Revelation 4-5
John starts with this amazing vision of Jesus, the resurrected and reigning King who is present with and knows his churches intimately.
The letters to the churches are introduced with the phrase “things that are”.
So, we’ve taken note that the greatest need of the churches and for us today is to have a glimpse of the resurrected Jesus. To see him and know him is the most vital event.
That still holds true today.
Jesus has commended and corrected his church and now John transitions with the phrase “what must take place after this”.
In Revelation 4 the vision changes from earth to heaven and will remain there until chapter 10, and this is important.
“This section may be viewed as a turning point in the book of Revelation. It provides a fuller understanding of the Christ and his salvation that dominates the previous chapters and of the judgments and the kingdom which are the subject of the chapters that follow. A single motif binds together the twofold vision of ch. 4 and 5, namely that the God of creation is the God of redemption who brings to pass his purpose through the crucified and risen Christ.
Ch. 4 reads like one of the visions of God in the OT (cf. Is. 6; Ezk. 1), where God is presented as exalted in holiness, far above the storms of history and the efforts of evil forces to resist his will.
In ch. 5 attention is concentrated on the Christ (Jesus who is risen) who has conquered all evil powers and thereby won the right to open God’s scroll of (historical) destiny and carry out what is written in it.
Through the combination of the two visions it is made clear that God’s will in creation, celebrated in the closing hymn of ch. 4, is accomplished by the Lamb who was slain and raised to the throne of God; and so history ends in the acknowledgment and worship of God and the lamb by the living and the dead.[1]
What is the vital revelation that John sees here that moves the churches and prepares them for what is to come?
1. Worship is the end and a means Rev 4
What are some keys to getting worship right?
A. Throne – “The key word in this chapter is throne; it is used fourteen times. In fact, this is a key word in the entire book[2]…”
1. There is recognition of the source of all things v. 11
2. There is submission to the One who is the source of all things v. 11
The reason it is important to understand this theme of throne is that the heavenly reality of who Jesus is and that fact that he providentially rules history (remember, he opens and closes all doors) and our place in it determines our response to it.
If our worldview is out of whack then our response to Jesus’ work will be out of whack.
The heavenly scenes are much more vital than the earthly scenes because they give the earthly scenes their meaning.
It’s the same now. What happens at the commands of Jesus gives meaning to our existence as people and as members of his Kingdom.
B. All creation worships – God gets praise from all of creation. If people are silent even the rocks
would cry out (Luke 19:40). Even the created order groans for it’s day of redemption (Romans 8).
4 The twenty-four elders are reminiscent of Is. 24:23, where the ‘elders’ were viewed as Jewish leaders.
These elders have often been interpreted as representatives of Israel and the church (twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles).
In 1 Ch. 24:4, however, we read of twenty-four priestly orders, and in 1 Ch. 25:1 of twenty-four orders of Levites appointed to prophesy and praise with harps and cymbals.
Since in Revelation 5:8 the elders present the prayers of God’s people and in 4:6–11 are linked with the for living creatures, they are evidently to be understood as exalted angelic beings, worshipping and serving the Creator. [3]
5 The flashes of lightning and pearls of thunder recall the theophany at Sinai (Ex. 19:16) and portray the awesomeness of God. [4]
7–8 Their ceaseless worship rendered to God may well represent the subjection of all creation to God. The Jews came to understand Ezekiel’s vision in this way, regarding the man as chief representative of creatures, the eagle of birds, the lion of beasts, and the ox of cattle.
The song of the cherubim implies that the future triumph of God is rooted in his very nature; the Lord, who is holy and almighty, is to come.[5]
C. Worship is a constant reality and we only join in – When we join in heaping praise on the Lord
Jesus, we are not doing anything novel. We are joining with the appointed officials who do this as
their created purpose forever.
1. Worship’s object is the King on the throne
2. Worship’s givers heap their words and their lives / possessions on the King
Who is the object of this worship?
2. The enthronement of Jesus makes Jesus the object of worship Rev 5
Here there is a clear presentation of the Tri-une God of the universe for this enthronement ceremony: Father on the throne, Jesus obeying and exalting and implementing his rule given by the Father and the Spirit testifying to that reality on a global scale (seven spirits of God).
“It is likely that we have here a representation of the coronation of Jesus the Lord in terms of the ancient enthronement ceremonies of the Middle East. The steps of the ceremony are generally defined as exaltation, presentation, enthronement and acclamation. The equivalent of the exaltation is seen in v. 5, the presentation in v. 6, the bestowal of authority in v. 7, and the acclamation (praise, worship) in vs. 8–14. So the Christ-Redeemer enters upon his reign in power.”[6] (Italics and bold mine)
A. Exaltation v. 5
A contract or will would be written either on stone tablets with clay wrapped around it with a brief description to give information on the tablet’s contents. “When papyrus or parchment was introduced, fundamentally the same procedure was used, and the document was sealed with seven seals. A related procedure took place with the writing of a will, in that a will was sealed by seven witnesses, and after the death of the testator it was opened, when possible, in their presence…the scroll in the hand of God represents his covenant promise of judgment and kingdom for humanity.”[7]
B. Presentation v. 6
C. Enthronement v. 7
D. Acclamation (praise, worship) v. 8-14
cf. compare
[1] D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Re 4:1–5:14.
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996), Re 4:1.
[3] D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Re 4:1–11.
[4] D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Re 4:1–11.
[5] D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Re 4:1–11.
[6] D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Re 5:1–14.
[7] D. A. Carson, New Bible Commentary : 21st Century Edition, 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), Re 5:1–14.
Theology in the Dirt 