To Him Who Sits on the Throne

Revelation 4:5-11

Revelation 4 ends with this verse:

Revelation 4:11 (NKJV) “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

This verse is the summary, or conclusion, of the fourth chapter of the Revelation. The Revelation is about Jesus Christ, and one of the main points of the whole book is that God is worthy to receive glory and honor, and power.

In Genesis, God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire. In Exodus, God shook Mount Sinai with His presence. Moses’ face shown so that people could not bear to look at him after meeting God on the mountain. In Joshua, God made the sun stand still. In 1 Kings, God consumed Elijah’s sacrifice with fire from Heaven. Isaiah saw God high and lifted up. Ezekiel saw God on a throne surrounded by seraphim and glory. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus shining with bright, white light. All these things point out the theme of God’s glory that runs through the whole Bible.

God is glorious and powerful beyond all comprehension and measurement. There is no way, or means, of measuring or even quantifying the majesty and glory of God. In the Revelation, as John records in words what he saw in heaven, we realize that words are inadequate to explain that which exceeds our capacity to understand.

Revelation 4 shows God’s glory in three different domains.

First, we see His glory in the judicial domain. He is the ruler of the nations, and His government is over all. Thus, His law is also over all things, both visible and invisible. Since all things are subject to His law and government, He is the Judge of everything. He defines and executes righteousness and justice.

Because of His position as Judge, after John describes the throne room, he describes the throne. Revelation 4:5 describes the throne as follows.

Revelation 4:5 (NKJV) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire [were] burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

This part of the throne is ominous and threatening. Bolts of lightning, thunderings, and voices are all frightening. When the people of Israel were in the wilderness, a man named Korah led a rebellion against Moses. Two hundred fifty of the heads of families in Israel joined with Korah in the uprising. Moses asked God to judge between himself and Korah, and God sent fire from heaven that consumed Korah and the 250 men. Fire and lightning indicate judgment. The Bible states that God will judge all men, and the picture that John draws with words reminds us of this fact.

Revelation 4:5 ends with the statement, “Seven lamps of fire [were] burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” This statement clearly is symbolic; we know that while the Spirit of God may appear as fire, He is not a physical fire as we know fire. The Bible says, “Our God is a consuming fire…” (Hebrews 12:29). This statement stems from the fact that God is the Judge. We know that God is One and the Spirit is One, but in a couple of places in the Revelation, John speaks of the seven-fold Spirit of God. While seven as a number represents completeness, there are more than seven attributes of God’s Spirit represented by the burning lamps. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The gifts of the Spirit are prophecy, tongues, healing, wisdom, service, and giving. These are all different manifestations of the Spirit. The Spirit searches the hearts of all men and intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. The Spirit of God also has a critical part in judgment as it is the Spirit of God that searches the hearts of all men. We must also note that these lamps are not candles but torches. The churches are represented by candlesticks, but God’s Spirit is represented by burning torches. Think with me. The Spirit is invisible, so how should God represent His presence? 

God’s glory as Judge is indisputable. But, as chapter 4 of the Revelation continues, we see that God is also the King of Heaven.

Look at verses 6 through 8 of Revelation 4.

Revelation 4:6-8 (NKJV) ⁶Before the throne [there] [was] a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, [were] four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ⁷The first living creature [was] like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature [was] like a flying eagle. ⁸[The] four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

What a glorious scene is painted for us! The sea of glass like crystal makes everything shine with a bright light of reflected glory, along with the beings that are pictured there. The New King James Version calls them living creatures. They are seraphim, the same creatures described in Ezekiel when he saw the throne. They are glorious beings of tremendous power and privilege as they keep station around the throne. Verse 8 of Revelation 4 says that they never stop saying:

Revelation 4:8 (NKJV) “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

 

This is all about the glory of God in His domain as King of Heaven.

Now, as the seraphim give glory to God, they are joined by the 24 elders. Join me in looking at verses 9, 10, and 11.

Revelation 4:9-11 (NKJV) ⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ¹¹“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

As we said when we looked at the first four verses of this chapter, the elders represent the Church. They are the representatives before the throne of the glorified Church. Notice that while they each have been awarded the victor’s crown, they only use it to bring glory to God. It is only by the grace of God that they or any of us will gain entrance into heaven. It is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy, He saves us.

Titus 3:5 (NKJV) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

To the Church, the Lord is Savior, Redeemer, and friend. Jesus is our High Priest, Advocate, Counselor, and Lord, and we are His bride. Through Him, we have received the adoption as Sons.

Ephesians 1:5 (NKJV) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

And,

Galatians 3:26 (NKJV) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

God’s glory is made known by His works by His creation and also by the salvation He provides through Jesus Christ. Romans 9:23 says:

Romans 9:23 (NKJV) and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

This is describing us. God redeemed the Church for Himself to show the riches of His glory.

Since our salvation is all what He has done, all the rewards and crowns we receive will be only for showing the great things He has done. 

The glory of God in His justice, in Heaven, and in the Church are what we see in Revelation 4. We also see His glory throughout the Bible, and we see His greatness in both the vastness and the intricacy of His creation.

All heaven and earth proclaim the glory of God. Revelation shows how the prophecy of Philippians 2:10&11 will be fulfilled.

Philippians 2:10-11 (NKJV) ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹and [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The great thing is that we can enter into the peace and glory of God now. Jesus said He gives us His peace, and he promises to be with us always. 

Have you entered into what He gives?

Have you bowed the knee before Him and accepted your position as son or daughter of God?

What holds you back?