December 24 A READ REVELATION 4–5
Opening the Seven Seals
OVERVIEW
Beginning with chapter 4, John is invited to “come up here” in order to see “what must happen after this” (4:1). Transported in the spirit, John first sees a “Technicolor” vision of the sovereign God upon his heavenly throne, holding a scroll in which are written his judgments for the earth. No one is qualified to open the seals of the scroll and execute God’s judgments except the Lamb, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (5:5). As the Lamb takes the scroll and prepares to break the seals, a chorus of heavenly voices proclaims, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered” (5:12).
MY DAILY WALK
Here is a thought worthy of your consideration: the elders who surround the throne of God proclaim, “You are worthy, O Lord our God” (4:11). Later they say to the Lamb, “You are worthy” (5:9), and still later all the hosts of heaven exclaim, “Worthy is the Lamb” (5:12). What makes the God of heaven and the Lamb of God so worthy of receiving worship and adoration?
First, God is worthy because of who he is—the God of infinite perfection and holiness. Second, God is worthy because of what he has done—the Father in creation, and his Son, the Lamb, in redemption and salvation.
The question to ponder is this: How can I show in my daily walk that I serve a worthy God? Is my speech worthy of him? Is my conduct worthy of my privileged position in the family of God? Do I talk about him often? worship him wholeheartedly? seek to please him daily?
Tape the words of Revelation 4:11 to your dashboard or mirror to remind you frequently that God is deserving of your greatest devotion and act of service. Indeed, he is worthy.
WE ARE NOT CHRIST’S LAWYERS; WE ARE HIS WITNESSES.
INSIGHT
The Invisible God Made Visible | Rev. 4:3
The Bible describes God as “invisible” (Colossians 1:15), reminding us that “no one has ever seen God” (John 1:18). Thus, John’s awesome and majestic description of God the Father upon the throne (Revelation 4:2-3) is perhaps as much of God as humans will ever see this side of heaven.
Worship in Heaven
1Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2And instantly I was in the Spirit,* and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit* of God. 6In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
9Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”