There is no attribute of God that is repeated thrice other than the word: Holy. God’s holiness is the pinnacle of who He is and the reason why the Christian worships.
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A Vision of the Throne Part 2
Revelation 4:5-11
Intro: As we come to Rev. 4 we come to a vision of Heaven. As our eternal dwelling place, all of us are interested in knowing what heaven will be like. After John sees vision of Risen Christ in ch.1, and receives 7 letters for 7 churches in chapters 2 and 3, he sees the door to heaven standing open and hears the voice of Christ saying, “Come up here…” Immediately he was in the Spirit so that he was no longer bound by his physical body, time or space. The first thing that fills his vision is that of a throne – speaks of absolute sovereignty of God. John tries to describe God’s unspeakable glory by saying He is like a jasper and a sardius: a diamond and a ruby, reflecting, refracting, His dazzling splendor. This King is not in palace – He is in a Temple! Around the throne were 24 elders sitting on 24 thrones wearing white garments with golden crowns. We decided that these Elders must be redeemed sinners.
We have already examined
- The Throne,
- The One On the Throne, and
- What Is Around the Throne.
This morning we are going to examine:
- What is Out from the Throne
- What is Before the Throne
- What is in the Center and Around the Throne
- What is Toward the Throne
4. Out from the Throne: (4:5)
Flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. What does this signify? Although the rainbow signifies God’s grace and mercy to His children (elders), He is also a God of judgment and wrath to unbelievers. Whenever you find flashes of lightning and peals of thunder together in the book of Revelation, it indicates God’s judgment on the earth.
8:5 – when 7th seal broken and 7 trumpets about to sound (all indicating God’s judgments to break forth on earth)
11:19 – takes place when 7th trumpet sounded and announcement made that God would destroy those who destroy the earth.
16:17-19 – takes place when the 7th bowl of wrath is poured out on the earth.
Each time lightnings and thunder appear at conclusion of series of judgments – the 7 seals, trumpets, bowls. It seems to function like an exclamation point at end of each series of judgments. We are intended to learn the origin of these judgments. The One who sits on throne is responsible for these heavenly convulsions. What see in ch.4 is preview in heaven of what will take place on earth.
Exodus 19:16-25 we find God descending on Mt. Sinai to give Moses the Law. During that time there were thunder and lightning flashes as well. God told Moses to go down from the mountain and warn the people and priests not to break through to gaze, because the Lord would break forth upon them and many people would perish. An electrical storm can shatter large trees into a million pieces, and can light up pitch black sky in brilliant light. Thunder can be so loud it is terrifying. Little children may beg you to make it stop. In John’s day there was no greater display of sheer, raw energy than an electrical storm or a devastating earthquake. It is not surprising that many ancient Greek gods are associated with lightning and thunder.
So, this lightning and thunder coming out from the Throne signify God’s power to bring forth His judgment and wrath on the earth.
5. Before the Throne: (4:5-6)
- 7 Lamps of Fire: In Revelation 1:20 Jesus tells John that the 7 lampstands are the 7 churches. A lampstand by itself can’t produce any light. The purpose of a lampstand is to hold the lamps, which were cups that held oil and a wick. As long as there was oil in the cups the wick would continue to burn producing light. The 7 lamps of fire that sit on the lampstand and produce light are the 7 Spirits of God. The point seems to be that the Church holds the Light, but is not the Light. The Church is a light-bearer. The Holy Spirit is the true source of light. But the Spirit of God indwells the Church. The purpose of the Church is to hold up the Light of the Spirit to a dark world.
But why 7 Lamps? There are not really 7 different Holy Spirits right? Right! 7 is the Biblical number that stands for completeness and wholeness. The 7 Lamps symbolize the fulness of the Spirit.
So, we have God the Father symbolized as the One sitting on the Throne. The Spirit is symbolized by 7 Lamps of fire burning before the Throne. Jesus is symbolized as the Lion of the tribe of Judah with 7 horns and 7 eyes (Rev. 5:5-6).
- Sea of Glass: This is a simile. A simile is where you compare one thing with another using the word “like”. “When she gets mad she’s like a bear robbed of her cubs!” The expression comes up twice in Revelation (4:6; 15:2). In both places it says “there was something like a sea of glass.” We need to tread lightly here, because the Bible doesn’t tell us anything more about this sea of glass, except that it was like crystal. In 15:2 we are told the sea of glass was mixed with fire. Remember, that John is trying to describe the indescribable with the language and metaphors he was familiar with.
This sea is like glass in that it was like crystal. Crystal is clear, and it also reflects and refracts light. This sea, then, is probably crystal clear, indicating the purity of God and His throne.
A sea indicates a very large expanse of water, so great that you can’t see the other side. So, to put all this together, we are probably on the right track to envision this sea of glass as a very large expanse, probably light bluish, transparent like crystal, reflecting God’s glory throughout the universe. Perhaps this sea of glass is like the broad open space before any earthly king. In Ex.24:10 Moses and elders given a vision of throne room of God. Under God’s feet they saw what appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Now, that is very close to what John described as the sea of glass. Sapphire is a precious gem which is sky blue in color. Clear as sky. This expanse is something that separates God above from humanity below.
We have another vision in Ezek.1:22,26. Above the sky canopy was a throne, radiating a blue hue (the color of lapis lazuli). In between God and created order below, there is this boundary, this barrier of separation.
John sees this expanse not from vertical but from the horizontal vantage point. He is wholly other. Not kind of like us, but a little better. There is nothing else in the universe that is on His level. He is Holy! He is separate from all His creation. And just as the sea is like crystal, representing the absolute purity of God, so too any of His creatures that would dare approach His throne, must also be clothed in His righteousness. That’s why the 24 Elders were white robes. There is no way they could be so close to God without being consumed were it not that the righteousness of Christ covers them like a white robe.
6. In the Center and Around the Throne:
4 Living Creatures: 4:6-7.
Who are the 4 living beings? We have a very similar, but not exact description of 4 living beings in Ezekiel 1 and 10. Those living beings have 4 wings. The ones in Revelation have 6 wings. The Living Beings in Ezekiel 10 are referred to as “cherubim” (Ezek.10:15.) There were images of 2 cherubim placed on top of the ark of the covenant, indicating their closeness to God’s throne. After Adam and Eve sinned, God drove them out of the Garden and stationed cherubim to guard the way to the tree of life. From all of this we can deduce that these 4 Living Creatures are a high rank of angels as seen from their closeness to the Throne in Revelation 4. They are distinct from the rest of the angels as Rev. 7:11 makes clear.
Each Living Creature was like something else. We are told one was like a lion, another like a calf, another like a man, another like an eagle. We are not told how they were like these things. With a little sanctified imagination and common sense we might get close to the answers.
Lion – power; Calf – service; Man – reason; Eagle – speed. These angels are powerful, intelligent creatures who serve God with swiftness. Now they are involved with executing God’s judgments on the earth. 6:1; 15:7.
What is their Primary Function in heaven? Rev.4:8-9. They lead the worship of heaven! Now that should teach us something. Evidently God created these 4 Living Creatures for the primary purpose of leading worship in heaven.
7. Toward the Throne: Worship!
- Who is worshipping? 4 Living Creatures: direct worship. 4:8. In this chapter and next are 5 hymns of praise. Size of choir gradually increases.
4:8 – 4; 4:10 – 28;
5:8 – 28 + harps (orchestration).
5:11 – all angels added (myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands);
5:13 – every created thing.
In Chapter 4 – they worship of God as Creator. In Chapter 5 – they worship Jesus as Redeemer (5:12).
The 4 Living Creatures not always engaged in worship: 6:1-8; 15:7. But, every other time we see them, they are engaged in worship!
God is their ONLY object of worship.
Ps.89:6-8, “For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord, a God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all those who are around Him? O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.”
- What is the Theme of their Worship:
- The Holiness of God: their worship focuses on the nature and attributes of God. The first attribute they focus on is God’s holiness.
1Sam.2:2 “there is no one holy like the Lord.”
Is.6:3 – the seraphim were saying “Holy, holy, holy” in their day and these 4 living creatures saying it in John’s day 800 years later! This is the only attribute repeated three times. Holiness is the summation of all that God is. God’s holiness is His utter and complete separation from evil in any form. This makes Him different from His creation. Even angels can be touched with iniquity. God is utterly different, other. Impossible for Him to be tempted and succumb.
Habakuk 1:13 “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor.”
Ps.111:9 “Holy and awesome is His name”.
4 Living Creatures exalting God’s holiness even when exhibited in judgment. Holiness has a fearfulness to it. God is repulsed by sin; He can’t look on it with favor. He must destroy it.
Ps.89:7 “A God greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all those who are around Him?”
Isaiah 6:5 – Isaiah’s response to the holiness of God. “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
Isaiah had a reason to fear God. God is in the habit of destroying sinners. God destroyed all human flesh except for 8 souls in the Flood. God opened up the ground and swallowed people alive. God struck King Uzziah with leprosy. He sometimes judged His own people with an enemy army. He destroyed some young people that mocked His prophet by a bear.
- The Power of God: The Almighty. Almighty signifies conquering power; overcoming power. Can do whatever He wills to do. Having done it He is never tired.
Is.40:26,28 “Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing… Do you not know, have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.”
Is.46:10 “I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” God’s power is equal to His will. My power is not equal to my will.
God created universe without tools, without pre-existing materials, and without help.
Mt.10:28 “fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Eph. 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us”
Jude 1:24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy”
The surrounding context has to do with God’s power exercised in judgment. No one can hinder or stop God from exercising judgment. Idea is God’s power released in judgment, just as was His holiness manifest in judgment. No one can stop God in His judgment or hinder His power in judgment.
Nahum 1:6, “Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the burning of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire and the rocks are broken up by Him.”
- The Eternality of God: “who was and who is and who is to come.”
1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Ps.90:2 “from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
4:9 “to Him who lives forever and ever”
There are 3 kinds of beings:
1) Those that had a beginning and will have an end – animals
2) Those that had a beginning and will have no end – people and angels;
3) He who had no beginning and will have no end – God.
That God is eternal is both comforting and terrorizing. It is comforting to the saints, because it means heaven, divine pleasures and inheritance are forever. But terrorizing to sinners, because it means hell will endure as long as God endures. Punishment, torment, weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth all forever. As long as God lives we live in glory, and as long as God lives the damned live in hell. They are worshipping God for His holiness, power, and eternality in referencing to judgment! They have waited long for God to destroy iniquity, and now they are exhilarated that He is doing so!
- The Creation of God: Who? The 24 elders. Notice “will fall down” – future tense. This is vision of future. Sees what will happen before it does.
Fall down before Him: 6x in Rev. Here; 5:8,14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4.
Cast their crowns: have no exalted view of themselves. Lost in love, wonder and praise they take their rewards for faithful service and give them back to Him. They recognize that He is worthy of their crowns, not they! Here ascribing worthiness to God. He has right to redeem and judge His creation. All creation exists only because it is God’s will. All heaven knows God is the Creator, even if earth doesn’t.
3 themes mark out all worship in heaven: Creation, Salvation, Judgment.
Application:
- In Heaven Worship is God-Centered: worship is for God. We must seek to satisfy Him, not ourselves. All worship wars center on “what kind of worship is most pleasing to me.” That’s the wrong question. We should be asking, “what kind of worship is most pleasing to God?” Worship in heaven is thoroughly preoccupied with God. Not once on worshipper’s lips in heaven do ever hear “I” or even “we”. God is both the subject and object of worship (8,11). God praised for who He is (8), what He does (11). Our worship should not be driven by what gives me goose bumps or great emotional feelings. That makes worship as means to an end: my good feelings. Worship is its own end.
- In Heaven Worship is Intelligent: It has content. It ascribes glory, honor, thanks, and worth to God for His attributes of Holiness, Power, and Eternality and His action of Creation. The attributes of God should fuel our worship. Worship is a right response to Truth. Doctrine and theology not bad words. They are the logs that provide fuel of worship to God. Worship should come as response to Truth. That’s why I think it is a good idea sometimes to reserve time to sing and praise God at the end of our Teaching on Sunday.
- In Heaven Worship is Passionate: not only important what we sing, but how we sing. Worship is incessant there. Day & night. Intensity of devotion beyond question. 24 elders fall down before God. Supreme gesture of honoring another as greater than yourself. Worship means “to turn toward to kiss.” Kiss the garment or even the feet of One being worshipped.
Cast crowns: take what represents their dignity and give it back to Him. Acknowledge all their dignity has been derived from God.
5:11 – sheer number indicates passion.
5:12 – LOUD voice. Some churches have no regard for truth experiencing wildest kind of enthusiasms in name of worship. Other churches have high regard for truth w/ no enthusiasm whatever. Worship is never empty-headed emotionalism, or empty-hearted intellectualism.
- In Heaven Worship is Physical: falling down, casting crowns. In Scripture we are exhorted to clap our hands, shout to God, lift up our hands, praise the Lord with dance. Perhaps the reason we do not obey these exhortations is that we either lack heart or humility. Affection for God, or “what will they think if they see me raising my hands?”
- In Heaven Worship is Corporate: emphasis in Scripture is on congregational worship, not private. Each doxology intensifies in the size of the choirs in chapters 4-5. Can you think of just one place in Revelation which shows the worship of God on part of just 1 human or angel? No! Public glory brings more glory than private glory. Nothing is being done individualistically or secretly. There are no soloists in these visions of worship.
It seems that most Christians regard corporate worship of congregation as more of aid to own private worship experience, rather than their own private worship experience as an aid to more important worship of congregation. Easy & convenient to say, going to stay home cuz can worship God by myself, in garden, at lake. We so often sing “I” rather than “we”. We worship together not to provide isolated individuals with privatized worship experience, but to express their corporate praise. M. Henry: “Let every saint praise Him, but especially the congregation of saints. When they come together let them join in praising God, the more the better. It is more like heaven.”
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