"After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven" – Having seen one glorious vision of Christ, John returned to his ordinary state of mind for a while. We do not know how long it was between the visions; but it seems there was sufficient time for him to write the letters of Christ to his churches and send them out, as he had been commanded. When that work was done, another vision was given. Now, with wide-eyed wonder and amazement, John sees a door standing open in heaven. I am sure he knew the significance of that door. He was about to see visions of God (Ezek. 1:1) While he is looking at the door in astonishment, he hears the voice of his dear Savior, like the voice of a trumpet, speaking clearly to him – "Come up hither." The Son of God called John up to heaven! Blessed be God, there is a way of access to God! There is a door opened into the holiest of all, by which we may enter. That Way is Christ. That Door is Christ. We enter into the presence of God and find acceptance with him by faith in Christ's blood and righteousness.
The Lord said to John, "Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." That is to say, "I will show you things which must happen in the future." But remember, this took place nearly 2000 years ago! These words do not imply that there is to be another dispensation of time. John himself told us that this gospel age, the time in which we are living, is "the last time." (I John 2:18). These future things "must" come to pass because they were appointed and decreed in God's eternal purpose of predestination.
"And immediately I was in the spirit." Again John's soul was drawn away from his earthly surroundings and his carnal cares. His heart was fixed on God. He ceased to see with his physical eyes and hear with his physical ears. He was "in the spirit." With the eyes of his soul he looked, "and, behold, a throne."
"Behold, A Throne!" That is the theme of John's second vision. All of chapters 4 and 5 are taken up with and consumed by this throne in heaven and it's Occupant. The word "throne" is mentioned 17 times in these two chapters. Remember, this is a spiritual vision. The throne is a symbol of sovereign power, authority, and dominion.
Proposition:There is one thing to be learned from this picture: All Things Are Under The Control Of Our God, Who Sits Upon The Throne Of Universal Dominion.
This fourth chapter of Revelation does not merely give us a picture of heaven. It gives us a picture of the entire universe from heaven's viewpoint. It shows us in beautifully symbolic language that all things are absolutely and totally governed by our God and Savior. All things, even our trials and tribulations, are of God and shall bring glory to God. In chapter 6, we read about the many trials, which God's saints must endure upon the earth. But first we are assured that God is in control – "Behold, A Throne!" No trial will be unbearable to me, if I can but realize with assurance that my God is on his throne.
Divisions:As we go through these eleven verses together, I want to do three things:
I. First, and this is the most important part of my message, I want, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to Tell You About The Throne And The One Who Sits Upon It (vv. 2,3,5,6).
Spirit of God, speak through these lips of clay and cast the light of Divine illumination upon these words of Holy Scripture, so that we may see what John saw and hear what John heard.
If you hear nothing else I say tonight, hear this: "The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of the isles be glad" (Ps. 97:1). The assurance of this fact should give every believer a calm and peaceful heart. Child of God, in the midst of your fiery trials, "Behold, A Throne!" And be comforted. Our God is in control (Ps. 93:1-5).
A. God's Throne Is Set, Fixed, Permanently Established In Heaven. – "Behold a Throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne" (v. 2).
The Throne is not on earth, but in heaven. It sits in the holy of holies of the heavenly temple, just as the ark of the covenant sat in the holy of holies in the earthly tabernacle (Ex. 25:22). God is King. He dwells in his holy temple, and sits upon the throne of sovereign majesty ruling over all things. (Isa. 6:1; Jer. 3:17; 14:21; Ezek. 1:26;).
As God has ruled, he is ruling, and he shall rule forever. His throne is immutably secure – (Ps. 93:2).
3. The power and dominion of God's throne reaches to all the ends of the earth.
His dominion is everlasting and universal. It extends to all things (Dan. 4:34, 35, 37; Isa. 45:7,12; 46:9-11).
B. The One Who Sits Upon This Throne Is God.Tell me who is in control of the universe, and I will worship him. Whoever rules, whoever is in control is God. Notice, he "sat on the throne," in perfect ease and serenity, because he is in no threat of danger. His purpose is sure, because he is on his throne. And his throne is secure, because he is God. He will never give up his right to rule. And none can ever overthrow, or even impede his rule. (Ps. 115:3; 135:6).
That One who sat upon the throne "was to look upon like jasper and a sardine stone." John is not describing God himself, for God cannot be described (Ex. 20:4). He is describing the majesty, effulgence, and glory, which he saw radiating from the One who sat upon the throne.
1. The glory, majesty, and perfections of God's Being are here set forth as being like a jasper stone.
Notice, John does not give us an image of God. He does not use any human feature to describe him. He simply tells us that he is glorious to look upon.
—According to Matthew Henry, "The jasper is a transparent stone, which yet offers to the eye a variety of the most vivid colors, signifying the glorious perfections of God." It is crystal clear (Rev. 21:11), representing the perfect holiness of God.2. The sardine, or sardius, stone is blood red, representing the justice of God.
God will never give up his holiness, justice, and truth. He is gloriously just in his government of the world, both in his saving grace in Christ and in his fearful judgments. God is just, both in pardoning sin and in punishing sin, in salvation and in damnation.
3. No sooner did John see the representation of God's holiness and justice than he saw the symbol of God's merciful covenant. "And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."
What glorious comfort! Round about the throne of this august God there is a rainbow, emerald green in its appearance. What does this mean? It means that the storm is over for God's children!
Though this holy and just God must punish sin, we need not be terrified by him. The Son of God stood in the place of poor sinners and dying as our Substitute, he satisfied the justice of God for us. The rainbow is a symbol to us that God, for Christ's sake, will remember his covenant and be merciful to his people. He will never lift his omnipotent arm in anger against his covenant people, but only in mercy – (Gen. 9:13; Ps. 89:28-34; Isa. 54:7-10).
4. "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices." (v. 5).
Proceeding from this throne of the great God we have seen the lightning bolts of Divine wrath, the thunderous terror of his holy law, and the sweet tender voice of love, mercy, and grace in the gospel.
5. The seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God," symbolize the eternal, wise, all-seeing Spirit of God.
He is ever full of fire burning to consume his enemies and to refine his people.
6. And John saw before the throne "a sea of glass like unto crystal" (v. 6).
In the tabernacle and temple of the Old Testament there was a brazen-sea filled with water in which the priests were required to wash, when they came to minister before the Lord (Ex. 30:18; 38:8; I Kings 7:23). Symbolically, this "sea of glass" represents the blood of Christ, which is a fountain opened, in which we must be washed before we can approach the throne of God.
"Behold, A Throne!" Do you see this? Our God sits upon his throne. Our God rules the universe, according to his own will. Our God rules all things according to his purpose of grace in the everlasting covenant, symbolized by the rainbow, which encircles his throne. "Behold, A Throne" – All is well!
III. Secondly, I want to tell you about The People Around The Throne – (vv. 4, 6, 7, 8).
Around the throne of God, John saw twenty-four seats, smaller, subordinate thrones, and each of these seats were filled with twenty-four elders sitting before God. They were all clothed with white garments, and they all wore crowns of pure gold on their heads. And round about the throne, between the throne of God and the twenty-four elders, John saw four living creatures who are these people?
A. The Twenty-Four Elders Represent The Whole Church Of God.
As the twelve patriarchs represent the whole church of the Old Testament and the twelve apostles represent the whole church of the New Testament, these twenty-four elders represent all of God's elect, the church of God, the Israel of God. (Rev. 21:12-14).
1. Every seat around the throne is filled.Not one of God's elect will be missing in that great day, when Christ presents his ransomed ones in glory.
2. All of these redeemed ones, seated around the throne, are wearing the garments of salvation. They are all clothed in the white raiment of Christ's perfect righteousness.
3. And every one of these twenty-four elders are wearing crowns of victory.
The white garment represents our priesthood in Christ. The crowns signify that we are made kings by Christ. John Gill says, of these twenty-four elders, "They now reign as kings over sin, satan, and the world, and have a kingdom of grace which shall never be removed; and they shall reign with Christ… to all eternity in heaven." (Rev. 3:21).
4. These redeemed ones from every corner of the earth do but enhance the glory of God their Savior – His throne represents his sovereignty. These twenty-four elders constantly render homage to him.
Will you be in the number of these who encircle the throne? If you do bow before his throne now, by faith washing your soul in the blood of Christ, you will be among those who bow before his throne in eternity.
B. The Four Beasts, or Four Living Creatures, Represent These Men Who Preach The Gospel In The Successive Ages Of The Church – (vv. 6-8).
NOTE: I know that most commentators say these four living creatures are angelic beings, cherubim; but I do not think we can agree with that notion. These four living creatures are said to be redeemed by the blood of Christ (Rev. 5:8-11). And we know that the heavenly angels were not redeemed from sin, for they never sinned. These four living creatures represent all faithful gospel preachers.
1. There are four of them. (v. 6).God's servants are sent into the four corners of the earth to preach the gospel, for the gathering of God's elect from every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue.
2. They are living creatures.They have been made alive by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. And they go about their work of preaching the gospel with liveliness and fervency.
3. They stand between God and his people, not as priests, but as ambassadors.
They receive their message from god and give it to the people, leading them in the worship of God.
4. These living creatures are full of eyes before and behind.
They are gifted with spiritual insight into the mysteries of the gospel, evangelical knowledge, and wisdom, with which to minister to men. They have eyes before them, to look into the Word of God and discern its meaning. And they have eyes behind them, to observe how that all the sacrifices, types, predictions, and promises of the Old Testament have their accomplishment in Christ.
5. The first beast had the features of a lion – (v. 7).
Those who preach the gospel of Christ must have the courage and boldness of lion, not fearing the faces of men. God's servants are not timid wimps. They are bold men.
6. The second living creature was like a calf.As the ox is an animal of labor, faithful gospel preachers labor diligently in the work of the ministry. They labor in the Word and in the doctrine, like an ox, treading out the corn of gospel truth for the people of God.
7. The third beast which John saw had the face of a man.
God's servants are men, like those to whom they preach. They are tender-hearted, sympathetic with their fellow creatures, and like the Lord himself, touched with the feeling of their infirmities.
8. And the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
As the eagle is both wise and swift, that man who is called of God to the work of preaching the gospel is given wisdom in the Word and wisdom with men, and he is given a heart of readiness to do the will of God in publishing the everlasting gospel.
9. Like the seraphim Isaiah saw (Isa. 6:2), each of these gospel messengers had six things – (v. 8).
10. And these four heralds of the gospel are constantly engaged in their glorious work. (v. 8).
a. "They were full of eyes within"– They are ever looking within themselves, acknowledging their own corruption and sin by nature. And they have within themselves the testimony of the truth of God. They preach to men only what they have proved to be true by experience.
b. "They rest not day and night" – Faithful gospel preachers give themselves up entirely to the work of the ministry. They have no other employment, occupation, or interest, but study, prayer, and meditation.
c. God's servants are wholly and whole-heartedly given to the work of preaching the gospel, crying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is to come."
It is ever the desire and the business of gospel preachers to point men to the Triune God, Father, Son, and Spirit, declaring God's holiness, sovereign power, and immutability. The gospel we preach is according to holiness. It is made effectual only by the almighty power of God's sovereign grace. And its promises are sure, being locked up by God's immutable faithfulness.
III. Thirdly, I want to Lead You In The Worship And Praise Of Him To Whom All Worship And Praise Is Due. (vv. 9-11).
This is the work of these living creatures. They lead God's elect in the worship and praise of God. When these beasts (those messengers of God) give glory and honor, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, (then and only then) the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever." May the Spirit of God now give me grace and power to lead you to worship him who sits upon the throne.
A. It Is My Responsibility, As A Gospel Preacher, To Ascribe All Glory, Honor, and Praise To The Triune God (v. 9).
The first message of evangelism is "Behold your God." The second part of our message is "All flesh is grass." (Isa. 40:1-11). We must constantly declare that man is nothing and Christ is everything.
1. I point you to the throne of the Triune God, and ascribe all glory to the Father, our covenant keeping God, the Son, our Divine Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our blessed Comforter.
2. I ascribe all honor to the blessed God, and call upon you to do so.
With our lips and with out hearts, we ascribe honor to God alone. Are we sons of God? The Father chose us and adopted us. Are we pardoned, forgiven, and justified? The Son redeemed us with his own precious blood. Are we regenerated and sanctified? The Spirit of God gave us life and imparted the Divine nature to us.
3. And from my inmost soul I give all praise and thanksgiving to God alone.
Let every creature of God give thanks. But above all, let every redeemed sinner give thanks to God. Every blessing of providence and every blessing of grace comes to us from the hand of God, who lives forever and ever. "We are bound to give thanks to God!"
B. Will You Now Worship This Great God? Let me show you how he is to be worshipped. ( vv. 10-11).
1. Fall down before the throne of the sovereign God.Humble yourself in the dust before him. Let your heart be prostrate before him. Get down as low as you can at the foot of his august, majestic throne.
2. When you fall down, worship him.Another word for worship is trust. These people worship God best who trust him most. The essence of worship is faith.
3. When you fall down before his throne and worship him, cast the crown off your head down at the foot of his throne.
It is not possible for a bowed head to wear a crown. All of God's people cast their crowns at the foot of his throne. In doing so we say –
a. We are what we are by the grace of God – Any crown we have received we have received as the gift of pure grace.
b. We are not worthy of the least honor before our God. In all that we do, we are at best unprofitable servants.
c. We cast our crowns at thy feet, O Blessed Christ, acknowledging our subjection to you as our only rightful Lord and King.
4. Once you have cast every crown down before his throne, you will delight to give the triune God the glory and honor due unto his name. (v. 11).
All of God's elect delight to give him all glory and delight in the knowledge of his sovereign dominion over all things. This is what they say: "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."
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;" but we are not worthy or able to give praise to you such as you so infinitely deserve. This praise to the Triune God, who sits upon the throne, is well-deserved praise.
He is the first Cause of all things. And none but the Creator should be adorned by the creature.
b. He is the Preserver of All Things.All creatures are constantly dependent upon and sustained by the Creator. And his preservation is a continual creation.
c. And our God is the Final End of All Things.God made all things according to the pleasure of his own will and he made all things for the pleasure of his own glorious Being – (Pro. 16:4; Rom. 11:36).
d. This God, who is our Creator and Sustainer, to whom all worship is due, is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ our Redeemer. (Col. 1:16-17).
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