½ years of the tribulation. Revelation 6:12, let’s notice what happens here. “And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as the hair of sackcloth, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its untimely figs, when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the heaven departed like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the powerful men, and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him ?Who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:’” (vs. 12-16). So the world gets a glimpse of God’s throne. Not like we will, but they get a glimpse of it, ok.
Come over here to Chapter 7. The 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude. Now let’s pick it up in verse 10. I cover that on Pentecost so I’m not going to repeat it here. This is God’s 50th day harvest, ok. Verse 10, “And they were calling out with a loud voice to Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, saying…” No go back to verse 9. “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one was able to number, out of every nation and tribe and people and language, was standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and holding palms in their hands; And they were calling out with a loud voice to Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, saying, ‘The salvation of our God has come ’ ” (vs. 9-10). So they’re standing right before the throne of God. When you’re resurrected you’re going to come before the throne of God. That’s what this is telling us. When the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude are resurrected they come before the throne of God. What is underlying the throne of God? The sea of glass.
Verse 11, “Then all the angels stood around the throne, and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying, ‘Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power and strength be to our God into the ages of eternity. Amen.’ And one of the elders answered and said to me, ‘These who are clothed with white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?’ Then I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘They are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; and they have washed their robes, and have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb’ ” (vs. 11-14).
So there they are before the throne of God. “For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the one Who sits on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall not hunger any more, nor shall they thirst any more; neither shall the sun nor the heat fall upon them,” So this is a projection clear into New Jerusalem, Revelation 22. “Because the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will shepard them, and will lead them to fountains of living waters; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (vs. 15-17). So there is the throne, the sea of glass, and everything that takes place there.
Now let’s come to Chapter 11. Let’s see what happens at the last trump. Now I want you to understand that whenever it talks about the resurrection it talks about “the trump” or “a trump” as we’ll see in just a minute, never “trumpets.” And the Feast of Trumpets is plural, trumpets, a memorial of blowing trumpets all day long. So let’s read it here beginning in verse 15. “Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity.’ And the twentyfour elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and worshipped God…” So he’s looking again at the throne of God. And the throne of God has the sea of glass. All those who are going to be resurrected will come before the throne of God won’t they? And there has to be the sea of glass. We’ll see that in a little bit when we get to Chapter 14. “…Saying, ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; for You have taken to Yourself Your great power, and have reigned’” (Rev. 11:15-17).
“For the nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,…” Cause see the resurrection takes place before the wrath of God, not after. The wrath of God comes between Pentecost and Trumpets. Now notice continuing verse 18, “…and the time for the dead to be judged, and to give reward to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to all those who fear Your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth’” So all of the saints have to be individually given their reward. We also know from Revelation 2 and 3 they have to be given a new name, they have to be given the name of the Father, the name of the new city Jerusalem, they have to be given Christ’s new name. All of that has to take place after they are resurrected.
Now notice verse 19, “And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple; and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake and great hail.” Again I call your attention to Exodus 19 and 20, which was on Pentecost.
Now let’s ask the question concerning the resurrection before we get to Revelation 14. Let’s go back to Matthew 24. When we are resurrected we don’t remain on the earth. Now if we don’t remain on the earth where do we go? And yet we see in Zechariah 14 that we come back to the earth, don’t we? “The Lord comes and all the saints with Him.” Well, when they’re resurrected they’re taken up from the earth. Let’s read it, verse 30, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven…” That’s after the…let’s go to verse 29 so we get the story flow here. “But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light [that goes right back to Revelation 6, goes right back to Revelation 11], and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” But the saints are not with Him yet. We’re going to see it says we’re going to meet Christ in the air.
Verse 31, “And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet…” So there is a trumpet, not trumpets plural. We’ll see later it’s called “the trumpet.” “…And they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Why do they have to be gathered? Because they’re not left on the earth. They meet Christ in the air. Where in the air will Christ be? We’ll see in just a little bit, ok.
Let’s come to 1 Thessalonians 4, and this gives us a little more understanding concerning it. 1 Thessalonians 4:14, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in exactly the same way also, those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” But in order to be brought with Him you’ve got to come out of the grave to meet Him. Because Christ is not coming down to the earth to go into the grave to get you. He’s going to send the angels to catch you up after you’ve been resurrected out of the earth.
Verse 15, “For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep.” So all the dead are going to rise first. “Because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and with ‘the trumpet’ of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first;…” and be carried by the angels, as we will see, to the sea of glass before the throne of God. After all if you’re resurrected why can’t you come up to God’s throne? God is on His throne isn’t He? Should we not go there to worship Him the very first thing we do? No doubt about it.
Ok, hold your place here and come back to 1 Corinthians 15 and then we’ll finish it off here in 1 Thessalonians 4. Now here’s what’s going to happen to us when the trumpet sounds. Dolores and I always used to joke whenever we go past a cemetery, especially when it’s filled with all kinds of headstones and everything. We said the first thing that’s going to happen, they’re going to be resurrected and knocked cold. (Laughter) No that won’t happen. Physical things won’t bother you.
Ok, now verses 51-52, “Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye (snapped fingers)[just like that], at the last trumpet [which is the seventh trumpnot the Feast of Trumpets]; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Now when we are changed the angels gather us and take us up to meet the Lord in the air.
Now let’s come back to 1 Thessalonians 4:17, let’s see that. “Then we who are alive and and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds…” Now when Christ comes He’s going to come first, then the sign of the Son of man will be seen and will be coming closer and closer and closer to the earth perhaps during the space of about a year and a half, not quite a year and a half, a little over a year. And then it’s going to come right into the clouds, and then it’s going to stop in the clouds. Then I believe those clouds where it stops are going to be right over Jerusalem so that when we are raised we are going to be raised and be brought to the sea of glass. We are caught up in the air to meet him “…in the clouds for the meeting with the Lord in the air [and that is for the meeting with the Lord in the air]; and so shall we always be with the Lord.” Now Zechariah 14 shows we’re going to come to the earth with Christ, but that won’t happen until the Feast of Trumpets. “Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (vs. 17-18).
Now, let’s come to Revelation 14. Now I will cover this in detail on Pentecost but let’s just come here in Revelation 14:14. This is talking about the first resurrection. Now the first resurrection is typified by the grain harvest, as we will see in Matthew 13 when we come to the day of Pentecost. Verse 14, “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and one like the Son of man…” So here’s Christ. Christ comes down to the clouds, correct? We are going to meet Him in the clouds, correct? Yes. “…having a golden crown on His head; and in His hand was a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him Who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Thrust in your sickle, and reap…” Now that’s what you do with grain. You take a sickle and you cut it, and then you gather it. And who gathers it? The angels. And where do they take it? They take the firstfruits to the sea of glass before God. “…Because the time has come for You to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe” (Rev. 14:14-15). Then it talks about the harvest of the wicked, the rest of the chapter which I explain on Pentecost.
Now, Chapter 15:1, “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and awesome: seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them the wrath of God is filled up.” So the resurrection occurs before the seven last plagues, doesn’t it? Now you read Chapter 16, especially come over here Chapter 16:12 to show you that there is a space of time between the resurrection and coming back to the earth. “And the sixth angel poured out his vial into the great river Euphrates; and its waters were dried up, so that the way of the kings from the rising of the sun might be prepared. Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of demons working miracles, going forth to the kings of the earth, even of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of that great day of the Almighty God” (Rev. 16:12-14). Now then, how long does it take to move an army even with trucks, even with planes? How long did it take us to prepare for Desert Storm? Four months. So there’s got to be a four month period which is just about the length of time between Pentecost and Trumpets, ok.
So let’s come back here to Revelation 15:2, “And I saw a sea of glass mingled with fire…” That is to look at it. In other words, created out of spirit and just shone brightly. “…And those who had gotten the victory over the beast…” We know that Satan is the beast. Satan has been around here since whenever, Adam and Eve, correct? So you get victory over the beast. Do all Christians through all time have to get victory over the beast? Yes. Did Abel get victory over the beast? Yes. And Satan, who is the beast, used Cain to kill him. Yes, he got victory over him. “…And over his image…” And we know that there was an image of the beast going clear back into Babylon, right? Where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego got the victory over the beast idol that Nebuchadnezzar had made, correct? Yes. “…And over his mark [which is coming], and over the number of his name [which is coming], standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” Now question: How many times in scripture does a thing have to be said in order for it to be true? Once is sufficient. Where does it say we will stand? It says we will stand on the sea of glass. What is also on the sea of glass? The throne of God. The temple of God. Didn’t say right here in…yes, we’ll see it in just a minute…talks about the temple of God.
Ok, verse 3, “And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, ‘Great and awesome are Your works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the saints. Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are holy; and all the nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been revealed. And after these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. And the seven angels who had the seven last plagues came out of the temple…”(vs. 3-6). So there we are on the sea of glass. The throne of God is there. The temple of God is there, and we see the seven angels come out and get the seven vials for the seven last plagues. And then as I point out on Pentecost, God gives us the blessing of His promise that He said that His vengeance we would all see. And the only way that can happen is if we are on the sea of glass with the throne of God and all these things happen according to the way that Revelation shows us.
Now then, let me tell you why that Pentecost pictures the first resurrection and not Trumpets:
1) Firstfruits is a harvest of grain, which we are.
2) The Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost, which is the earnest. So why not on Pentecost receive the fullness?
3) It is a continuous harvest from the time of Christ until His return. Just like seven weeks is a continual count from the beginning of the ascension of Christ to be accepted of the Father, until the day of Pentecost 50 days later.
4) Seven churches equal the seven weeks of harvest.
5) 144,000 and great innumerable multitude equal the 50th day harvest of God.
6) We are raised at the seventh trumpet, the last trump. The trump, not trumpets.
7) We have the meeting with Christ in the air.
8) We are on the sea of glass.
9) We have to receive our reward.
10) We have to be given our new name.
11) We have to be given our assignments.
12) The marriage of the Lamb takes place, and according to Revelation 19 is the last thing to occur.
Now then, let me just say this. Here’s why it is not on Trumpets:
1) Trumpets is not a harvest feast. It is a feast picturing war, death, destruction, which is going to happen with the seven last plagues, ending in the return of Christ and the saints on the earth.
2) It is never “trumpets,” but it is the “seventh trump”, or the “last trump.” .
3) We return to the earth after the seven last plagues and judgment of great Babylon, not before.
4) The marriage of the Lamb and the Bride must take place, and that is not pictured by Trumpets but is pictured by Pentecost and the Book of Ruth is a type of that, where Ruth marries Boaz. And that was during the barley harvest.
Yes, and I mentioned that Trumpets is not a grain harvest. Let’s go ahead and finish by…I know this will be a little short but we don’t have much time here in our meeting hall today, we have to get right out. But nevertheless I’ve covered everything that I need to cover.
Let’s go to Hebrews 12 and let’s finish right here, because this is also a prophecy of our being resurrected to be on Mt. Zion. Zion in heaven above as it were. Hebrews 12, and let’s pick it up in verse 18. I know we’ve covered this a little before but it’s good to end it right here. “For you have not come to the mount that could be touched and that burned with fire, nor to gloominess, and fearful darkness, and the whirlwind; and to the sound of the trumpet, and to the voice of the words; which those who heard begged that the word not be spoken directly to them. (For they could not endure what was being commanded: ‘And if even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned, or shot through with an arrow’; And so terrifying was the sight, that Moses said, ‘I am greatly afraid and trembling.’) But you have come to Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to an innumerable company of angels; To the joyous festival gathering; and to the church of the firstborn, registered in the book of life in heaven; and to God, the Judge of all; and to the spirits of the just who have been perfected; and to Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant; and to sprinkling of the blood of ratification, proclaiming superior things than that of Abel” (Heb. 12:18-24).
And so that’s why Pentecost pictures the first resurrection and not Trumpets. And why when we are resurrected we will be on the sea of glass, we’ll be brought up there by the angels. And boy, what a time that’s going to be. We’re going to be able to…you talk about fellowship.
Oh, there’s one other thing, one other thing we’ll add here. Christ is going to do a solo song. Did you know that? Christ is going to bring us special music. Hebrews 2, and let’s pick it up here in verse 9. “But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels; crowned with glory and honor on account of suffering the death, in order that by the grace of God He Himself might taste death for everyone;” And then we’ll see all of those resurrected and on the sea of glass with Him and know that He died for each one individually and personally. “Because it was fitting for Him, for Whom all things were created, and by Whom all things exist, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He Who is sanctifying and those who are sanctified are all of one…” Just like Christ prayed in John 17: “That they may be one as You Father…You and I are One. I in them, You in Me, that they may become one in Us” [that’s what will take place right there]. “ …For which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, ‘I will declare Your name to My brethren, in the midst of the church I will sing praise to You” (Heb. 2:9-12). And that will be in the midst of the Church because the Church will all be resurrected and on the sea of glass. He’s going to sing praise to God the Father. We are going to sing the song of Moses. We’re going to sing the song of the Lamb. We are going to learn how to play those harps, and I don’t have a clue today, see. And we’re going to be able to meet all those you’ve wanted to meet, all the apostles. And I especially want to meet, after I’m able to meet Christ and see Him face to face, I’m going to especially want to meet the apostle Paul, and I’m sure there will be a long line for that. And I will especially want to meet William Tyndale, because he gave his life for the Word of God and the testimony thereof. And so brethren, that’s why Pentecost pictures the first resurrection and not Trumpets.
(End of Sermon)
Transcriber: Carolyn Singer
“Sea of Glass—Sermon II”
Pentecost—1999
Scriptural References
- Psalm 11:4-7
- Psalm 45:6-7
- Psalm 47:7-8
- Ezekiel 1:21-28
- Ezekiel 2:1-3
- Ezekiel 3:10-21
- Isaiah 6:1-4
- Psalm 24:7
- Isaiah 6:5-10
- Revelation 4:1-11
- Ephesians 1:3-5
- Revelation 5:5-8
- Revelation 6:12-16
- Revelation 7:9-17
- Revelation 11:15-19
- Matthew 24:29-31/li>
- I Thessalonians 4:14-15, 17-18
- I Corinthians 15:51
- Revelation 14:14-15
- Revelation 15:1-6
- Revelation 16:12-14
- Hebrews 12:18-24 /li>
- Hebrews 2:9-12
