The Throne of God (Rev. 4:1-11)
Today we are continuing with our study in the book of Revelation by looking at chapter 4. This chapter begins the third major shift in our Lord’s revelation.If we look back at Revelation 1:19 John is given strict instructions to write three things:
write “the things which you have seen.”
write “the things that are”.
write “the things which will take place after this”.
In chapter 4, John’s focus shifts from what he sees on earth to what he sees in heaven as he gets a special invitation into the throne room of God.I want to begin with a passage from Isaiah to prime us for what we are about to discover in Jesus’ revelation.Hear the word of the Lord.Isaiah 66:1–2 (NKJV)
1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
Declaring heaven has His throne and earth as His footstool is another way for God to say that He is sufficiently sovereign and completely boundless. His majesty is without comparison.
Prayer
Revelation 4:1
John begins this section by informing us that he is entering into the third and final piece of the revelation. Let’s listen to what he writes.Revelation 4:1 NKJV
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.”
Just a few verses earlier John wrote that the church in Laodicea had closed the door on Jesus and here he stands before an open door in heaven that no one can shut. When John finishes his assignment of writing letters to the seven churches, not only does he see an open door in heaven; he also hears a voice that sounds like a trumpet.The Apostle Paul would tell us that when Jesus returns for His church He will,1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 NKJV
16 …descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
We know that the voice belongs to Jesus, because in Revelation 1:10-11, John tells us that he heard a loud voice behind him that sounded like a trumpet and the voice told John that He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. In Rev. 1:12a “[John] turned to see the voice that spoke with [him].” What he sees literally floors him.Revelation 1:17 NKJV
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
The reaction that John has to the voice in chapter one is totally different than the response in chapter four. Instead of falling down dead, John is invited into the throne room of God. “Come up here!” the voice says. Jesus tells us in John 6:44 that “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”Isn’t that how we all stand before the Lord redeemed and justified today? By invitation? Sometime in the past, those of us who are Christians today, while on our lifeless journey the voice of the Lord spoke to our hearts and invited us into His throne room? He spoke life into us who once were dead in our trespasses and sins, but now we have been made alive by the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on an old rugged cross. If you’re here today and you do not know Jesus personally as your Savior, the invitation is still open to you.Revelation 22:17 NKJV
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Come to Christ this morning and He will give you rest!
Revelation 4:2-3
Next, John is whisked away in the Spirit, carried from earth to heaven, and what he sees is impossible to describe accurately or adequately.Revelation 4:2–3 NKJV
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. (Notice something here. There was only ONE sitting on the throne. What this means is the throne wasn’t built to be shared. God can’t be on the throne and you be on the throne too. You can’t have your family on the throne and God at the same time. Your job can’t be on the throne. Nothing you possess in this world is fit to sit on the throne that only God should occupy in your life. 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.
We cannot even begin to understand what John is looking at in this chapter, but it is magnificent!Robert Mounce points out that
“John is careful not to try to depict the one seated upon the throne of heaven in any sort of human form.”[1]
Craig Keener says that,
John’s description is simple, like the Old Testament accounts: just enough description to convey the point of God’s majesty.”[2]
And that is the entire emphasis of this chapter and chapter five - the majesty of God.Our God is indescribably great!!He is incomparably sovereign!!He is incomprehensibly holy!!He is unmistakably just!!He is undeniably True!!He is unimaginably loving!!He is considerably merciful!!He is undoubtedly good!!To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? (Isaiah 40:18). The short answer is no one and nothing to our God! Listen to what the prophet Jeremiah says (Jer. 10:6-7, 10; MSG),Jeremiah 10:6–7 (The Message)
6 All this is nothing compared to you, O God. You’re wondrously great, famously great.7 Who can fail to be impressed by you, King of the nations? It’s your very nature to be worshiped! Look far and wide among the elite of the nations. The best they can come up with is nothing compared to you.
Jeremiah 10:10 (The Message)
10 But God is the real thing— the living God, the eternal King. When he’s angry, Earth shakes. Yes, and the godless nations quake.
John is looking at indescribable perfection! Holiness in its truest and purest form.
Revelation 4:4-8
John probably needed cold water thrown on him in order to tell us what else he sees in the throne room.Revelation 4:4–8 NKJV
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.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!”
The word throne is used approximately 50 times in the NT. 75% of the occurences are found in the book of Revelation. John’s entire vision is focused on the throne of God!When Jesus had John write to the angel of the church in Laodicea He ended His letter by saying that “to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev. 3:21-22). After John sees the throne of God he sees twenty-four lesser thrones surrounding God’s throne. Much has been speculated about the meaning of the 24 elders and the 24 thrones. Chuck Swindoll says that there are at least 13 different interpretations of what is meant here.[3] Some believe the elders to be a host of angels. Still others see a connection to the star-gods of the Babylonian pantheon. While others claim that the number 24 refers to the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles representing the Old and New Testaments saints.[4] I think that Daniel Akin might be right on the meaning here. “The redeemed are in view...”.[5] There is a promise from the Lord to those who have abandoned this world
“...that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:28).
Again, in Revelation 3:21-22 overcomers are promised to sit on thrones with Jesus. They will be clothed with white garments (Rev. 3:4-5) and they will be given crowns for their faithfulness and endurance in this life. (We’ll come back to the crowns in a minute.)I've known preachers who might look at Revelation 4 and try to make it about us. They would say, "If you just believe, God will open a door in heaven for you! If you have enough faith! There's a throne waiting for you there! Won't He do it! The Lord's got a blessing in the heavenly places with your name on it!"Don’t fall for that mess! Listen to me, this vision is not about the crowns, robes or thrones of the followers of Christ, it is ALL about Christ Himself!Listen to how John details what he sees in this section. While describing the rest of what he sees, he is careful not to lose sight of the One on the throne. While staring intently at the throne of God John sees that
Around the throne (of God) are 24 lesser thrones (4).
From the throne (of God) are lightnings, thunderings and voices (5).
The apostle Paul said that Jesus dwells in "...unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen” (1 Tim. 6:16).
Before the throne (of God) are seven lamps of fire and these seven lamps are the seven Spirits of God (Rev. 1:4). We believe this refers to the Holy Spirit.
Before the throne (of God) is a sea of glass that looks like crystal (6).
In the midst of and around the throne four living creatures sing the praises of our God and King (6-8).
What John describes here parallels what the prophet Ezekiel describes in chapter one of his prophetic record. But listen, we don’t need to get bogged down with the images we find in these pages. As Alan F. Johnson says,
“we need not find symbolism in each element of the vision; it is enough to allow the archetypical imagery to create the impression of transcendent glory.”[6]
Again, John’s entire focus is on the One who is seated on the throne!I would encourage each of us to have the same mindset. As we consider the tragic shooting of Uvalde, or Buffalo or California. As we look at the disgraceful sinfulness rampant in some churches. Or, as we consider the more personal struggles of our own lives, never lose sight of the One who is seated on the throne! Tragedy has a way of rocking people’s faith and making them question the existence and presence and power and the love of God. But listen to me, tragedy does not prove that God doesn’t exist or that He’s absent, instead, it proves that evil and sin is a very real problem in our world today. It proves that the church is still on kingdom assignment to reach the lost with the hope of the gospel for the glory of God! Don’t look to the White House to fix the problems of our day. Don’t look to the halls of Congress or the school board to right the wrongs in our world. Don’t look for community organizing or police enforcement!! Look to the One who is seated on the throne!!
Revelation 4:9-11
John closes this section out with a call-and-response. Africans who had been enslaved brought this art form to the Americas. Call-and-response actually finds its roots in Sub-Saharan African cultures where it was used to conjure up an emotional response to the speaker’s message or to solicit participation from the audience.[7] We can see it everywhere nowadays. Teachers use it with their students. The teacher will call to the class, “1-2-3 eyes on me!” The class will respond by saying, “1-2 eyes on you!” A pastor may be on a roll making his point and he calls out, “Can I get an amen?” The congregation would respond by saying, “Amen!” Or they might say, “God is good!” The church responds with, “All the time!”We see this same thing taking place within the throne room of God.Revelation 4:9–11 NKJV
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.”
Can you just imagine the scene? They are really having church. As the four living creatures shout their hallelujahs to the One who sits on the throne, the 24 elders respond with their own shouts of praise.
“Holy, holy, holy,Lord God Almighty,Who was and is and is to come!”
Is followed by an arousing
“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.”
During the time that John is recording this vision,
“‘You are worthy’ greeted the entrance of the emperor in triumphal procession, and ‘our Lord and God’ was introduced into the cult of emperor worship by Domitian.”[8]
John, however, takes this greeting and applies it to the true Lord God Almighty.The word worthy means that a value has been attached to that thing or person. Remember Jesus says that our treasure will determine the direction of our hearts (Matt. 6:21). When the 24 elders say that God is worthy they are giving to God what He already possesses and what He rightfully deserves. Glory!! Honor!! And power!! Don’t think for a moment that anyone can rob God of His worthiness! Again, the prophet Jeremiah said that it is God’s nature to be worshipped. Even if we do not see the value in having God as ruler of our lives the rocks will cry out in our place (Luke 19:40)!!You oughta give Him praise right now!When the elders worship the One who sits on the throne they throw their crowns at His feet!There are 5 types of crowns mentioned in scripture.
A crown of exultation (1 Thess. 2:19) for those who win others to Christ.
A crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8) for those who live with the expectation of Christ’s coming.
A crown of imperishability (1 Cor. 9:25) for those who run the race of life in purity and self-control.
A crown of glory (1 Pt. 5:4) for those who lead the church with humility.
A crown of life (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10) for those who endure persecution unto death.
Leon Morris says that, “The throwing down of their crowns expresses the truth that he alone reigns. All other sovereignty must yield to his.”[9] These elders recognize and agree with the fact that everything they have has been given to them by the Lord and is to be used in true and Spirit-filled worship of Him.Ask yourself this today, and answer honestly, are you giving God all that He deserves? Are you holding anything back in your worship this morning? If you are, would you confess it to God and turn to Him with your whole heart this morning?
Call to Respond
John has been given an incredible gift by God. He is invited into the throne room of God where he lays eyes on the One who first loved Him. Our time is coming as well, church! As the old hymn says,When we all get to Heaven,What a day of rejoicing that will be!When we all see Jesus,We'll sing and shout the victory!But let me tell you something this morning, you don’t have to wait. Today is the day of salvation if you will just believe. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37).“come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Tre Clark / GeneralMay 29, 2022Britton Christian Church
REFERENCES
[1] (Robert Mounce, Revelation, p120)[2] (Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary, p737)[3] (Chuck Swindoll, Revelation, p95)[4] (Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 89.)[5] (Exalting Jesus in Revelation, p114)[6] (The Expositor’s Commentary: Hebrews to Revelation, p462)[7] (Call and Response- A Staple of Black praise and worship - Black Music Scholar)[8] (Robert Mounce, Revelation, p127)[9] (Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 20, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1987), 93)