Revelation 4:1-11 | Worship Of The Worthy One




Revelation 4:1-11
Worship of the Worthy One

I. Introduction

1. We move from the messages given to the Church to the throne room of God.
2. Make certain that you heed the strong words of rebuke given by the Lord.
3. Allow the amazing promises to encourage and motivate you to live for the Lord.

II. vv. 1-2 A revelation of future events.

¹ After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”^[1]

1. John has received a revelation concerning the Church, including God’s warning and promises.
   1. Here in chapter 4, John (while on Patmos) receives a vision of things to come.
   2. Before getting into the details, John receives a vision of the throne room of God, and in chapter 5, a declaration that the Lamb of God is worthy to pronounce the judgments and reclaim the earth for His glory.
2. The third part of God’s outline is about to be given.
   1. Remember the outline given to us in Revelation 1:19.
      
      Revelation 1:19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
      
      
   2. Revelation 1, “things which you have seen” – the glory of our risen Lord.
   3. Revelation 2-3, “things which are” – the Church age.
   4. Revelation 4-19, “things to come” – the hour of testing, the tribulation.
      1. 4-5 The One who is worthy to judge the world.
      2. 6-19 Tribulation on the world.
3. Chapter 4 begins to discuss events to come.
   1. John now receives the vision of what will take place after God has called the Church up to heaven.
   2. Just before receiving the revelation of the terrible judgment coming upon the world, John shares about two events in heaven recorded in chapters 4-5.
   3. They are in preparation for the terrible time of trouble that is going to come upon the earth.
   4. Chapter 4 shows us the majesty and holiness of Jesus in His throne room.
      1. Although things are chaotic on earth and are about to be judged, heaven is peaceful, and God sits upon the throne in heaven.
   5. Chapter 5 announces the rightful owner of earth ready to reclaim His possession.
      1. This continues to give us a picture of peace, worship, and holiness. But it adds to the picture the announcement that the earth is about to be reclaimed by its rightful owner.
   6. It has been suggested that John’s personal trip to heaven is symbolic of how the Church will be caught up into heaven just before the tribulation.
   7. “Because the rapture of the church comes at a time just prior to the events about to be related, some have taken it as a summons to the church into heaven at that future moment when Christ returns for her (Walvoord).”^[2]

III. vv. 2-5 The throne of God

² Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. ³ And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. ⁴ Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ 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.

1. One of our first glimpses in heaven will be this throne room described by John.
   1. What catches John’s attention is the One who sits on the throne and all the worship that is offered.
      
      
      
2. God’s appearance is like a diamond and a red ruby.
   1. John’s description begins by trying to relate to us the brilliant colors of heaven.
   2. I am certain that the lights and colors described by John must be breathtaking.
      1. Revelation 21:11 describes jasper as “crystal-clear.”
      2. A sardius, from which the city of Sardis got its name, is a fiery, blood-red ruby color.
   3. He also notes that there is a green rainbow around the throne.
3. From the throne come lightning, thundering, and voices.
   1. This will be an awesome scene to take in.
   2. The scene is intimidating, and yet the Spirit of God will be welcoming us in.
   3. The loud thunderings are reminiscent of when the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai to reveal Himself to give the nation of Israel the Ten Commandments.
      
      Exodus 19:16-21 ¹⁶ And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. ¹⁸ And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. ¹⁹ And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. ²⁰ And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. ²¹ And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
      
      Exodus 20:18-19 ¹⁸ And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. ¹⁹ And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
      
      
   4. We will find ourselves in a far more glorious and awesome place than Israel did when we enter heaven.

IV. vv. 6-7 The throne room of God

⁶ Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst 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 living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸ The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

1. v. 6 The floor of the throne room is made from crystal.
   1. Can you imagine the brilliant reds, greens, and lightning all refracting off of the crystal before the throne?
2. vv. 6b-7 Description of the heavenly beings.
   1. John describes these amazing angels in attendance in the throne room of God who are worshipping the Lord.
   2. Each one of these beings has a different face.
      1. They are of a lion, calf, man, and eagle.
      2. There has been much speculation as to what they represent, but there is no unanimous consensus.
         
         “The animal like appearances of these four creatures include majesty and power (the lion), faithfulness (the ox), intelligence (the man), and sovereignty (the eagle).”^[3]
         
         
      3. Others see these faces as representing some aspect of Jesus.
   3. Other Biblical descriptions of heavenly beings.
      1. Isaiah 6 is a vision before the throne of God.
      2. Ezekiel 1 is a vision from beneath the throne of God.
         
         

V. vv. 8-11 Heavenly worship

 ⁸ The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” ⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, 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, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 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.”

1. v. 8 Continual worship
   
   ⁸ The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
   
   1. Worship is a central theme in the book of Revelation.
      1. There are twenty-four references to worship in this book.
      2. Some refer to the true worship of God, and others refer to the irreverent worship of the Antichrist.
      3. God is looking for those who will worship in spirit and truth.
   2. Holiness carries both the idea of purity and uniqueness.
   3. To us, these beings are unique, but in the presence of God there is only one who is truly holy.
   4. We have been commanded in Scripture to worship.
      1. First Peter 2 tells us that we are a royal priesthood pulled from darkness into light and should proclaim praise to God.
      2. Our priestly duties include offering the sacrifice of praise.
      3. Hebrews 13:15 teaches us that this is our continual duty.
         
         Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
         
         “What does worship do? Worship takes our minds off our problems and focuses them on God. Worship leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship. Worship causes us to consider and appreciate God’s character. Worship lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.”^[4]
         
2. v. 10 The twenty-four elders worship the Lord.
   1. These elders may be the twelve apostles and the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel.
   2. Some have suggested that they may be angels, but we read nowhere of angels receiving crowns.
   3. Also in 5:8-9 the elders are singing a song of redemption.
   4. They are occupied with declaring the worth of God.
3. v. 11 Man’s reason for existence is declared.
   1. In this verse we are told that the purpose for God creating us is so that we might bring pleasure to Him.
      1. It would seem obvious from this verse that one of the reasons why we have been created is to give glory to God (this pleases Him).
      2. Glory – to ascribe or hold an opinion of God as one who is excellent, exalted, laden with excellency, awesome.
         
         Romans 11:36 (NLT) For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him be glory evermore. Amen.
         
         Isaiah 43:7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
         
         
      3. Scripture tells us that God had a creative purpose when He made us.
      4. Living out these purposes will give us the meaning of life and bring significance to it.
   2. Who do you live to bring pleasure to?
   3. Some live to bring pleasure to God.
      1. These discover the purpose and plan for their lives.
      2. Our identity and purpose will evade us until we give God glory.
   4. Most live to bring pleasure to themselves.
      1. This leads to a life of frustration because we are living apart from the reason of our existence.
      2. Man misses out on the awesome things God wants to do in and through their lives.

VI. Conclusion

1. Heaven is a place of worship where the true nature of God is realized and declared.
   1. One day when we get to heaven, we will be a part of that heavenly scene.
   2. In our time here on earth, we should live for God’s glory.
2. Our worship time together should be filled with passion, sincerity, and declaring God’s worth.
   1. We should not be mindlessly drifting.
   2. Come with your heart ready to declare His worth.
3. You can’t participate in God’s plan for your life until you are redeemed.
   1. If you have yet to call upon the Lord, then today is the day.
   2. Repent of your sin.
   3. Acknowledge Jesus as the one who died and rose from the dead.

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^[1] All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

^[2] Robert Thomas, Revelation 1-7: An Exegetical Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1992), 336.

^[3] Life Application Study Bible, NLT ed., study notes on Revelation 4:6-8 (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2019), 2135.

^[4] Ibid.