“The Throne of Heaven”
November 2, 2009
Revelation 4
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
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 his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. 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."
Can you imagine what John is going through? Jesus is revealing unimaginable spiritual and heavenly things to him. He is looking into the very depths of heaven. But it is more than seeing. He is hearing; he is feeling heaven. What an awesome experience it must have been. Green rainbows, blazing lamps, creatures with eyes all over them, a throne that had flashings of lightening and peals of thunder coming from it - to mention just a few things.
Most of us would have been blown away. Why was John so blessed to experience something like this? Wasn’t this the John who ran away when Jesus was going through His painful ordeal? Wasn’t this one of those disciples who was jockeying for position and power?
Yes, and yes. But something had happened to John. It is true that he had been a carnal Christian. He was weak and prideful and self-seeking at one time. But one day He was filled with the Holy Spirit and nothing was ever the same again. His heart and mind was on heavenly things. The desire of His heart was to bring glory and honor to Jesus. His heart was filled with love for his brothers and sisters in Christ. He was totally in love with Christ and with people. He preached radical love and obedience. Listen to this:
“Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth,…” 1 John 3:16-18
John preached a deep, mature gospel of love and obedience. Something happened after he was empower with the Holy Spirit – and when you experience that second blessing, after salvation, your life will be radically changed as well.
Rick Warren, on page 218 of the Purpose Driven Church said, “Sanctification comes AFTER Salvation”. Rick is a Southern Baptist, so I guess we Nazarenes don’t have a monopoly on the second work of grace. The Holy Spirit will lead any seeking Christian to it – if they truly want God’s will.
Getting back to the question, “Why was John so blessed to experience the revelation of Jesus?” I believe it was because his heart was pure and he was one in the Spirit with Jesus. Jesus could use Him because he was available. Jesus could use Him because there was no rebellion in his heart. Jesus could use him because he was holy of heart. He will use us in greater ways when we surrender fully to Him. The Scripture says that the Holy Spirit is only given to those who are walking in obedience. (Acts 5:32) When we choose to walk in total obedience to the known will of God – we will be filled with the Holy Spirit – and who knows what fantastic things we may be a part of.
So what did John see in his vision? First of all, he saw an open door. Some scholars say it simply means the door of heaven was opened so he could see inside. Some say the door represents Jesus – the door to heaven. The only way to heaven is through Jesus, Jesus Himself said. There are a lot of opinions and theories as to what the door means – but it is open – and we can catch a glimpse of what is inside heaven. And what is inside is mind boggling. But notice the invitation of Jesus next. 2. The Invitation.
"Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." V. 1
Do you understand that God loves you? He doesn’t want to play guessing games with His children. He has always prepared His Beloved for what is to come. He reveals, to those who love Him with all their hearts, future things. He reveals His will and His desires to those who truly want to see. All through the Bible we see it.
“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Colossians 2:16-17
“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”
Hebrews 10:1
Today, God reveals His will, usually, through the Bible. But in times past He revealed it, not only through the prophets, but through the things He had them make. Look at the tabernacle, for instance. When you came through the gate, (Jesus) you first came to the brazen alter where the sacrifice was made; where blood was shed. This represented salvation. After that you came to the brazen laver, where you were washed and cleansed (second work of sanctification). You then came to the holy place which represented salvation again. Inside the holy place (salvation) was the holy of holies (entire sanctification again).
I suppose I could do a series of messages on the symbolism in the Bible – but the point is this: God reveals His will and His ways to those who want to see. Some really don’t want to see. That’s why in revelation the phrase “He who has ears to hear – let him hear what the Spirit says…” is repeated over and over again. Many Christians don’t want to hear the deeper truths of God’s Word. It means too much sacrifice. It means dying to self. It means total surrender. It means complete obedience. Most Christians don’t want that level of commitment. And that is why they don’t see the deeper truths of God. The truth is out there. God clearly reveals His will. It’s even in the creation – so no one has an excuse. (Romans 1:18-20) Jesus said, “Seek – and you will find”. That’s what we want to do.
The door is open, the invitation is given, “Come up here…” And what happens next? 3. The response of John. The Bible doesn’t say much about it. It is implied; But John obvious responses to the invitation. Take a look.
The invitation: "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."
The Response: At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven…”
This kind of reminds me of the parable Jesus told of the ten virgins.
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
"At midnight the cry rang out: ’Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ’Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
" ’No,’ they replied, ’there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
"Later the others also came. ’Sir! Sir!’ they said. ’Open the door for us!’ "But he replied, ’Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Adam Clark, in his commentary, says the virgins represent professing Christians. He says about half of professing Christians are truly saved – or filled with the Holy Spirit. John Wesley put lower than that! These talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. They are the foolish. Most biblical scholars believe that oil represents the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the foolish Christian is the one who, for one reason or another, is not filled with the Holy Spirit. Oh, what things we miss out on because we don’t give attention to “trimming our lamps”. What blessings we miss when we are not filled with the Spirit.
But John was ready. He was filled with the Spirit – and as a result he was able to be used by the Holy Spirit in the way God wanted to use Him. He was able to be taken up to heaven spiritually, not in the flesh, but in the spirit; not physically, but in a vision. That wouldn’t have happened if he was not one with the Spirit.
The lesson is to be prepared. Be ready. Be filled up. You do that by being totally surrendered to God. You do that by walking in complete obedience. You do that by sacrificing every dark area in your life; by sacrificing every self-centered area of your life; by dying daily to self. When we do that – God’s will -will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Well, we have the gate; the invitation; and the response. What do you think 4) the View of Heaven looks like? John tells us.
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
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 his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
The first thing that stands out is the throne and the One sitting on it. Then we see the elders. Notice the elders.
a. They form the first circle around the throne of God, 4:4a
b. They are called elders, 4:4b
c. They are twenty-four seated on twenty-four thrones, 4:4c
d. They wear white garments and gold crowns, 4:4d
e. They fall down and worship God, 4:10
f. They sing hymns to God, 4:11
g. They make comments to John, 5:5
h. They have harps and censers full of incense that are said to represent the prayers of the saints, 5:8
i. They explain things to John, 7:14-17
I have read at least a half dozen commentaries on this chapter and there is a lot of differences and speculation. Some think the elders represent us, the church. Others think it may be the apostles and the patriarchs. Some think it may be angels or some heavenly beings that now are at rest. Some think the four beasts with all the eyes represent one thing – others claim something else. I don’t really know. It’s fun to speculate. It’s fun to study. I have noticed in my study that the denomination of the scholar seems to come out in their viewpoint. But I am not going to pretend to know what this all means. But I do think we WILL know when we need to know. God has given us a glimpse into heaven; into the future – and we have the knowledge for when it is needed.
The fifth and last point in this Scripture is 5) the Final Conclusion.
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."
The elders, whoever they are, laid their crowns before the throne. That act demonstrated that they knew and acknowledged that God alone is supreme. They realized that their blessings and power came from Him alone.
It was a custom of rulers and kings of that day to lay their crown at the feet of the emperor, signifying his supremacy. One day we will rule and reign with the King of kings, but we will know every blessing; every good thing we have ever experienced, came from His hand. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the King of all kings. Some will be forced to do it. Some will do it begrudgingly. We will do it willingly and freely. We will delight in bowing to Him and honoring our King and Friend and Creator.
It is Jesus who created us. It is in Jesus that we have our being. It is only right that we honor Him and bring Him glory and give Him power. One day you and I and every created being will confess Him as King. Why not make Him the King and Ruler of your life now?
Sometimes I am criticized for giving an invitation after every message. Some think it makes it shallow or common. I think I agree with Rick Warren.
“We should always offer people an opportunity to respond to Christ. They may choose to not respond, and you must respect that without pressuring them, but the opportunity must always be offered.” (Purpose Driven Church)
I want to offer you the opportunity to bow before the King of kings. I want to give you an opportunity to make Him the Lord of your life. If you are living in sin and rebellion, I invite you to make Jesus your Savior by confessing your sin, turning from them and asking Jesus’ forgiveness.
If you are a Christian and have never experience that second work of grace, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, I want to give you an opportunity to ask. If you are willing to lay down your life and present it to Jesus as a living sacrifice – you will be filled. All it takes is a simple prayer like this,
Dear Jesus,
Please forgive me of my sin. I have gone my own way and done my own thing. Please forgive me.
Lord, I believe in you. I have accepted you as my Savior – but I am still Lord of my life. Please forgive me. I surrender my will to you. Please come and fill me with your Spirit.
In Jesus Name,
If something happened today; if you made a commitment; Would you tell me about it? Write it down on a card and make sure I get it. Also, remember to get into God’s Word daily, talk to Jesus often, get into a Bible study group, and get involved in the church. If you do these things, it will make life a lot easier.
