3.2.22 5.1.2022 Throne of Eternity Revelation 4 & 5

Start:

Entice: There is no more powerful passage of scripture than the one before us this day. If you have ever been afraid of reading the book of Revelation this passage should assuage your fear. What it depicts went on then, goes on now, and goes on into eternity. Its profound beauty is a challenge for this or any other preacher. The issue is not “What am I going to put in?” “But rather, what can I possibly leave out!” The broad themes are easy to identify amid the flood of Biblical allusion.

Worship.

Creation.

Sovereignty.

Redemption.

Listen to John’s description of the pageantry of eternity

Revelation 4–5 ESV

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. 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, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 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, 11 “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.” 1 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. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Engage: John is

an adept dramatist,

a gifted liturgist,

and

a focused exegete.

John uses shapes,

sounds,

textures,

aromas—

virtually every sense is addressed in these two chapters. And yet, it coheres. It holds together. It makes sense. And, most importantly,

it

invites,

immerses,

and

includes

us within it.

We are not an audience

We are participants.

That does not necessarily make it easy to preach.

It is

epic,

dramatic,

operatic,

and so self-evident that one is tempted to just read it and walk away. My job this morning is to remind you that our own worship reflects and participates in the gala of heaven.

Expand: This passage lies at the intersection of our redemption and our response. Worship is the term we use. Whatever we do, beyond style of music, or structure, or

facilities—what we do should reflect the response expected of those who are redeemed.

Excite: This is both practical and theological. Practical because we are expected to worship at least weekly. Theological because who we worship and why we worship are basically theological questions. The content of our worship is as important as our attitude, demeanor, and practice.

Explore:

We worship the Lion, the conquering Lamb.

Explain: Our text seems long, but each chapter has a clear structure and a central focus.

Body of Sermon: the focus of Revelation 4 is

1 Praise

This praise is

1.1 Biblical.

1.1.1 In the OT Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel saw in part the reality of the throne.

1.1.2 John revisits, reimagines, records, and reminds us that the only object of worship is our enthroned God.

This Praise is

1.2 Universal.

Involving the whole, diverse cosmos

1.2.1 Living Creatures

1.2.2 “Natural Phenomena”

Not mere “decorations of heaven…the thundering, lightenings, and Jewels remind us that the entire created order submits to God in worship.

1.2.3 Spectacular multi sensual glory.

1.3 Representative.

We gather here, in eternity 24 Elders represent the saints before the throne, and vice versa.

1.4 Specific

God.

Let’s review before we move on. Our worship should reflect the praise of heaven, which is Biblical, Universal, Representative, and Specific.

Now, let’s look at the focus of Revelation 5 which is

2 Pardon

2.1 Exasperation

Rev 5.1-4

2.2 Exclamation.

Rev 5.5

2.3 Explanation.

Rev 5.6-7

2.4 Exaltation.

Revelation 5.8-14

The content of heaven’s worship discloses what Jesus has done to

redeem us.

Ransom us

Creates us as a Kingdom of reigning Priests

And worship emphasizes His exaltation as redeemer.

Shut Down:

Our song is all about Him. Our worship is all about Him. Our salvation is achieved by what He did. Our fresh, new, eternal life is submerged in His. One can spend a lifetime working out the detailed consequences and expectations of the new song, the song of the Lamb and never exhaust the subject.

All creation celebrates the Lamb. The Church at work and at rest celebrates the Lamb. His holiness, His worth, His grace, His compassion, His sacrifice. We are here because of Him.

If you belong to Christ, you should have a hop in your step today because we have joined the chorus of heaven in giving praise to the Lamb. We depart to live a righteous life of witness in a fallen world. We have heard God’s Word today so that throughout this week we might hum to ourselves the song of the Lamb, the Lion who saved us.