 This evening we'll return to Revelation chapter 4, not Revelation chapter 5, but Revelation chapter 4, and we'll be looking at verses 2 through 11. Revelation chapter 4 verses 2 through 11. If you would please turn there in your Bibles and I will read the Word of God. Revelation chapter 4 beginning at verse 2. Immediately I was in the Spirit and behold the throne was standing in heaven and one sitting on the throne and he who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were 24 thrones and upon the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting clothed in white garments and golden crowns on their heads. Out from the throne came flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass like crystal and in the censor and around the throne four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind the first creature was like a lion and the second creature like a calf and the third creature had the face like that of a man and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle 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 holy holy holy is the lord god almighty who was and who is and who is to come 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 the 24 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 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 amen let's pray heavenly father we thank you once again lord for bringing us to this text the book of revelation is not an easy book to interpret it is not an easy book to preach lord so i pray now that you would you would help me that you would help me to explain the text that you would help your people understand that you would be here by your spirit lord to apply these things to us may you be honored and the preaching of your work and christ and i pray amen have you ever had your children ask you a question that was a way above their head or any child maybe if you don't have children a question like how do cell phones work would you say well in telecommunication long-term evolution is a standard for high-speed wireless communication for mobile devices i'm pretty sure that's not how you would start explaining how cell phone works you probably say something like this this is what i would say my phone sends a signal to an antenna and from that antenna to the other phone pretty simple but to the point yet my my children and i'm guessing other children young children i have young children in mind wouldn't understand the complexities of how a cell phone actually works or how how a radio actually works or a television works so so what do you do you simplify it you take the question and you answer it in terms that they would understand that's exactly what john has done that is exactly what john has done in revelation chapter four he has taken the vision that he sees in heaven and he explains to us what he saw and what he heard and i just want to take it in three steps so first you have the throne so we'll look at the throne the one seated on the throne and the things emanating from the throne and under the throne then we'll look at the heavenly beings and then we'll look at the worship the throne the heavenly beings and the worship but first in chapter two and in verse two john says immediately i was in the spirit remember last week we just looked or the week before last we looked at verse one and john says after these things i looked after the things in chapters one through three he looks and he sees this door standing open in heaven so heaven is open to him and the lord jesus christ calls him up and he is going to show him what is going to take place after these things or what will happen in the last days as we examined that phrase at the end of the verse and immediately after he's called he is john says he is in the spirit john has taken up whether in the body or apart from the body we are not told so is he physically transported into heaven or is his spirit some way taken to heaven we don't know but what we do know is that john is not only peering through this door but but he is ushered in to heaven what is clear and consonant with the rest of scripture is that the spirit the holy spirit is the agent of revelation so in first peter chapter one verse 11 he is the spirit of christ who indicates through the prophets in second peter chapter one verse 21 we are told that he is the one who carried along those men who wrote scripture and even today the spirit is at work not giving fresh revelations or prophecies or dreams and visions but the spirit is at work to help us understand the will of god revealed in scripture but paul tells us in first carinthians 217 that we have received the spirit who is from god so that we may know the things freely given to us by god so this revelation john receives while in the spirit whether physically transported to heaven or spiritually it is not clear but the exalted christ calls him and he is taken by the spirit into heaven to see this magnificent vision and in verse three then he sees one sitting on the throne and this one who was sitting on the throne was like a jasper stone and sardius in appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald in appearance and this verse and the end of chapter two really draws us back to daniel turn to the book of daniel daniel chapter seven and in daniel chapter seven where in revelation chapter two you have a throne sitting in heaven in daniel chapter seven verse nine daniel is looking and he keeps looking until thrones are set up and the ancient of days takes his seat this is this is the vision in daniel chapter seven structures revelation chapter four and here we see this one sitting upon the throne and daniel's john excuse me john's description of this one note as i said last week the use of similes was like he is like and he is there sitting upon his throne now this is the place from where god rules over all of history look at psalm 47 this rule is not contained in heaven it's not that god only rules in heaven or that god only rules over his people no in psalm 47 verse eight it says god reigns over the nations god sits on his holy throne god rules the nations but look at psalm 99 psalm 99 expands this idea psalm 99 and in psalm 99 beginning at verse one the lord reigns let the people's tremble he is enthroned above the cherubim let the earth shake the lord is great in Zion he is exalted above all the people's let them praise your great and awesome name holy is he the strength of the king loves justice you have established equity you have executed justice and righteousness in jacob exalt the lord our god and worship at his foot soul he is holy the lord reigns from heaven and his reign is universal there is no one to stay his hand as daniel tells us in daniel chapter 4 verse 35 or nebuchadnezzar the really this is coming from the mouth of nebuchadnezzar all the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing but he does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and no one can ward off his hand or say to him what have you done now if you put the revelation chapter 4 if we turn back there in revelation chapter 4 he is writing to the churches in asia minor and those chapters where he addresses the these churches they are they are going through various trials and tribulation some are currently in the midst of bell battling heresy and sin in the church others are going to enter a period of time of tribulation and john is given this vision he is called into heaven he is taken up into heaven by the spirit and he sees the father sitting upon his throne ruling and reigning over history every event that is occurring that has occurred that will occur to those saints in asia minor has been orchestrated by the god who sits enthroned in heaven and believers today can know with confidence that everything and anything that happens to them must pass through the eyes of him who sits on that throne he sees your circumstances from that throne perfectly in chapter 4 verse 3 revelation chapter 4 verse 3 we begin to get a description of this one and it says that he was like jasper it was like jasper if you look at revelation chapter 21 revelation chapter 21 explains further in revelation chapter 21 it says that this jasper was crystal clear and pure revelation chapter 21 and look at verse 18 the material of the wall was jasper and the city was pure gold like clear glass look down at verse 21 and the 12 gates where the 12 pearls each one of the gates was a single pearl and the streets of the city was pure gold like transparent glass this jasper stone is a crystal it's clear and what most commentators say is a simile that describes the purity and the perfection of god the next stone it says that he was like a sardis this is a reddish stone red for the red hot holiness and justice of god and then there is a rainbow emanating and it's not a regular rainbow it's an emerald rainbow many commentators say that this is a throwback to the rainbow that god makes the sign of the no way covenant covenant and so this throne is a throne where sovereignty reigns holiness purity yet all of these things are administered with mercy and justice and god is sovereign pure holy just and merciful the book of revelation makes it very clear that the judgment is coming but it will be a just judgment the people of god will be able to sing as the psalmist does in Psalm 82 8 arise oh god judge the earth for it is you who possess all the nations the people of god will be able to say this with great joy if you go back to revelation chapter 4 and verse 5 they have further descriptions of the throne it says that lightning and sounds and peels of thunder emanate from the throne as when god appeared on Sinai in exodus 1916 and when he appeared to Ezekiel in Ezekiel chapter 1 verse 13 lightning and thunder are displayed and what the lightning and thunder communicate is the power and the might of god when this occurs in the presence of men they shake and they tremble they fear the one who is clothed in majesty and in such power and the throne is set upon a sea of glass in revelation in uh exodus chapter 24 verse 10 moses aran nehab and abayu and the 72 elders they go up to the mountain to eat and to drink in the presence of god and when they see the god of israel his feet appear upon a pavement of sapphire as clear as the sky itself in Ezekiel chapter 1 verse 22 Ezekiel sees an expanse like an awesome gleam of crystal and on that expanse he sees the throne of god verse 26 of Ezekiel chapter 1 the martyrs in revelation chapter 15 verse 2 they're going to be standing on this sea the sea is translucent glass as it were it it indicates the absolute peace stillness and calm there is before the god of the universe psalm chapter 2 depicts the the rebellion of man and what does god do in heaven he laughs the throne in heaven never shakes the god does not fear man he does not worry he doesn't bite his nails the lord god reigns so that is the throne that is the throne and the one seated on the throne now you have these angelic beings the angelic beings and around the throne there are these 24 elders i'll tell you the the elders are angelic some form of angelic being or heavenly hosts why do i say this well first the thrones that they're sitting upon represent their authority they have some authority and this authority is granted or given to them by god throughout the bible that's what thrones stand for in place of authority and if you look at how they're clothed they're clothed in white to depict their purity and they also have crowns on their head this is royal dignity has been bestowed upon them now uh look at what they say in revelation chapter five listen to what they say if you look at revelation chapter five verse nine and they this is the four living creatures and the 24 elders before the lamb they sang a new song saying worthy are you to take the book and to break its seal for you were slain and purchased for god with his purchase for god with your blood men from every tribe tongue and people and nation you have made them to be a kingdom and priest to our god and they will reign upon the earth now i know your new king james bible says us but look at a parallel passage in revelation chapter 14 in revelation chapter 14 the 144 000 who represent the complete and perfect number of god's people old and new testament saint together the revelation chapter 14 beginning at verse one then i looked and behold the lamb was standing on mount xion and with him 144 000 having his name and the name of his father written on their foreheads they're sealed by god and i heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters like the sound of loud thunder and the voice which i heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps and they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders and so they're singing before these angelic beings no one could learn the song except the 144 000 who had been purchased from the earth the elders and we'll get into revelation chapter 14 and convince you that the 144 000 are the same as a great multitude so you have to take that as a given but it's uh at this point but you see how it's those who have been redeemed from the earth who can sing the new song the elders are not redeemed from the earth so they cannot sing the new song so the the textual issue is solved by the context of the book of revelation itself so these are some form of angelic being they were not redeemed but stand in heaven authoritative holy royal servants of god and of the lamb and they are witnesses to the divine transactions that are going to occur in heaven they are going to see the lamb enter into this throne room and they are going to worship them yet one day we we believers we will sit on thrones that's what john tells us in the book of revelation we will be dressed in white we too will receive crowns because of him who loved us we will gather together and worship the lord in the very presence of this of these mighty these holy divine beings so the 24 elders then after the 24 elders if you look at verse five if you look at verse five you have the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of god what are these seven spirits these that are here uh there's this fire the fiery burning well if you look at Zechariah chapter four good Zechariah in your old testament if you go to Matthew and keep going back Malachi then Zechariah Zechariah chapter four and Zechariah chapter four beginning at verse one then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me as a man who is awakened from his sleep he said to me what do you see and I said I see and behold the lamp stand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it and its seven lamps on it with seven sprouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on top of it also two olive trees by it one on the right side of the bowl and the other on the left so he sees this olive tree now look at verse six well let's continue reading then I said to the angel who is speaking with me saying what are these my lord so the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me do you not know what these are and I said no my lord then he said to me this is the word of the lord to the rubel bell saying no no listen to the answer because the question is what are these lamp stands do you not know what these are verse six then he said to me this is the word of the lord to the rubel bell saying not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the lord of hosts these candles are going to be burning bright as the candles did in the temple and what they do is they represent the power and the might of god these are the by or through the spirit of god so here the sun calls john up into heaven and the spirit takes him into heaven and then the spirit now is before the throne in the fullness of his power before god before god so the throne the 24 elders the spirit represented by these torches and then in verse six and in the center and around the throne four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind the first creature was like a lion and the second creature like a calf an ox the third creature had the face like a man and the fourth creature like a flying eagle and the four 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 holy holy holy is the lord god the almighty who was who is and who is to come in the center and around the throne possibly this indicates that you have the elders and in between the elders are these four living creatures and possibly indicates that they were between the throne and between the elders ezekiel 114 says that these creatures are sent forth to do god's will therefore the multitude of eyes that cover them cover possibly their wings indicate the omniscience of god god sends these four servants and possibly referring to the four corners of the earth to to see everything that is happening over the four corners of the earth these four living creatures they watch and they see everything that is happening later in revelation these creatures summon the four riders who bring judgment upon the earth they also give the seven bowls of god's wrath that will be poured out on the earth as the cherubim guarded the way into the garden and were placed on the ark of the covenant and in the holy of holies these angelic beings execute divine judgment and exalt in worship that's what these beings do the picture that is being developed particularly now in these closing verses as you see heaven erupt in praise if you turn back to revelation chapter four is that praise worship thanksgiving it flows from the center of heaven so the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne verse nine who lives forever and ever and the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and they worship him who lives forever and ever and they cast their crowns before the throne saying 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 exist amen if we just review the chapter the various similes that are used and the descriptions of god himself and the things that are happening around the throne of god and the elders and the description of the elders and the four beings and the descriptions of the beings and and everything that is in the temple the descriptions are drawn from the created world itself the things that are created because this world is intended in a very real sense to display the glory of the creator the creation itself declares the glory of god his handiwork is all throughout creation so as john is taken up into heaven by the spirit and he's given this this view of the temple creation itself is used to describe this one and since he is the source of creation these angelic beings can do nothing but worship him he is the lord of creation he is sovereign holy just and pure and what we'll see next week in revelation chapter five is the one who redeems and the worship he receives let's pray heavenly father we thank you for this grand magnificent picture of heaven we ask lord that you would help us to marvel and to awe at your beauty lord god you created all things and because of your will they exist and were created you are worthy of all of our praise to receive all of our glory all of our honor and all of our strength amen