October 23, 2016
Evening Service

We have finished our letters to the seven churches.  I hope we all got somethings out of that study that we can hold on to.  Tonight we will continue into the Book of Revelation and, just like we approached the letters, we will try to grasp the things that are easily understood and admit that some of this we just don’t understand.  Much of Revelation commentary is simply speculation, because it is not given to us to have a full understanding but only what we truly need to know.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known.

We will try to answer two questions with each chapter we study.

1.       What does this reveal to us about God?

2.      What does this reveal to us about ourselves?

 

 Revelation 4:1-2  After these things I looked, and behold, a door was opened in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must occur after these things.”  (2)  And immediately I was in the spirit. And behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and One sat upon the throne.

·         In the next two chapters of this book we are given a glimpse of the throne room of heaven.  John describes it as best as he can but can you imagine how hard this would be. One thing we will see is that though the world seems to be spinning out of control, there is One who controls it all.

·         Jesus again speaks to John and it sounds like a trumpet, just like in chapter 1:10.  John is again immediately “in the spirit” and either transported directly to heaven or given a vision of it while in a trance like state.  Either way he is allowed a glimpse of the throne of God.

 

  Revelation 4:3  And He who sat there looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. And a rainbow was around the throne, looking like an emerald.

·         The two stones are believed to emanate the colors that were worn by royalty.  The One sitting upon this throne certainly was that. 

·         The rainbow represents God’s promise to never flood the earth again, so here it could stand for the faithfulness of God to always honor His promises and covenants.  It is important for us to hold on to that fact as we go forward with the many judgements that lie ahead.

 

Revelation 4:4  And around the throne I saw twenty-four thrones. And on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white clothing. And they had crowns of gold on their heads.

·         The twenty-four is believed to represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.  These represent all those who lived under the old covenant and, those like us, under the new.  All worshipped together in unity.

Revelation 4:5  And out of the throne came lightnings and thunderings and voices. And seven lamps of fire were burning in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.

·         Lightning and thunder were also present on Mt. Sinai with God’s presence there as He met with Moses and gave him the Law.  They could stand as a sign for the coming judgements or stand as a sign that God is on the move.

·         When we read about the “seven spirits of God,” it actually stands for the One Holy Spirit of God in perfection as seven is considered to be the perfect number.

 

Revelation 4:6-7  And a sea of glass was in front of the throne, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind.  (7)  And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.

·         Glass as crystal could stand for magnificence, purity and holiness of God.  The four creatures are hard to describe, but their job seems to be to watch over the throne.  The four beings could also represent the attributes (qualities and character) of God.  The lion represents the majesty and power.  The calf symbolizes God’s faithfulness.  The human shows God’s intelligence.  Sovereignty is represented by the eagle.  Ezekiel wrote of four very similar creatures in his visions.

 

Revelation 4:8-11  And each one of the four living creatures had six wings about him, and within being full of eyes. And they had no rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”  (9)  And whenever the living creatures gave glory and honor and thanks to Him who sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever,  (10)  the twenty-four elders fell down before the One sitting on the throne. And they worshiped Him who lives for ever and ever, and threw their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  “O Lord, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You created all things, and for Your will they are and were created.”

·         John paints a beautiful picture of true worship and humility.  As the creatures glorify God, the elders all fall prostrate before the Lord and cast their crowns before Him symbolizing their unworthiness and His greatness.

 

What do we learn about God in this chapter?

·         The scene here depicts a great and awesome God who is robed in holiness and majesty.  It is not quite the picture of an elderly man with a long white beard that we all seemed to envision God looks like.  He is not Santa Claus.

·         He is truly worthy to be worshipped and will be throughout eternity.  He truly is the One in control of all things and it is His will that will be done.  He is the Lord of lords and King of kings, the master of all He has created and worthy of all glory and honor.

 

 

 

 

 

What do I learn about me from this chapter?

·         I now have an image of the God I serve as He sits upon His throne.  That new perspective needs to be reflected not only in my praise of Him but also through the fruits I produce in my day to day life.  In times of trouble, I can hold on to this image and know He is in control.

·         When I do worship it needs to be from the heart and with true humility as the elders did; casting their crowns before Him.  I am often guilty of singing songs only with my lips and not from my heart.

·         This whole scene in heaven also can place a fear or reverence of God into me.  It could be easily taken from this that God is far above our reach or access.  It is then, I must recall the words of Jesus:

 

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

·         He is great, awesome and powerful, but yet He cares enough about me to call me into fellowship with Him.  He cared enough about me to set into place a perfect plan of salvation that allows me to have fellowship with Him.  I don’t have to strive to reach Him at His level; He came down to meet me on mine.

·         It is sometimes hard to place my mind around the God depicted here on His throne and the same God numbering the hairs on my head.  (Matt. 10:30)  I must find a place to be comfortable with both images.

 

Heavenly Father, grant to us the understanding of Your holiness and the understanding of Your love for us as we need it to be.