Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11

Revelation 4:1–5:14 – The Book of Revelation: Worship. Obey. Endure.
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost  – July 24, 2022 (am)

We were made by God to enjoy scenes of awe and wonder, of splendor and majesty. Sometimes when we’re driving, Jean & I have seen people pull off the road during heavy rains. But far more often when people pull over, it’s to view some kind of spectacular display—often a sunset, or a rainbow, or an unanticipated fireworks display. We can’t help ourselves. We were made to enjoy awesome beauty and splendor.

But it’s more than that. We were made to worship. We can’t help ourselves there either, we will worship something. And in the absence of anything truly worthy of worship, we’ll opt for the most enthralling thing available to us. For some, it’s athletics—amazing accomplishments in sports. For others, it’s gardens—trimmed and shaped. Or maybe it’s clothing or artwork or travel to exotic places, or just viewing exotic websites. But, if our soul isn’t worshiping something, our life lacks meaning, significance, or satisfaction on what we perceive as the deepest levels.

Scripture has much to say about what draws our worship. And worship spaces are designed with those things in mind. Jean & I have had the privilege of viewing some striking worship facilities in a number of different places as we’ve traveled—sanctuaries, some older, some newer, that seem to draw forth worship by their mere architecture, interior design, acoustics, or appointments—vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, massive pipe organs, elevated pulpits. Setting has much to do with the facilitation of worship, and no one needs to be convinced of that! We know it when we see it, and often miss it when its absent.

But I think we could also grant that architecture, design, and acoustics can be worshiped in their own right, like sports or gardens or different forms of art, rather than for pointing to the God Whose Person and work they were designed to reflect. For instance, we can see ornate temples right here in our own area and be drawn in by their beauty even though they’re built to facilitate worship of false gods. We don’t often stop to name what draws us to those places, or to identify whether it’s good or bad. I think we just assume it’s due to some inherent beauty in such structures, forgetting that we can also be strangely drawn to grotesque things that are almost the antithesis of beauty and worship. Gapers blocks at serious car accidents are all the reminder we need of that tendency in our flesh.

But all of this works together to help us understand what is so special about our passage today, and why we end up taking this singular passage of Rev.4-5 in two parts rather than one. Rev.4 is to Rev.5 as a setting is to a stage play or a movie. So, we’re just going to look at the setting today. We’re going to drink in this scene, soak in it, then wait until next Sunday to hear the Director say: Action.

Today’s passage depicts the ultimate worship scene in all the universe! The one we’ve been made to appreciate! This is the ultimate worship space! John wrestles to put it in words. But I’m sure he gained reassurance in his descriptions as he recognized their similarity to those of other  OT prophets. But the main thing that makes their descriptions so compelling is the fact that God Himself is present in them!

This whole passage is intended to do two things. First, more broadly, it’s intended to strengthen believers—to stoke their confidence that God is indeed worthy of their worship and praise and endurance in sacrificial obedience, even if that feels very costly to offer it in any given circumstance. And second, it’s intended to set them up to see and hear what happens over the next fifteen chapters without losing confidence that He’s in control of it all and is fully able to steer this train to its final destination of perfect holiness! On the heels of the letters to the seven churches (cc.2-3), we could have our doubts. But following John into the scene he’s invited to enter here (1) chases all that away immediately! Each chapter has a discernible theme.

A Vision of the Indescribable Majesty of God – 4:1-11

John stacked up similes and metaphors to convey this majesty. The voice he heard (Jesus’ voice [1:10ff.]) was like a trumpet (1), recalling the trumpet sound on top of Mt. Sinai at the giving of the Law (Exo.19:19). 3 And he who sat on the throne had the appearance of jasper and carnelian…; 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal; 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second… like an ox, etc.

John had stepped into the presence of God and his words just failed him! But almost certainly he was steadied a bit by the writings of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Isaiah. Being taken into God’s confidence and called into His presence was part of the commissioning of a prophet (Beale 1999 319), and John was now part of that company. Ezekiel gives the exact date of his commissioning vision (1:1-3). Then listen to what he saw next. Eze.1:4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. 5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. … 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. … Here in Eze. as well, similes and metaphors abound.

Isaiah’s commissioning may be the one we most closely identify with Rev.4 because of the familiar hymn of the seraphim. Isa.6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

But Daniel’s vision has more in common with the whole of Rev.4-5 than either of these texts (Beale 1999 314-5). Dan.7:9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. … 13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. 17 These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ … 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

This is the very point in what John is observing. God’s purpose in this universe shall be realized, both in judgment and in blessing. After the letters to the churches, we could really wonder—He makes such grand promises! But in the midst of significant suffering, how can we know His eternal promises are true? If He doesn’t keep us from suffering here and now, how do we trust Him with eternity?

Cc.4-5 tell us! They show us Who’s in charge, how, and why! It’s a throne room (2) and the King is in-residence! But the One on the throne is not like any king we’ve ever seen! 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Jasper was either an opal or a diamond; it throws rainbows. Carnelian was a red gem from Sardis (thus KJV’s sardine). These stones anticipate the holy city; both are among the twelve jewels that adorn the foundations of the city wall (21:19-20). The rainbow recalls Ezekiel (1:28); most likely it’s simply as an image of beauty—seven-fold color; three, four, seven, ten, and twelve are numbers of completeness (with varyIng emphases) in apocalyptic (cf. Beale 1999 58-60). We’ll see them often.

Different elements here add different impressions: twenty-four thrones (4) likely represent the OT and NT people of God, clothed in white garments, the attire of the redeemed (3:5; 6:11; 7:9, 13-14). The flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, a three-fold grouping, that came from the throne (5) depict God’s supreme power. This same wording returns with the seventh seal (8:5), seventh trumpet (11:19), and seventh bowl (16:18), showing that those judgments also [come] from the throne (Beale 1999 326). The seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God (5), likely represent the Holy Spirit. And the sea of glass (6) makes God unapproachable, magnifying His transcendence, His apart-ness. The first characteristic of the New Jerusalem (21:1) is no more sea, not diminishing His holiness; but nothing separates us from God any longer.

Ezekiel also spoke of four living creatures (1:5), each having the face of a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle (1:10). John sees them here (6-8) as individual beings, the highest order of creatures in that they surround the throne (or even make up the throne [Beale 1999 329]). They’re in the inner circle, but even so, they know their place: they’re worshiping (8)—unceasing repetition of the highest affirmation of God’s uniqueness and purity, His God-ness! In apocalyptic, such creatures identify certain characteristics: the lion is royalty, the ox strength, the man (God’s image-bearer) intelligence, and the eagle is likely compassion (cf. Deu.32:11-12). These characterize God’s throne, His reign.

We could spend much time exploring all the imagery like this, but our primary aim today and next Sunday is to see how this section works, to hear this passage in context. And this vision of the indescribable majesty of God centers on His glorious throne. It sets up and supports all the remaining visions in this letter, showing us a God Who’s not only capable of bringing it all about, but is also worthy of doing so! It allows us to read of locusts from hell stinging people like scorpions (9:2-5) or every living thing [dying] that [is] in the sea (16:3) or one hundred pound hailstones [falling] from heaven on people (16:21)—this vision prepares us to see all this and more of the outpouring of God’s wrath and yet still say with the angel: 16:5 … Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. We can respond with the altar: 16:7 … Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!

C.4 finishes with the twenty-four elders echoing the four living creatures with a second hymn of worship. 10 … They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power (a three-fold expression), for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” This reminds us of the words of the Psalmist: Psa.115:3 Our God is in the heavens; / he does all that he pleases!

Conclusion

The temptation is so great here to press on into c.5—these two really do operate as a unit—but it seems best for us to stop here this week and just to soak for a while in c.4. This is just such a full, rich, concentrated and condensed depiction of life, right now, in the unshielded presence of God, that this description needs to be emblazoned in our minds. We need to hold on to it as the best picture we can have of the God we worship and serve, the God Who made the universe and everything in it (for His own pleasure!), and Who rightly receives (and requires!) the undivided, undiluted worship of this universe and everything in it!

We need to see what it’s like to be in His presence. We need reflect on that a bit before we move on to see His actions that follow—what He’s done for us, how He’s loved us and rescued us and reconciled us to Himself!

We need to ponder the treasure we’ve inherited in our salvation—namely, the God Who has made us and claimed us as His own—even before we turn our attention to that salvation itself and His eternal Son Who made it available.

And we need to ask ourselves, do we really believe that this worship, this scene of Rev.4 is actually happening right now, that we join in with it each Sunday as we gather here for corporate worship, and that we continue in it as we go forth into this world empowered and guided by that worship—our whole lives being aimed in that direction, for all eternity, by His grace? Do we really believe this?

And then we need to ask a second question—we’ll ask these again next Sunday because they’re the questions pressed upon us by this amazing portion of Scripture—do our lives show that we really believe this?

Spend your week in Rev.4, my friends, asking God by His Spirit to draw you into this scene. You’re welcome here! Through the work of Christ, you’re welcome! It’s your inheritance in Him to belong here! Ask your heavenly Father, the One Who’s seated on the throne, to enable your life to reveal your truest identity and draw people toward it for His glory! Ask Him to make your life a living hymn that proclaims: 11 Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Then on Friday or Saturday, add c.5 into your reading, to ready your heart for next Sunday and the action in this scene.

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Resources

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                  , eds. 1981. Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 13, Hebrews-Revelation. Revelation, by Alan F. Johnson, 571-789. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

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                  , & Roy B. Zuck, eds. 1983. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Revelation, by John F. Walvoord, 925-991. Wheaton: Victor.

NEXT WEEK’S SERMON: What Must Take Place After This, Part 2, Revelation 4:1–5:14