Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice . . . said, Come up here.
John was an old man with only a short time left below. With little to do during his exile, he probably thought about heaven often. Suddenly, he saw an open door and heard an invitation: Come up here. Through John we get a glimpse of the center of the universe—the very throne of God.
[T]here 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. . . . From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder (Revelation 4:2-5).
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 (Revelation 4:6-8).
Depending on a person’s wealth we might say they’re rich, very rich, or very very rich. By using a triple repetition, the living creatures proclaimed the infinite holiness of God. This speaks of his glorious uniqueness from all that is created. Through Christ, however, we too have been made holy (Hebrews 10:10), because we now belong to God.
The prophet Isaiah also saw angelic creatures proclaiming: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 6:3). If they were the same creatures John saw, they may’ve been proclaiming God’s holiness for over six hundred years, and might be doing so today.
The holiness of God is little understood this side of heaven, but it is perceived by some. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness (Psalm 96:9), wrote the Psalmist. This is the goal of every Christ-centered worship service.
Perhaps you’ve been to a worship service where the music was spectacular but you left uninspired. And perhaps you’ve been to a service where the music was barely average, but you sensed the presence of God and sang with all your heart. Whenever we sense the presence of God we begin to worship like those around his throne.
Revelation 4:10 [T]he twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
The twenty-four elders aren’t identified, but remind us of the twenty-four divisions of priests appointed to serve in the temple (2 Chronicles 24:1-19). Like the priests, they too have a sacred role to play. 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 4:10b-11).
This is like seeing a great performance and showing our approval by shouting and clapping. One of the longest standing ovations was given to an opera singer, and lasted for over an hour. Imagine being so moved by a performance that you would stand and clap for over an hour! That, in fact, is brief compared to the ovation God will receive, for it will never end.
Revelation 5:11-13 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. . . . In a loud voice they were saying: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!
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!
They day is coming when all creation will be caught up in the glorious worship of God. Demons and the unconverted may be excluded here, but even they will be forced to acknowledge the supremacy of Christ.
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 (Philippians 2:9-11), wrote Paul.
Worship on earth can seem a little dull compared to worship in heaven. But whenever we lift our praise we join the choir above. Even if our church is small, we should see ourselves as part of the greatest congregation ever assembled. We worship the one who created the world, and died on a cross for our sins, so that we could be part of his glorious kingdom. To him belongs eternal praise.
*****
Revelation 6:16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
At the end of this age God will pour out his wrath with such fury that people will flee to the mountains, hoping to be buried by an avalanche. This was also foretold by the prophet Hosea. Then they will say to the mountains, Cover us! and to the hills, Fall on us! (Hosea 10:8). From this we learn that it’s better to have a mountain fall on your head than to face the wrath of God.
Many people go through life with a vague awareness of God’s anger toward them, but never turn from their sins and live for his glory. They hope they’re wrong about God’s anger, and that all will go well on Judgment Day. But that day will reveal a wrath more intense than anything they ever imagined, and it will never end.
Thankfully, this isn’t the case for Christians. Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10), wrote Paul. He bore the wrath of God on our behalf when he died on the cross for our sins (1 John 4:10). Because of Jesus Christ, we’re no longer exposed to God’s righteous indignation.
In the dry heat of summer prairie fires can be a serious threat. Some farmers carry matches so, if they see a fire coming, they can burn an area around them. That way, when the fire reaches them, they can stand in the place that’s already burned and be safe from the raging flames.
Two thousand years ago, the fire of God’s wrath fell on Jesus Christ, as he hung on the cross for our sins. Every lash across his back, every nail through his flesh, and every thorn on his brow was for us. If we truly believe in Jesus Christ, we are completely safe from the coming wrath. But if God poured out his wrath on Jesus Christ, what will he do to those who reject him?
Reflection and Review
Have you ever sensed God’s presence in church?
What inspires you to praise God?
How are we saved from God’s wrath?
John was an old man with only a short time left below. With little to do during his exile, he probably thought about heaven often. Suddenly, he saw an open door and heard an invitation: Come up here. Through John we get a glimpse of the center of the universe—the very throne of God.
[T]here 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. . . . From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder (Revelation 4:2-5).
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 (Revelation 4:6-8).
Depending on a person’s wealth we might say they’re rich, very rich, or very very rich. By using a triple repetition, the living creatures proclaimed the infinite holiness of God. This speaks of his glorious uniqueness from all that is created. Through Christ, however, we too have been made holy (Hebrews 10:10), because we now belong to God.
The prophet Isaiah also saw angelic creatures proclaiming: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 6:3). If they were the same creatures John saw, they may’ve been proclaiming God’s holiness for over six hundred years, and might be doing so today.
The holiness of God is little understood this side of heaven, but it is perceived by some. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness (Psalm 96:9), wrote the Psalmist. This is the goal of every Christ-centered worship service.
Perhaps you’ve been to a worship service where the music was spectacular but you left uninspired. And perhaps you’ve been to a service where the music was barely average, but you sensed the presence of God and sang with all your heart. Whenever we sense the presence of God we begin to worship like those around his throne.
Revelation 4:10 [T]he twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.
The twenty-four elders aren’t identified, but remind us of the twenty-four divisions of priests appointed to serve in the temple (2 Chronicles 24:1-19). Like the priests, they too have a sacred role to play. 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 4:10b-11).
This is like seeing a great performance and showing our approval by shouting and clapping. One of the longest standing ovations was given to an opera singer, and lasted for over an hour. Imagine being so moved by a performance that you would stand and clap for over an hour! That, in fact, is brief compared to the ovation God will receive, for it will never end.
Revelation 5:11-13 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. . . . In a loud voice they were saying: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!
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!
They day is coming when all creation will be caught up in the glorious worship of God. Demons and the unconverted may be excluded here, but even they will be forced to acknowledge the supremacy of Christ.
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 (Philippians 2:9-11), wrote Paul.
Worship on earth can seem a little dull compared to worship in heaven. But whenever we lift our praise we join the choir above. Even if our church is small, we should see ourselves as part of the greatest congregation ever assembled. We worship the one who created the world, and died on a cross for our sins, so that we could be part of his glorious kingdom. To him belongs eternal praise.
*****
Revelation 6:16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
At the end of this age God will pour out his wrath with such fury that people will flee to the mountains, hoping to be buried by an avalanche. This was also foretold by the prophet Hosea. Then they will say to the mountains, Cover us! and to the hills, Fall on us! (Hosea 10:8). From this we learn that it’s better to have a mountain fall on your head than to face the wrath of God.
Many people go through life with a vague awareness of God’s anger toward them, but never turn from their sins and live for his glory. They hope they’re wrong about God’s anger, and that all will go well on Judgment Day. But that day will reveal a wrath more intense than anything they ever imagined, and it will never end.
Thankfully, this isn’t the case for Christians. Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10), wrote Paul. He bore the wrath of God on our behalf when he died on the cross for our sins (1 John 4:10). Because of Jesus Christ, we’re no longer exposed to God’s righteous indignation.
In the dry heat of summer prairie fires can be a serious threat. Some farmers carry matches so, if they see a fire coming, they can burn an area around them. That way, when the fire reaches them, they can stand in the place that’s already burned and be safe from the raging flames.
Two thousand years ago, the fire of God’s wrath fell on Jesus Christ, as he hung on the cross for our sins. Every lash across his back, every nail through his flesh, and every thorn on his brow was for us. If we truly believe in Jesus Christ, we are completely safe from the coming wrath. But if God poured out his wrath on Jesus Christ, what will he do to those who reject him?
Reflection and Review
Have you ever sensed God’s presence in church?
What inspires you to praise God?
How are we saved from God’s wrath?