Revelation Sermon - 12

Revelation: Look! A Throne

Revelation 4:1-11

1. Introduction – This morning we come to what are 2 of the most glorious chapters in Revelation and maybe even the entire Bible.

a. I saw a door open in heaven! And what John saw when he walked through that open door is absolutely breathtaking.

i. Remember that Revelation’s goal is to reveal to us things unseen. There is more to reality that meets the unaided eye. Revelation seeks to open that ‘more’ up to its readers.

1. And Revelation 4, opens us for us the reality of heaven. And notice that for John heaven isn’t this far and distant place; its not up there somewhere, beyond the clouds.

a. For John, heaven refers to another dimension that is close at hand, all around us even – and it is intersecting with the visible and tangible dimension.

b. On earth, on the rocky island of Patmos, John saw a door open in heaven. He wasn’t whisked away or transported somewhere else.

i. It was while he was sitting on the prison island of Patmos that Jesus Christ pulls back on the curtain and he reveals to John events that are going on in that other dimension.

c. What we have in chapter 4, and really for the rest of the book, is a dramatic shift in style.

i. No longer are we in the easy to read and interpret pastoral letters of chapters 2 and 3, now we are back into the symbols and visions of apocalyptic literature.

1. Most of us would be happy to stay in the prophetic-pastoral style for the rest of the letter, but that’s not how it is written.

a. For it is through signs and symbols that Revelation shows its readers what must soon take place.

d. Hopefully you’ve read ahead, and you’re familiarized yourself with this chapter. And chances are as you read chapters 4 and 5 – you most likely felt moved and confused.

i. These chapters probably left you both inspired and maybe a little distressed.

1. So how do we make sense of this scene? Well, first, understand that chapters 4 and 5 belong to together, they are meant to read and together. We’re not going to do that just yet.

a. We are going to look at each of them separately. Chapter 4 this week, chapter 5 next week – and the following week we are going to put them together.

ii. But how do we make sense of this scene? By focusing on what John focused on. And what did John focus on??? “Look,” he says, “a throne.”

1. And next week we’ll hear him say, “look, a lamb.

a. We make sense of this scene and this chapter by focusing on the throne.

iii. But Michael, what about the elders, who are they? What about the disturbing eye covered beings?

1. Yes, we’ll look at them, but keep focused on the throne.

a. Mike, the glassy sea, the thunder, lightning, rainbow…what’s with the sevenfold Spirit of God…what are those things all about?

i. Don’t worry, we’ll look at those, but we’ll look at those objects as they relate to the throne.

1. We’ll study them where they are in relation to the throne.

e. John uses the word ‘throne’ 10 times in 11 verses – so we need to focus where John is focusing.

i. In fact, the throne and the Lamb that we’ll look at next week – are two major themes and images that will be carried through the rest of the book.

1. So, we will look at all these symbols from this chapter, we will always come back to the throne.

a. This morning we are going to look at the throne, we’ll look at what comes from the throne, what is behind the throne, before the throne and what’s happened around the throne.

i. Focus where John did; focus on the throne and we will not go astray.

2. On the Throne – In this chapter it’s as if John was granted access to the control room of the universe.

a. And in that control room there’s a throne and look! The throne is not empty – someone is sitting on it.

i. Hear that again – someone is sitting on the throne. It’s not up for grabs.

ii. Sometimes our present circumstances make us think that no on is on the throne – no one is in control.

1. Or worse – sometimes it looks and feels like evil and chaos have stormed the control room and they are sitting on the throne.

a. But if we look at life through the lens of Revelation 4, we see a throne, and we see one who is Almighty and worthy of worship sitting on it.

b. He is altogether lovely, dazzling and honestly…beyond description.

i. He is pulsating with brilliance, light, life, glory. He is infinitely calm and absolutely powerful.

1. Good news folks! There’s a throne in heaven…and that throne is occupied.

3. From the Throne – And even though John is completely enamored by the throne, he can’t help but notice what’s coming from the throne.

a. For from the throne are coming flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. And these are actually well used images from throughout the Bible.

i. Whenever thunder and lightning are used as descriptors of God – they show how awesome, powerful and holy he is.

1. And as we’ll see as we progress through the rest of Revelation – we are going to see thunder and lightning a lot.

a. In the next few chapters there are going to be 3 series of judgments – 3 rounds of God executing his wrath on evil… 7 seals are broken; 7 trumpets will be blown, and 7 bowls will be poured out.

i. And what we’ll see is that in the 7th in each of these series we’ll hear echoes of 4:5 – thunder and lightning appear, and the image is that God’s justice flows from his throne.

4. Behind the Throne – And coming up from behind the throne was a rainbow.

a. The rainbow is the symbol of God’s promise to never destroy the earth by flood. It’s a symbol of God’s mercy and faithfulness.

i. Combine the rainbow with the thunder and lightning and we learn that God’s judgments are merciful, and his mercy is just.

5. In Front of the Throne – And in front of the throne we see 7 torches and a sea.

a. We are told that the 7 torches represent the sevenfold Spirit of God. This doesn’t mean that God has 7 spirits…

i. The number 7 represents wholeness, so it means that at the throne of God, the Spirit is completely there, completely available and completely complete.

b. So, what’s the deal with the sea? Why does John describe it and what purpose does it serve?

i. Well, notice how John describes it – smooth as glass; sparkling like crystal.

1. It will help us to know that for the rest of the book, the sea represents everything that opposes God’s will.

a. Chaos comes from the sea; beasts who seek to destroy come from the sea.

2. In the ancient world, the sea was largely unknown, and it was feared. It represented disorder and chaos.

c. But look! A throne! And all around the throne a sea. And the sea is not raging and chaotic; it’s calm – as smooth as glass.

i. John is using the image of the sea to tell his readers that chaos will not rule the day and it will not win.

1. Because before the throne chaos is stilled and subdued.

a. Oh, how we need to be reminded of this. Sometimes life feels like its one chaotic event after another.

i. Circumstances threaten to undo us – the pressure we face is overwhelming.

1. We are so worked up inside maybe you feel like you are going to explode.

ii. But hear the words again. Look! A throne! See the ‘more’ that Revelation reveals – see reality through the lens of Revelation 4.

1. See the throne – and around that throne the picture the sea as smooth as glass.

d. And what’s really exciting is that at the end of the book, when John sees the new heaven and new earth…

i. One of the very first things he notices is that the sea is gone. How we need to hear this and remind ourselves of this.

1. Look! A Throne. And its surrounded by smooth, calm and serene waters.

6. Around the Throne – Now, see what John saw happening around the throne.

a. Now, don’t lose sight of the throne. Don’t get distracted by the living beings or the eyes – focus on the throne and how the living beings are acting in relation to the throne.

i. So, who and what are the elders and living beings?

1. First, let’s start with the number – why 24?

a. The number is most likely attained by adding together the 12 patriarchs of the Israelite tribes with the 12 apostles.

i. 12 representing God’s people before the coming of Jesus and 12 representing the church after Jesus’ coming.

1. Both groups have been bought with the blood of the Lamb, who we will study next week.

b. Along with the 24 elders are 4 living creatures or beings. Take note of the word ‘like’ in these verses.

i. John is not saying that a lion, an ox, an eagle and human are worshipping there; no, really, john is trying to find the best human terms possible to describe the indescribable.

1. Most scholars agree that these 4 beings represent all the created order.

a. The eyes covering them means that they can never take their eyes off the throne.

i. So, if the living beings can’t ever take their eyes off the throne – neither should we.

1. We shouldn’t get distracted or hung up on who or what they are – focus on what they are focusing on; look at what their eyes are glued to – the throne and the One sitting on it.

7. Worshipping – But more important than who the elders are or what the living beings represent is what they are doing.

a. 24 elders, 4 living beings – day and night, night and day – they never stop worshipping.

i. In a world that worships anything and everything, Revelation 4 reminds us who alone is worthy of worship and why he is so worthy.

1. The living beings sing Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty…and at the sound of that song, the 24 elders throw down their crowns and bow down.

a. Understand that this isn’t a trance they are in – it shows how much they value God; it shows that they are wholly captivated by who God is.

b. Also understand that these elders had crowns…they sat on thrones – they had honour themselves.

i. But whatever privilege or prestige they had pales in comparison to the Lord God Almighty.

1. And day after day and night after night, they fall down – with all that they have and with all that they are, and they worship.

c. The worship of these heavenly beings reminds us that God alone is worthy of worship and he is worthy of all our worship because…

i. He created all things and all things have their being because of him.

1. Whether we are aware of it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not – all things live and move and have their being in God – the Holy and Almighty one.

8. For Us Today – And for us today, this incredible chapter reminds us about the nature and essence of worship.

a. It is not something we come to and watch. Worship is participatory. We come with our hearts fully treasuring and valuing who God is what he’s done for us.

i. We come with our minds engaged and we focus on the One sitting on the throne.

1. And here’s what we need to know about our service. When we come here to a worship service – or during week when you are worshipping in your home in even in your car…

a. Understand that you are not alone in your worship. For when we worship – whether privately or publicly – we enter into a service that is already in progress.

b. Worship doesn’t begin with us nor will it end with us.

i. When we worship, we join into a service that has been going on for a very long time – and will continue to go on for a very long time.

1. Worship isn’t something we come to and watch – as if there is some entertainment value to it. As if we come to church simply to ‘get something out of it.”

a. A worship service – singing, praying, giving, reading, listening, preaching – is something we participate in.

i. Worship engages us so we can better focus ourselves on the object of our worship – the One sitting on the throne.

c. So even if we don’t know the words or the melody of the particular song we are singing – or if we don’t like the style of music the song is written in – we can still worship by focusing on the One who is being praised.

i. We can still participate by focusing on the One who is sitting on the throne.

d. I read this quote this week and I had to include it. “The worship of God is the heartbeat of the universe.”

i. Can all God’s people say, “WOW?!”

1. Hear it again, “The worship of God is the heartbeat of the universe.”

a. Doesn’t that put your focus where your focus should be? Seriously.

e. As we close for this week, I have a challenge for you. I want you to try to live with Revelation 4 glasses on. Here’s what I mean by that.

i. For those of you who wear glasses – remember the first time you put them on or when you got your new prescription?

1. Remember how much clearer everything looked?

a. How you could see faces and objects clearer or you could read the street signs better?

i. And opposite to that – remember how distorted things are when you take your glasses off?

f. Well, thing of Revelation 4 as a pair of glasses. Without this scene, without these lenses – without this knowledge, life can be distorted and out of focus.

i. But with a proper view of reality, with seeing the ‘more’ that Revelation opens up – it brings life into focus.

1. Life lived without Revelation 4 glasses on will be one of chaos and confusion.

a. A life lived with Revelation 4 glasses on – though still experiencing hard times – will know that there is One on the throne who is in complete control.

ii. Without Revelation 4 glasses on – circumstances can toss us to and fro and batter and bruise us.

1. With Revelation 4 glasses on, we can join our voices in worship with on going heavenly praise of God – even when tough circumstances present themselves.

g. I know there are many of you who are going through hard times right now. But allow John’s words to comfort and encourage you this morning.

i. Look! A throne. And the throne is not empty. The Holy, Lord God Almighty is sitting one.

1. He is just and merciful – the sea around him is as smooth as glass.

a. And all around that throne there is the ceaseless praise of creation and the redeemed – giving praise to the one who reigns from that throne forever and ever.