Revelation Series 1

A Glimpse Of Glory

Text: Revelation 4

Introduction

All of us have experienced a fall from God’s glory. Even after receiving Jesus as Savior, we have yet to fully perceive and experience God’s perfect glory. That is why every believer should be excited about the glimpse of glory God permits John to see and record for our benefit today!

When you come to church, don’t you come with a desire to experience a stirring atmosphere of God’s presence? This glimpse of God’s glory on His throne really exhibits the most stirring atmosphere imaginable. You can truly sense John’s excitement as he explains the scene he was permitted to observe.

This journey through Revelation will give us all a glimpse of God’s glory through imagery of His throne, His worshipers, His judgement, His power, His return, His defeat of the devil, and His new creation that will come from the power of His word for us to enjoy Him forever!

This is why Jesus encourages us to pray for things to be done on earth as it is in heaven — Matthew 6:10 “10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

The heavenly scene John describes is used as a backdrop and to help us better understand the beginning of God’s judgements that will be unleashed on the earth.

John intends to portray a magnificent heavenly throne room where God appears in his glory with all the hosts of heaven and where the council of God sets in motion all the events God has scheduled for the eschaton. Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 147.

We will be approaching this book in a literal sense. Where there is no definite explanations we will look for hints to possible meanings. These hints will come from the Old Testament and similar uses of the same words or objects.

1) An Open Door To God’s Glory (v1)

Now, John does not mention the amount of time between chapter 3 and chapter 4.

“hearafter” is ushering in completely new subject matter and a separate time in the future.

While John would remain physically on earth, he was spiritually transported into heaven.

John said in chapter 1 he was “in the Spirit” when he saw the first great vision. (1:10; 4:2)

John saw: God sitting on His throne, spectacular colors, a bow above the throne, lightning, fire, a glassy sea, an infinite number of angels, living beings, elders sitting on other thrones, types of clothing, golden crowns, a seven-sealed book, a dramatic search, the Lamb of God, musical instruments, and bowls of prayers. He heard the sounds of Heaven: trumpet-like voices, thunder, singing, and antiphonal hymns of worship from various groups. Gwyn Pugh, “Commentary on the Book of Revelation,” in 1, 2, 3 John & Revelation, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition., The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House, 2010), 206.

“opened in heaven” & “come up hither”

John does not see the door being opened, only the door standing open and a LOUD voice inviting him to see the things that must and will come about.

John would being granted a marvelous access to the presence of God.

John would learn how intertwined God’s throne is to the future history of all creation…especially mand-kind!

John would obtain proper perspective through seeing a timeless portrait of God, His throne, special creatures, and worshippers around God’s throne.

2) The Throne Of God’s Glory (v2-3)

“in the spirit”

John’s journey to heaven is all accredited to the Holy Spirit.

We know that John being a born-again believer had the Spirit dwelling in him.

The Holy Spirit gripped John’s mind, will, and emotions and allow them to engage with the throne room of God.

How should we view God’s throne?

John soon realized that God’s throne was like a cosmic “control tower.”

This made sense do to having been taught about God’s attributes.

From this very throne, God was exercising His infinite knowledge, wisdom, power, providence, and sovereignty.

Think about this…God sustains all that you are and all that you see around you right from this grand throne room.

What can we learn about the beauty of God and His throne?

John is overwhelmed with the color scheme.

Three jewels — jasper, sardius, and emerald

John used valuable colored stones to describe what he saw. However, these colors should probable be seen as distinct from God Himself.

“Jasper” — variety of colors, even white

Daniel 7:9 “9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.”

“Sardine (carnelian) stone” — typically red

Used to describe God’s glory

Turn to: Ezekiel 1:26–27 “26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. 27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.”

You and I read about the glory of God in heaven, but LISTEN…it is more that words on a page…His glory is visible!

“rainbow round about the throne”

A radiant bow of emerald green symbolizing God’s glory.

A continual emerald glow expresses to us of God’s infinite beauty.

Many have pointed out certain significance to these colors:

Red — Christ’s blood or God’s holiness and judgement.

Greed — Possible represent God’s mercy or eternal life.

No doubt, these colors express the very nature of God.

Turn to: Genesis 9:14–16 “14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

The scriptures describe God as light!

2 Corinthians 4:4 “4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

1 John 1:5 “5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

Revelation 21:23 “23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

3) Worshipers Of God’s Glory (v8-11)

A. Who were those around the throne?

24 elders sitting on thrones in white raiment with crowns of gold.

There are a host of beliefs about who there are.

Due to being called “elders,” ruling with God to some degree, and their activity in worship, it seems more likely they are representatives of humanity of all time.

Could possibly represent the 12 tribes and 12 apostles.

“lightning, thunder, voices, seven lamps burning”

Impression if anyone comes into God’s presence, they must bow with great awe and reverence!

The “seven lamps burning” could easily be reference to the Holy Spirit — (1:4) Isaiah 11:2 “2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;”

“four beasts” = “living creature” or “living being”

Used 20 times in Revelation referring to good angels.

Uniquely-designed angelic creatures are assigned to God’s throne.

Some estimate them as being an “exalted order” of angelic beings who guards the throne and leads the heavenly hosts in worship. (Robert Mounce)

Closer to the throne than the elders.

Couple of ideas of what they represent:

God’s attributes: lion (sovereignty), ox (strength or endurance), flying eagle (Swiftness), intelligent man (omniscience).

Entire animate creation: lion (wild animal kingdom), ox (domesticated animals), flying eagle (creatures of the sky), man (human race)

“full of eyes within”

full knowledge, alertness, vigilance, etc.

B. What was the their worship like?

It was a never ceasing worship of God (“rest not day and night”)

Not all saints on earth worship God as often and sincerely as they ought, but their representatives in Heaven do. Jesus instructed us to pray that God’s will be done “in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). Gwyn Pugh, “Commentary on the Book of Revelation,” in 1, 2, 3 John & Revelation, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition., The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House, 2010), 211–212.

“holy, holy, holy”

speaks to God’s three names: Yahweh (Jehovah), Elohim (Jehovah/Yahweh), Almighty.

It can be understood as rightly addressing all three members of the Trinity and perfect holiness.

“which was, and is, and is to come”

Relating to the worship of God the Father.

Notice how this echoes the Second Coming and future events yet to come.

The praise to His glory led by the four beasts and followed by the 24 elders comes from two realities:

God’s greatness as Creator & Jesus as Redeemer of creation.

Conclusion

DON’T MISS THIS…God has pledges all of which He is worshiped over for the benefit of those who worship Him in trust faith! (holiness, wisdom, power, love, grace, knowledge, etc.)

You and I and all of creation should praise God due to our very existence depending on His desire to create and we were created for His pleasure.