A Vision of Worship

Revelation 4:1 (NLT)

1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”

Have you ever looked at something and it totally transfixed you? Like you knew that as you beheld this person-this landscape-this thing- that you were in a sacred moment? I’ve had a few of them. Standing on my deck on a warm, sunny day, looking at my lawn that I just mowed - it’s just breathtaking. Ok, not really, but some of you know what I mean. For real, I can think of three times in my life when I really beheld something and each time, I was transfixed in a sacred moment. The first, was when my wife, Abby appeared at the far end of the centre aisle on our wedding day. In that moment, I was equally enthralled by her beauty, hopeful in anticipation of our marriage, and ashamed of my sexual sin from before we met. Another time I looked around me and was transported to a sacred space was the first time we went to Mexico to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Sitting on the beach at dusk, no one else around us, while waves 5 to 15 feet in height crashed in front of us I felt the presence of God in a way that still sticks with me today. A third time I can recall was the day my first daughter, Rebekah was born. Abby was drugged out her mind thanks to the beauty of epidermals, and Rebekah was fussing about in this clear, hard plastic bin. She couldn’t sleep. The nurses had rolled a cot in for me to sleep on and so I scooped up Bekah, laid her on the bed beside me and I just looked at her, as she settled down and fell asleep next to me. And my heart was forever changed in that moment.

The apostle John had a moment like this. He was worshipping God on a Sunday while he was exiled to a rock quarry called Patmos for preaching and teaching about Jesus when he had a vision. God was calling him to look, to behold. And what did he see? A vision of worship.

Last week, we did a quick overview of how, in the vision, Jesus revealed himself in specific ways to seven churches in Asia Minor in chapters two and three of the book of Revelation. This week, as we continue in our series, “Unveiling Hope,” the scene in chapters four and five shift to the great throne room of God and through the gorgeous symbolism that is shown there, we get to behold our God and worship him. To help us understand what’s going on, I have broken these passages into three sections. The first section focuses on the throne.

The Throne

Revelation 4:2–6 (NLT)

2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. 6a In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.

The first thing that John sees, and that he wants us to behold, is that there is a throne and it is occupied. The throne represents what all thrones represent: a place of power, authority, and dominion. A place from which the one who occupies the throne can rule from. And what is the person like? The best words John can find is they are like jasper and carnelian (sometimes called sardius - similar to a ruby). These gemstones show us that the one on the throne is beautiful, precious, and /or radiant. That’s why the Psalmist can declare:

Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

The passage also says that from the throne are flashes of lightening and rumbles of thunder. This opens our eyes to the power and the sheer awesomeness of God. And by awesomeness, I don’t mean it like Crush the turtle from Finding Nemo (Awesome, bro!). I mean awesome in the sense of God is bigger than we could ever imagine, more powerful than we can dream of and being in his presence drops us to our knees. It reminds me of Isaiah’s vision of the Lord and his response to being in God’s presence

Isaiah 6:5 (NIV)

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Next in our imagery is a rainbow coming from around the throne. The rainbow should trigger in our minds the promise of God to never again destroy the earth by flood. The rainbow therefore is a symbol of God’s mercy and faithfulness. And that is some good news for us because that means the throne of God is surrounded by and emanating mercy. The rainbow declares that the holy One welcomes the unholy like you and I. It says, “It is safe to come.” God’s judgments of his people are merciful and his mercy towards us is just and we can therefore approach the throne without fear.

There are two other images we need to look at for the throne room. First, there are seven lamps of fire burning in front of the throne. The passage interprets them as the “seven spirits of God” or the “sevenfold Spirit of God.” Since the number seven always symbolizes completeness or fullness, this is just a way to say the fullness or completeness of the Holy Spirit. What I found fascinating is that the lamps are lit. The Holy Spirit is there and he is active. He isn’t dormant. And since fire represents purifying, he is actively working at purifying us, at shaping us to be more like Jesus. What good news!

The last image from the throne room to look at is the sea that is like glass. While there are many views as to what John means, one view worth looking at is that the sea represents chaos and evil. The world was chaotic and formless and the Spirit hovered over the waters before creation, and then God shaped it and gave it order. Later in Revelations, the beast comes out sea and causes chaos for God’s people. But what is key in this is that the sea is as still as glass. The chaos and evil that would keep us from God is stilled in his presence and at the end of the book, it says,

Revelation 21:1 (NLT)

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

Chaos and evil will be fully eliminated when God makes all things new and until then, although they rage around us here, in God’s presence they are stilled.

So that gives us some perspectives on the throne room. Now, let’s turn our attention to the worshipers that are present in this vision.

2. The Worshipers

Revelation 4:4–11 (NLT)

4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 6b In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” 9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, 11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

Let’s start by talking about the elders. There are 24 of them and they sit on 24 thrones. Most likely, these represent the 12 tribes of Israel from the OT and the 12 apostles of Jesus in the NT, signifying the entirety of God’s redeemed people. They are on thrones because God’s people have authority and reign with Jesus as co-heirs with Him. Talking about suing other Christians, the apostle Paul says,

1 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT)

2 Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves?

And John, in chapter 5 says,

Revelation 5:10 (NLT)

10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.”

The 24 elders are us, the redeemed of God. Through his sacrifice for us, and by our faith, God exchanges our dirty rags of sin for the white clothes of purity and innocence. And our response is to fall down in God’s presence in worship and lay our crowns - all our accolades, our accomplishment, our victories - before throne recognizing that we have nothing outside of God’s grace.

The second group of worshipers are the four living beings. Again, there is much debate as to what they symbolize, but I tend to agree with Darrell Johnson when he says that they most likely represent all living creatures. He quotes Rabbi Abihu from around 300 AD who said, “There are four might creatures. The mightiest among the birds is the eagle, the mightiest among domestic animals is the ox, the mightiest among the wild animals is the lion, the mightiest of them all is man; and God has taken all these and secured them to his throne.” The living creatures are also covered in eyes, symbolizing that there is nothing hidden from them. And if nothing is hidden from the creatures, then how much less is anything hidden from God himself? But the point of them is less what they look like than what they are doing. They are worshiping our God constantly, day and night. All creation was made to worship God and finds it’s greatest purpose and life in doing so. So let us follow the challenge of the author of Hebrews who says,

Hebrews 13:15 (NLT)

15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

We’ve looked at the throne room and now the worshipers that give God the glory in Revelation chapter 4. Now, let’s turn to chapter 5 and look at John’s vision of the lamb.

3. The Lamb

Revelation 5:1–14 (NLT)

1 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. 4 Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. 7 He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” 14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

Starting next week, we will look at the seals and what happens when each one is broken, but for this part of the vision I think the main thing we need to see is the juxtaposition of Lion and Lamb.

We see here that Jesus is called both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb that was slain. Like a lion, he is immensely powerful, one who could have commanded an army of angels to come and take over the world. But how did Jesus exercise that power? By being a lamb that sacrificed himself on the cross so that you and I could have eternal life. In the Old Testament a perfect, spotless lamb was the sacrifice offered during Passover.

Passover was a Jewish holiday where the people would commemorate how God freed Israel from slavery in Egypt. After the first nine plagues hit Egypt, God told the people to take a spotless lamb, sacrifice it, and paint their door posts with its blood. For every home that did this, the angel of death “passed over” that home and left it untouched. For every other home, the first born died. This event, which led to their freedom, was the precursor to the work of Jesus. Jesus, who is both fully God and fully man and who lived a sinless life (was therefore spotless) also died to give us freedom - but not freedom from the enslavement of a nation, but from the enslavement of sin and death. But his death wasn’t an accident. He purposely allowed himself the indignity of dying publicly on a cross, though he had broken no law. The Alpha and Omega, the all-mighty God of the universe chose not to save himself, but to save us.

Bruce Metzger, in his book Breaking the Code, says, “Instead of a ferocious lion that hurts others, the Messiah is the sacrificial lamb that takes into himself the hurts of others.” For Jesus, the ultimate show of his power was to lay his life down for us. And that should cause us all to stop and do two things: 1) Worship the Lamb of God. - He is worthy to open the seals because he won the victory over death and sin when he died and came back to life. 2) We need to reevaluate how we exercise power today. Do we do it like Jesus? Do we use our power in our families to serve them or to be served? Do we use our power at our jobs to serve and empower others or do make others serve us? Let’s be like Jesus and be people who can lay their lives down for others.

Takeaways from this vision:

1. The throne is occupied and from it comes mercy

When we look around in the world and see all that is going on everywhere, it doesn’t look like there is a ruler of it all. It doesn’t look like the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God of the Bible is actively in control of the earth. It looks chaotic, is full of evil and is, frankly, depressing. But that’s why John gives the world Revelation four and five. The first-century Christians felt the same way we do, but even more amplified because for them faith was a matter of life or death. But our passage reminds us that there is a throne of God and it is occupied and that information, that peek behind the veil, gives us the power to endure in our faith because we now know things are not what they seem - there is more than what we can perceive with our five sense. There is our great King is ruling from his throne, moving history along to the time when Jesus will return and make everything right.

2. Chaos is stilled in the presence of God

I was deeply struck by the picture of the sea that is like glass before the throne. My life has a lot of chaos in it. I bet yours has too. And this world is filled with so much evil and that evil pervades and overloads our senses all the time. But if the sea represents chaos and evil, then I am struck by the fact that the sea is stilled in the presence of God on his throne. It’s a great reminder for me that when I feel overwhelmed by the chaos in my life or by the evil in this world, I can - and I need to - go to Jesus and he calms my anxious heart and stills the storms within me.

3. The lamb is worthy

I am acutely aware that I am not worthy of anything. There is nothing inherently good in me that I deserve anything more than basic human decency. I resonate with Paul when he says that he is the worst of sinners in his first letter to Timothy. I may not be worthy, but the lamb of God, Jesus is. John wept when there was no one worthy to open the scroll but the angels revealed to John that Jesus is worthy. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the firstborn over all creation, the one who died, who conquered sin and death, who was resurrected and now lives forevermore at the right hand of the Father. He is worthy to be praised and worshiped. In fact, most of Revelation chapter 5 are expressions of worship of Jesus and in a world that seems to tell us that we all deserve so much and subtly tempts us to worship ourselves and others, I am reminded that only God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - is worthy to be praised. Humility is found when we realize who we are and who we are not. We are loved, but we are not worthy of worship. That’s supposed to be only for God.

Conclusion

Revelation four and five help give us the context for the rest of the book. They create the scene where all the judgments and workings of God come from and remind us of the pure awesomeness of the one on the throne and of the lamb who is worthy to open the scroll. My challenge to you today is, as you look around in the world today, look at it in light of Revelation four and five and gain a vision for worship, no matter the circumstances because there is a throne, it is occupied by God, in emanates mercy and justice and in his presence, there is peace. Would you pray with me?

Pray.