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.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 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. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of 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. 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. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “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.” Revelation 4: 1-11
Revelations chapter four contains 11 verses of detail that are awe-inspiring and confound the mind. It is a chapter in which we can get lost in the details and forget where we have been and what might happen in the future. We are hypnotized by the images and can only grasp portions of what we have experienced when the glory is removed. I can hear John’s voice asking, “what just happened?” A revelatory experience with God can leave us feeling that way. However, the revelation revealed in this chapter is placed between Jesus’ clear evaluation and chastisement of local churches and the outpouring of impending judgment in chapters to follow.
God’s glory is never meant to leave us standing in our sandals like a pot smoking kid saying, “wow man… that was awesome” It is designed to remind us that we still live on earth, that we have work to do, and that the glory and awards in our future of incomprehensible.
In between the work and the glory stands a world under judgment. It is a world like our own. People are eating, drinking marrying, and living in the normal rhythms of life. At first glance their dance seems innocent, but with the passage of time it grows in its rejection of all that is plainly seen in the order of life, in creation, and the kindness of Christ. Sexuality becomes idolatry; the knowledge of man being made in the image of God is lost. The animal kingdom and humanity are equated with each other. Religion becomes violent, fanatical, and losses the rooting it has in love.
Heaven does not have to be seen to be apprehended. A person of wisdom can see that life is larger than brevity of each human’s sojourn. The wise person also knows that for a life to have meaning it must also have a judgment. Which brings us to a throne with 24 elders, who these elders are, we don’t know. What we do know is that they are worthy to be seated with God himself.
In their midst are living creators that worship God, one with the strength of a hunter, the lion, one with strength for domestic life, the ox, the third reflecting the character of mankind’s in a face. Truly you would see in that face awe at God’s mercy, and a worn and wearied countenance painfully aware of mankind’ failed attempts at personal holiness.
Together they recite the eternal truth of God’s nature. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come,” and add a simple and profound truth “by your will they were created and have their being.”
The creature must know that he has a creator. None of us gave birth to ourselves. We were created by God and for God. Those who reject this simple truth gradually grow from simple sinners to personify evil. They do, after all, give birth to themselves and become the children of their father, the devil. The thought is a chilling one. Those who have hearts of understanding will see justice in the severity of the judgments to come. They will soar like the flying eagle above the judgments of God dropping their crowns at his feet as they take flight
Jesus “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” Grant us mercy, wisdom and knowledge of your character.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 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. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “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.” Revelation 4: 1-11
Revelations chapter four contains 11 verses of detail that are awe-inspiring and confound the mind. It is a chapter in which we can get lost in the details and forget where we have been and what might happen in the future. We are hypnotized by the images and can only grasp portions of what we have experienced when the glory is removed. I can hear John’s voice asking, “what just happened?” A revelatory experience with God can leave us feeling that way. However, the revelation revealed in this chapter is placed between Jesus’ clear evaluation and chastisement of local churches and the outpouring of impending judgment in chapters to follow.
God’s glory is never meant to leave us standing in our sandals like a pot smoking kid saying, “wow man… that was awesome” It is designed to remind us that we still live on earth, that we have work to do, and that the glory and awards in our future of incomprehensible.
In between the work and the glory stands a world under judgment. It is a world like our own. People are eating, drinking marrying, and living in the normal rhythms of life. At first glance their dance seems innocent, but with the passage of time it grows in its rejection of all that is plainly seen in the order of life, in creation, and the kindness of Christ. Sexuality becomes idolatry; the knowledge of man being made in the image of God is lost. The animal kingdom and humanity are equated with each other. Religion becomes violent, fanatical, and losses the rooting it has in love.
Heaven does not have to be seen to be apprehended. A person of wisdom can see that life is larger than brevity of each human’s sojourn. The wise person also knows that for a life to have meaning it must also have a judgment. Which brings us to a throne with 24 elders, who these elders are, we don’t know. What we do know is that they are worthy to be seated with God himself.
In their midst are living creators that worship God, one with the strength of a hunter, the lion, one with strength for domestic life, the ox, the third reflecting the character of mankind’s in a face. Truly you would see in that face awe at God’s mercy, and a worn and wearied countenance painfully aware of mankind’ failed attempts at personal holiness.
Together they recite the eternal truth of God’s nature. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come,” and add a simple and profound truth “by your will they were created and have their being.”
The creature must know that he has a creator. None of us gave birth to ourselves. We were created by God and for God. Those who reject this simple truth gradually grow from simple sinners to personify evil. They do, after all, give birth to themselves and become the children of their father, the devil. The thought is a chilling one. Those who have hearts of understanding will see justice in the severity of the judgments to come. They will soar like the flying eagle above the judgments of God dropping their crowns at his feet as they take flight
Jesus “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” Grant us mercy, wisdom and knowledge of your character.
