Revelation 4
This is a continuation of the revelation series as described by Apostle John while he was held prisoner in the Island of Patmos. In case you missed the earlier post on the seven churches of Asia Minor (Rev 2-3) look it up here.
This post covers Revelation 4 and 5.The Lord Jesus had just finished giving John the messages to the seven churches.The next scene John is transported to Heaven where he sees the glory of the LORD and experiences his majestic power and learns of the events that will take place leading to the end of the world and the return of Jesus Christ in his divine glory. The rest of the chapters in the book of revelation Chapter 4 to 22 describe what he is permitted to share from his spectacular visit.
“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.”
This was John’s invitation to heaven and into the Lord’s throne room.The Lord tells him that he would show him what MUST take place. Emphasis on the word “Must” as its inevitable, and is bound to happen at the time of the Father’s choosing.
I love how the Lord’s words literally come to life when he speaks.As the Lord spoke visions unfolded ushering John into a new reality and found himself in the very presence of the Most High God, who was seated on his glorious throne.
I was amazed to learn that a rainbow encircled the throne, how often in this 21st century we often forget that the rainbow came from our God and it had a special meaning. In Genesis right after the flood, the Lord revealed to Noah and the people his rainbow by saying;-
“This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:I have set my rainbow in the clouds and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth” Genesis 9:12-13
It is often assumed that the 24 elders could be the 12 apostles of Christ along with the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel making a total of 24. The rumbling sound grabbed my attention. Google describes rumbling as a continuous, low, and heavy rolling noise. The thunder and lightning struck me too, and I realised the Lord’s power is not only audible but visible. All elements respond to his power and glory Halleluyah!
The lamps represent the seven fold Spirit of God as described in Isaiah 11:2
“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord”
“In the centre, round 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, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever 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 honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.
It is interesting to note here that they were all worshipping the LORD Almighty who sits on the throne in heaven in glory and majesty. The elders lay their crowns before him as a sign of total surrender and reverence. Acknowledging that all glory, honour and power comes from the Lord, the crowns themselves and the thrones that they had received are also from the Lord Almighty. These are true servants of the Lord. It got me thinking, we who are on earth, with little power should have the wisdom and humility of these elders who have thrones in heavenly places, yet they fall down in worship before the Lord Almighty.We should, no, must have the same attitude.
Revelation 5
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
The elder here was describing Jesus, as the Lion of Judah the root of David who triumphed on the cross is the only one who is worthy to open the seals.Jesus is also known as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world as described in the Gospel of John 1:29
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
The Lamb is Christ, that is why it is said that he is both the Lion and the Lamb.It dawned on me that of all the creatures the Lord chose the lamb for its humility and purity.Our Lord submitted to the will of our God and Father even accepting death on a cross, yet he is the Son of the Living God.
Such humility – that the Lord would leave his glorious throne in the presence of God and agree to come on earth, to die for a people, his creation yet most of him do not even acknowledge him but despise him instead. How humble our Lord is, that he died for all nations, even when they did not love him, but his blood is still available for them all -for forgiveness of their sins.
The Lord is the perfect example for all creation, he wields all power and authority but is humble, may the Lord help us to learn humility.
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!”
The millions of angels also joined in the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amazing that our Lord Jesus humbled himself and here God lifted him up and he is worshiped in heaven as one worthy to receive all power,wealth wisdom and strength.
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.“
All creatures worshipped the LORD Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ who are worthy to receive praise,honour, glory and power for ever and ever. Indeed as the word says all creation declares God’s majesty.
Apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus’s sacrifice in the book of Philippians 2:18-11
“he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
The return of Christ is inevitable and indeed every knee will bow and tongue confess that he is Lord. How gracious our God is that he reveals what will take place in the end times so that we can be ready. The first step in getting ready is to acknowledge him as Lord and Saviour of your life. If you haven’t done so yet, what are you waiting for?