Revelation 4:1-11 - Worshiping the Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth

Introduction

The life of a toddler is a life without perspective.

They have complete meltdowns because you won't let them eat crayons for breakfast. They scream "NO NAP!" while literally falling asleep standing up. They insist on wearing snow boots to the beach and demand to keep every stick, rock, and piece of trash they find as "treasures." To a toddler, being denied a third cookie is a legitimate crisis worthy of a dramatic floor collapse.

From their perspective, these are life-altering catastrophes. From our perspective, it's Tuesday.

Revelation 4 is the divine perspective of the previous letters to the churches. Our Father is on the throne, he is Almighty, and he is governing all things for his glory and our good!I

It is also the divine perspective on what follows in the second vision (all of the judgments of God).

Major transition - “in the Spirit”

Revelation 1:9–10 “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet”

Revelation 4:1–2 “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.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.”

Revelation 17:1–3 “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.”

Revelation 21:9–10 “Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,”

It’s like a second Exodus. From persecution and suffering, to now meeting God at the mountain, to the wilderness, and finally to the promised land.

Rev 4-5 taken together mirror the scene of Daniel 7:9-28

Antidote to all of our fears and worries about the future: The Father is on his throne! It calibrates our perspective.

Our Invitation to See What’s True (Rev 4:1)

Revelation 4:1 “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.””

“a door standing open in heaven” - the way to the throne is open.

Like an airport VIP lounge - free food and drink, comfy chairs, showers, massage services, even beds to sleep in! An incredible oasis in the middle of misery!

We have access to the Father!

Heaven may feel distant, but the reality is that the Father has drawn near and made a way for us to draw near to him.

Come to the Father as his child, in prayer, asking him what you need and he gives you grace and mercy to help. Even now while you are listening to me!

“first voice…like a trumpet” - It is the voice of the risen Christ

Revelation 1:10–12 “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,”

Revelation 1:15 “his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.”

“come up here” - invitation to see what’s true. What is reality. Not the apparent successes of Rome and the persecutors of the church in chapters 2-3. They are not on the throne.

“what must take place after this” - the sovereign plan of the Father to make all things new. In his mercy he has shown John so that we might know as well.

Exalting Jesus in Revelation Praise God Because He Is the King over All Things (Revelation 4:1–5)

Corrie ten Boom, who hid Jews from the Nazis and went to prison for her efforts, says it well: “There is no panic in Heaven! God has no problems, only plans.”

We will cover these plans in the next 11 sermons (Rev 4-16)

The Father Is On His Throne (Rev 4:2-3)

Revelation 4:2–3 “At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 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.”

“In the Spirit” - like the visionary trance like Ezek 1

Ezekiel 1:1 ESV

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

Ezekiel 1:5–10 ESV

And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.

Ezekiel 1:22–28 ESV

Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads. And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each creature had two wings covering its body. And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let down their wings. And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings. And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 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.

“a throne stood in heaven” - the place of authority and power. Mentioned over 40 times in the book

Isaiah 66:1 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?

“one seated on the throne” - the Father is the one who holds all authority and power. God, not Caesar, is on the throne

1 Kings 22:19 ESV

And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left;

Psalm 47:8 ESV

God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

Daniel 7:9 ESV

“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.

Jasper and carnelian and emerald describe the value and beauty of the scene. They are also characterize the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:11, 18-19)

The rainbow of emerald may refer to the mercy in the midst of judgment just like the mercy shown to Noah and his family during the flood.

1 Timothy 6:15–16 ESV

which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 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.

Jonathan Edwards wrote that “God is God, distinguished from all other beings and exalted above them, chiefly by His divine beauty...”

He saw beauty as the chief thing that separated God from his creation.

Goodness, truth, and beauty are the three-legged aesthetic stool. Without one leg, the stool is unstable and will collapse. All three are required and depend upon one another.

What’s the difference between glory and beauty? Glory is the fullness of his attributes and essence. We see the beauty of God in how he works through creation, redemption, and the end of time. God’s glory is always displayed in a beautiful way and is always appropriate.

The one on the throne is the king in all his beauty, who is worth far more than precious gems.

The Father Is Surrounded by Worship (Rev 4:4-11)

For His Sovereign Rule (Rev 4:4-7)

The Twenty-Four Elders

Revelation 4:4–7 “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. 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, 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 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.”

“twenty-four elders” - I take these to be the heavenly court and these elders to be angels. The number is debated (fullness of the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles of the church, alluding to the gates of Rev 21)

they have delegated authority from the Father. They sit on “thrones”

they are holy, they have “white garments”

they are exalted and celebrating, they have “golden crowns/wreaths on their head”

The Seven Spirits

three impressive features of the throne room

lightning and thunder - God’s awesome presence at Sinai (Exod 19:16-19). He is the source of all judgments in Revelation, which prepares the way for his rule on earth in the new creation.

Revelation 8:5 “Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”

Revelation 11:19 “Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.”

Revelation 16:18 “And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake.”

seven fiery torches - seven spirits representing the fullness of the Holy Spirit. From Zech 4:1-14, demonstrating God’s ability to see and act by his Spirit to accomplish his will over the whole earth

Zechariah 4:2–6 ESV

And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

sea of glass - from Ezekiel 1. reflecting the astounding beauty, glory and purity of heaven. The focus is on the throne and provokes worship.

The Four Living Creatures

Also taken from Ezekiel 1. They form the innermost circle around God himself. They are offering worship and service and guarding his purity.

Isaiah 6:2–3 ESV

Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

For His Holiness (Rev 4:8)

Revelation 4:8 “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!””

Here they sing a slightly different song of unceasing worship.

“holy, holy, holy” - God is set apart, he alone is the true and living God. He is far above any other.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”

"Lord, make your name famous through my integrity at work today"

"Father, let your mercy be seen through how I treat difficult people"

"God, may your excellence be displayed in how I serve others"

"Jesus, let your generosity flow through my resources and time"

"Spirit, show your peace through my response to conflict"

“almighty” - In his power, he is unmatched. He has no rival. He is sovereign over all. He controls history.

“I believe in God almighty, maker of heaven and earth.” - Nicene Creed

“who was and is and is to come” - He is eternal. He is coming to make his presence fill the earth and we will see his face (Rev 22:4)

Matthew 5:8 ““Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Hebrews 12:14 “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

Job 19:26–27 “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”

Edwards…holds that in some sense there will never be an “immediate” vision of God or of the Father, never a vision of the “essence” of God…For the believer, the visio Dei always remains mediated vision—mediated, that is, through Christ. Human beings, inasmuch as they are creatures, are dependent for their knowledge of God on created signs, and the great sign (the “grand medium,” as Edwards calls him) is Christ himself. - (Hans Boersma)

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

John 14:9 “Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

These passages reinforce the idea that the Lamb at the Father’s right hand is the grand medium of what it means to see God.

[1]Hans Boersma, Seeing God (Eerdmans, 2018), 371. He is quoting Edwards’s sermon entitled “True Saints, When Absent from the Body Are Present with the Lord” in Jonathan Edwards, Works, 25:234.

As Providential Care (Rev 4:9-11)

Revelation 4:9–11 “And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 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, “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.””

“whenever” - it is always appropriate to worship God

“give glory and honor” - acknowledge the rightful possession of those high attributes to God.

glory - inherent splendor and magnificence

honor - acknowledging and ascribing glory for his splendor

“give thanks” - declaration of someone’s character, and acknowledge that he deserves our gratitude the blessings he gives. Everything we are and receive comes from him.

“fall down and worship” - the posture that says, “I am yours, do with me what you want.”

“cast their crowns before the throne” - even though they are part of the heavenly council, they give them back in rightful honor of the one who is Almighty.

“worthy” - extolling his perfections

“to receive glory and honor and power” - we don’t add to God’s glory, we ascribe to him the glory he already possesses.

Why is he worthy?

He created all things - he is in control of all things. He governs creation for his glory and our good.

He providentially rules according to his will - (Spoiler alert!) setting the stage for next week when the Lamb takes the scroll

How can we trust the Father’s providence?

We can remind ourselves we live by faith: “When circumstances don’t make sense today, we can pray to the Father, “I don’t understand, but I trust you.”

We can look for our Father’s reroutes in our life: We can ask, “What is the Father steering me toward?” rather than “why am I experiencing roadblocks?”

We can remember God’s past faithfulness. Rehearse how he has guided your life!

Ask your Father to give you eyes to see the big picture, his higher ways.

Conclusion

When we have a right view of God, we are healthy in our thinking and living.

This is my Father’s world: O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!

When we remember our Father is on his throne, and we have access to this throne of grace through Jesus by the Spirit, it causes us to rise above the fray of our life circumstances that threaten to drown us.

Real power is not with evil, but with God Almighty, our Father.

The judgments of this vision must be seen as coming from the one who is in control of all things.

We are not toddlers having a meltdown over crayons! We are not orphans in a crisis. We are children of the King having a temporary difficulty in our Father's world. And that changes everything.

1 Timothy 1:17 ESV

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.