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Home , Revelation 4

"The Throne of God the Creator" Revelation 4:1-11

Introduction- As has been previously mentioned, the provides its own outline in :19, "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things." The "things which you have seen" refers to the vision in Revelation 1:1-20, "the things which are" refers to the letters to the seven churches recorded in Revealation 2:1-3:22, and "the things which will take place after these things" refers the vision recorded in Revelation 4:1-22:21. This opening passage has transported into the presence of God the Father seated on a throne, and the Lamb of God standing in the midst of the throne. In this setting the Lamb takes the seven-sealed scroll and opens it. The glimpse into the presence of the Sovereign and Almighty God evokes reverence, awe, and worship. The throne, the central point of His dominion and rule over all of eternity.

I. The Person On the Throne 4:1-3 1After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 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. A. The door standing open in Heaven seen prior to John being in the throne 4:1a B. "like the sound of a trumpet", the trumpet at the Rapture? 4:1b; I Thess. 4:16 C. The invitation to "Come up here" 4:1c D. John is spiritually transported to the throne room 4:2a; Daniel 7:9,10 E. God the Father was seated on the throne in glory 4:2b,3a; Ezek. 1:26-28 1. Like a jasper stone, crystal clear, purity, glory :10,11 2. Like a sardius in appearance 3. The sardius and the jasper were the first and last stones on the breastplate of the high priest, representing the firstborn , and the lastborn of the twelve sons of Jacob. F. God sits upon the throne (Rev. 7:10), sits on a throne (Rev. 3:10), and Jesus shares the Father's throne (Rev. 3:21), establishing the Trinity! G. The rainbow was around the throne like an emerald in appearance II. The People Seated Around the Throne 4:4 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. A. The 24 thrones with 24 elders seated upon them 4:4 1. King organized the priesthood into courses of 24 family heads 2. When the 24 priests served, they represented the entire nation before God 3. The 24 elders are clothed in white garments and golden crowns a. "white garments" speak of sins forgiven, cleansed Rev. 3:4,5,18 b. "Crowns" are spoke of believers who are rewarded I Cor. 9:24,25; 2 Timothy 4:7,8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4 c. The elders sit on thrones, rulers and judges I Cor.6:2,3; 2 Tim.2:21 B. The 24 elders represent the raptured church in the presence of Jesus C. During the tribulation, Jesus is working on saving Israel

III. The Power Evidenced at the Throne 4:5-8a 5 Out from the throne come 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; 6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four full of eyes in front and behind. 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within…" A. Similar to what happened when God gave Moses the law Ex. 19:16; 20:18 B. The sea of glass possible purity, holiness, removed from sin Rev. 15:2 C. Four living creatures (angelic beings) worship day and night 6:8a D. Cherubim in Ezekiel had four wings, support throne (Ezek.1:5-10), seraphim had six wings, eyes protect throne (:1-3), John describing the seraphim

IV. The Praise Offered Before the Throne 4:8b-11 "…and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” 9 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, 10 the twenty-four 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, 11 “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.” A. The angelic beings in Heaven declare the "Trisagion" of God's Holiness 4:8,9 B. Believers worship, cast their crowns at His feet 4:10 C. God, worthy to receive glory and honor and power, as creator 4:11