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[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 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 around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[b]
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor 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 honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
So this is the part where we ask you to put on your 3-D glasses.
As a young dropout I partook of some hallucinogenic substances, but let me tell you this is right up there. No doubt about it. And this morning I am very grateful that I have distanced myself from eschatological interpretation.
But try not to let the incomprehensibility of it put you off. This is awesome, and awe inspiring stuff.
It is possible that the imagery we have in Revelation is in the form of code that would have been well understood by it's first readers, meeting in secret, in a way we can never know this side of Jesus' return.
As I spoke of yesterday, in order to enter into the text we must understand the context of the prophecy.
I hope I laid it out pretty clearly yesterday, the throne comes as a relief. As Authority in the midst of the undermining of the church. As the seat of power in a time when many felt powerless. This is the ultimate 'bigger picture '.
Let me break it down.
The rainbow encircled throne from where thunder and lightning emanate.
The twenty four crowned elders in white.
The sevenfold Spirit.
Four living, all seeing creatures, lion, Ox, man and Eagle.
All here for one purpose and one purpose only.
The worship of God who sits on the throne.
Wow. Forget the bizarre imagery. Whatever it represents and get the atmosphere.
The four living creatures all saying ;
Holy.
Holy.
Holy.
The Lord GOD Almighty.
Who was, throughout all ages past. From the beginning of time itself. Almighty.
Who is, even now, in the midst of our chaos and confusion, reigning. Almighty.
Who is to come, to dispel despair, to end pain and suffering and to bring everlasting peace and joy, so sorrow and sighing do one, and leg it.
Almighty.
And whenever they do this, which is all the time, the poor old elders fall down and cast their crowns before the throne.
I don't really pity them. Their position is the most privileged of all humans.
And then they say, while they are down there;
"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."
It is this awesome sense of the holiness of God that much of our church life lacks.
I don't understand how in the light of such power we ever could be afraid of anything or anyone else. Not if we truly get it.
I don't understand how we could wallow in and play with sins when this almighty one is the one we serve.
I don't understand how in the light of holiness we would ever deem to place a 'human right ' over God's command and relegate his word to a guideline.
I don't understand how, if we are truly viewing God in this way we can ever be indifferent again.
I sometimes think even the demons have more respect for God than we do.
James says, you believe in God? Good. So do the demons.... And tremble.
I sometimes think we could use a whole lot more trembling.
This Holy and all powerful Sovereign is the one we worship. Worthy of all we have, and able to keep us entirely.
Can we say today, with Paul.;
I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to keep that which I have entrusted to him until that day.
And he is the one, who is to come.
No sacrifice is wasted.
Everything is noted.
Every word.
Every deed.
Every hair.
Every single breath.
All for you Lord, who was and is, and is to come.
You are worthy to receive glory and honour and power,
Amen.
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