Behold The Throne!

Can you see Him on the throne? Great in glory, great in grace, and:

Great in government

v. 5 What a change! One moment we’re beholding the rainbow of peace, and the next the lightning’s flashing and the thunder’s crashing!

Tho’ the storms are over for us, down below the storms are brewing like never before as God’s righteous judgment goes forth upon the earth from His mighty Throne.

Time out! Where will you be when the rapture occurs? Will you be witnessing this scene we’re describing in heaven, or will you be left behind in the storm which originates from His throne?

There’s only the 2 choices: be raptured away by Jesus, or be left behind by Jesus…and what you do w/ Jesus now determines what He will do w/ you then!

We’ve seen the master on the throne, great in glory/grace/government…

2. The multitude before the throne

v. 4 who are these elders?

These are the redeemed, ch. 5 makes it clear.

v. 4 says: clothed in white raiment=righteousness of Christ

then it mentions the crowns we can win:

Runner’s crown (imperishable crown in I Cor. 9)

Given to the Christian who exhibits self-control, temperate in all things

Soulwinner’s crown (crown of joy) I Thess. 2

Given to those who win souls to Christ

Crown of righteousness (anticipator’s crown) II Tim. 4

Given to the christian who faithfully waits, and looks for the coming of Christ

Crown of life—Js. 1

Given to the Christian who endures suffering in a noble way (persecuted, suffering…or people like Joni Earickson Tada, paralyzed in a terrible accident…but who for a lifetime now have allowed the Lord to turn tragedy into triumph)

Crown of glory—I Peter 5—Minister’s crown, given to a faithful shepherd

These are the 5 crowns we can win…and what will we do w/ them? Parade around w/ them showing them off for eternity?

What is, “no!”

v. 10-11 Christian, will you have any crowns to cast at His feet?

We’ve seen the master on the throne / multitude before the throne

3. The majesty surrounding the throne

v. 6-8 Who are these 4 beasts at the foot of the throne? These 4 beasts represent all of creation praising the Lord.

In Gen. 9, after God destroyed the earth w/ flood, and saved Noah and family, He made a covenant w/ 4 specific categories of creation:

8And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you;

Man / fowl / cattle / beasts of earth

With that in mind, read Rev. 4:7 again…

Lion—beasts of earth

Calf—cattle

Man—man

Eagle—fowl

God has made a covenant w/ all His creation. Don’t ever get the idea that God is finished w/ His creation. Don’t ever get the idea that the devil spoiled it and it’s all over w/ His creation. Not only did God redeem man, but all His creation will be ultimately redeemed. The Bible says if we don’t praise the Lord, the very rocks would have to cry out! Rom. 8:19-22 describe creation groaning for its redemption…when all of creation will bloom like the rose. Later in Rev. we will see the lion and the lamb lying down together, and the little toddler will play by the hole of the snake! And together, all of creation will praise God together, the Creator!