JESUS IS WORTHY OF PRAISE REVELATION 4:1-11

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 1 JESUS IS WORTHY OF PRAISE REVELATION 4:1-11

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 2 Text: Revelation 4:1-11, JESUS IS WORTHY OF PRAISE 1. After these things I looked, and there was a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said: Come up here so that I can show you what must happen after these things. 2. Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it! 3. And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. 4. In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads. 5. From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne 6. and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7. The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 3 8. Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying: Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All- Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come! 9. And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10. the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying: 11. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created! (NET) Introduction: John had observed the vision of Christ in the midst of the golden candlesticks. God had told him, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia... After he had written those seven letters he looked to see what else he could see. God opened a door in heaven and by way of prophetic vision showed John many other things. This chapter provides the background for the reminder of the book of Revelation. John s situation is much like Ezekiel s when, in a vision, he was taken to Jerusalem and allowed to look through a door of the Temple and see all the abominations that were present there.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 4 In this vision John saw twenty-four (24) elders, and four (4) beasts or living creatures covered with eyes, front and back. John observed all of these as they gave glory to God. As these visions were given he was in a very devout state of mind. His mission was to record accurately the things he observed in these visions. The focus of this vision is upon the Almighty God that was sitting on the throne. (Revelation 4:3, And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. (NET)) The one true God is living, pure, and holy. We must hold Him in awe! Commentary: John Described What He Saw Revelation 4:1-3, After these things I looked, and there was a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said: Come up here so that I can show you what must happen after these things. Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it! And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. (NET) After the letters had been completed to the seven churches, John saw a door opened in heaven. The voice of the Son of God is heard by John and is compared to the sound of a trumpet. Just as the Spirit lifted Ezekiel up so John was called up into heaven to see things concerning God and the church. John was shown things that would come to pass in the church, the world and in

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 5 the Roman Empire. The things shown to John were things that must be. John was made again to understand that there is a close connection between how a person lives his life upon earth and what happens to him at the great Judgment Day. John used the figure of the open door in several senses in the book of Revelation. The open door pictured opportunity for sinners to correct their situations. (Revelation 3:8, I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. (NET)) The door is also used to represent the human heart. (Revelation 3:20, Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. (NET)) Now is Revelation four a door is a picture of the entrance into heaven itself. The reality of heaven is greater than any description we have of it. John is focused on the occupied throne. All the other things in the vision are described in relationship to this throne. In the mind of the atheist there is no throne. The humanist says there is a throne, but man is upon it. There is a throne for the Christian and the Almighty sits upon this throne. As the sovereign God, Jehovah has the right to be one the throne in heaven. We will never get it right in life until we understand that God is on the throne and has the right to rule our lives. John Described Whom He Saw Revelation 4:4-5, In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 6 were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne (NET) Around the throne John saw twenty-four (24) elders. John observed that these elders were sitting on thrones. The elders are representative of the people of God, or the great company of the redeemed. The picture of victorious saints is seen even more clearly as we observe the white robes and crowns. Isaiah 61:10 says,... He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. The white robes represent the righteousness gained by the faithful through the Christ. The crowns show final victory for the faithful. (2 Timothy 4:8, Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing. (NET)) God s faithful people have eternal victory through Christ. They can look forward to a robe and a crown. Christians become joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17, And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him. (NET)) What a joy to anticipate reigning with Christ! The lightnings, thunderings, and voices around the throne are reminiscent of God s presence at Mount Sinai. (Exodus 19:16-19, On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 7 sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled. Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. When the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking and God was answering him with a voice. (NET)) These things communicate the power and majesty associated with the throne of the Almighty. The Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. This is a representation of the Holy Spirit of God. What a victory it will be when the Christians sit on a throne with the Christ, in the presence of God and in the presence of the Holy Spirit of God. John Described Four Beasts Revelation 4:6-7, and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man s, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying. (NET) The crystal sea made possible a clear view of God. The sea often represents populations of the earth. This likely provides a picture of the tranquility and peacefulness of souls that have died in the service of God.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 8 At this point both Ezekiel chapter one and Isaiah chapter 6 provide us with much help. The visions are so much alike that we feel justified in accepting what is revealed there as having the same meaning here. This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims. (Ezekiel 10:20, These were the living creatures which I saw at the Kebar River underneath the God of Israel; I knew that they were cherubim. (NET)) These are spectacular angelic beings that surround the throne of God. The thought of being full of eyes indicates that the angelic beings have greater insight than any man does. They totally understand the value or worship and service to God. The beasts or living creatures are pictured as having faces like a lion, a calf, a man, and a flying eagle. Many have thought that this pictures different gifts God has given to men in the spreading of His word. Some do so with courage, others with more meekness, some with more wisdom and others with great insight. The result being that when the truth is taught and obeyed it leads people to the throne of God. John Described God as Worthy Revelation 4:8-11, Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying: Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come! And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 9 on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created! (NET) We quickly observe that the focus of John s vision is not on the twenty-four (24) elders, nor on the four strange creatures. The focal point is God on the throne, worthy of praise and worship. Those around the throne are living under a continual sense of the holiness of God, the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In their worship the cherubim declare that the Lord God is Almighty. His hand is on everything that is good. The worship of the cherubims caused the twenty-four (24) elders to bow down in worship. Their worship should also promote our worship. In our worship we must recognize the worth that belongs to our great God. These elders removed their victory crowns in respect to Him that make victory possible. Those around the throne could only say, that art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11) The Creator of all things, the provider of our salvation, is certainly worthy of all praise. Jesus greatness, power, might and sacrifice should move us to obey Him. Have you obeyed the voice of the Almighty?

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 10 Questions on Revelation 4:1-11 1. Jesus told John exactly what to do and he did it. What thou in a, and it unto the which are in... 2. What lesson can we learn from this? 3. now a in and by of showed John many other. This provides the for the of the of. 4. is much like when, in a, he was to and to through a of the and all the that were there. 5. In this saw -, and

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 11 or covered with, and. was seen on his. He was held in by all! 6. The of the of is compared to the of a. 7. was shown things that would to in the, the and in the. 8. was made again to that there is a between how a his upon and what to at the. 9. In the figure of the is variously presented as an for to their, the and as the into itself. 10. in Revelation 4 is focused on the on which the sits and reigns. 11. In the mind of the, there is. The says there is a, but is upon it.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 12 12. observed - on. The are of the of, or the of the. 13. The represent the gained by the through the. The show for the. What a to with! 14. The,, and around the are of at. These things the and associated with the of the. 15. The made possible a of. 16. The visions of, and of are similar. 17. The or are pictured as having like a, a, a, and a. These various faces may represent has given to to his.

www.biblestudyworkshop.org 13 18. Some do so with, others with more, some with more and others with. When the is and, it to the of. 19. All and is due the. All creation must to God and him. He is due our, and. 20., and should us to. Have you the of the?