The Glory of God - Revelation 4

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Learning to Pray with Worship

In our message series, “Praying with Jesus” we’re looking at Jesus’ teaching on prayer, commonly called the Lord’s Prayer found in Matthew 6. Each week, we have been looking at a different phrase in the Lord’s prayer. Our goal is to learn how to pray more effective and powerful prayers.

The Bible and the Lord’s Prayer teaches us that God’s will is done on this earth only through the prayers of God’s people. That is why we pray “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” As we pray in faith, partnering with God, we bring God’s will from heaven to earth.

Prayer is one of the most exciting aspects of the believer’s life, as we see God move in answering our prayers. Today, my message is entitled “The Glory of God.” We’re going to be looking at the last phrase in the Lord’s prayer.

Matthew 6:13b (NASB) [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.']

In many translations, this phrase is either in the footnotes or in brackets. The reason is that the earliest Greek manuscripts do not contain this phrase. We know it was added by 100 AD at the latest.

So, the best scholarship indicates that is was not in the original Gospel, but was added later by early believers as an ending of worship. The Lord’s prayer originally almost appears unfinished, as though Jesus wanted us to add our own ending of worship to the prayer example he taught. The content of the traditional ending is in keeping with the rest of Scripture.

1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV) Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

As the Lord’s prayer begins in worship, ending our prayers in worship is fitting. What is worship all about? Worship is to adore, to praise, to focus on and acknowledge the greatness of God.

Why should we worship God in prayer? We worship because God created every human being as a worshipper. Everyone worships something or someone.

You either worship God the Creator or you worship an idol, a created thing.

Psalm 115:3-5, 8 (NIV) Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; … Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

When you worship God, you become more like Him. Those who worship idols, become like them, lifeless things that can accomplish nothing of eternal value.

Today, we’re going to look at a passage in Revelation 4 to see how worship is going on in heaven. Why is that important? It’s important because we want to bring heaven’s worship to earth.

We want to join in the heavenly worship, both individually and as a church. The book of Revelation was originally written to the church persecuted by Rome.

It was written to encourage the believers and help them worship God who is in control of all. As we learn to worship on earth, as worship is done in heaven, we also will be assured that God is in control, even when things may seem out of control.

Look into Heaven

Revelation 4:1 (NIV) 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."

The writer of Revelation, John the apostle, is given a vision of heaven and the things that will take place in the future. In this chapter, we are going to see the worship that is continually going on in heaven. Later chapters of Revelation deal with prophecies about the future.

When we better understand what heaven is like, we are better equipped to trust God in our lives here on earth. What is the first thing that John sees in heaven?

God Rules All

Revelation 4:2 (NIV) At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

The focus of heaven and the worship of heaven is God. So the very first thing that captivates John is a throne with God seated upon it. From heaven, God rules over the earth and the universe.

He holds everything in His hand. What we call the laws of nature are simply the way that God manages the universe. All things are subject to His rule, for which we can worship Him.

God Demonstrates Love and Judgment

Revelation 4:3 (NIV) And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

God here is described as being illuminated with colored light, as reflected through precious stones. The throne is encircled with a rainbow, symbolizing both God’s judgment and His love and mercy in the days of Noah and down through history.

Lifting Our Gaze Toward Heaven

As you pray, you must lift your gaze from the things of the earth and look into heaven. Picture in your mind’s eye the scene described here, with God seated upon an enormous throne, surrounded by light of brilliant colors.

He is a God who loves you, but also a God of justice. As you pray, recognize that absolutely nothing is impossible for your great God. Your problems should seem like nothing in light of God’s greatness.

Believers Enjoy God’s Presence in Heaven

Revelation 4:4 (NIV) 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.

The next thing that John sees are twenty-four smaller thrones on which twenty-four elders are seated. The term elder is always used in the Bible to designate a human, so these are believers who enjoy God’s presence and co-reign with Him in heaven.

The white clothes they wear symbolize their righteousness through Jesus Christ. The crowns or wreaths of gold on their heads symbolize that they are overcomers in life through faith in Jesus.

God’s Spirit Promotes Worship

Revelation 4:5 (NIV) From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Heaven is not a quiet place, as lightning and thunder come from the throne. The power of God is on awesome display. The seven lamps blazing represent the seven-fold Spirit of God in His fullness.

Here we have the second person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit, promoting worship. In Revelation 5, we see the third person of the trinity, Jesus Christ, coming as the Lamb of God being worshipped.

God’s Spirit Brings Peace

Revelation 4:6a (NIV) Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

Not a wave or ripple was on that sea in front of the throne, all was at perfect peace. Despite the noise of the throne and despite the loud worship that is going on, there is peace that passes all understanding in heaven.

All turmoil, all pain, all trouble, all stress, and all sin are gone. Only the peace of God remains in heaven. Where God’s Spirit is there in fullness, there is worship and there is peace.

Participating in God’s Rule and Peace

We don’t think about or talk about heaven enough, I don’t believe. How can we bring heaven to earth unless we understand what heaven is all about. Jesus said in Revelation 3:21, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.”

Here we see those elders who have overcome and sit on thrones in God’s presence. In prayer, as we ask God to bring His will to this earth, we participate in bringing God’s rule and reign to this earth. As we worship, filled with God’s Spirit, we bring God’s peace wherever we go.

Heaven Is Filled with Worship

Revelation 4:6b (NIV) In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

Scholars differ on what these four living creatures are. Some think they are cherubim and others think they are another type of spiritual creature. However, every being in heaven has one main purpose, and that purpose is to worship God.

These four living creatures are covered with eyes, representing the all-seeing eyes of God. Nothing can escape His notice, and nothing in creation is hidden from Him.

Heaven Is More Than You Can Imagine

Revelation 4:7 (NIV) 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.

These four living creatures represent all of God’s creation, in which God’s attributes are demonstrated. The lion represents God’s majesty, the ox His strength, the man His wisdom, and the eagle His loftiness, high and lifted above all other creation.

Heaven is so much more than we can imagine, and heaven exists right now. The creatures of heaven even now move around and carry out God’s will on this earth.

Heaven Is Permeated with God’s Holiness

Revelation 4:8 (NIV) Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Their worship begins with ascribing holiness to God. Holy means completely set apart from His creation, and holy means that God is perfect, with no sin or evil. The creatures speak three holies, one for each person of the trinity.

Almighty God is worshipped as the one who has always existed and who will always exist. He alone is worthy of eternal praise and unending worship.

Living Lives Set Apart for Worship

Since heaven is filled with worship and we want to bring heaven to earth, our lives must be filled with worship. Worship includes, but is so much more than singing worship songs on Sunday morning.

God wants our entire lives to be filled with worship, both in what we say and what we do. In order to worship in prayer, our lives must be holy, cleansed of sin and set apart to worship God alone.

Worship the Eternal God

Revelation 4:9 (NIV) Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,

The four living creatures worship God, who lives forever and ever. They give Him glory for who He is, honor for His character, and thanks for what He has done.

Worship is contagious. As the living creatures worship, it inspires the twenty-four elders to worship as well.

Worship by Submitting to God

Revelation 4:10 (NIV) 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:

The elders represent redeemed humans in heaven and they fall down in worship before God, submitting every aspect of their beings to Him. They lay their crowns before the throne as an act of worship.

By their actions they declare that all they have, all they are, and all they will ever be is submitted to God’s rule and reign.

Worship the Creator God

Revelation 4:11 (NIV) "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

God is worthy to be worshipped because He created everything. Everything that has been created in the universe, both physical and spiritual, was designed, created, and sustained by the power of God.

There are only two major classes of beings in the universe, those who have been created and the Creator God, who stands alone outside the created universe.

Conclusion: Bringing Heaven to Earth Through Worship

I encourage you this week to reread Revelation 4 and also read Revelation 5. In the next chapter, we see the worship of Jesus, the Lamb, by every creature in heaven and on earth.

Our lives should be filled with worship, just as heaven is filled with worship. When you worship, you please God and you become more like Him.

Take time every day to read your Bible and to pray and worship the One who created you. Worship God throughout the day, thanking Him for every good gift and praising Him for every answer to prayer.

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