Revelation 4

Friends, if you are able - please stand for the reading of God’s word: Today we read from Revelation chapter 4.

Revelation 4:1–11 (CSB)

After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.

Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,

Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.

This is the word of the Lord - friends please be seated.

Friends, if the chapters 2 and 3 or revelation or the messages to the seven churches is the lens and the content for this book - then Revelation 4 and 5 are the centering vision for the book.

And this glimpse, this heavenly vision that John has is spectacular, worshipful, but also bizarre and overwhelming.

these two scenes, chapter 4 and 5, have inspired christians well humanity at large, in huge ways throughout the centuries.

From hymns like Holy Holy Holy, to several movements in Handels Messiah, to even more recent songs like Revelation Song - to great artwork and poetry. It’s truly a captivating section of scripture to behold - that not only says a lot to us by reading the text, but also has the power to do a lot to us as we contemplate this scene.

This is a scene that i think has a lot of potential commentary to inform our worship. Though the quote unquote worship wars were most commonly fought in the 80’s and 90s, they still rage on in a very real way. What songs what style, and words, what instruments. And honestly those are good questions to ask - however i think when we read and experience the throne of heaven as described in revelation 4 things will come into focus to us and we may be challenged.

So Today we look at Revelation 4, and we will come back to revelation 5. But chapter 4 is the throne room of heaven.

Author and Scholar David Aune has done considerable work on this scene in directly comparing roman and other contemporary throne depictions with what we see in this section of scripture. So Aune researched historical descriptions of throne scenes in the roman world and believes that there are elements at play in chapter 4 and 5 that are trying to directly subvert the current political hierarchy of the imperial throne. Elements like the circles of guards and elders around the throne have some correlation with the historical scenes we see according to Aune.

Remember - there was an imperial cult at large and growing at the end of the first century, especially in Asia Minor under the emperor Domitian. This cult promoted worshipping Caesar as god. The savior of the world. the prince of peace. the all powerful. They called Caesar lord not just in a respectful and political way - but in may ways a religious sense.

And while I’m sure some participated in it half-heartedly, you know just submitting to the ways of the world to live well in it - the Christians refused - for to worship anyone or anything else is idolatry. So they declared Jesus is Lord.

And the churches were being persecuted due to their faithfulness. The world was complicated for them! Some of the heroes of the faith - Paul, Peter, James, most of the apostles had been martyred. The Temple in Jerusalem had been torn down. Jewish peoples were becoming increasingly hostile towards the christian movement. The apostle John had apparently been exiled to the island of patmos.

One could imagine the skepticism - is Jesus really God? IS he really in charge? Why hasn’t he come and made all things right yet?

And in that world - this word is given, primarily and first to seven churches in Asia minor, secondarily to us, and now after the seven messages - we now get a new vision that all of the churches would read.

With that, let’s look at Revelation 4:1

Revelation 4:1 CSB

After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

The phrase “after this” is in line with the old testament prophets in which it likely indicates a new vision - a new oracle.

That vision starts with an opening and an invitation from the voice like a trumpet to come to heaven and see what’s next. This voice like a trumpet refers back to Revelation 1:10 where we know this is the voice of Jesus.

Remember that this is in the visionary apocalyptic prophetic tense here. Like Daniel and Ezekiel, John is going to express things he saw and experienced in language that is designed to give us a response. One scholar i read that the best way to first read apocalyptic language for all its worth is to imagine the scene as it is described. Try to experience it in your mental imagination and feel it. So While we will go through exegetically and explore words and insights - first and foremost we have to just marvel at the scene!

Francis Chan has written on this section of Scripture and says that first and foremost its an invitation to stare at God! Oh how our lives would change if we just caught a glimpse of the heavenly reality.

The word Jesus shares is to come up here, the idea is the third heavens - beyond any physical part of the cosmos, and Jesus will show what is going to happen after this.

GK Beale, and other scholars indicate this is an allusion back to Daniel 2 and Daniel vision of the end times scene. Which in a tangible way we’ve explored that John and the Christians saw the end times being inaugurated in the ascension of Jesus Christ and primarily in the coming of the Holy Spirit.

So John is borrowing Daniel’s voice to give the Christians confidence to endure what they are already enduring and which will accelerate towards the ultimate end and consummation of all things in the arrival of Jesus Christ.

Verse 2

Revelation 4:2 CSB

Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it.

Notice - he is immediately in the Spirit and sees the throne in heaven. There is no climb - there is no journey - no in Christ, upon his invitation John is immediately present. The invitation of Christ is what opens the door of heaven.

he sees the throne and knows and perceives that someone is seated on it. John’s vision of the throne of God is going to be similar to what we read in the old testament from Daniel and Isaiah and others.

Look at verse 3 and we see what he saw in this apocalyptic vision

Revelation 4:3 CSB

The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.

there was one seated on the throne - and John uses old testament imagery to describe what he witnessed, from Ezekiel, and Exodus and Genesis.

That of Jasper and carnelian stone. Jasper was clear and brilliant - and Keener suggests that this would allow John’s audience to later recognize New Jerusalem as the dwelling place of God’s glory.

In Ezekiel, God’s throne os described to look like sapphire. here a bit different, but brilliant nonetheless. The rainbow with an appearance of an emerald surrounding the throne. My mind goes to the rainbow as it refers to Noah and the sign of the promise. Rainbows are amazing and stunning things.

The idea here is to get caught up in the details less - and to experience this as much as we can. To cultivate our sanctified imagination. Picture this scene - where John looks toward the throne, that there is so much glory and radiance that he just sees color and beauty.

His attention now turns to things around the throne - verse 4

Revelation 4:4 CSB

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.

The identity of the 24 elders on the throne has been hotly debated without a general consensus throughout church history - Some have argued that they are angels - others as the twelve apostles and the twelve tribes of israel. Still others because of their dress being that of what the martyrs will be described as later believe that these elders represent all believers and their presence around the throne - with the doubling of twelve perhaps to show the old and new testament peoples of God as one. Or perhaps the number 24 refers to the 24 courses of priests in the old testament as defined in 1 Chronicles 24:4.

I mean the idea of the crown - this should remind us of the messages to the seven churches where overcomers and victors were promised a crown - perhaps these represent those who have persevered to the end.

Regardless of their identity - their role will serve an important function as the scene plays out, and that is what is the response of those around the throne to the one on the throne.

John continues with more of what he witnessed on the throne - verse 5

Revelation 4:5 CSB

Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

most commentaries I read brought up that in many other Mediterranean faiths, the god of lightning and thunder was often the god that was the most supreme - so this lightning and thunder shows and reveals God’s power and sovereignty and supreme position over all. This, perhaps most importantly, is that in exodus 19 and 20 when God gave the law at mount sinai there was thunder and lightning - and this helps us realize and remember that we are dealing with a revelation of God.

The seven torches representing the seven spirits of God is the Holy Spirit. This has been a reoccurring allusion back to Isaiah in which the Spirit of God is described in seven facets - and yet is one. The number seven is one of the more important and symbolic numbers in scripture usually meaning completion and unity, and oneness.

In the first part of verse 6, we get an interesting note of a sea of glass -

Revelation 4:6a (CSB)

Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne.

This phrase has given people quite a bit of consternation as to what exactly JOhn is referring too here. There are lots of suggestions - perhaps the most direct source is the bronze basin or “sea” that was located in Solomons temple for priests to wash in - showing that the throne in heaven is like a temple. you can look up that reference in 1 Kings 7:23-44, and 1 Chronicles 18:8.

Another suggestion is that it represents God’s triumph of chaos and darkness. For many cultures the sea or the ocean was the home of chaos and evil and mystery - and that makes sense. This massive body of water that is deeper than we can see that is home to monsters and fish and sharks. Waves that can destroy a vessel like it was a paper boat. So some commentators and thinkers believe that this image in Revelation is to show that even though things are beyond chaotic for the believers on earth, God in heaven has completely conquered and stilled the sea.

Another suggestion that I studied also happens to be the most ancient. When I read the oldest commentators from the early and medieval church all of them were unanimous in their description of what this was and represented - they believed it was the waters of baptism and that it would serve as a kind of portal into the presence of God. I find it compelling that all of the early sources i was able to find agreed on the sea correlating to baptism.

We need to take seriously that for Christians historically baptism was the sign of entrance into the church of God.

Following the sea, we next read about some living creatures surrounding the throne.

Revelation 4:6b–8a (CSB)

Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside.

When we look at old testament visions prophets have of heaven or the throne there always seems to be an angelic presence. In htis case - John seems most similar to that of Ezekiel’s. There has been a lot of speculation as to what the different faces and creatures mean - but i think it’s likely best to settle that they were to represent the most powerful and regal of all the created realm and it communicates the majesty of God’s throne.

The idea of them being covered in eyes suggests that nothing is hidden from them. They are watchmen - first of God himself and they worship him - but also as to all things on the earth and the cosmos. but for all their bizarre splendor - the highlight of this scene isn’t them in and of themselves - but in what they say and do.

Revelation 4:8b (CSB)

Day and night they never stop, saying,

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.

these creatures see all things - and are spectacular in and of themselves - yet even after seeing all there is to see they cant help but reciting: Holy Holy Holy. Lord God the Almighty. Who was. and Is. and Is to come.

The repetition of holy communicates that God is the holiest of the holiest of the holy. There is NO one and nothing like him. He’s completely ontologically unique. All of time exists because of and in him.

And when these creatures praise - there is a call and response. Look at verse 9-11

Revelation 4:9–11 (CSB)

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,

Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.

So whenever the creatures proclaim, the elders also fall down and worship. And according to john - this is the normal state of heaven right now!

Okay - that brings us to the end of chapter 4, and we now get to ask our question: SoWhat?

First: I can’t help but reflect on the supremacy and power of God. He’s in charge. These scenes come before the pictures of judgement and they remind us who is on the throne. Beale writes: “The pastoral purpose [of Rev 4-5] is to assure suffering Christians that God and Jesus are sovereign and that the events that the Christians are facing are part of a sovereign plan that will culminate in their redemption and the vindication of their faith through the punishment of their persecutors.”

Especially in an election year - where both sides in our system are preaching existential threats to entice us to vote a certain way - friends make no mistake that we know the one who is on the throne. We can rest in him.

Second and finally - we are all called to join in the song and worship God.

We can get so caught up in the stuff - the hardship - the pain - but at some point we ought to just stop and stare at the throne of God and worship

All of us worhsip - all of us no matter what - Revelation 4 reorients our worship BACK to the throne of God. Where we can trust in his holiness and his eternal reign.

So What? So will you worship? will you sing? will you create? will you bring praise to God? Will you offer your lives as a sacrifice to God?

There is no better response to God and his word then Acclaiming him and bringing him praise.

So that is what we do - would these words inspire our worship.