Sermon Notes
July 20, 2025
Revelation: Living Today in Light of Tomorrow
Worship Wins the War
Rev. Nicole Unice
Revelation 4:1
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.”
THE SYMPHONY
Revelation 4: 8-11
8 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,’[b]
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “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.”
Revelation 5:1-4
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
Revelation 5:6
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain…
Revelation 5:9-10
9 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.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
THE SEALS
Revelation 6:1-2
Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out as a conqueror in order to conquer.
John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” CSB
Revelation 3:21
“To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Andreas of Caesarea (7th century)
“The one who sits upon the white horse is the Lord, for he has assumed a human form, and through the apostles, as through horses, he runs throughout the world conquering the hearts of people.”
— Commentary on the Apocalypse, Homily 8
THE SEALED
Revelation 7:3
3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 4:3
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[b]
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
You can worship in the middle because you believe the end.
You can’t help but worship in the middle because you know the end.
