The Revelation of Jesus Christ
“Heavenly Worship”
Review
God told Jesus (1:1) what to reveal to His bondservant concerning end time events.
He communicated it by His angel to John who in turn passed it on in writing to the seven churches of Asia and ultimately to us today. Jesus provided a basic structure for the understanding of revelation at the end of chapter one.
Write what you have seen (1), what is (2) and what will take place after these things (4-22)
The book of Revelation first begins with a prologue or introduction.
I. PROLOGUE 1:1-20 (Things you have seen)
II. Messages to the Seven churches 2-3 (Things with are)
III. Last Days 4-22 (Things which are about to take place)
A. Heavenly worship around the throne 4-5
1. Worship of Him who sits on the Throne 4
HEAVENLY WORSHIP AROUND THE THRONE – PART ONE
Introduction
Chapter four begins the third section of Revelation dealing with the things which are about to take place triggered by John's use of "after these things". The celestial scene recorded by John in chapter 4&5 lays the groundwork for all that will take place throughout the rest of the book where the Almighty and the Lamb and the Holy Spirit bring the culmination plan conceived before the foundation of the world. Chapter 4 focuses on the author of all creation sitting on His heavenly throne. By the end of the book we will see the renovation of creation in the new heaven and earth. Chapter 5 focuses on the author of redemption the Triumphant Lamb before the throne. By the end of the book we will see the completion of redemption stretching into eternity.
John described some things that can be understood but there are other things that just require us only to watch and hear and wonder at the awesomeness of our God in the heavens. We find five glorious hymns of praise recorded in these two chapters. Two directed to the Creator on the throne. Two directed to the Lamb before the throne. A fifth directed to God Creator and the Lamb.
? The directive to enter the throne room
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." Revelation 4:1
John first saw a door to heaven standing open. He did not see the door open, but all of a sudden he noticed an open door. He invites the reader to “behold” or look intently. He invites us to visualize the scene as he describes it. He draws us into the whole experience. “Look! An door open to heaven!”
God permitted Paul to see into this realm but did not permit Him to talk about what He saw. (2 Cor 12:4)
this
The word “heaven” appears 52 times in revelation and over 500 times in the Bible.
The atmosphere of sky
Outer Space
Cosmic order of creation -- heavenlies
God’s dwelling place
This is obviously a reference to where God chooses to manifest its presence. God’s “heaven” appears to be part material, part immaterial or invisible. Perhaps it is a different dimension completely invisible to us at this time. Because you don’t see something does not mean it isn’t real.
Jesus instructed John to write down what he did see. He commissioned John to describe the indescribable. It would be like asking person from and isolated African village to describe Las Vegas. John could only use vocabulary and elements familiar to him to describe the unfamiliar.
John had to employ highly symbolic language to express what he literally saw. The concept of the open door indicates a window; only a partial view into heaven otherwise hidden or intentionally blocked from view. It was the gateway to the heavenlies. Here begins and final interchange between heaven and earth; the powers of darkness and the Kingdom of God.
This is the final showdown when His Kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. This is the final answer to the prayer prayed by millions of people through the centuries.
Jesus instructed John to "come up here." This was more than a cordial invitation, it was a command. This box seat will be John's vantage point throughout most of the rest of the book of Revelation. John immediately recognized the powerful “trumpet-like voice” as the one he heard earlier and identified as the resurrected Jesus. The trumpet sound to a Hebrew indicated a monumental event about to occur. Jesus offered to show John “what must take place. There is no textual reason to interpret this as the rapture of the church as many do.
There is no indication that it is anything other than a special invitation to John to observe future events from the heavenly perspective.
? John's description of the throne room
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. Revelation 4:2
Lest we would get the impression that entering the heavenly realms can be accomplished through something we do, John let us know that it was the Spirit that transported him through the door into the throne room. The Holy Spirit provided the virtual reality trip to heaven.
Notice the participation of all three persons of the Trinity. God on the throne, Jesus speaking and the Spirit as the transportation.
In times past God offered others a brief and limited glimpse into this realm.
Jacob – Gen 28:17 Isaiah – Isa 6:1 Ezekiel – Ezk 1:2 and Daniel – Dan 7:9 had similar elements to John’s description.
9 "I (Daniel) kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire. 10 "A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; Thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; The court sat, And the books were opened. Daniel 7:9-10
The incarnate Jesus at His baptism – Matt 3:16. Steven just before death Acts 7:54-56. Paul (perhaps after being stoned to death) 2 Cor 12.4
The one on the throne
3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance
Of course the most prominent feature of the throne room was the One sitting on the throne amidst a flurry of activity and heavenly beings with incredible sights and sounds. Jesus did not just call John into the heavenly realms but into the Oval Office itself. This is the nerve center of the universe.
19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. Psa 103:19
4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. Psalms 11:4
Everything in the chapter revolves round the throne. Who is on it? What is happening around it? What comes from it? Who is around it and in front of it? The term “throne appears 13 times in this chapter alone and a total of 37 times in revelation. It is central to the unfolding of end times. Jesus wanted it to be clear that no matter how desperate things may look down here, God is still on the throne. He is still in charge. He alone reveals the things that MUST take place both prophetically and providentially. In this unfolding war with Satan and his angels, at the end, God still sovereignty rules from His throne. A throne is a symbol of majesty, authority, rule, ultimate power, government, judgment. God directs the affairs of the earth from settled position on His throne. In revelation, the throne room is not only the worship center but the war room from which He will dispatch his angels to bring about the final judgment.
Before revealing the great end time war, Jesus reassures us that God is in charge of all the horrible events about to unfold and that in spite of wholesale rebellion against His rule and authority, unadulterated worship of the God of creation and the Lamb of redemption continues unabated. Isaiah described the throne room as well and does not hesitate to identify its occupant.
“I saw the LORD.”
19 Micaiah said, "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left. 1 Kings 22:19
John tried his best to describe the beauty and majesty of the One sitting on it. He employed the picture of precious stones to describe what he saw.
Jasper, sardius, emerald
The three stones mentioned by John also appear in the priest’s breastplate (Ex 28:20) as well as in the foundation of the New Jerusalem Rev 21:19
Jasper or diamond
It is a variety of quartz or crystal and thought to be similar to diamond in its brilliance.
The light of God reflecting off this stone would have been spectacular.
15 which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15-16
Sardius or carnelian was red in color.
The One sitting on the throne also cast a red fiery brilliance perhaps symbolic of the fiery judgment about to be pronounced on the earth.
Ezekiel tried to describe the one on the throne and fell on his face. Ezekiel 1:26-28
Around the throne
? Emerald rainbow or halo
and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
Perhaps the emerald bow or halo around the throne glowed in brilliant shades of green.
It may have been a reflective prism breaking out into a glorious multicolored display.
? Twenty-four elders on thrones
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. Revelation 4:3-4
Thrones are symbolic of governmental authority and responsibility. White robes indicate purity. Crowns can indicate either sign of victory or rule. These are 24 smaller thrones encircling the main throne; probably six each side.
Who are these guys? That's a good question. There are no less than 15 views as to who they are. Most all of the views boil down to variations of two choices.
One -- glorified saints
Two -- a class of angels carrying out a function of worship and God will
This group of elders appears again four other times in revelation. 4:10; 5:8; 11:16 and 19:4.
I lean to the second choice. I think that this is a class of angels who worship God and dispatch other angels to carry out God's will.
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You who serve Him, doing His will. Psalms 103:21
? Four living beings
6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." Revelation 4:6-8
There is no question that these are angelic beings of some sort. They are similar to the ones that Ezekiel described in his vision. These beings occupy an inner circle surrounding the throne. These are strange beings indeed.
Completely full of eyes indicating wisdom, vigilance, alertness, awareness
Inside and out perhaps indicates eyes under the wings and outside the wings.
Each was unique in character.
Like a Lion -- Like and Ox -- Face like a man -- Flew like an eagle
Ezekiel described them as having four faces. Perhaps from John’s vantage point he could only see one side of the face. They each had six wings indicating mobility and covering. Isaiah also described the angels in the throne room having six wings and actually identified the function of each.
2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. Isaiah 6:2
Even an exalted being dare not worship God without covering, yet redeemed man can commune with God with unveiled face. Ezekiel described them as Cherubim a high ranking class of angelic beings assigned to protect and guard. Nothing escapes their notice. These are the same beings that blocked Adam & Eve from returning to the garden in Genesis. They also appear on top of the Ark in the holy of holies. Perhaps they were assigned to guard God’s holiness.
Some feel that Lucifer was one of the anointed Cherubs. (Ezk 28:1416)
This quartet appears throughout this book for worship and at the breaking of the first 4 seals.
Some early church fathers and theologians identified the four gospels in these four but none of them assigned the same gospel to the same figure indicating uncertainty in interpretation.
Since the symbols relate to the creatures and not to Jesus may be a tribute to their character i.e. strong and bold like a lion, serve like an ox, intelligence and reason like a man and swift as a flying eagle.
They could also be representatives of all created beings.
Wild animals, domesticated animals, human beings and flying creatures.
The (Ancient Jewish) saying in its present form dates to a.d. 300 but is probably much older than that date: “The mightiest among the birds is the eagle, the mightiest among the domestic animals is the bull, the mightiest among the wild beasts is the lion, and the mightiest among all is man.”
Interesting – The Israelites camped together under banners with these animals.
It also noted that the twelve tribes of Israel camped under these four banners; some with Reuben (symbolized by a man), others with Dan (symbolized by an eagle), others with Ephraim (symbolized by the calf, or ox), and the rest with Judah (symbolized by a lion).
From the throne
5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.
Flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and crashes of thunder. This was reminiscent of the rumblings experienced at the giving of the law at Mt Sinai. John tried to describe a manifestation of the all powerful Creator sitting on his throne. God often displayed His glory and power through the uncontrollable forces of nature. It is clear that He is not to be trifled with.
Before the Throne
And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; Revelation 4:5
John described seven blazing torches. These were not your soothing little Tiki lamps. These were torches of the burning fire of judgment. The blazing torch was often associated with war and battle. Jesus was sent to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The burning torches represent the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Comforter of those who love Christ will become the Consumer of those who reject Him. That completes the Trinitarian presence around the throne. This is no longer the throne of grace but a throne of judgment about to be poured out on the rebellious inhabitants of the earth.
The “Crystal sea”
6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal
Spreading out in front of the throne was a vast expanse of brilliant clear crystal which would have been an amazing reflective backdrop to the other colors and light emanating from the throne. He used the visual of a sea to indicate its great expanse in front of the throne.
Moses described a similar picture.
10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Exodus 24:10
What a full experience of sights, sounds, feelings. All of John’s senses were engaged as he observed the activity in God’s throne room.
Worship of the One sitting on the Throne
Even though our worship may be stimulated by the atmosphere around this the most important feature worship is Who we worship. Each new praise in these two chapters increases in size and intensity. It starts with a quartet singing praise to Him who sits on the throne as with every living being.
The first hymn focuses on the Father’s person or character.
8 Day and night they (four living beings) do not cease to say, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." Revelation 4:8
He is absolutely Holy
He is Almighty (All mighty, All powerful)
He is Eternal (He has always been, is now and will continue to be).
The four living creatures inspire worship from the 24 elders.
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
They express their adoration both physically and verbally.
They bow before him.
They submit their crowns before him.
They offer verbal acknowledgment of His work as Creator.
The second Hymn spoken by the 24 elders focuses on His Creative Genius.
11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Revelation 4:9-11
Why did God create? It was not because he was lonely. It was not because he needed someone to worship him. He created because he wanted to. The first step on a downward slope away from God is not to honor him as the Worthy Creator. The second step is ingratitude. From there we exchange the glory of the Creator for the created.
The wonder of God as Creator fills the pages of Scripture.
What can we take away from this passage?
Heaven is a real place whose glory is unfathomable.
God is on the throne completely in charge of both the present and the future.
He is absolutely holy.
He is all mighty.
He is eternal.
He is the glorious Creator of all things.
He alone is worthy of our absolute and continual praise and thanksgiving.
If angelic beings make it their priority to focus on Him, how much more we who God created in his own image, redeemed by the Lamb and invited into intimate fellowship and community with the Trinity.
"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.
It's 11 "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." Revelation 4:9-11
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? 35 Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36
