Revelation 4:9-11

Revelation 4:9-10

In our previous study, we were introduced to the four-living beast. These angelic spirits that are around the throne of God.

Their presence at the throne, is for adoration and praise, also as a reflection of the word and the significance of the Gospel. They illustrate the very nature of Christ. How the Lord is King, Servant, Man, and Son of God.

It is likely that these four beast are an exalted form of the seraphim angel, and this was based off the evidence that we found in Isaiah 6:2.

So, these literal beings, were made in the image of the Word of God. Like man, who was originally made in the image of God, himself. These created beings hold an important place and position in heaven. Serving at the throne of God.

Verse 9

· This verse reads in an unusual manner. The four beasts are presented in this passage as doing something in the future.

· What John is witnessing is something that will occur in the future. One of the things we must realize about the book of Revelation, is that it is not completely in chronological order.

· This has been seen in the parallel book to revelation, that being the book of Genesis. They run side by side.

· In the book of Genesis, we find chapter 1 the creation story, however, when we read chapter two, we read the finer details in the creation story, regarding man.

· This is what we find here in Revelation. A more detail account of what will happen. As in Genesis, it has happen. Revelation is what will happen.

· So, these beasts that John sees, will give a time of worship, that has not truly happen yet. In a sense, they are in the preliminary phase of worship. Let me illustrate it this way.

o When we come to church, there are different stages of worship. We normally begin with singing and praising the name of God. Our hearts rejoice and are filled with excitement for who God is. Then we come to the time of preaching, and we worship the Lord by hearing his word and applying it to our life. This is where the beast are at, to a degree. Then there is the altar call, the third part of our worship. Where we come and bow down before the Lord. Where we commune with him with our heart and our words, and give reverence and honor, to him.

o These beasts are worshipping God, but there is going to come that special part of the service that is yet to come, a point where these beasts will give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne. When will this occur? I believe that it referencing the point in time, where Christ will assume the throne.

· These beasts are the ones who have eyes all around them. They see the truth. And here they see who God is, and because of that, they give him these three things. Three things that we should give God as well.

o They give him glory. Now our God is a glorious God. But the glory that these beasts give is a reference to worship. Have you ever thought about your worship as being giving as glory?

o Glory is a complex word to understand, but we can understand it to be define to a degree as magnificence, or great beauty. Like we use it in a sentence, the building has been restored to all its former glory.

o So, when we read this here, it can be understood, that the worship that the give here to God, is beautiful worship (glory). They don’t just go through the motions. When they worship the Lord it is something of beauty, because our Lord is beautiful.

o When you worship the Lord, make it beautiful. One of the saddest things we can do as a Christian is to give ugly worship. I mean when we come and worship the Lord, at church at home, it ought to be beautiful. We need to make it intentional, and do it right. Rushed worship, tends to lean to unsightly and inglorious worship. These four beasts give God glory.

o They give him honor. Now these three words have similarity, but they are all different. They are referencing different parts of worship to the Lord.

o Worship ought to be honoring unto the Lord. So often, we are guilty of making worship more about honoring us and our heritage, and our parents, and past generations, that we forget, that it is to be honoring the Lord.

o These beasts give honor to the Lord, they renown him. They realize his importance. That he take precedence.

o Honoring God, is more than just dressing up for him. That is a part of it. But it is honoring him for his importance in our life. It is showing respect.

o Worship should be honoring to the Lord. We could spend many services preaching and discussing how honoring God has faded within the lives of Christians today. We tend to mold God after our image. Making him some hipster, who is only focused on love, and that church is an image thing, instead of a life-changing place.

o We ought to spend some time, praying that people start honoring God, instead of dishonoring him.

o These beasts give him thanks. Why do they give him thanks? Because of who God is. For what he does, and what he continually does.

o Worship is not a time, where we come to God and say, God I need this and I need that. But it ought to be a time where we come to Him and say, Lord thank you, thank you for you, thank you for what your doing and so on.

o The adoration of the Lord is an important element of worship that sadly has been neglected. However, that can change. And it will change, as we see these beasts leading in this.

· The final part of this verse gives us two assurances. First, that God is on the throne. Throughout the book of revelation, there are times where it seems hopeless in the world. That the antichrist, the devil, that they win. But that’s not the case. And that is proven here.

· The second thing that is assured here, is that the Lord is the one who liveth for ever and ever. The Lord is life. And he will not die, he will not fade away. There will be no end to the Lord.

· Folks, if you really want to know how we are to worship the Lord, just pay attention to these four beasts.

Verse 10

· Following the procession, the 24 elders begin to worship the Lord as well.

· There worship is very much like what we see the beasts do, however, instead of remaining in their seats, they fall down to a prostrate position and worship the Lord.

· These elders from the Old and New Testament, who illustrate all believers from before Christ and after Christ, join in a harmonious time of worship and praise to the Lord. They all identify him as God.

· One of the choruses in our hymn book is He is Lord, I can’t help but hear that song when I come to this verse, as these elders are a reminder to me, that no matter how important we were in life, or in death, that before the Lord we will bow regardless.

· Here these 24 elders do not bow by force, they bow be desire. Their heart loves the Lord, and to express that love they fall down before the Lord.

· They reinforce what we saw with the four beasts as well, with worshipping the one who liveth for ever and ever.

· This verse reminds us of what Jesus said during his earthly ministry. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

· Listen, the only way everlasting life can be given, is by the one who liveth for ever and ever.

· Now, these 24 elders also cast their crowns before the throne. These crowns are the crowns that Paul refers to when speaking to Timothy. In 2 Timothy 4:8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

· Listen, we are not worthy of the crown. Righteousness is something he bestows upon us. For us to wear the crown, is like us taking credit for his work. We are not deserving to wear the crown, and for this these 24 elders, who are like the beasts, literal beings, but symbolic of the Old and New Testament Saints, cast their crowns before the Lord.

· Brothers and Sisters, when we get to heaven, the crown we receive is a crown we give to the Lord. Because it is not us who earned it, it was by his sacrifice he deserves it.

Verse 11

· As the elders are worshipping the Lord, and have cast their crowns before the Lord, they make a proclamation regarding the Lord.

· “Thou art worthy” – This phrase holds the truth to this entire passage. The Lord is worthy. I’m a big comic book and superhero fan. One of the popular heroes, is Thor, who holds an enchanted hammer that only the one who is worthy, can pick up. So many try, and so many fail. Listen, when it comes to the Lord, he is the only one who is worthy. There is no one, who is worthy, except the Lord.

· What is the Lord worthy of? He is worthy to receive, glory – this is the same glory that is referenced earlier in verse 9, he worthy to receive honor, again this is told earlier in verse 9. But they change the next portion in their statement, they say that the Lord is worthy of power.

· Now when we read here of power, this is not referencing so much the physical strength, but this is a word that is referring to the authority of God.

· The authority of God is what spoke this planet in to existence. The power of God is what created the Sun and the Moon. The power of God is what created man and gave him life. All things submit to the power of God.

· Listen the devil and his forces have to submit to the power of God, for there is no power that is greater.

· The elders realize this. They once lived on earth, and saw the handiwork of God’s creation firsthand. Listen to the statement that make regarding God –

· Thou has created all things. Do you realize that man has not created anything. Man can make things from creation, but they cannot create things from nothing.

· It reminds me of the man making contest:

o A group of scientists decided that mankind had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they chose one scientist to go and tell God that they were through with Him. The scientist said, "We've advanced to where we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so we've decided that we no longer need you."

God listened patiently, then replied: "Very well. Then let's have a man-making contest."

"Good idea," the scientist said.

"But," God said, "we'll do it just like I did back in the good old days with Adam."

"No problem," the scientist said, bending down and grabbing a handful of dirt.

"No, you go get your own dirt!" God said.

· Listen, this world was created by God. It was not by some bang, or any nonsense like that. It was by the voice of God and his power that it came into being.

· Why did God create? Well, the elders realize the purpose. It was for His pleasure.

· There is the meaning of life. Man has looked for the meaning of life for millennia, but they missed the most obvious place. Right here, is the reason why you are alive.

· For the pleasure of God. You were not a mistake. No life is a mistake. God created life, that life may bring him happiness and joy.

· Now lets be honest, God’s creation was distorted when Adam sinned, and now the creation is trying to bring pleasure to itself, by removing God from the equation. Listen, man will never be happy, will never find purpose, will never be satisfied until they realize that their life is meant for the Lord.

· Now, if your life is miserable, if it is seems dark and cold, its because you have taken your eyes off the Lord, or you never have come to the realization, that you are here because of the Lord.

· Now I know not everyone in this world agrees with that. And we may get some comments from those out there who want to have a different philosophy. But I’m not standing on philosophy, I’m standing on the Word of God.

· Take note of how these elders say this, they are and were created. Listen the lives of generations past, was meant for the Lord, and the lives of those yet to be born, are meant to bring pleasure to the Lord.

· Let’s conclude with this question, is your life bringing pleasure to God? Are you living in such a way, that God finds happiness and joy from you? If you can’t say yes, wholeheartedly, then do just what these beings are doing, get on your knees and give it to God. Get it right.

· Get your perspective right. Make sure he is on the throne.