PONDERING... Are You Worshiping at the Throne? (Revelation 4)

Are You Worshiping at the Throne?

(More of a "bare-bones" outline this week)

GIST: Both this life and eternity are all about worshiping at the throne of Jesus. Are you living that reality?
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 4

Here we move away from the seven letters into the "more complicated" portions of Revelation. Nonetheless, as I'll try to emphasis especially over the next few lessons, we do not need to be bogged down in pointless debate, or worry needlessly about timelines or specific persons. God gave this letter to encourage and warn us of the things which are coming soon. It's a beautiful picture of His grace, and a clear portrayal of His judgment.

With that picture, however, it's important to remember...that it's a picture. D.A. Carson gave a really great illustration of trying to explain electricity to a group of people who have not only never seen it, but also have only just recently had their oral language converted to a written form. How would you do it? You could only use words which they knew, and the picture you'd paint would probably fall very short of the actual. In much the same way, John to telling us what he saw, but our limited human language does not have words to accurately describe the wonders of Heaven. Just food for thought.

This week, we're going to walk through the image from chapter 4 piece by piece, but two points need to be emphasized from the beginning.

1. This is all about the King on His throne
2. Only understanding this can prepare us for understanding the judgment which follows

It would be easy to read the rest of Revelation and see chaos. That's why we need chapter 4. This vision is not somehow out of place or disconnected. It's vital to understanding the entire book. Jesus warns His church. Then, before revealing the final judgment and defeat of sin, He reminds us who is in control of it all. We cannot miss this. Chapter four sets the stage (the throne room of God) and chapter 5 gives the message (the Lamb is worthy).

WALK THROUGH

(Again, this is more of an outline from here forward this week.)

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.” 

-The Voice
Same as in chapter one (10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet)= Jesus

-Open door in heaven
The idea behind this is a vision of heaven, and John being taken up through the sky. There is some debate about whether or not he was then actually in Heaven, or just shown a vision of what it is like to be in Heaven. Which of course makes me wonder what these people could accomplish if they did not have so much time on their hands 😀 . Neither scenario would be any less real, so it doesn't matter.

This also reminds me of the open doors we were just talking about in Laodicea. He is giving John an opportunity only HE can give.

-After this x2
This phrase is used twice, and has two meanings. First, he saw this vision... after the first vision and the letters were given. Secondly, what he is about to show must take place after this. The ideas are similar. This is not a detailed predication of the future of the world as we would sometimes like to make it (that is trying to read specific individuals into the images...etc), but rather a heavenly vision of what is and will be happening.

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. 

-In the Spirit (WHICH IS KEY TO BEING GIVEN THIS VISION!)We saw this same wording in chapter 1 verse 10, which we quoted above. What does it mean that he was in the Spirit? Matthew Henry, an old and thorough commentator, puts it like this: "he was in a serious, heavenly, spiritual frame, under the blessed gracious influences of the Spirit of God." He was focused on and worshiping God, so he was ready to receive this vision.

And again was this is a Spiritual vision, so was he really in heaven or not? Again... it doesn't matter. Either way, it is not less true.

-Throne
EVERYTHING in this vision is centered around this throne. It is fixed in Heaven (unmovable) and the one who sits on it is INCREDIBLE and IN CONTROL.

-Vision of God?
2nd Commandment: Exodus 20: 4-5a "“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God..." God is spirit. We are not suppose to try and make an image of Him because then we'd be tempted to worship our picture of Him rather than Him.

Following suit, the idea with these jewels is sparkling, pure, radiant beauty (different stone designations now from then). The rainbow could be reminiscent of Noah and peace (in contrast with the storm we also see raging around the throne), OR just wonderful light. This is not something you could draw up to create a concrete image to worship. It's just beautiful.

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. 

-Believers
There is some debate here, but that is the common distinction, and I believe it best fits.

-Thrones & Crowns
Ruling in heaven beside Christ and given crowns or rewards for faithfulness as Jesus promises throughout (Revelation 2:10) (though who is really in charge is clearly seen as they throw down their crowns later in the passage.)

-24? & White Garments
There are a few interpretations for this, but the two main view points have the same end. There were 24 divisions of the priests/servants in the temple, and we are God's kingdom of priest (Revelation 5:10). The second most common explanation links 24 to the 12 Old Testament Tribes +12 New Testament Disciples. Thus, the number represents the whole of the people of God.

The white garments also represent purity--which is what Jesus gives us when were are saved and made His people. Thus, again, a royal priesthood is portrayed (1 Peter 2:9)

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, 

-Storm
Picture the intensity of the thunderstorms we have. Power. Brilliance. Strength. Danger. This is God at the same time beautiful and wonderful and full of light and peace--and powerful beyond our comprehension--to be taken with the utmost seriousness.

and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 

-The Holy Spirit at Work amongst His people.

6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

-Not an actual sea?
-Symbolic or just Reflective?
Sure. Some argue that this must represent the sea in the temple that was used for purification, and that this represents baptism or being made pure before the throne. It could. Others just say it further emphasizes the glorious nature of this throne. Crystal reflects light and casts it all around. I think both of these work. We are only able to approach this throne because of the blood which has made us pure, and when we do... we will be blown away by His brilliance.

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!”

-What? 😀
-Creatures/Creation
We already saw man coming and bowing down. Now all creation is represented.

-Symbolic?
This could be just symbolic of all types of creatures (wild, tame, land, air, man...etc). Some interpret the symbol more specifically: Lion=Royalty, Bull=Strength, Man=Wisdom, Eagle=Compassion (on eagle's wings Is 40:31). Either way, the idea of all creation is the same.

-Eyes and Wings
This is designed to emphasizing their understanding and their worship. We see very similar creatures in Isaiah 6 covering their face and feet and flying. They do not look upon God or stand on His holy ground. Ezekiel, too, has a very similar vision and refers to the creatures as cherubim which are angels in the Old Testament who are specifically connected to worship. We see the same thing here. What are they doing?-->

-Constantly Worshiping
Holy, Holy, Holy. This is the only attributed of God thrice repeated. This represent special emphasis. We cannot underplay or miss out on His holiness (for more on this, I highly recommend The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul).

And yes, this is constant. You never get tired of saying what is true. When Sinclair Ferguson was preaching on this passage, he used the illustration of telling his family "I love you". When does this get old?

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.”

-Constant
Again, as the four living creatures are constantly worshiping, so will the believers be—throwing their crowns before the one who is worthy.

-Worshipping the Creator
Without whom there is no life.

APPLICATION

This whole life (now and forever) is all about worshiping Jesus. This is not egomania. He is Holy, and He saved us. We were made to be with Him.

1. Are you blown away by His majesty, His wonderful love, and incomprehensible power?
2. Do you think about His holiness?
3. Do you think about your lack of holiness?
4. Do you worship at the throne of Jesus?
     -Throne=Power and Authority. Are you living your life like that?