REVELATION Chapter 4

If the outline of Jesus can be traced in every book of God’s Word, and it is, then He is blazing brighter than the noonday sun in Revelation. No book of God’s Word more clearly shows all the Beauty of Jesus. From the very first verse, God declares that He is revealing (unveiling) Jesus for us, His servants, to the very last verses where God is inviting all who are thirsty to come to Jesus the Water of Life. Revelation overflows with our Lord Jesus.

It is a tool, a guide and a roadmap into the very presence of God. It is a full color photo album of Jesus. It is a gripping action film taken from the vantage point of the control room of the Universe where God is monitoring the passing of time to the serene background music of heavenly worship.

Each message of this Revelation Series brings us to a unique view of our Blessed Lord.

 Revelation 4 transports us into the Worship Center of the Universe. By faith let us gaze at the One who is seated on the Eternal Throne. As we watch, exalt God in your spirit as the endless praise is ascending around His Throne. Let us be still and know who it is before whom we stand. And then adore the LOVELINESS OF JESUS as He is at the center and focus of my worship.

ENVISIONING THE LOVLINESS OF JESUS

Transported into the Worship Center of the Universe (Revelation 4)

To worship Him Who is worthy of all worship and praise is our duty and purpose of existence. The Father seeks only one thing, and that is that we might worship Him. To truly worship Him is to ascribe to Him that honor, praise, glory, and majesty that He is worthy of – a true “worthship.” This day, join me as we stand in the vestibule and peer through the door into the chambers of the Most High.

Through the eyes of that faithful and true disciple of love who alone remained, heir of the apostolic band-and with his pen, tried to capture that which when Paul saw it, said it was inexpressible.

 Let us listen to the choirs of angels in numberless circles about the glassy sea and its throne as they say His worthy praise.

 Let us listen to those eternal creatures chant “Holy, Holy…Holy,” and by faith’s eye let us see with John that band which no man could number and listen to their songs of adoration and praise. Do you know Him, Christ the Lord, Who merits such praise?

 Let us see Him now—worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to be praised this day by us who owe Him our all!

As we open to Revelation 4 we are stepping into the Worship Center of the Universe. By faith let us gaze at the One who is seated on the Eternal Throne. As we watch, exalt God in your spirit as the endless praise is ascending around His Throne. Let us be still and know who it is before whom we stand. And then Adore the LOVELINESS OF JESUS as He is at the center and focus of our worship.

ENVISIONING THE LOVELINESS OF JESUS

FILLS THE ENTIRE 4TH CHAPTER

The Awesome Sovereign on the Throne (v. 1-3, 5)

The Awesome Scene around the Throne (v. 4, 6-7)

The Awesome Song before the Throne (v. 8-11)

THE AWESOME SOVEREIGN ON THE THRONE

(V. 1-3, 5)

ENVISIONING THE LOVELINESS OF JESUS

REVELATION Chapter 4

Revelation 4:1-11

v. 1 WORSHIPING THE LOVELINESS OF JESUS IS AT GOD’S INVITATION.  After this 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; which said, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter”.

v. 2 WORSHIP MUST ACKNOWLEDGE GOD IS IN CHARGE. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a THRONE set in Heaven, and One sat on THE THRONE.

 The THRONE is noted 46 times in Revelation; 14 of these times are in Chapter 4. Thus the Throne and all the authority and power of God are very much evident throughout this special chapter.

v. 3 WORSHIPING GOD IS UTTERLY BEAUTIFUL. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

 Like Saturn the Throne of God is ringed. First, vertically like a 360 degree arch, a rainbow surrounds God’s Throne. Then, horizontally like a vast plain the saints are gathered at the foot of God’s Throne.

v. 5 WORSHIP FLOWS WHEN WE HEED THE HOLINESS OF GOD

And from THE THRONE proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before THE THRONE, which are the seven Spirits of God.

 Ezekiel saw what Moses saw at Mount Sinai, when God came down to give the law, thunder and lightning accompanied Him (Ex. 19:16).

 The seven lamps connote completeness and symbolize the Holy Spirit of God (Rev. 1:4; note also Ezek. 1:13).

 The writers of Scripture, seeking to describe the indescribable, portray the presence of God as an unbelievable display of power filled with thunder and lightning, blinding light, and a sparkling, dazzling array of colors and rainbows.

THE AWESOME SCENE AROUND THE THRONE

(V. 4, 6-7)

v. 4 WORSHIP UNITES THE REDEEMED OF ALL THE AGES MEETING AT THE FEET OF JESUS. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

 The number 24 suggests many Biblical ideas. There were 24 courses of priests in the service of the Tabernacle and temple (I Chr. 24:3-5). There are also two groups of 12 that represent God’s saints: the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles of Christ’s Church.

v. 6 WORSHIP IS UNCEASINGLY OFFERED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

v. 7 WORSHIP IS TO REFLECT GOD’S ATTRIBUTES: JESUS KINGSHIP, SERVANTHOOD, HUMANITY AND DEITY. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

THE AWESOME SONG BEFORE THE THRONE

(V. 8-11)

v. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

Who was and is and is to come!”

 Almighty is used 9 times in revelation; 31 times in Job. The only other time in New Testament is II Cor. 6:18.

v. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

v. 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

WORSHIP DEMANDS OUR TOTAL SUBMISSION TO GOD.

v. 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” worship is our purpose in being.

ENVISIONING THE LOVELINESS OF JESUS

FILLS THE ENTIRE BOOK OF REVELATION

 Let us look in chronological order at chapters 4-22 and see Christ, the Lamb in exaltation, both that of the faithful angelic hosts and that of the redeemed saints.

Hold on now! There are 11 songs that make up the background music to the story. They are songs of worship and triumph.. We DISCOVER WORSHIP AS THE BACKGROUND MUSIC OF GOD’S KINGDOM.

 So that is where we have arrived. By way of the snatching away, we join the redeemed of all the ages around the Throne. The atmosphere is celestial! What do I mean?

In Revelation 4 the focus is on God as the Creator, and He is on the Throne. Salvation starts with the acknowledgment of God as Creator. Acts 14:15 and saying, “And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

 Acts 17:24 “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

 Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

 In chapter 5 the focus is on Jesus the Redeemer, and God’s Son is before the Throne. In 5:13 the worship goes to Father and Son which affirms Christ’s deity.

WORTHY OF WORSHIP IS JESUS THE ETERNAL CREATOR (Chapter 4) 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 all The angelic hosts worship him ( And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. = ETERNITY.

 THE 24 ELDERS WORSHIP HIM (v.11) – “

Thou 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.” = Creator see Ezk 36:26 and II Cor 4.6.

Ezk 36:26 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”

II Cor 4.6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

“Only one life to live and soon is past

Only what’s done for Christ will last!”

Hoping to make the time I have left count for the glory of God.