Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation 4

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

Moments ago, in chapter 4...

The Throne in Heaven

The Lord has just given His messages of encouragement and warning to the seven churches, affirming that He indeed walks among them and rules over them.

The Throne in Heaven

After this, John looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!

And the first voice, that is the voice of Jesus, which John had heard speaking to him like a trumpet in chapter 1, said, Come up here.

As Moses was called up to Mount Sinai, and other prophets were taken up to receive a message, so the Lord calls John up.

Come up here, He says, and I will show you what must take place after this.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

At once, John was in the Spirit.

This is to say that He was so impressed by the Holy Spirit that He was able to see what Christ was showing Him.

He was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne.

God Himself, seated on the throne.

John doesn’t really describe the Father, likely because no words can describe Him.

He is who He is.

He is Spirit.

Remember that this is a vision, and the One seated on the throne symbolizes Him.

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,

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,

He does say that He who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, semi-precious stones, to describe His beautiful radiance.

And around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

John is trying to describe what he saw, and it’s hard for us to even imagine, but what he sees is glorious.

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.

There’s no consensus on who or what these twenty-four elders represent.

Some think they’re angelic beings.

Others think they represent all of God’s people, with the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve Apostles of the Lamb, whose names will be inscribed on the walls of New Jerusalem.

Still others think this refers to the order of priests serving in the Old Testament temple.

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,

In any case, let us not get caught up in such details.

Whoever these elders are, they are clothed in white, representing holiness, and they wear crowns, symbolizing God-given authority and power.

who was and is and is to come!”

who was and is and is to come!”

From this throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder.

Oh, have you ever watched a lightning storm?

How fascinating it is.

One could watch the beauty and majesty of a lightning storm and revel in its thunder for hours.

Have you ever been near a lightning strike?

It’s terrifying and exhilarating and awe-inspiring all at once.

Around this throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder.

What awesomeness.

And before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God.

This is likely a symbol of the Holy Spirit Himself, whose sevenfold ministry is described in Isaiah.

[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,

Also before the throne, there was, as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

The sea is not made of glass.

John says, as it were, to say that he is merely grasping to describe this.

It looks like glass.

[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,

The Bible has a lot to say about the sea.

The sea is terrifying.

The sea is what God used to save His people and to crush those who were seeking to destroy her.

Jesus showed His might by stilling the sea, while other grown men cowered in fear.

This sea, before the throne, is like glass.

It has been tamed, stilled, by Almighty God on the throne.

And on the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures.

These creatures have features of both the Cherubim and Seraphim in the Old Testament.

They are full of eyes in front and behind, showing their vigilance and their alertness.

They know all that is going on in this throne room.

They are the guardians of the throne and its bearers.

[11] “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

[11] “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

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.

Again, John alludes to Old Testament descriptions of the Cherubim.

Perhaps these represent all of creation, wild animals, tame animals, humans, and birds.

to receive glory and honor and power,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, like the Seraphim in the Old Testament, are full of eyes all around and within, and they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Amen!

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.”

(ESV)

And whenever these 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.

and by your will they existed and were created.”

(ESV)

They cast their crowns before the throne.

Whatever authority and power God had granted them, they cast it at His feet, for He is the supreme authority.

He has supreme, majestic power.

They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God”.

The Caesar of the time demanded that the people called him “our Lord and God”, but our Lord and God, the true Lord and God is on the throne.

Domitian is in Hades, awaiting the judgment of the God whom he blasphemed.

Revelation 5