Worshiping Almighty God

 

Worshiping Almighty God

 

 

 

In this article I am going to review the rest of Revelation chapter four. The Bible says God has the countenance like a jasper and a sardine - stone because He is not described by any human features. The apostle John was describing His transcendent Brightness. He saw a rainbow about the throne like unto an emerald. This rainbow was the seal and token of the covenant that God made with Noah. This rainbow looked like an emerald so the color was a pleasant green to show the refreshing reality of the new covenant. The Triune Godhead is intently involved in what is happening in this world (past, present and future). He is also intently involved in what is happening in our lives.

 

John saw four and twenty seats round about the throne with four and twenty elders. They are clothed in white raiment which is the righteousness of the saints. They had on their heads crowns of gold signifying the honor and authority given to them by God. We could also look at this part of Revelation chapter four and turn it around because they also had glory with God.

 

John perceived lightings and voices proceeding out of the throne. At one point God gave the law on Mount Sinai but then Jesus Christ was introduced to the world in the New Testament. I am going to expand on this but the Bible teaches that a person must be washed if they are going to be admitted into the presence of God. The apostle saw four animals, living creatures between the throne and the circle of the elders standing between God and the people because they signify the ministers of the gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). The elders that sit are ministered to but they also minister and rest not day nor night. People in hell are not allowed to rest day nor night but this is a horrible place. One place is filled with the glory of God and the other place is filled with evil. One place is not resting because they are overwhelmed with the glory of God. The other place is not resting because they are being punished.

 

Verses eight to eleven do not so much focus on sight but songs he heard in the throne room of God. John heard the song of the four living creatures which corresponds to the vision Isaiah had in Isaiah chapter six. They are adoring one God who is the Lord God Almighty. They adore three holies on this One God. In verses ten and eleven John saw the adorations of the four and twenty elders. There was an object and purpose of their worship. It was to Him that sat on the throne and the eternal everlasting God. There is one God and He alone is God and is worshipped by the church. Remember the true Christians have just been raptured into heaven.

 

There are responses to this adoration. They fell down before Him that sat on the throne. They cast their crowns before the throne. They are giving God the glory because of His holiness and grace. One reason this group is giving their crowns back to God is because they understood they did not even need or want one thing in the presence of Jesus Christ.

 

In verse eleven there are more words of adoration. This group is acknowledging that God is exalted far above all blessings and praise. God is worthy to receive glory but we are not worthy to praise. We are granted this privilege by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

 

God is worshipped because He is our Creator. Not only did He Create but He preserves all things. We are dependent on the will and Power of God so who deserves the worship? God. Let me quote the original passage so you can read the text and perhaps make reference to it in this particular study of the Bible.

 

(3) "And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (4) And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (5) And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: 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 a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. (7) And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the forth beast was like a flying eagle. (8) And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (9) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, (10) The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:3 - 11.

 

In verse three it talks about a jasper, sardine stone, rainbow and an emerald and the setting was around the throne of God. "As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake." Ezekiel 1:28. Jasper is clear as crystal, sardine is very red and emerald is light green. "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;" Revelation 21:11.

 

In verse four John saw twenty four elders sitting. Some feel these are angelic beings but it is more likely that they represent redeemed men who are glorified, crowned and enthroned but the Bible does not directly define this so it is conjecture.

 

In verse five lightnings, thunderings and voices proceeded from the throne and there were seven lamps of fire burning which are the seven Spirits of God. How many sevens are in the book of Revelation? Fifty four. Seven is the number in the word of God that means perfection. Who are the seven Spirits of God? It is probably the Holy Spirit in His perfect fullness. "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and: understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." Isaiah 11: 2. "John to the seven churches which are in A'sia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne;" Revelation 1:4.

 

Revelation 4:6 talks about the four beasts full of eyes before and behind. These may be angels of the cherubim family. (15) "And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Che'bar. (16) And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them." Ezekiel 10: 15 - 16. I could have quoted further in this passage but due to space I have to move on and just say some people believe they may be representations of the attributes of God Himself since they are in the midst of the throne of God. Attributes are the very being of God and we will be learning about them for all eternity.

 

In verse seven there were four beasts which was a lion, calf, face as a man and a flying eagle. This verse corresponds with a verse in the Old Testament. "As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle." Ezekiel 1:10. The lion, calf, face of a man and the flying eagle is a fourfold manner in which Christ is portrayed in the gospels.

 

In Matthew He appears as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. In Mark as a servant who became the sacrifice for sin. According to the Bible the calf was a sacrificial animal. "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." Hebrews 9:12. "For when Mo'ses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people." Hebrews 9: 19. The face as a man corresponds to the book of Luke because this account has an emphasis on the Son of Man. The flying eagle links Jesus Christ with heaven as does the gospel of John.

 

As I review verses eight to eleven I want to make a general analysis so we do not miss the main point. In verse eight the four beasts were worshiping God day and night saying Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty which was, and is, and is to come. There is much worship in heaven. This is not to say we will not be serving God but notice these four beasts were drawn to praise God with all their heart, soul, mind and spirit. In verse nine these same beasts were given glory, honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne but notice they were worshipping God who liveth for ever and ever. They were praising God for His everlasting Power.

 

Then the the four and twenty elders literally fell before God and worshiped Him that liveth for ever and ever. Here we see the second group was compelled to worship God for the same reason the first group (the four beasts) praised God. They were so convicted that they cast their crowns before the throne and said Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory, honor and power. Why did they feel compelled to engage in this worship? The reason is because God Created all things so once again we see in the Bible they were just so drawn to acknowledge the Power of God. We serve an All Powerful God so it is important to realize this when we travel through life with our problems and trials.

 

I would like to continue on what I just wrote because so many times in my life I was a Christian and doubted God. As if I know and Jesus Christ does not know which is simply ridicules. If I truly understood I served an All Powerful God I would not have been a nervous wreck with some really serious problems that hit my life.

 

Many Christians do not worship Almighty God in good and bad times. We serve Jesus Christ who is Sovereign and is the God of the past, present and future. We are called to be holy and obedient then God will work all things together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to His purpose. As long as we are living holy and in His will God will keep this promise that I just quoted. We do our part and God will keep His promises. Jesus Christ never has the heart, "I guess I have to keep my promise." It is the delight of God to meet our needs. We know some of our desires but we do not understand all of our desires. If we are obedient God will make sure we are filled but in His timing.

 

If you desire to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord now may be a good time to repent of all your sins and invite the Son of God into your life. If you just made that decision read the Bible and do the will of God. It is all found in His word. We serve Almighty God and He is All Powerful.

 

God bless you,

Bob D.