Revelation 4:1-11
Notes
Transcript
Handout
INTRO
MESSAGE
The Lord God Reigns
He reigns in Beauty
He reigns in Authority
He reigns in Power
He reigns over All
He reigns in Holiness
Imagery combines Ezekiel 1 and Daniel 1 and Isaiah 6 of the majesty of God…
The Overwhelming Invitation.
The Overwhelming Invitation.
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
After this [Chap 1-3]… 7.9; 15.5; 18.1…
Voice in 1:10 now commands attention
True insight into history only comes from God’s perspective
Throne = more than 40 times in Rev = 12 times in 4 / 5 times in 5
open door signifying access to God !!
Rapture of church here…? Rev 22 Church again…
After these things… after church era?
In The Spirit… ecstatic state…Patmos
At once..!… Ch 9
Paul - 2 Corinthians 12:2–4 “2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.”
After hearing about the churches John was now commanded to come and see future events that would take place.
This invitation was given by the LORD himself and therefore was overwhelming !
who among us would deny / could deny the LORD of all creation
The spirit must be given to perceive that which is spiritual
This is the invitation that you have been given today !! Come and see by the open door of heaven the things that will take place after this !!
Overwhelming Invitation to…
The Awe Inspiring Throne.
The Awe Inspiring Throne.
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
The Primacy of the Throne and He who sits upon it !!
The Lord God Reigns
He reigns in Beauty
He reigns in Authority
He reigns in Power
He reigns over All
He reigns in Holiness
HE REIGNS!!
The otherworldly beauty
Psalm 104:2 “2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.”
1 Timothy 6:16 “16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”
Jasper / Carnelian
Jasper = holiness / Carnelian = judgement
Breastplate of High Priest = 1st & Last stones
Jasper - Reuben - firstborn
carnelian / Sardis - benjamin - last
Ultimate Otherness of God !!
Rainbow / emerald
longsuffering / mercy = Noahic Promise…
Penumbra Effect… Solar Eclipse - Ring of fire
dazzling splender of God…
Ezekiel 1:28 “28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.”
Flashes of Lightning / Thunder
Mount Sinai - Exodus 19:16 “16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.”
POWER… lightning / thunder… earthquake??
Job 37:2–5 “2 Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. 3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth. 4 After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. 5 God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.”
Seven Spirits = Torches of fire = Abraham - torch and smoking pot
HOLY SPIRIT = 7 = completion
Rev 4-5 = Father, Spirit, Son…
seven churches = lampstands
Revelation 1:4 “4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,”
Sea of Glass - 15.2 - mixed with fire
Preeminent separation from creation
Genesis 1:7 “7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so.”
Transparent = ability to radiate glory throughout the throne room
sea often terrible… still and calm
Our God REIGNS! He is unparalleled in His Power, Authority, Beauty, Holiness, Perfection… He who was and is and ever more shall be is in control over all things. This is who we fear, this is who we serve, this is He who has come and is coming again!
Awe Inspiring Throne to …
The Unimaginable Throng.
The Unimaginable Throng.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
24 Thrones / Elders
Who are they?
Son’s of Jacob / apostles
OT Priestly order [David split to 24]
Angelic figures
What is their function?
white garments / golden crowns
Purity and victory !!
worship / ruling / judging
representative of believers
4 Creatures ?? - Other times in Rev…
Lion / Ox / Man / Eagle
crowning of creation… wild / domestic / wise / swift… ?
Six wings / Eyes…
speed / sight / intellect
4 gospel writers…groundless
Ezekiel = description of these creatures also
LEAD Heavenly Worship !!!
Never Ceasing !!!
This is an unimaginable scene! John does his best to describe it and our feeble minds do the best we can to grasp it. But this is the scene of the throne room of heaven!! The KING of Kings and LORD of lords seated on His throne dwelling in unapproachable light with a host of 24 Elders surrounding Him and the 4 living creatures that represent all of creation leading all of Heaven in Awe inspired worship!!
Which brings me to the next point…
The Purity of Worship.
The Purity of Worship.
8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Instinctive / Instructive = John Phillips
Natural Response = Correct Response
Revelation: Verse by Verse The Elders’ Response (4:9–11)
This vision of the heavenly throne room is certainly one of the most magnificent worship passages in the Bible.
Revelation: Verse by Verse Celestial Beings Worship God (4:8B–11)
The two hymns in chapter 4 worship God, the first two in chapter 5 worship the Lamb, and the fifth hymn in 5:13 is sung to the two on the throne together.
How they do this
Day and Night - Never Ceasing
3x Holy = chief trait of God = Otherness
24 Elders - Prostrate themselves - Cast their crowns down
Revelation: Verse by Verse The Elders’ Response (4:9–11)
There are three primary purposes: First, it tells us that our own worship is grounded in the heavenly worship of God by the heavenly beings. When we worship, God is not interested in the quality of our voices but in the state of our heart. We may sing off-key, but that’s irrelevant. Our worship is cosmic, and all of heaven is worshiping with us (see Heb 12:22).
Second, we learn that the incredible splendor of God is in total contrast to the earthly so-called glory of earthly rulers; the truth of the matter is that any glory any of us possess is that glory that we share by being a member of the family of the Godhead. Too often we find ourselves virtually worshiping sports stars, celebrities, or politicians. The queen of England or the president of the United States must bow before the throne of heaven just as the rest of us do.
Finally, this vision of heavenly worship demonstrates that the judgment of God seen in Revelation 6–20 is grounded in his holiness and redemptive work seen in Revelation 4–5. We must recognize that God is Creator and sovereign over his world.
Have you ever been moved to spontaneous worship? Oh the joy oh the bliss of coming into contact with the One who sits on the throne of heaven!!
He is beautiful beyond compare! He is worthy beyond measure! His glory and splendor are more than mere words can express! This is our LORD, this is our GOD, This is our savior who humbled Himself even to death on a cross.
Look, Look with the eyes of angels into the Holy of Holies and see with blood bought eyes He who was and Is and Is to come and How then can any fail to bring hearts, and hands and voices before Him in This Purity of praise!!
Finally then to our last and final point today…
The Door Remains Open Today.
The Door Remains Open Today.
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
John 10:7–8 “7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.”
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:10–11 “10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
This door that John saw opened in heaven is still open today, but it will not remain open forever!
Run to Jesus, flee from destruction! Enter into the throne room of God and bathe in His glory and splendor.
The King of the universe, ney of All that is seen or unseen calls to you, invites you, has done all He can to woo you, even leaving His rightful place as the one on the throne to bring you unto himself.
The door remains open today… Enter in… and worship!
CLOSE
GROUP QUESTIONS
How have you seen a “worship deficit” in your own life? What can you do to cultivate a worshipful heart?
How does God’s providential plan for creation give us comfort in uncertain times?
What aspects of God’s character and splendor draw you to praise and worship Him? Where do you see these attributes in the Scriptures?
God’s power drives us to praise, even as it instills awe and fear. How do these go together in Christian worship?
What is shown about God’s character by the creatures in Revelation 4:7? Why is it significant that they are worshiping the One on the throne?
This passage implicitly invites us to worship the One who is on the throne. The elders do so by bowing down. How do you most often express your worship to the King of kings? Is there a wrong way to worship?
Why is it noteworthy that the elders cast their crowns, which the Lord gave them, before the throne? What has the Lord given you that you can use to worship Him?
What are you tempted to withhold from God that He is worthy of?
Reflect on the truth that our existence depends on the will of God to sustain it. How does it make you feel? How does it lead you to worship?