THE THRONE OF GOD Revelation 4

Transcription

1 Revelation 4:1-11 THE THRONE OF GOD Revelation 4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first 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 there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Explanation of Terms After this twice in verse 1. Important reference to time. 43

2 Door (v.1) The Hebrew people thought of a solid firmament which divided heaven and earth (Gen. 1:7-8) Heaven (v.1): a. First heaven: Place where birds fly. b. Second heaven: Region where stars shine. c. Third heaven : Place where God dwells. (2 Cor. 12:2 Paul s vision of Christ) In the Spirit (v.2) a new supernatural experience. John uses this phrase when his mind goes on these vast travels: a. The churches in Asia Minor (1:10). b. The throne room of God (4:2). c. Carried by an angel on a survey of the Roman Empire (17:3). d. Carried by an angel to a huge mountain to see the New Jerusalem (21:10). In the coming chapters John will see earth from heaven s perspective. Throne (v.2) represents authority, presence, monarchy. Throne mentioned in 17 of 22 chapters of Revelation 11 times in this chapter. Elsewhere, twice used to refer to Satan s throne. Rainbow (v.3) reminiscent of flood and God s covenant with Noah, (Gen. 9:13) a promise to never again destroy the earth with water. Precious stones (v.3) reminiscent of stones in breastplate of high priest representing the 12 tribes. 24 Elders (v.4, 12 times in Rev.) saints of O.T. or 12 to represent tribes and 12 apostles (Lu. 22:30 Jesus said apostles will rule on thrones in his kingdom.) Names of 12 tribes on gates and 12 apostles on walls of New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12-14) These are not angels: a. Angels are never said to occupy thrones. b. Nor are crowns given to them. c. Title elder never given to angels in Bible. d. Must be men to be redeemed. 44

3 Lightning and thunder (v.5) recalls Mt. Sinai. Later in Revelation God will open the doors of heaven to pour out his wrath on the earth, but here in chapter 4 a preview of these cataclysms is introduced. Seven lamps blazing (v.5) = seven spirits of God (sevenfold Spirit). Here the phrase describes outdoor torches associated with war in Judges and Nahum. God is about to go to war. A sea of glass, clear as crystal (v.6) not literal as there is no sea in heaven. (Rev. 21:1) Four living creatures (v.7) (drawn from Ezekiel). These are cherubim, an order of angels generally associated with God s power. They symbolize his world-wide power which holds up and pervades the entire universe, even transcending it. a. Lion These convey the attributes of the One b. Ox who sits on the throne, and his authority c. Man over all creation. d. Eagle They will set in motion the outpouring of God s wrath on earth. The tribes of Israel camped under these four banners. Six wings (v.6b, 8) velocity (Isa. 6:2). Full of eyes (v.6b, 8) sleepless vigilance and secret energy. God never needs a nap all-seeing. Eyes and wings represent God s power to act. Significant previous throne visions: a. (Ex. 24:9-11) Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and 70 elders of Israel went up the mountain and saw God. They saw under his feet something like a pavement of sapphire clear as the sky itself. There on the Mt. Sinai, God s covenant connects with the establishment of a theocracy. b. (1 Kings 22:19-23) The Prophet Micaiah saw the Lord sitting on his throne surrounded by the host of heaven. This was in a political context prior to fall of King Ahab. Micaiah was distinguished from false prophets. Macaiah was on a mission for Jehovah. c. (Isa. 6) A more elaborate picture of the throne room; first use of triple holy for God Holy, holy, holy ; the throne was high 45

4 and lifted up, the doorposts and threshold of the temple were shaken; smoke filled the temple; seraphs with wings appear. d. Other visions in Ezekiel, Psalms, Isaiah, and Habakkuk describe God as having a chariot and being a warrior as well as a king. In Daniel 7 the throne room is a court room where two figures are dominant the Ancient of Days and one like the son of man; and attendants fill the room. The Revelation 4 throne room is a court room and a place where the commander will direct his operations toward and on earth to establish his dominion on earth against the opposing satanic power. In Revelation, God himself stays in his throne room from which he directs operations through: a. the four living creatures and the ministry of angels (chapter 6), b. the Lamb Himself (17), c. the Word of God, faithful and true, rider of the white horse (19). Life Lessons 1. God is worthy of universal praise. God is the Creator, all-powerful, all-seeing, all-knowing, and adored by the hosts of heaven. Revelation is a book of worship. No center; no circumference. Worship gathers momentum in Rev Two movements: a. Hymn of (Rev. 4) b. Hymn of (Rev. 5) Several parts of this first hymn: a. Four living creatures focus on God s holiness. b. Four living creatures refer to God s power. c. They praise him for his eternity: 46

5 d. The 24 elders join in and fall down before him who sits on the throne You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. 2. God is the central figure of John s vision. The center of attention in Revelation is the occupant of the throne in heaven. Theocentric (God-centered) vision of universe. Many details are reminiscent of visions of the Old Testament prophets. John is also illuminated by the Spirit to see things that are almost impossible to describe or even visualize. Inherent danger of symbols: It is very little that we can know of the future state, but we may be quite sure that we know as much as is good for us. We ought to be as content with that which is not revealed as with that which is. If God wills us not to know, we ought to be satisfied not to know. Depend on it, he has told us all about heaven that is necessary to bring us there; and if he had revealed more, it would have served rather for the gratification of our curiosity than for the increase of our grace. (Charles Spurgeon) 47

6 3. A Throne is an unknown commodity to Americans. A throne is alien to our way of thinking. The bottom line of atheism: There is throne. The bottom line of humanism: There is a throne, but sits on it. We can t think rightly about much of anything until we settle in our mind that there is an occupied throne in heaven, and the God of the Bible rules from the throne. While there may be many differing interpretations, the fundamental truths are self-evident. evident. At the center of everything is an occupied throne. (G. Campbell Morgan) 48