THE ALMIGHTY OF THE REVELATION: Revelation 4

INTRODUCTION. You and I have suffering to endure, enemies to see defeated, and nations to disciple. As it is for us, so it was for those who first received this book, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. What do we need in order to suffer faithfully, trust that the Lord will defeat our enemies, and persevere in doing our part to disciple the nations? We need the same thing that these first century Christians needed: a big view of our almighty God. Christians with a low view of God will endure little suffering for God, they will tremble in the presence of their enemies, and they will risk little things for the advancement of the gospel in discipling the nations. We need a big view of God, and that is exactly what Christ gives us in Revelation chapter 4.

DOCTRINE. Before the Lord Jesus Christ shows His slaves the suffering of the saints, the defeat of the harlot and the beast, and Christ conquering the nations, He gives them a vision of God high and lifted up, who will sustain them to the end.

As for the outline, we are going to consider the persons in the throne room, the glory of the One seated upon the throne, how we can have access to the one seated upon the throne, and how we should respond to Him that is seated upon the throne. 

First, consider

I. THE PERSONS IN THE THRONE ROOM. 

  God the Son is revealing the throne room. “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’” (Rev. 4:1). Jesus is the one speaking, whose voice is like a trumpet (c.f Rev. 1:10). This is now the transition into the third portion of the book of the Revelation, as indicated by Christ saying he is going to show John, “what must take place after this” (c.f. Rev. 1:19). Christ summoned John to enter into the throne-room of God, to see Him high and lifted up!

  God the Father is seated upon the throne. “At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne (Rev. 4:2). This is God the Father (c.f Rev. 5:6-7). 

  The twenty four elders are seated on twenty four lesser thrones. “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” (Rev. 4:4). These are representative of God’s saints in all times, with twelve Old Testament patriarchs and twelve New Testament apostles as their representatives (c.f. Rev. 21:14).

  God the Holy Spirit is before the throne. “From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God” (Rev. 4:5). This is the Holy Spirit (c.f. Rev. 1:4).

  The four living creatures are around the throne. “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” (Rev. 4:6b-8a). 

Second, consider

II. THE GLORY OF THE ONE SEATED UPON THE THRONE.

  I) The One seated upon the throne is majestic in beauty. “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” (Rev. 4:3).

  II) The One seated upon the throne is awful in splendor. “From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder. . . and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal” (Rev. 4:5a, 6a).

  III) The One seated upon the throne is holy, holy, holy. “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” (Rev. 4:8a). 

  IV) The One seated upon the throne is almighty. “. . .is the Lord God Almighty’ (Rev. 4:8b; c.f Is. 6:1-5; Ez. 1:26-28).

  V) The One seated upon the throne is eternal. “…who was and is and is to come!’ (Rev. 4:8c, 9; c.f Is. 6:1-5; Ez. 1:26-28). John further explains this when twice he says in verse 9, “who lives for ever and ever.”

  VI) The One seated upon the throne is worthy of worship. “…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” (Rev. 4:10-11).

  VII) The One seated on the throne is the Creator and Sustainer of everything and everyone. “…for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created’” (Rev. 4:11b).

Third, consider 

III. HOW WE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE ONE ON THE THRONE. 

  Through faith alone in Christ alone do we gain access to the glorious One seated upon the throne. “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” (Rev. 4:1). If Christ bids you come, you can come!

Fourth consider

IV. HOW WE SHOULD RESPOND TO HIM WHO IS SEATED ON THE THRONE. 

  I) Day and night we should never cease to ascribe to the Lord holiness, might, and eternality. “day and night they never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’ (Rev. 4:8; c.f Is. 6:1-5; Ez. 1:26-28). This is speaking up to others concerning the majesty of our God. Speak up to you families concerning the Lord’s holiness, might, and eternality! Speak up to the saints! Speak up in the marketplace! Speak up to your magistrates! Say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

  II) We should fall down before Him in subjection and cast our crowns before His throne. “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” (Rev. 4:10). Fall down before him and worship Him by bringing the entirety of your life under His merciful rule—by subjecting yourselves to His easy yoke and light burden. This is the antidote to the fear of man. You will have no time to bow down to men in fear if you are bowing to your enthroned King in worship. You and I should cast our crowns before His throne by using all of our gifts, talents, abilities, and resources—all of which are gifts of His mercy—we should use all He has bestowed upon us for His great name’s sake! What has God bestowed upon you? Use that for His glory!

  III) We should fall down before Him and cast our crowns before the throne and worship Him by ascribing to Him glory, honor, and power. “‘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’” (Rev. 4:10). 

  I would remind you of the doctrine we have learned. Before the Lord Jesus Christ shows His slaves the suffering of the saints, the defeat of the harlot and the beast, and Christ conquering the nations, He gives them a vision of God high and lifted up, who will sustain them to the end.

CONCLUSION. Get your eyes up, men, to this almighty God who is seated on the throne. Fix your eyes on God in His glory and you will be able to suffer; you will be able to trust Him to defeat your enemies; and you will be able to faithfully do your part in discipling the nations beginning in your home, and branching out from there into the whole world.