“The Throne” (Rev 4:1-11)

Behold!

What do you see up here on the altar today? A throne! The throne is one of the most important themes in the Book of Revelation. The word “throne” occurs more than 40 times in Revelation, and 17 out of 40 times occur in today’s passage, chapters 4 and 5. So why does the throne matter? The throne matters because it tells us who God is and how we should respond.  

“Eternal”

The Apostle John just saw the seven churches in a vision. They were small and struggling. In contrast, the Roman Empire seemed invincible and inexhaustible. The early church Christians were at the crossroads. They had to choose between Jesus and Caesar, between persecution and compromise. Before the might of Rome, the hearts of Christians were trembling like the trees of the forest in the wind. Then, the voice is calling John, “Come up here.” The first thing that John sees in heaven is a throne. At the center of the universe John sees the throne – the unchangeable throne and eternal God seated on the throne (2). Then, John realizes that everything under heaven, including Rome, is temporary and only God and His kingdom are eternal.  

King Solomon says, in Ecclesiastes 1:2, “Temporary! Temporary! Everything in life is temporary!” (my translation) Ecclesiastes tells us, “Don’t pursue happiness. It’s a dead-end street. Pursue holiness! (9:7-8); Don’t pursue temporary things. It’s like chasing wind. Live for eternity! (3:11) Remember your Creator before the Day comes” (12:1). Then Ecclesiastes concludes in this way: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (12:13-14, NRSV).

“Sovereign”

Isaiah saw the throne (6:1-6). Daniel saw the throne (7:9-14). Ezekiel saw the throne (1:26-28). John saw the throne. Do you see the throne? In John’s vision we see precious stones like jasper, carnelian, and emerald. We see a rainbow around the throne. We see thunders and lightning before the throne. Don’t bog down in the details. Those images are symbolic rather than literal or pictorial. Do you remember that Jesus is described as the one with a sword sticking out of his mouth in 1:16? If we literally visualize this image, it would be a horrible picture of a weird man. But it symbolizes that the words that Jesus speaks are as sharp and piercing as a two-edged sword. In the same way, all these images – jasper, carnelian, emerald, rainbow, thunders, lightning, and so on – collectively represent God’s sovereign majesty and glory as the King of the universe.  

This sovereign God has a plan – a plan for the world, a plan for the church, a plan for you and me. What is then God’s plan? How does God carry out His plan for His people? Actually chapter 5 answers this question. The answer is Jesus, the Lamb of God (5:6)! God’s plan is Jesus. God’s method is Jesus. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Our salvation, our deliverance comes from that cradled Son. Jesus carried our pains – all the things wrong with us. He was pierced, crushed, beaten, whipped, and died on the cross. By his death, we were healed and set free. Then, after three days Jesus was raised from the dead. By his resurrection, we have new life, eternal life. Not only that, God gives his Holy Spirit to us, that we may have no fear and overcome the world and boldly follow the Lamb. Revelation, particularly chapters 4 and 5, tells us God’s plan works. It tells us God will accomplish his plan, his purpose for his people, for you and me in His time.

“Worthy”

Our God is sovereign. God created all things. God upholds all things. And God will bring justice for His people. So whatever we are facing today is part of God’s sovereign plan. “Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (Ps 37:5-6). Today’s scripture summons us to a heavenly perspective to see who is in charge. Today’s scripture also calls us to worship. Our God is worthy to be praised!

In John’s vision we see 24 elders, representing the 12 tribes in the OT, and the 12 apostles in the NT. Together they represent the universal church – the Old and New Testament peoples of God. And before the throne they never cease to worship. What we can learn from today’s scripture is this: the purpose of our life here on earth and in heaven is to worship God. The purpose of the church on earth and in heaven is to worship God. “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!” (11)

All of Life as Worship

Worship doesn’t just happen on Sunday. All of life is worship. If you go to Greenland you would see countless icebergs, some little and some gigantic. If you’d observe them carefully, you’d notice that sometimes the small ice floes move in one direction while their massive counterparts flow in another. The reason is this: the little ones are tossed by surface winds, whereas the huge ones are carried along by deep ocean currents. When you face trials and challenges, are you tossed by surface winds or carried by ocean currents? The winds represent everything changeable and temporary; whereas ocean currents represent God’s sovereign and eternal purposes, the deep flow of his love. When we wait on God and trust his sovereignty and follow his ways anyway, all of our life becomes act of worship.

Somehow all of us in this room always hear two different kinds of drumbeats – the drumbeat of the world, and the drumbeat of heaven. The drumbeat of the world is loud and clear, appealing and forceful. The drumbeat of heave is a more distant, subtle, and gentle. But one is temporary, and the other is eternal. One is arbitrary and the other is sovereign. To what drumbeat will you march? Do you hear the drumbeat of heaven? Do you see the throne stood in heaven? Let us join David, one of our worship leaders in his unending hymn and march with him: “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken… you make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore!” (Ps 165:8, 11) Amen.