Sermon Central
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A Throne Set In Heaven.
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on May 22, 2024 (message contributor)
Summary: "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" Revelation 4:11.
A THRONE SET IN HEAVEN.
REVELATION 4:1. (a). In effect, what John says is, “After these things I looked and beheld an open door in heaven, and the voice which I heard first as of a trumpet speaking with me.” “I looked” or ‘I saw’ – signifying, ‘I saw in the Spirit’ (cf. Revelation 1:10). The “heaven” which John beheld was neither the sky nor space, but the ‘third heaven’ spoken of by Paul (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:2). The “voice” was the same voice as John had ‘heard’ in Revelation 1:10, and which he had ‘turned to see’ in Revelation 1:12.
(b). The voice was saying, “Come up hither and I will show you what things must take place after these things.” John was already ‘in the Spirit’ (cf. Revelation 1:10), but he was being summoned to a yet higher perception of spiritual things. There is a basic principle here: if we wish to understand the things that are going on in this troubled world of ours, then we must view them from God’s point of view, not our own. “Come up hither.”
REVELATION 4:2. It is an interesting observation that when God gives an instruction to His people, He also empowers us to perform it. “And immediately I was in the Spirit.” John beheld “a throne was situated in heaven, and upon the throne (One) sitting.” The throne signifies God’s universal dominion over all things.
REVELATION 4:3. John describes something of the glory of the LORD – but not in human terms, lest we fall into idolatry. The mention of various gemstones suggests the surpassing brightness of the LORD, and the rainbow about the throne speaks to us of His covenant mercy and love, revealed to us in Christ Jesus our Lord (cf. Ezekiel 1:26-28).
REVELATION 4:4. Upon the “seats” (literally, “thrones”) around the Throne are seated 24 elders. These represent the church universal (cf. Revelation 21:12-14). After all, we can say with Paul that even now we are ‘seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus’ (cf. Ephesians 2:6). Their white clothing represents the imputed and imparted righteousness of the saints. The crowns upon their heads are because Christ has ‘made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign in the earth’ (cf. Revelation 5:10).
REVELATION 4:5. “Lightnings and thundering and voices” remind us of the awesome majesty of God (cf. Exodus 19:16). The “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne” remind us of the seven-branched candlestick in the tabernacle and Temple (cf. Exodus 25:31-40), and represent “the seven Spirits of God.” This expression points us to the perfections of the Holy Spirit (cf. Isaiah 11:2).
Isaiah 11:2 speaks of the manifestation of “the Spirit of the LORD” in Jesus’ life in several different ways. Of these, wisdom and understanding together touch upon the intellect. Counsel and might pertain to practical ability. Knowledge and the fear of the LORD are gifts of piety.
1. The Spirit of the LORD is the source of all God’s thoughts.
2. The Spirit of Wisdom enables us to think God’s thoughts after Him.
3. The Spirit of Understanding helps us to understand His thoughts.
4. The Spirit of Counsel helps us choose the right course for godliness.
5. The Spirit of Strength empowers us to do God’s will in our lives.
6. The Spirit of Knowledge sees God’s thoughts manifested in our lives.
7. The Spirit of the Fear of the LORD is a reverent walking in His way.
REVELATION 4:6. (a). The vivid description continues with, “Before the throne was a sea of glass, like unto crystal.” There was a ‘sea’ in the Temple, too: a large bronze basin for the priests to wash in (cf. 2 Chronicles 4:2-6). The basin for purification today is the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, in which we are cleansed from all our sins.
(b). The “beasts” (or more exactly ‘living creatures’) represent God’s world. When man fell, the ground was cursed, and all nature fell with him. Since then ‘the whole creation’ has been groaning (cf. Romans 8:22), ‘waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God’ (cf. Romans 8:19).
REVELATION 4:7. As the living creatures are situated between the throne (where God is) and the twenty-four elders (representing the whole people of God), some have taken them to represent the true ministers of the Gospel. Such ministers require the strength and courage of a lion (cf. Proverbs 30:30); the toilsomeness of an ox (cf. Ezekiel 1:10); the knowledge, wisdom, and sympathy of a man; and an eagle-like swiftness in sharing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
REVELATION 4:8. (a). Like the seraphim in Isaiah 6:2, they have six wings: (i) two to cover their faces out of reverence toward God; (ii) two to cover their feet out of a sense of unworthiness in His presence; and (iii) two to fly out with the Gospel to all the nations.
