HERO OF THE CHURCH
REVELATION 4:1-5:14
INTRODUCTION… Adapted from “Comic Book Character” by David A Zimmerman, IVP 2004, pgs 10-11
Our Western pop culture is shaped by superheroes whether you realize it or not. Superheroes have cemented their place in the American cultural landscape. An average person (or perhaps above average person) could wear Spider-Man underwear while riding a Batman rollercoaster, stop off at the movies and watch Captain America on the big screen, then go home to sit in front of the TV in his Superman or her Wonder Woman robe watching an X-Men DVD, all the while munching on Incredible Hulk cereal in a Green Arrow cereal bowl. It is totally possible and not as absurd as it might sound. Superheroes have become culturally viable and important through movies, TV, books, comic books, trading cards, and clothing.
People have always focused on heroes. When we were in elementary school, we read about Hercules and his battle with the Hydra. We read about other mythical stories in English class such as the flight of Icarus whose wings melt in the sun or the Minotaur guarding treasure. We read these stories in school and we learn about classical literature, the rise and fall of nations, and the fragility of human life. In these stories, we find captivating characters of breathtaking power and creativity… they are the heroes. We learn to like heroes.
People have also focused on heroes in the Bible. Abraham rescues his nephew Lot from capture (Genesis). Moses faced off against all powerful Pharaoh and brought down plagues from the Heavens upon Egypt to free God’s people (Exodus). Joshua bravely led the people to march around Jericho and utterly destroyed it when the walls fell down (Joshua). Samson with his great strength defeated Philistines (Judges). Gideon defeated an army with God’s help by blowing trumpets and smashing jars (Judges). Young David stood up to a giant named Goliath and won with a sling and a stone (1 Samuel). In these stories we find captivating characters with firm faith and mighty miracles of God… they are the heroes. We love our Biblical heroes.
Essentially, every culture and every era of people have their mythic heroes whether they come from literature or from exploits in real life. Heroes are those people of extraordinary ability that reach spectacular heights and goals and overcome all the odds and those that we often see as villains.
The Maccabees rescue and defend Jerusalem.
Beowulf defeats Grendel and saves the kingdom.
St Patrick drives the snakes from Ireland.
Muhammad sieges and captures Mecca.
Robin Hood steals from the rich and gives to the poor.
The Three Musketeers defend king and country.
Joan of Arc leads French soldiers into battle against the English.
Montezuma defends his people against the encroaching Spanish.
Pancho Villa defends Mexican freedom in the Mexican Revolution.
General George S. Patton defeats the Nazis in World War II.
Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks defeat Payton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
People have gravitated to the telling and retelling of stories about people more powerful than they and battling forces more powerful and more malicious than they can comprehend. We love our heroes. We love our heroes in the Old and New Testaments, in classic and modern fictional literature, and in real life history and current events.
Why all this talk about heroes?
For the past five weeks, we have been studying Revelation 2-3 together and we have seen that the letters to the seven churches are Jesus’ diagnosis of the problems facing each of the churches. We have noticed very much that what these churches dealt with we deal with in our lives. We have learned what the problems are, but what’s the solution?
What do you do when you find you have lost basic love for Jesus Christ? (Ephesus)
How do you persevere when troubles and poverty seem to overwhelm your life? (Smyrna, Philadelphia)
When false teaching has wormed its way into your life and drawn you from God, what do you do? (Pergamum)
What do you do when sin makes you sick in your spiritual life? (Thyatira)
What do you do when you are tempted to compromise in your commitment to Christ and just go along with what’s culturally popular? (Sardis)
When you find that you have a lukewarm faith and love that has grown cold, what do you do? (Laodicea)
These seven churches in Asia in chapters 2-3 of Revelation are facing overwhelming odds and obstacles and influences that threaten to wreck their faith. Jesus Christ gracefully sends messages to them with warnings and with a solution for them. We see the problems and issues presented in Revelation 2-3. We see the solution presented in Revelation 4-5.
The solution is simple: Focus on Jesus Christ our Ultimate Hero.
I. JESUS OUR ULTIMATE HERO: THE WORTHY GOD
Heroes often become heroes because of their power, character qualities, or some other aspect of their lives that make them stand out from the rest. Our Worthy God fulfills those categories and more.
Before we read this first passage this morning, I want you to know that the Apostle John is about to see something inexplicable and unimaginable and something that defies description. He is about to have a vision and see a door standing open and he will see the throne room of God. Everything he is about to see and describe for us speaks directly to the worthiness of Jesus Christ to be our ultimate hero.
READ Revelation 4:1-11
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." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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." 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 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: 11 "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."
We see in this passage the glory of God described in the best words available by the Apostle John. How would you describe God and his glory if you had a vision? How would I? The Apostle John saw in his vision the very throne room of God with God sitting mighty upon it. I can’t imagine what he saw even though he describes it for us in these verses. What he saw must radiated red and orange light and was more precious and beautiful than any stone he had ever seen. Surrounding the Being was a rainbow of every type of green imaginable. I also imagine it perhaps like a green aurora borealis that radiated from this Eternal God. The lighting and thunder and lamps all speak to the awesome power of God. His glory speaks of ultimate power. And He who has ultimate power is our ultimate hero.
We see in this passage the throne of God described with great detail. The word “throne” is a key word in chapter 4, used 10 times. It is also used in Revelation 5 which we will read in a moment (5 times). “Throne” is also one of the key words in all of Revelation, appearing 41 times. One of the bedrocks of Christian theology
is that there is a throne in Heaven and God is sitting on it full of power and might and Jesus sits victorious at His right hand. In Revelation 4, John sees worship around the throne: Elders fall down, Crowns are cast before God, Angels constantly sing, Praise is constantly given. His throne speaks of ultimate authority. And He who has ultimate authority is our ultimate hero.
We see in this passage the holiness of God expressed and described. Only indescribable God has four creature angels constantly flying around Him proclaiming His holiness. Holiness means He is all by Himself in categories of goodness, mercy, love, peace, patience, forgiveness, compassion, justice, comfort, and righteousness. God is so holy that the angels have to say the word three times just make the sentence worth saying. His is a good and right God that can be totally trusted to keep His Word. His character speaks of ultimate holiness. And He who has ultimate holiness is our ultimate hero.
We see in Revelation 4 that God is ultimate in power, authority, and holiness. There is no way we could ask for anything or anyone else to be our champion and fight for us and in us. We serve a God who is our ultimate hero. I would remind you of Revelation 4:11 which says, “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." He is worthy! He is worthy! In Revelation 4, John reminds the church and us of the worth of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior… our ultimate hero. This is one of the keys to answering the questions brought up to the seven churches. When we face questions about faithlessness, loss of love, compromise with the world, end up sin sick, or overwhelmed with troubles… we need recapture His worth in our lives and worship Him. When we do that, He will work in us and around us to mend our hearts and fight battles to make things right once again.
Recapture your love for Christ in His Word.
Persevere in Christ in troubles and poverty through prayer.
Draw near to God in Christ through worship.
Pursue healing and forgiveness through repentance in Christ.
Hold off compromise with the world by walking in the Spirit in your decisions.
Recommit yourself to Christ and burn hot and cold for Him.
In fiction and in real life, heroes become heroes because of their power, character qualities, or some other aspect of their lives that make them stand out from the rest. Jesus certainly stands out for us and in us.
The solution is simple: Focus on Jesus Christ our Ultimate Hero.
II. JESUS OUR ULTIMATE HERO: THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB
Heroes also become heroes because of their heroic action which often means self-sacrifice. Heroes give their blood, sweat, and tears for others and in so doing heroic actions take place. Not only is Jesus our ultimate hero because He is our Worthy God, but He is also our ultimate hero because of what He has indeed done for us through His sacrifice. Revelation 5 describes this for us vividly.
READ REVELATION 5:1 WITH COMMENTARY
“Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"
[This is a key question in Revelation 4-5… who indeed is worthy? Who can take something from the right hand of God? Who can open something God the Father has sealed?]
3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
[In John’s tears, he is given an answer. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49) is worthy. The Root of David (Isaiah 11; Jeremiah 23) is worthy. Who is that? Jesus.]
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
[I thought we just said Jesus was the worthy One? Who then is this lamb that was slain (John 1)? Who is this lamb that comes on the scene? Make no mistake… we are still talking about Jesus. Jesus is the only One who is worthy.]
7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
[Notice please that the elders and the creatures who worshipped God only in chapter 4 now also worship Jesus. That is because Jesus is God. Jesus is God’s Son. And not only is Jesus worthy to open the scrolls because He is God, but He is also worthy because of His sacrifice and His shed blood. Jesus gave it all for us. He paid for our souls. That makes Him uniquely worthy as our hero.]
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" 14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.”
One of the questions we most often ask in Revelation 5 is: Why is Jesus Christ pictured as both a lion and a lamb? It seems logical that He would be one or the other. Some of us can see Jesus, especially if we are CS Lewis fans, as a mighty lion that is regal and powerful and in charge of all He surveys. Some of us can see Jesus, especially if we are tender to what Jesus has done for us, as a lamb willingly slaughtered. Jesus is pictured as both a lion and lamb because His sacrifice that made Him our ultimate hero is far reaching and many sided and so very meaningful.
Jesus is the sovereign lion who rules over the world with all authority given by God. He was God. He is God. He will always be God. Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb who saves the world from sin. All sin was put on Him and He was killed to pay for our sins and transgressions and mistakes. Every sin you and I have ever committed was heaped upon Him and He died for them.
When we face questions about faithlessness, loss of love, compromise with the world, end up sin sick, or overwhelmed with troubles… we need worship Him as King of Kings and our Ultimate Sacrifice. When we do that, we regain a correct perspective of faith about who Jesus Christ is and what He truly has heroically done for us. He will work in us and around us to mend our hearts and fight battles to make things right once again.
Recapture your love for Christ in His Word.
Persevere in Christ in troubles and poverty through prayer.
Draw near to God in Christ through worship.
Pursue healing and forgiveness through repentance in Christ.
Hold off compromise with the world by walking in the Spirit in your decisions.
Recommit yourself to Christ and burn hot and cold for Him.
The solution is simple: Focus on Jesus Christ our Ultimate Hero.
CONCLUSION
Superman may be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but He cannot do anything about sin.
Batman may clean up crime and corruption, but He cannot come close to the justice God provides.
The Flash may be quick and fast and brave, but no one is quicker to forgive than God alone.
Incredible Hulk is enveloped in rage, but nothing comes close to God’s wrath against sin and his fix for it.
Iron Man may be run by a technologically advanced heart, but only Jesus provides eternal life in our hearts.
Green Lantern uses the force of his will to do save others, but only Jesus did God’s will perfectly and saved us.
Wonder Woman may have her lasso of truth, but nothing comes close to the Truth of God in Christ.
The Mighty Thor might call himself a god, but in the end he is a puny false god and truly there is only One Almighty God.
Professor X may be able to talk to every mind on the planet, but only God offers and promises salvation for everyone.
No matter what hero you choose to admire or emulate, there is only one ultimate hero that truly deserves our worship, devotion, respect, study, and relationship. Focus on Jesus Christ our Ultimate Hero
