Revelation 12:7-11 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
This morning we spoke about our union to Christ and how entire it really is.
The Kingdom of Heaven is something that can COME.
Jesus said that casting out devils should tell us that the Kingdom of God is COME TO US.
Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.Not only did Jesus cast out devils, but he said:
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;He gave His church authority to do the same in His name.
Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.Notice that mention of power and authority over all the devils is immediately followed by mention of the KINGDOM.
Mark 5:9-13 And he asked him, What is
thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are
many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of
the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of
swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the
swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave.
And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd
ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two
thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
Revelation 4:1-8 After this I looked,
and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the
first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with
me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must
be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne
was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was
to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a
rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round
about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats
I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they
had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of 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. And before the throne
there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of
the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of
eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and
the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man,
and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts
had each of them six wings about him; and they were full
of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Ezekiel 1:5-6 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.He saw four living creatures, or beasts.
They looked exactly like the beasts in the book of Revelation.
Ezekiel 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.Over their heads, like the sea of Glass in the book of Revelation was a firmament of crystal.
Ezekiel 1:22 And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature [was] as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.Upon the platform, or firmament, was a throne.
Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, 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.Just like the vision of John in Revelation 4.
And a rainbow was around the one on the throne.
Ezekiel 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, 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 spake.There were a few other things mentioned in Revelation 4 that were not in the vision of Ezekiel, but the main points of the four beasts, the sea of glass, the throne and one on the throne, with a rainbow around Him were all there.
Ezekiel 1:14 And
the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by
the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels
and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four
had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it
were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their
four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings,
they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were
full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went,
the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from
the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go,
they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted
up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was
in the wheels. 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: for the spirit of the living creature
was in the wheels.
They do not denote the solar systems or the atomic structure, as some have claimed.
What does the solar system and the atomic structure have to do with our salvation?
That is how the Kingdom of God can COME!
Ezekiel 10:1 calls these living creatures "cherubims".
We read of a chariot of Cherubims.
1Chronicles 28:18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.The PATTERN of the Chariot of the Cherubims.
2Samuel 22:11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.Ezekiel saw Heaven made mobile.
And Revelation 4 stressed how John saw the GLORY OF GOD.
Ezekiel 1:28 As
the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, 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 spake.
Ezekiel 43:2-4 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.HEAVEN MADE MOBILE.
Jesus said the Kingdom of God COMES when devils are cast out.
Luke 11:20 But
if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God
is come upon you.
Exodus 24:16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai,We are the house of God today.2Chronicles 7:3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.Whenever you are in peril, know that HEAVEN IS MOBILE.
Revelation 12:10 And
I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength,
and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser
of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and
night.
Revelation 12:11 And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;
and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Note the grammar.
Heaven is mobile when we come against the devil with that FAITH.
The ark of the covenant was held aloft by four priests, just as there were four living creatures who were beneath the firmament where the throne of God was situated in Ezekiel's vision.
The picture of priests holding up the ark and transporting it around, was symbolic of the vision Ezekiel saw with Cherubims and the firmament and throne of God above their heads.
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.We are the cherubims.