The Throne Room

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The Throne Room

1. The Heavenly Scene Should Stir Us

In Revelation 4, we are taken into the throne room of Heaven—a scene that stands in stark contrast to the preceding chapters. After Jesus' messages to the seven churches, filled with both encouragement and correction, the vision shifts dramatically. But this shift isn't a disconnect; it's intentional. It's the answer to the question: where do believers find strength to overcome cultural compromise, persecution, and suffering? The answer is in seeing the one seated on the throne.

John writes, “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.'” (Revelation 4:1)

This invitation, though debated in certain eschatological views, is clearly a call for John to witness a divine reality. He is brought up into heaven, where he sees a throne and one seated on it. This moment should shake us awake. God is not absent or idle. Right now, He is on the throne. This is not symbolic escapism; it is a grounding truth. For the persecuted believers of the first century, and for us today, it is the reminder that God reigns.

When John sees the throne, he sees an appearance like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow like an emerald encircling the throne. He uses words like "appearance of" or "like" because he is struggling to describe the indescribable. Language fails to capture the glory and majesty of God.

The image of the throne is meant to inspire reverence. We must not become casual or cavalier in how we think of God. He is holy. He is majestic. And we are invited to lift our eyes to see Him rightly.

2. The Regal Surroundings Should Instruct Us

Around the throne, John sees a full emerald-colored rainbow, likely a symbol of God's faithfulness and His covenant-keeping character. Unlike the multi-colored rainbows we typically imagine, this one is described as emerald in appearance and likely surrounds the throne in a full circle, symbolizing completeness and unending promise.

He then sees twenty-four thrones, with twenty-four elders seated on them. They are dressed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads. Some interpret these as angels, but the attire suggests redeemed humans—perhaps representing the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, signifying the whole people of God through redemptive history.

Flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder proceed from the throne. These are reminders of God's awesome power and His coming judgment. In the ancient world, thunder and lightning often signified divine presence and authority. Here, they underscore that God is not passive; He is active and just.

John also sees seven torches burning before the throne, representing the seven spirits of God—symbolizing the fullness and perfection of the Holy Spirit.

A sea of glass, like crystal, lies before the throne. To the ancient mind, the sea represented chaos, danger, and evil. But here, it is stilled and transparent, under God's control, reflecting His glory.

Four living creatures appear next, full of eyes and with six wings, resembling a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle. These correspond with creatures in Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 10 and likely represent all animate creation: wild animals (lion), domesticated animals (ox), humanity (man), and flying creatures (eagle). Their many eyes symbolize vigilance and awareness. Their wings suggest swiftness and service.

These creatures, along with all of creation, are gathered not to observe, but to worship.

3. The Exalted Worship Should Engage Us

Worship is the central activity in the throne room. The four living creatures never cease to say:

"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"

This is ongoing, unending worship. It's happening now. Every time we gather to worship, we are joining something already in progress. We are not starting a new worship session—we're stepping into an eternal one. Whether we're singing in a service or in our car, our songs rise to join the heavenly chorus.

The holiness of God is the only attribute repeated three times in Scripture. Nowhere do we see "love, love, love" or "merciful, merciful, merciful." Holiness sets God apart. He is not just greater in degree than others—He is utterly unique in kind.

What follows next is a crescendo of worship. As the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks, the twenty-four elders fall down before God, cast their crowns before Him, and declare:

"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."

Their crowns represent everything they have—honor, authority, achievement. Casting them before God is an act of full surrender. Nothing compares to the worth of God.

Imagine trying to stand there with your crown still on while everyone else is on their face before God. It would be absurd. Yet we do that in our hearts more often than we realize—elevating self, clinging to pride.

This heavenly worship scene calls us to respond rightly—to bow, to surrender, to lift up the one who is truly worthy. When we understand who He is and who we are, worship becomes not an obligation but a joyful necessity.

God is on the throne. He is holy, holy, holy. And He is worthy.

So let us cast our crowns and lift our voices in praise to our merciful and mighty God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

SERMON DETAILS

Speaker: Jeff McNicol
Series: Revelation
Sermon Title: The Throne Room
Date: Mar 24, 2024

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

• Revelation 4:1-11

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