REVELATIONS 4:6b-11
THE SCENE AROUND THE THRONE
[Ezekiel 1:4-10]
John is permitted to look into heaven to view of the throne of God, and observe the future worship celebrated there. A door (tura) or opening was made into heaven, through which John is lifted up to see what is beyond our present world. He sees the throne of God, and the resplendent glory of Him who sits on the throne. He sees the lightnings flashing around the throne, and hears the thunders rolling. He sees the Spirit of God ablaze, and the rainbow that encompasses God’s throne.
Let us go forward and investigate what our blessed Savior thought so important to show us here on earth about heaven. He gave us this vision of “The Scene Around The Throne” so we could be filled with anticipation and be prepared for the impact of Heaven’s Sovereign.
Let us look at God’s living beings and hear the songs of the worshipers so that we too might prepare ourselves for our Lord’s final victory and the glory worship that is to come. Yes, while we face the trials and tribulations of earth, God would have us look forward to heaven.
I. FOUR LIVING BEINGS, 6b-8a.
II. ADORATION OF A HOLY GOD, 8b-10.
III. WORTHY TO RECEIVE, 11.
We pick up the stunning vision again in verse 6. “and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.
The throne of God will be more amazing and beautiful than any sight in all of earth! Before John lies an expansive crystal appearing sea. It was completely void of darkness, shadows, and flaws. In the center and encircling the throne are four living beings (zôa- living ones, not beasts. We get our word zoology from this word).
John is fascinated by these personal guardians, attendants, and worshiper around the throne. It is not important that we understand all the category of angels, but these are those that are closest to God, nearer than the 24 elders and obviously far more impressive to John. We can safely say due to their proximity to the throne that theses are the most important beings ever created (Leon Morris, Revelation, 90).
These living ones are full of eyes. The eyes which move within every portion of the beings indicating incomprehensibly amazing ability to see and watch. They are all-seeing taking in God and everything else.
[These being ha do not appear to be the Cherubim of Ezekiel 10:2, 6, 14, 20. Though have similar faces, Cherubim have four faces each, theses have one. They have four wings, these six (4:8). Cherubim were inter-connected by wheels and a chariot, these appear separate. Though they have six wings they do not appear to be Seraphim (Isa. 6:2) either. They have features of Cherubim and Seraphim without being either. For additional info on Cherubim see Gen. 3:24; Ex 25:18; 1 Kg 6:25ff; Ps.80:1; 99:1; Isa 37:16. ]
Verse 7 describes the beings. The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
Many interpretation have been given of these four living beings. The follow is as sound as any. They are like the lion, the mightiest of beasts, the king (or leader) of the jungle indicates majesty and power. The ox or calf or bull is the strongest domesticated animal, typical of faithful labor and patience. The greatest bird, the eagle represents supreme sovereignty and supremacy. One was like a man, indicating intelligence. The four beings “suggest whatever is noblest, strongest, wisest and swiftest in animated Nature” (Swete, 71), or the created order.
Verse 8 continues the description of these mighty beings. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
Again John speaks of their amazing fulness of eyes indicating their ceaseless vigilance and intense intelligence. They have supernatural penetration and discernment. Their praise of God for His past, present, and future may indicate they can see each of these dimensions of time. Their six wings indicate more than swiftness of movement. The wings may well indicate an ability to travel inter-dimensionally. (Only this ability would allow them to be in the center of the throne, 4:6, or space already occupied by the throne). As they are in God’s presence they have no need to rest from unceasing praise. Though our knowledge is insufficient, we can truthfully say what amazing beings surround the throne of Almighty God.
II. ADORATION OF A HOLY GOD, 8b-10.
Listen to the ceaseless song of adoration. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
The simple repetition of holiness is impressive and should be impacting. Holiness is of first importance in with God and in the worship of God. In a world where evil is rampant and goodness is mocked and weakening, there is One who will not give in to sin or allow His integrity to slip or degenerate. God is and always will be the thrice holy God. Our God is good. He is separate from any and all forms of evil. He is pure, totally and completely undefiled.
He is the Lord Almighty (pantokrator, all-powerful). Real power resides not with evil and deception, but with a holy God.
God’s holiness and power existed before the beginning and God’s holy character has not faded with time. He Who was and is, is the One Who is to come. It’s grammatical construction stress the changelessness and eternalness of God. God’s power and eternal being guarantee that His holiness will triumph over all evil. (Leon Morris, Revelation of St. John, 91).
The first words John hears spoken in heaven are praise. How important is worship in heaven? How important is praise of the Lord God Almighty in your life?
The worship of God plays a very important role in heaven – a role God wanted His followers to be aware of as they went to face what was coming. In giving us this scene of worship, friends, God has given us what we need if the church gathered is to become the church triumphant. What we need, church, is an attitude of worship in all that we face, in all that we do, in all that we go through.
The four living beings also lead the redeem in the worship of God Almighty. Verse 9 says, “ And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,”
Whatever else concerning these angles could be said they constantly give glory, and honor, and praise, and thanksgiving to God, similar to the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision (6:3). The ministry of the living beings is to designate and proclaim the holiness and eternality of God Almighty. (The living beings instigating the worship of the elders indicates that they have a higher rank than the elders. Angels in general though will be under the redeemed).
The praise of the living beings is accompanied by the representatives of God’s redeemed people as verse 10 indicates. “the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,”
Though the elders may have their own thrones, there is no doubt as to who is the Sovereign of Heaven. In authentic worship they bow, literally fall prostrate, before Him who sits on the throne of eternity. The elders will (future) also join in with the greatest act of worship given to them. They lay their crowns before the throne in ascribing all glory to Him as the Sovereign. The crowns (again the won crowns of the Greek contests, not the diadems of rulers) they have won represent their striving and persevering in serving the Lord Jesus on earth.
What untold blessing it will be to take the crown we have won for persevering in Christ and cast it at His feet! This culminating and climatic act of our life offered in His service will say more to the Lord God than any words ever could. I pray you too will have at least one crown to cast at His feet in worship.
The casting of our crowns indicates the fact that He alone is sovereign. All others must yield to Him and His reign.
III. WORTHY TO RECEIVE, 11.
The anthem of all who are in heaven is repeated for the listening heart in verse 11. “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
The point of chapter four is summed up in this verse. All creatures in heaven give glory and honor and praise to God because He is the Creator and Sustainer of everything. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (KJV).
Worship “is a quickening of the conscience by the holiness of God; a feeding of the mind with the truth of God; an opening of the heart to the love of God and a devoting of the will to the purpose of God.”–unknown
All creation owes their existence to the Lord God. He created us so that we might know Him and knowing Him might honor and praise Him with our existence. Yet few acknowledge it by lifting praise to their Creator. The world today neglects or refuses to worship God in Spirit and in truth. They do not honor Him, though we all benefit from His creation and goodness (have their being indicates preservation or sustaining). But that will not be true of the New Creation. God has the right of the Creator and Sovereign to be recognize and honored by His creation. And so He will be in Heaven.
It was due to His will and for His purpose alone that all God’s creations were (not are) or existed. [His will was the cause and His word was the agent and His Spirit was the power.]
No matter how godless the world may seem, God has a plan and He is working His plan out for His purpose. He made things and He made us for His purpose, for His own pleasure, or will. Evil is real and deceptively powerful, but divine purpose still stands.
IN CONCLUSION / INVITATION
Oh the splendor and glory of the Heaven to which we have been invited. God desires us to partake of His living presence that is like a well of living water to our thirst. Like light and clarity to our confusion. Has the eternal One of all glory on His universal throne of all power and authority for all eternity so captured your attention and devotion as it has those around the throne? Don’t fret about it if not. When you are given you new bodily existence in heaven you will be changed and worship will be as important and exciting as it is to the four living beings and to those who cast their crowns.
All true believers ascribe their redemption, their present privileges and future hopes, to the eternal and most holy God. What hope fills our heart that we too can cast our crowns in worship before the Lord God Almighty, the sovereign of eternity. May your focus on the things of this life not cost you the opportunity of eternity, which will be to cast your crown at His blessed pierce feet.
You can have a crown to cast at before the throne also. Simply kneel today before His throne and pray, not my will but Thy will be done, and God will see that you win your crown.
