The Throne in Heaven
The description of God’s throne room stretches the...
The description of God’s throne room stretches the imagination. It builds on the visions of Isa 6:1–4, Ezek 1:4–28, and Dan 7:9–10, where God is seen enthroned in power and majesty. God’s throne dominates Revelation, and the worship in the rest of the book flows from this scene. God’s magnificence, grace, and glory are fundamental to the church’s worship.
This section introduces the visions and judgments to...
This section introduces the visions and judgments to come. John presents God in his heavenly court—the scene of the drama of Revelation (4:1–11)—and the Lamb, who has a central role (5:1–14). John contrasts the majesty of God with the so-called majesty of Caesar. God’s power and splendor is unequaled by the ceremonial court of any earthly ruler.
1After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”
2At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. 3The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
Worship of the Creator
5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven spirits† of God. 6And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, Holy, Holy,is the Lord God Almighty,who was and is and is to come!”
The antiphonal chorus of twenty-four elders provides divine...
- The antiphonal chorus of twenty-four elders provides divine perspective on creation.
- The one sitting on the throne is typical Jewish indirection to avoid speaking God’s name.
9And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11“Worthy are You, our Lord and God,to receive glory and honor and power,for You created all things;by Your will they exist and were created.”