Revelation 4

This devotional is written by Matt Coombs.

The throne in heaven
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the centre, round the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and behind. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all round, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

‘“Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,”
who was, and is, and is to come.’

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.’

“After this” (1) that is after the seven letters to seven churches, John again hears a voice that sounded like a trumpet - this voice of Jesus (Rev 1:10-11) who calls John up to heaven to show him a remarkable scene - the throne room of heaven.

John sees awe-inspiring worship.

Day and night, forever and ever the one who sits on the throne is worshipped. The elders and creatures sing lyrics that echo from Isaiah 6 ‘“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,” who was, and is, and is to come.’ (8) with an additional refrain from the elders “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

These creatures and elders worship because they see God for who he truly is - the creator and sustainer of everything. Who could not bow before this God? Do you ever reflect on the scale of creation? The enormity of the universe with stars flung wide across our night skies. It is nothing compared to its creator who continues to sustain each and every new life on the earth

Let us worship our God who is worthy to be praised saying: ‘“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”