This morning we are coming to Revelation 4.  Would you stand with me as we come together before God and His word.  Would you follow along as I read for us.  Except - when we come to the text in red - which are expressions of worship that need more than one voice - and so you can join me and we’ll read those expressions of worship out loud together.

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!  And the first voice, which I had 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 behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.  And He who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

From the throne came flashes of lightening, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.  And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,  “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever.  They cast their crowns before the throne saying,  “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

John begins After this - “this” is everything we looked at in chapters 1 to 3.  What is past history and present - today - realty.

Chapter 4 begins the next section of revelation - which deals with future history - which is off the scale devastation and judgment and heaven and what has yet to happen.

John writes:  After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven - the door leading into the throne room of God - And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet,

The voice is Who? 

Notice that its the first voice - which John had heard - past tense - speaking to him.

Which takes us back to Revelation 1:10 - where John writes, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet.”  John - in chapter 1 says that he turned to look behind him to see Who that voice belonged to - and it was Jesus speaking.

The first voice is Jesus.

Which brings us back to the reality that as much as we might be tempted to think that this revelation is about symbols and creatures and angels and thrones and on and on and even someplace in all that… about us.  This revelation is about… Jesus Christ.  Jesus Who is central to everything God is doing in history.

Jesus - who in chapter 1 - is revealed to us as the ever living Lord God Almighty Who has accomplished our salvation by His own death and resurrection.  Jesus Who is victorious over death and the worst of what this life can throw up at us - the Lord God I Am - Who is sovereign and ever present with His people in the midst of whatever. 

In 4:1 - Jesus says, “I will show you what must take place after this.”  

We left off last Sunday with Jesus standing in the midst of 7 churches sending 7 letters of instruction to those 7 specific churches that were located in what is now western Turkey.  Messages that contain a description of the spiritual condition of that church - good news - bad news - and a choice of how to respond to Jesus.

Because as much as we might be tempted to think that these seven letters to seven churches is about the seven churches these seven letters to the seven churches are about… Jesus Christ.

So these 7 letters to 7 churches are about what they needed to do - what we need to do - to press into Jesus - to go deeper and more dependent on Him.  And what will move us to greater faith and deeper dependence on God.

Here in chapter 4 - Jesus is focusing forward - seemingly beyond our present tense and into future history.  Pressing into Jesus - going deeper with God - in the drama and destruction and judgment that what will come.

There are some who have suggested that these 7 churches represent - not only these 7 specific churches - and not only a description of the good and not so good of the church at all times in history - but also that these 7 churches represent 7 successive periods of church history.

In other words, the 7 churches can also be understood as a sequential timeline - as a description of Church history - past, present, and maybe future.

Please hear me.  I’m not saying this is what is.  I’m not claiming to prophesy here.  You can put your stones down.  We’re dealing with stuff that God only knows what is and what will be.  But, it is worth considering given Jesus’ shift from what was to what will be.

This was on the chart we handed out last week and is on this week’s Life Group Study Guide.  And, if you look at the screen - the basic flow of that interpretation is this:

Ephesus is seen as a description of the Apostolic and post-Apostolic age - 33 to around 170 A.D.  Smyrna is seen as a description of the church persecuted by the Roman Empire - about 170 A.D. to 311 when Constantine adopts Christianity as the religion of the Empire.  Pergamum - from about 312 to 606 - describes when the church basked in its glory - and corruption - as the dominant religion of the Empire.

Thyatira covers Mediaeval history from 606 to 1520 which includes the Roman Church - the Papacy - and a whole lot of really destructive doctrines.  Sardis - from 1520 to 1750 - describes the dead church and the Reformation.  Philadelphia from 1750 to 1900 - brotherly love - and the great awakenings.

Which makes Laodicea - the lukewarm church - where in the church you can’t tell the pagans from the Christians - the last of the 7 churches - begins in about 1900.    

The way to check to see if that interpretation makes sense is to go back and compare history - to compare what actually happened in Church history with those different descriptions of each church - given by Jesus - in chapters 2 and 3.

The bottom line - without drowning in a lot of detail - the bottom line is that, if we do that comparison, there are enough significant similarities to make all that worth thinking about. 

“After this” meaning what comes next in history - what comes after the time of the 7th church.  What may in fact be history that we are passing through and may be passing beyond.

Bottom line:  Regardless of how one interprets what John writes about these churches - what is consistent with what is revealed to John - is that as we move forward into future history into whatever’s coming “after this” - devastation  - judgment - God’s wrath - eternal death and eternity with God forever - there is an immediate - crucial and significant - urgency to our growing dependent - pressing into - faith in Jesus - Jesus Who is Lord over all that as well.  Jesus - God - Who is the risen Lord of the Church - then, now, and forever. 

Let’s go on.  Verse 2 - the Apostle John writing of himself:  At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne.  And He who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

Before we get to the horrendousness of what’s coming - Jesus invites John into the very throne room of God - in order to reveal to John - and us - more fully Who Jesus is and how He is central to all of what God is doing in history.  Images and truth that we need to keep focusing on and clinging to as we go through our own drama and experience what comes “after this.”

John in trying to describe for us what is indescribable uses symbols that don’t even come close.  But, probably jasper and carnelian represent the supernatural splendor of God.  The rainbow resembling emerald - God’s encircling brilliance.  Ultimately John is trying to give us a glimpse of God’s indescribable transcendent glory.

Verse 4:  Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

There are at least 13 different views as to who these elders are.  You can relax.  We’re not going through all those.  We’d be here into eternity.  Or it would seem like.

Most probably 12 elders represent the 12 tribes of Israel - think Old Testament - and 12 elders represent the Church - possibly the Apostles - think New Testament.  Thrones has the idea of governance - authority.  White garments are garments associated with God’s people.  Golden crowns are related to royal dignity - a reward given to God’s people.

Bottom line - we’re probably looking at representatives of God’s people who are given positions of authority before the throne of God.

Verse 5:  From the throne came flashes of lightening, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like a crystal.

Sounds like a song we sing.  Thunder and lightening - symbolic of God’s awesome presence - the splendor of God’s glory.

Isaiah was given the same experience.  Remember that?  Isaiah 6.

Isaiah is given a vision of the Throne Room of God.  Isaiah said that God’s glory - the overwhelming presence of the holy God filled the throne room.  The very foundations of the throne room shook - simply with the voice of God.  Isaiah - experiencing the holiness of God - realizing his own sinfulness - Isaiah feared to be in the presence of the holy God.

God’s people before Mount Sinai - Exodus 19.  God’s presence covered the mountain with thunder and lightening - a thick cloud.  God’s voice was as a loud trumpet blast.  A fraction of the glory of God on display.  And God’s people trembled before God.

Its one thing to sing The Revelation Song here in this sanctuary - which we will do shortly.  But, imagine John experiencing it for himself.  Being before the throne.  Terrifying?  Awesome?  One day we’ll be there.

The seven torches of fire?  Our best understanding of these is that they represent God’s presence in the world - the work of the Holy Spirit through the Church through the 7 periods we talked about.

The sea of glass like crystal probably has to do with God’s omniscience.  His complete - unlimited - knowledge of everything.  Nothing is hidden from God.  Everything that’s ever been done or will be done is known to God with crystal clarity.  And all creation - all of us - are accountable to Him. 

Notice - it all centers on the throne.  More importantly - the One seated on the throne.  This is all about God.  His awesomeness.  His majesty.  His power.  His authority.  Nothing happens.  Nothing exists - past, present, future - apart from God’s complete knowledge - God’s sovereign intention.

Going on in verse 6:  And around the throne on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:  the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.  And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”     

These four living creatures are probably angels - the Seraphim of Isaiah 6 and the Cherubim described by Ezekiel.  (Ezekiel 1)  Heavenly creatures of the highest order that are involved in worship.

Unpacking some of the symbolism.  “Full of eyes” probably has to do with having great knowledge.  “Like a lion” is about royal power.  “Like an ox” is about strength.  “With the face of a man” is about spirituality.  “Like an eagle in flight” is about swiftness of action.

Point being that each quality reflects the character of God and each creature represents the top of the food chain of each species.  Pulling all that together - together they reflect the fullness of God’s nature and life and power.   

Grab this:  The creatures reflect the awesomeness and character of their creator.

And those heavenly creatures do what?  Ceaselessly - day and night - ceaselessly they praise God.

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”     

Scripture repeats itself when it wants to make a point.  “Holy, Holy.”  Three “holies” is over the top.  Holiness on steroids.  Focusing on the infinite holiness of God.  Holiness revealed in His past, present, and future activity.  His power.  His authority.  On display.  Everything God does is holy.

Put another way:  Everything that we are - as those created in God’s image - everything that we are is to be given back to God in praise of Who He is.  He alone is holy.  He alone is the Lord God - almighty.  He alone is worthy of all praise - for all that He is - all that He has and will do.

Let’s go on to verse 9:  And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who is seated on the throne and worship Him Who lives forever and ever.  They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

The living creatures - the angels - on the four sides of the throne - like the four points of the compass - the throne in the middle - as they declare in praise the truth of God’s holiness - the 24 elders - representative of God’s people fall down.

Not just bow or bend over or slowly get down on their knees.  They fall prostrate before God Who’s seated on His throne - and worship.  They cast their crowns - whatever authority they may have - whatever God has given to them - their crowns are cast quickly - decisively - without any indecision - cast before the throne of God - before God in worship - in utter devotion to Him. 

God alone is worthy of all glory - of all honor - of all power because He alone - no angel - no man - no emperor - no created thing or being - The Lord God Almighty in all of His holiness - He alone is the source and sustenance of every created thing.  He alone is worthy of worship.

Can we say a collective Amen?  Amen!!!

Next Sunday we’re going to go on into chapter 5.  But, this morning in order to get to where we need to get to in understanding chapter 4 - we need to jump ahead a bit.  If you would, flip or swipe forward with me to Revelation 5 - down at verse 6.  Revelation 5:6 - John goes on with his description of God’s throne room.

Verse 6:  And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing - Who’s the Lamb?  Jesus.

- standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

All those sevens are symbolic of Jesus’ power and knowledge and Who Jesus is as the Lord of the Church.

Jesus leads John into the throne room and then where’s Jesus?  Right there in the center of worship.  Being worshipped at the throne.

Reading through Revelation chapters 4 and 5 - there are 5 hymns of praise.  Chapter 4 - has two of them that we looked at:  “Holy, Holy, Holy.”  “Worthy are you.”  In chapter 4 those hymns focus on God seated on the throne.  In chapter 5 - the next hymns - what we’ll look at next Sunday - those hymns focus on Jesus.

Those hymns grow in crescendo - intensity - volume - focusing our attention of the great significance of the fifth hymn.  The first is sung by four living creatures.  The fifth hymn of worship is sung by all creation.

That final hymn of worship - number 5 - focuses on God and Jesus - so intertwined - that the reality is very clear.  Jesus is at the center - the focal point of worship.  Jesus is God.  Jesus is worthy of praise.  All of creation is to bow before Him - Jesus.  Who alone is holy.  Who alone is worthy of all glory and honor and power.  Who alone is the source and sustainer of every created thing.

Grab all the imagery.  All the symbolism.  The immense indescribable reality of what John is attempting to describe - and put Jesus at the center of it all.

That’s a lot to take in.  Isn’t it?

The Apostle Paul - in contemplating and writing of Jesus - Paul breaks out in worship of Jesus - in his first letter to Timothy:  “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever…  He Who is blessed and the only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords who alone has immortality, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no one has ever seen or can see.  To Him be honor and eternal dominion.  Amen.”  (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:15b,16)

In trying to process all that and put all that into something that we can take home and apply as we go into this week - there is one bottom line truth that we need to hang on to.

Here it is:  Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the Authority - to Whom belongs all the authority - over our lives.

Can we say that together?  “Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the Authority, to Whom belongs all the authority over our lives.”

Jesus - God in the flesh - exerts God’s authority - the sovereign rule of God - in this world. 

A few examples from Jesus’ incarnate ministry.  Bringing the Divine Throne - Jesus’ authority - down to the level where we live life.

When Jesus taught - He taught as one having authority.  Not like a scribe or prophet who was speaking for God.  Jesus spoke with the authority of God about the realities of our lives and our relationship with God.  (Mark 1:22)

Jesus commanded the unclean spirits - demons - the minions of Satan - commanded them with Divine power and authority.  Trusting Him we need fear none of that.  (Luke 4:36).

Jesus has the authority to forgive sins - our sins.  That’s a God only thing.  (Luke 5:18-26)

Jesus has authority over nature (Matthew 8:23-27).  That whole calming the storm thing.  Jesus has authority over sickness (Luke 6:19) and even death.  He brings people back to life.  (Luke 8:53-55).

Jesus has Divine authority over all flesh - even to give us eternal life (John 17:2).

Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth - over everything.  (Matthew 11:27; 28:18).  Jesus has authority to judge - to be the judge - our judge.  (5:22).

We can on with these examples.  Bringing Jesus’ authority down to the level where we live life.

Jesus is the authority because Jesus is God.  He’s not just the central thing in Christianity - but central to everything God has done - is doing - will do - even in our lives.

Which leaves us with some very uncomfortable realities.  Because we can understand - to a point - theologically, doctrinally, Christologically - Who Jesus is.  We can sing in worship of Him - songs that we’re going to sing for eternity - with myriads of others in Heaven.  With those who’ve trusted Jesus as their Savior - with the angels - we’ll be there before His throne - certain future history.  And we can claim that truth and rejoice in it.

And yet - here and now - in the real time of our lives - we struggle with the authority of Jesus over our lives.  Are we together in that?

In a very practical sense - processing Jesus’ authority over our lives - there are three imperatives.

First - We Need To See Jesus At The Center. 

Let’s say that together.  “We need to see Jesus at the center.” 

Which is what we’ve been exposed to here in Revelation 4.  Our invitation to go through the open door into God’s throne room and to behold the Lamb in all of His divine majesty and authority.  Jesus.  Our sovereign God.

Second Imperative:  We Need To Keep Jesus At The Center. 

Let’s say that together.  “We need to keep Jesus at the center.”

Listening to Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity or whoever’s commenting about whatever.   Or when I’m listening to the news or scanning news sites - impeachment - immigration - trade wars - the economy - the election - violence.  I start tensing up - getting caught up in the urgency and nut-so-ness of what’s happening.  Anyone feeling that with me?

All that begins to effect my attitude - my perspective - even my responses to people around me.  Even God.  Sometimes it’s not pretty.

Things we let into our lives effect us.  Right?

Every place we go there’s music playing or a screen showing something or there’s really annoying multiple adds popping up.  Seemingly mostly about sex or some messed up version of sexuality or some opportunity that’s self-serving - or some self-focused reminder that life is about me, what you owe me, and how you all are messing up my life.

We get this.  There is an anti-god message coming out of hell that’s relentlessly being pounded into our heads - world wide - that’s having a disastrous effect on families - marriages - children - education - nations - the very core of humanity.

Paul defines our struggle in Ephesians 6.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”  (Ephesians 6:12)

Familiar.  Yes?  A good reminder.

Behind that ongoing bombardment of media and culture is a well orchestrated onslaught of our Adversary.  Our Adversary who is relentlessly using the corrosive systems of this world as a tool to get Jesus off the center of our lives. 

All that influence is authority that is competing with God’s authority over our lives.  Competing for who or what will command the greatest influence over our lives. 

Reading ahead in John, it’s only going to get worse.

It’s been said:  “If you want to get rid of the flies you have to throw out the garbage.”

In the real time of a world system that is designed to keep Jesus off center we need to make strategic choices that will keep Jesus in the center.  Intentionally and uncompromisingly and strategically fighting to keep Jesus at the center of our lives.

Crucial choices about what we’re exposing ourselves to.  What we allow to saturate our minds and thinking.  What we allow ourselves to get caught up in.  What we participate in.

We need to saturate ourselves with the things of God.  Change the station. 

To saturate ourselves with the truth of God’s word - written - sung - spoken - visualized.

We need to be with Godly people.

Someone said, “If you want to be godly be with the godly.”

That doesn’t meant being paranoid about life and running from society to start a commune in Saskatchewan.  We live here and now.

But - in the midst of that - we need to be around people who will keep pointing us to Jesus.  Encouraging each other.  Watching each other’s backs.  Mentoring and being mentored.

Third Imperative:  We Need To Remember Jesus Is The Center. 

Let’s say that together.  “We need to remember Jesus is the center.”

Jesus - teaching about Himself and about the struggles we go through in life as we follow Him - Jesus told His disciples:  “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But, take heart; I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)

Whatever the drama of our lives - now and tomorrow - in Jesus - when we keep Jesus at the center of our lives - when we are in Jesus we have peace - a settledness within.

Because He is the authority over what comes “after this.”  We need to choose to remember that no matter what the drama and destruction in our lives.

Skye Jethani - when he was Senior Editor of Leadership Journal - Skye wrote:  “...it will require far more than human intelligence and devices to overcome these forces.  We cannot program or teach our way to victory over any of them, because these maladies were not caused by human ignorance or villainy alone.  President Kennedy famously said that “Our problems are man-made, therefore they can be solved by man.”  The apostle Paul disagrees.  He reminds us that we ‘do not wrestle against flesh and blood but… against spiritual forces.’  Therefore we require spiritual weapons.”  (1)  

Remembering Jesus is the center means remembering that fighting the battle of our lives goes way beyond relying on our whit - wisdom - working - and running to Wikipedia.  Google is not the omniscient God.  Our own hearts may deceive us.  We are way too easily influenced.  We’re probably way more influenced that we realize - even in the church.

We need to run to Jesus and to keep on running.  To fall on our knees before Him.  To cry out to Him and keep on crying out to Him to seize control - to make His will to be our will - to cause us to be faithfully obedient - to keep us from pride and self-focus - to be the center of our lives under Who’s authority we live and move through the drama of our lives.

_________________________

1. Skye Jethani, Winged Enemies, Leadership Journal, Spring 2012

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.