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John the Apostle Who Met Jesus in Heaven

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[ Revelation 4:1-2]

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

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What is the only one that everyone should go through? It is death. Neither believers in Jesus nor believers in Jesus can escape this physical death.

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But those who accept Jesus as their Savior and are saved believe that there is a heaven after this death. They believe that they will live with Jesus forever in heaven. God allowed the Apostle John to see heaven directly so that our faith would not be in vain.

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John the disciple of Jesus was caught while preaching the Gospel and exiled to the island of Patmos. At that time, it was a difficult time to catch and kill people who believed in Jesus, to imprison them, and to send them into exile like John.

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Jesus appeared directly to the Apostle John on the island of Patmos and told them what was to come. At that time, the book he heard and recorded was the book of Revelation, the prophetic book.

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When the apostle John received this revelation, he saw the throne of heaven with his own eyes. The door to heaven was opened before John. And from heaven there was a voice saying, "Come up here.“

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After that, the Holy Spirit led John to heaven. In front of John's ascension to heaven, he saw a great throne sitting. This was the Father God. The figure of God glowed brightly like a shining jewel, and the throne was surrounded by iridescent lights like emeralds.

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There were 24 thrones beside the throne. On the throne were twenty-four elders dressed in white and with gold crown on their heads. On the throne, lightning and thunder rang out loud.

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There were seven lamps in front of the throne. And the crystal clear glass sea spread out. At the center and around the throne stood four creatures full of eyes in front and behind the body.

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The first of the four creatures looked like a lion. The second creature looked like a calf and the third looked like a human face. And the last creature was like an eagle with its wings up.

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Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”(Rv 4:8) Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever.

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Twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the one sitting on the throne. They put down the gold crown they were wearing and said: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rv 4:11)

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The right hand of God contained a scroll with words written in and out and seven stamps. Then John's eyes saw a lamb surrounded by four living things. The Lamb had traces of death before. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes.

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The Lamb went to God and received a scroll. Four living creatures and 24 elders fell down before the Lamb and praised him.

“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”” (Rv 5:9~10)

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This lamb was Jesus. John met Jesus again there. He saw Jesus in heaven with God. The apostle John was greatly comforted by the sight. Although the body was confined to the island of Patmos, he gained the strength and courage to overcome all difficulties.

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People who live in a country that is forbidden to believe in Jesus are still in great pain. We may also be troubled by our faith in Jesus. If you think about the heavens John saw, you will be able to receive great strength and comfort.

The hope that we can live in heaven with Jesus forever after the time of this world is over will give us the courage and strength to overcome all our difficulties. Let us live on earth and live as the people of faith who always live in hope of eternal heaven.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)