The Throne Room of God

Today in our passage we are going to enter into a place of worship, a place where God is seen in His eternal setting, yesterday, today, and forever… but first let us look back at Revelation 1:19

Revelation 1:19 NASB95

19 “Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.

Where we have been...

We have seen Christ in His glory in Chapter 1

We have seen Christ relate Himself to the churches and show His character along with His desires for His bride in Chapters 2-3

Where we are now…

There is a distinct transition that occurs here… we are moving from the earthly to the realm of Heaven

As the church then and as the church now there would have been a comfort that would come as one understood...

things in this world are uncertain, unstable, and out of focus

meanwhile in Heaven they would see a perfect Holy God fully in control, clearly focused and a stable rule and authority

Where Revelation is going...

Revelation is going to describe “the things which will take place”

We will see Christ in full control, we will see His wrath poured out on mankind, we will see Him victorious!

After today we will continue our study of Revelation in our Sunday School hour to allow for discussion and interaction as we study this great book

We have read John’s description of Christ seen in Heaven… We have heard the messages Christ has for the church… As John begins Revelation 4 he begins… “after these things” please bow your heads as we hear these words from John and enter into the throne room of God!!!

Revelation 4 NASB95

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. 5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” 9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

The Scene of the Throne Room of GOD

White fluffy clouds, cute angels with harps, everything white with the exception of gold paths maybe… this is the picture Hollywood has given us.

Revelation 4 is a far cry from this… it is vivid, powerful, awe inspiring!!!

Notice in this chapter the word “like”… there is imagery and description going on.

John is taken into the very throne room of GOD and then given the task of describing it with mere words confined by the language of man, and comparisons of what we know on earth!

There is a throne...

It is NOT empty waiting for a king to sit and to rule

Rather there is One who sits on it has always and is ruling, and will continue to always rule!

John uses precious stones (green and red) to describe the radiance of God as He sits on His throne

There is no physical description or shape of God given here (He is Spirit)

There is a Rainbow that encompasses the throne… its appearance once again “like” emerald (WOW what color and beauty!)

We also see lightning and the sounds of thunder oh the POWER

“There was something like a sea of glass” peace and calm CONTROL in the midst of power

There is the Holy Spirit is before the Throne in perfect complete unity and Power with God

There are 24 thrones and 24 elders sitting on them...

Who are they? many suggestions out there (angels, saints, 12 sons of Israel, 12 apostles… etc)

Probably redeemed individuals God has chosen to serve before GOD in His throne room

These individuals are not identified for our knowing… we can speculate, yet where scripture is silent one is wise to not speculate too much, rather focus on what scripture clearly teaches.

Then there are the 4 creatures...

Angelic beings… Most likely seraphim and cherubim (guardians) like we see in Isaiah 6:3 and Ezekiel 1:5 and 10:14

Notice here the term “like” once again.

All that John sees is his very best to explain, describe what it was like there… however that we see very clearly even for John to describe for us is the:

The Worship of the One Seated on the Throne!

We clearly see that the One seated on the throne is HOLY, is WORTHY, is WORSHIPED...

we don't see worthy people take the position of rulership really do we… I spoke with one man who has lived quite a while last week and he said in his life he has only voted for two presidents… all the other elections he was voting against someone rather than for someone.

God is ruling… sitting on the throne. As He rules look at the worship that occurs:

Worship is ascribing “worth” to something or someone. We attribute value, honor, and devotion to our object of worship. When we truly worship God, we turn all of our attention, affection, and adoration toward Him.

This worship is continually occuring in GOD’s throne room!

Day and night, never ceasing

HOLY HOLY HOLY is the LORD GOD (All three in One)

His eternal power (was , is, is to come) forever and ever!!! this should incite worship

Glory and Honor are given Him… in this worship!

Casting of crowns by elders… all accomplished, achieved, reward belongs to Him...

do you feel this way

Is what you have, your gifts, abilities, blessings, rightly seen as belonging to Him?

Worship starts now

Worthy… is He truly worthy of your worship in your eyes?

Remember our place as the created… He is creator and sustainer.

Worthy… what worth do you place in your worship of Him?

when you worship… does your mind wander or in worship does it take in the Wonder!?

In Closing...

As the churches heard what John was describing to them what a blessing for them and us to know and remember:

God IS AWARE of your current situations and life

God IS SEATED on His Throne as ruler eternal

God IS IN CONTROL despite how life seems some days

God WILL RULE on earth one day in the near future… we will see this clearer as we go through this amazing book of Revelation.