“I saw the Lord …”

Encounters with God

 

Revelation chapters 4 and 5 Worship Around the Throne

 

Many people are fascinated by the book of Revelation because of its prophecy or because of its symbolism, but Revelation is far more than either of those: it is a book about the Lord God Almighty, His Son and His Spirit! In being fascinated by Revelation, let us never lose sight of the Lord!

 

John says he was “in the Spirit” (4:2) when God revealed Himself to him and gave him revelation and prophetic words, as well as insight into the heavenly realms, into Heaven and into the throne room itself. The key is being filled with the Holy Spirit!

 

Descriptive words concerning the Lord

 

Holy (4:8) – our God is holy in a way we cannot fully understand. We may think of holy as “being good” but the very nature of God is holiness – total and utter holiness, without any kind of sin, imperfection, weakness, etc.

 

Almighty (4:8) – our God has all power, in Heaven, over all the earth and even those things under the earth. Nothing is too hard for our God. His creation and His miracles are not “hard” for Him, for He has all power, might, authority and wisdom. Creation wasn’t hard for God – He simply spoke the words and things were created! Nothing is out of His control.

 

Everlasting (4:9, 10) – our God always has been, is and always will be. Time has little meaning or relevance to Him. Time only began when God created the earth, the sun, the moon and creatures (especially Man). We measure time by the sun, the seasons or in other physical ways, but God is over and beyond all this. The future is just as real to Him as the present or the past. To prophesy what will happen is not difficult for God – He knows it all!

 

Worthy (4:11) – our God is worthy of glory and honour and praise and thanks and power and authority. HE IS GOD – and there is nothing and no-one like Him!

 

Creator (4:11) – by His power and wisdom all things were created and are sustained. And He holds us in the hollow of His hands! Created by God, loved by God, saved by God, sustained by God, healed by God, blessed by God, filled with His Spirit. What an awesome God!

 

All other gods are demons or idols – this is why we are forbidden to worship anyone or anything other than the One True God Who has revealed Himself to Mankind since Creation: through Adam, Abraham, Moses, Israel, David, the Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself, the Apostles and the book of Revelation!

 

Even the four living creatures (4:6-7) indicate something about the God they serve: one was like a lion, a symbol of the King and His Sovereignty; one was like an ox, showing strength and power; one was like a human being, like the Son of God Who came into this world as a human (though still divine); and one was like an eagle, showing power and majesty, which, together with the dove, represents the Holy Spirit.

 

The Lion of the tribe of Judah – Jesus – is also the Lamb (5:5-6) that was slain, as the eternal sacrifice, once and forever, to make atonement for our sins. He is the Conqueror, because He has conquered sin and death, and all the powers of darkness. Hallelujah!

 

The four living creatures (angelic beings) and the twenty four elders (possibly the 12 leaders of the tribes of Israel plus the 12 disciples of Jesus) fell before the Lamb in worship, and each offered up to Him golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints. As those prayers ascended to the Lamb, they (presumably) played their harps and sang a song of worship to the Lamb. He was worthy … for He was slain and by His Blood He ransomed us for God – people from every tribe, language, people group and nation. He has made the ransomed a kingdom and priests, serving God and reigning on the earth (5:9-10).

 

The Lamb is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing – forever and ever! (5:11-14). If ever there was any doubt as to the deity of Jesus Christ, as taught in the Bible, these verses certainly confirm His deity – He is worthy of true worship forever and ever! Amen!

 

Revelation 19:1-16

 

Here we see a great multitude of people in Heaven, from every tribe, tongue and nation, worshipping God. God has made His judgments, which are true and just. Corruption, immorality, violence against God’s people, etc., have been judged and dealt with, forever! The worship of the great multitude is joined by the worship of the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures, who announce the marriage of the Lamb and His Bride, who is now ready.

 

Notice that the worship again dwells on the salvation, glory, power, and true and just judgments of the Almighty, Who rules over all.

 

The Bride is clothed in fine linen, bright and pure, which signifies the righteous deeds of the saints. Note that this is not the righteousness of Christ, through which we have been saved, but the righteous deeds which all Christians should be doing as a result of their salvation! See Ephesians 2:8-10 (We are saved by grace, which is received through faith, for good works).

 

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb, for the “guests” are the Bride!

 

Worship God! Testify to Jesus – for the spirit of prophecy is the testimony to Jesus! Prophecy is far more than simply foretelling the future – it is proclaiming Jesus in the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that Jesus is glorified.

 

Heaven is opened and we see a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. He judges in perfect righteousness, with true justice. His eyes are like a flame of fire (see also Rev. 1:14); He is crowned with many crowns, for He rules and reigns over all the nations of the earth; His robe is dipped in blood – His blood; and His Name is the Word of God (John 1:1-2).

 

The armies of Heaven follow Him, riding on white horses, and they are also clothed in fine, pure, white linen. From His mouth there comes a sharp sword (see Rev. 1:16 and Eph. 6:17). He will rule in righteousness, justice and truth. No-one will be wrongly accused!

 

And on His thigh and on His robe are written the words “King of kings and Lord of lords”.

 

The implications for us

 

What a mighty God we serve! We need to keep our eyes on the Lord and His greatness, power, authority and love for us, rather than keeping our eyes on the world or the powers of darkness. Remember: “If GOD is for us, who can be against us!”

 

QUESTIONS

 

1.      If someone asked you to describe what God is like, what descriptive words would you use to describe Him?

2.      Who do you think the 4 living creatures and 24 elders are? (Why 4 and 24?)

3.      What is unique about God’s judgments?

4.      Who is the Bride of Christ?

5.      What does fine, pure, white linen represent? Who is represented by the Lion and the Lamb?

6.      Do you think Christians can become too focused on evil spiritual principalities and powers, rather than focusing on the Lord and what He is saying and doing?