Read Revelation 4
Questions from the Scripture text: When does Revelation 4:1 take place? What does John do? What does John see? Where? What does he hear? What is it like? With whom is it speaking? What does it tell him to do? What will it/He show him? When does Revelation 4:2 take place? What was John’s condition? What does he see? Where? What was the One on it like, in appearance (Revelation 4:3)? What was round the throne? What was its appearance? What were around the throne (Revelation 4:4)? Who were sitting on them? Clothed in what? With what on their heads? What three things proceeded from the throne (Revelation 4:5)? What were burning before the throne? Representing Whom? What was before the throne (Revelation 4:6)? What were in the midst of and around the throne? What was the first one like (Revelation 4:7)? The second? The third’s face? The fourth? What did each of them have (Revelation 4:8)? What were they full of? What didn’t they do, day or night? What did they say? About Whom? What else about Him? What three things are they giving to Him Who is on the throne (Revelation 4:9)? What does Revelation 4:10 add about Him? What do the twenty-four elders do, when the creatures give this? What do they cast? Where? What do they say He is worthy to receive? Why?
What is at the center of Revelation? Revelation 4 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that at the center of Revelation, and of the church, and of all creation, is the glory of the triune God, in Jesus Christ.
This passage begins the second cycle (Revelation 4:1–7:17) of visions that cover the entire time between the revelation of Christ and the return of Christ. After ch1 in the first vision cycle, it should not surprise us that Christ Himself is the literal center of the vision.
The last letter ended with Christ promising to reciprocate to the one who opens the door (cf. Revelation 3:20) by giving him to sit with Him on His throne (cf. Revelation 3:21). Now, there is that reciprocal door opened (Revelation 4:1), and when John “comes up” “in the Spirit,” what he sees is the throne, and One sitting upon it (Revelation 4:2). The One on the throne, and the throne itself, have appearances like the gemstones in the breast pouch of the high priest, brilliantly reflecting the hues of the rainbow that surrounds them (Revelation 4:3).
Here He is, in great kingly glory, as the Great High Priest (cf. Exodus 28:17–21) and the Covenant-Keeper (cf. Genesis 9:12–17) Who preserves the world from the time of the flood until the time in which all of His elect have been gathered in. This theme, of His relation to His people, and His relation to the whole of creation continues, with the worship of the twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:4, representing His people from both His administration, and the previous administration under Moses) and the four living creatures (Revelation 4:6–8, exalted, but varied, creatures, who represent the whole of the created order).
And to Whom do they come? To the living God, yes. But especially to the God-Man. The praise in Revelation 4:8 is quoted from Isaiah 6:3. Quoting from the same chapter, John tells us that Isaiah wrote this when he saw Jesus’s glory (cf. John 12:40; Isaiah 6:9–10). While the One on the throne is the triune God, it is especially in the incarnate Son that He has made His glory known to the creatures and the church!
At the center of the chapter, just as at the center of the vision, is the throne from which the glory of Sinai thunders (and lightnings, and speaks, Revelation 4:5a). It is a vision of Him Whom Revelation 1:4 described, with the seven-fold Spirit now displayed as seven lamps of fire (Revelation 4:5b).
The creatures (Revelation 4:8) and church (Revelation 4:9–11) concur in the glorious worship of Him Who alone is from all eternity (Revelation 4:8), and by Whom all other things were created (Revelation 4:11). He alone is uncreated Creator, the Holy, Holy, Holy God. Triune and One. This makes it all the more marvelous that Jesus Christ is the Creator. That which establishes the singular glory, honor, and power of God belongs to the One Who became man!
Jesus reigns in all this glory throughout the age in which the churches are persecuted, and have their theological and spiritual ups and downs, as related in the seven letters (Revelation 2:1–3:2) of the first cycle of visions. We ought to fear Him, worship Him and serve Him. And we ought to have great confidence in Him. God did not at any time stop being the God of Sinai, throughout all of the troubles in the remainder of the Old Testament. So, also, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (cf. Hebrews 13:8). Despite all of the troubles of this age, He is always this glorious One, receiving this worship in heaven. And we who have this confidence by faith, from His Word, ought to give Him all of our worship, and all of our life as worship.
How does the source and purpose of every created thing factor into how you respond to the wonderful things in the creation? What circumstances in the world and the church make you most need to remember that Christ is on His throne?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for forgetting that You are on Your throne. This forgetfulness has resulted in so much cold-heartedness toward You. So much half-hearted obedience. So much outright disobedience. So much discouragement and anxiety. All of these sins of ours, we commit frequently, and behind each one of them is the sin of forgetting Your glory. Thank You that You have glorified Yourself especially in Your Son, our Savior; and, You have recounted that glory to us here, with such wonderful imagery. For His sake, grant that His Spirit would keep His glory always in our mind, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP96B “Ascribe Unto the Lord” or TPH230 “Holy, Holy, Holy”
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