This past June, the Salvati family, we went west.
And we were able to see the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park,
and in a word, awesome.
I'll never forget, standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon,
and overwhelmed by its size and its age and its beauty and its power.
It's one of a kind.
You can see it from space.
It's awesome.
Overwhelmed amazement.
How are you feeling this morning?
Did you come in feeling awesome?
Maybe you're feeling burnt out.
You're serving out of obligation, not adoration,
and you're like, it'd be good to get some gratitude around here.
Maybe you're strung out.
I know there are parents in here who are sleep-deprived,
and they're just trying to hold it all together.
You're strung out.
Maybe you're checked out.
You have shelved discernment, biblical discernment,
and you've been doing one little compromise after the next,
and now you've just kind of glossed over,
and you've checked out.
Maybe you're a sellout,
indistinguishable from the rest of the non-believing world,
and you are ashamed to speak the name of Jesus.
Or maybe you're ready to tap out.
You've been living for Jesus.
You've been trying to be faithful to him.
You've got Thanksgiving on the horizon
with your unbelieving family,
and you're just thinking,
maybe I should just go and just keep my mouth shut
and let it all be peace, peace,
when there is no peace.
And you just want to tap out.
You just want to say,
I've tried to do my Jesus thing,
and I'm at it.
It's too hard.
Do you know what you need?
You don't need to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.
You don't need to schedule a time better.
What you need is awe.
Awe.
Overwhelming amazement
at the one sitting on the throne
in heaven right now.
It's time to get your awe on.
And you get your awe on
by seeing the God on his throne.
Worthy.
Join in the chorus of praise.
Worthy.
This morning,
whether you're burnt out,
checked out,
strung out,
a sell out,
or on the verge of tapping out,
you've got to get your awe on.
You've got to see the one sitting on the throne.
In Revelation chapter 4 and 5,
we're given this vision
into the heavenly throne room.
It's quite an inspiring vision.
An awe-inspiring vision.
And this morning,
we're going to focus on chapter 4.
And chapter 4 develops in five steps.
First, there's the summons to the throne room.
Verse 1.
Chapter 4.
And then we see the one seated on the throne.
Verses 2 and 3.
And then there's this activity
from and before the throne.
Verses 5 and 6.
And then the entourage around the throne.
Four living creatures
with a bunch of eyeballs
and 24 elders.
Who are they?
I don't know.
Well, I do know.
I'm going to tell you.
They're around the throne.
And it all culminates
in praise
in verses 8 and 11.
Five steps
of an awe-inspiring vision
of God on His throne.
It's time to get your awe on.
And you get that
by seeing God on His throne.
So let's start with verse 1.
The summons.
You know, it would really be good
to have my Bible.
Verse 1
of chapter 4.
After this, I looked,
and behold,
a door standing open in heaven
and the first voice
which I heard speaking to me
like a trumpet said,
come up here
and I will show you
what must take place
after this.
In verse 1,
we are to see what John sees
and hear what John hears.
And what he sees
is an open door
in heaven.
Now, I don't know
what your experience
with open doors is
in the Salvati house.
An open door
in our house
typically means
there is something burning
in the kitchen
and we need to air it out.
And so,
that's not what's going on
in heaven.
Or,
in the Salvati house,
someone has forgotten
to close the door
and anybody can just
come in at that point.
But it's not like
God on His throne
is saying,
hey, Archangel Michael,
please close the door.
You forgot to close it.
That's not the open door.
The open door
in verse 1
is an invitation.
Come and see.
Come.
Open door.
An invitation.
And John
not only sees
this open door,
he tells us,
behold!
An open door
in heaven.
He wants us
to see.
We're going to have
a line of sight
into the very throne room
in heaven
through this vision.
And not only
does He tell us
to see this,
He hears a voice.
I heard
speaking to me
like a trumpet.
A voice.
Come up here
and I will show you
what must
take place
after this.
It's the same voice
of chapter 1
verse 10.
It's the voice
of the risen,
radiant,
and reigning Christ.
And it's trumpet
light because it's loud
and it's focused.
It is a
heart-piercing
word.
And the invitation
is to come up
to the open door
to look
in.
I will show you
what must take place
after this.
It's no coincidence
that this
Jesus
who had shed
His blood
for John
is the one
who's ushering
Him into
the very throne room
of God.
And He says,
I will show you
what must
take place
after this.
And that word must
is a divine
must.
It is
necessarily
going to happen.
What must
take place
after this,
these future
events that
are now going
to happen
after Jesus
has dressed
these seven
churches
in chapters 2
and 3.
What must
now take place
is ordained
by God
to happen.
It's a divine
necessity.
It will
happen.
And so
what happens
in chapters 4
and 5
is this
throne room
and what
gets enacted
from the
throne room
for chapters 6
through 22
in the book
of Revelation
is these
things that
must happen.
The outworking
of God's
will for the
fullness of
time culminating
in His judgment
of all things.
It's going
to happen.
So here
in this
summoning
John
is summoned
to peer
into the
throne room
of God
in heaven
to see
what must
happen
now
that these
letters to
the seven
churches
have been
written.
So those
are written
in 96 AD.
So John
is being
brought into
what's going
to happen
is going
to happen
right after
that.
And so
what we
are being
brought into
is God
at work
in the
world
now.
The vision
to the
churches
in chapters
2 and 3
is the
churches
being
challenged
on earth.
And what
this is
happening
in verse
1 is a
transition
from these
churches
being challenged
on earth
to God
on His
throne
unchallenged
in heaven.
We go
from earth
to heaven
the throne
room.
That's what's
happening
here.
And it's
very timely.
These
seven
churches
in Asia
Minor
modern day
Turkey
96 AD
they were
experiencing
all sorts
of stuff.
And they
were being
called to
overcome
and now
what happens
is they're
given this
vision
of God
exalted
on His
throne.
God is
on His
throne
church.
And we
are brought
into this
vision too.
It's time
to get
your
awe
on.
It's
time to
see the
one
sitting
on the
throne.
So if
you're
burnt
out,
if you're
strung
out,
if you're
checked
out,
if you're
a sell
out,
or you
are about
to tap
out,
this
vision
of God
on His
throne
is coming
at just
the right
time for
you.
it was
just the
right time
for the
seven
churches
in Asia
Minor,
and it's
just the
right time
for you.
So we've
seen the
summons.
Now let's
look at
verses 2
and 3,
the one
on the
throne.
John
peers through
the door
in verse
2.
He's
empowered
by the
Spirit.
That's also
from chapter
1,
verse 10.
It's a
vision given
to a
prophet,
and in
the Spirit
he beholds,
first thing,
a throne.
A throne.
That word
throne is a
very important
word in the
book of
Revelation.
It appears
46 times
throughout the
book.
40 of those
times is an
explicit reference
to God
on His
throne
reigning
over all.
And then
here in
chapter 4,
of those
40 times,
throne is
used 11
times in
chapter 4
alone.
So do you
know what
that means?
Chapter 4
is throne
dense.
It's
emphatic.
God wants
to get
throne on
your mind.
His throne.
His reign.
His working
out of all
things.
As Americans,
we don't
really think
much of
kings,
throne rooms,
thrones.
I mean,
we're
Americans.
But we're
familiar enough
with it to
know.
The closest
thing we have
to a king
is a president.
The closest
thing we have
to a throne
room is an
oval office.
The closest
thing we have
to throne
furniture is
the resolute
desk sitting
in the oval
office.
Maybe you've
seen National
Treasure 2.
people.
And we all
know that the
one seated
at this
desk is
making decisions
for our
nation.
That this
one at this
desk, he's
exercising
authority.
He's making
plans, setting
him into
motion.
The closest
thing that we
have to a
king in a
throne room
and a throne
is a
president in an
oval office
and a
resolute desk.
But the
throne that
John sees,
it's not in
a white
house.
It's not in
a palace or
a fortress.
It's not even
on earth.
This is a
throne in
heaven.
The throne
in heaven.
The throne
that from
which authority
is exercised
over all
kingdoms.
whether that's
human,
animal,
whether that
is spiritual
or even
solar kingdoms,
from this
throne,
everything is
ruled over.
When we see
that word
throne, we
need to invest
it with
sovereignty.
Unrivaled,
all authoritative,
all powerful,
rule over all
things in
heaven and on
earth and
under the
earth and
across the
galaxies.
We're in the
throne room
of God.
If you're
familiar with
your Bibles,
you've been
there before.
Ezekiel
chapter 1
and Isaiah
chapter 6.
If you
were the
early church
in 96
AD,
this would
have been
really good
news.
You've just
been told by
the risen
Christ they're
going to be
facing challenges
and tribulations
you need to
overcome.
And now
the focus is
shifted
onto heaven
and God
on his throne
unrivaled
and unchallenged.
You see,
that throne
doesn't have a
little sign on
it that says,
be back after
lunch.
That throne
has someone
sitting on it.
and we
see this
someone
described
in verse
3.
And he
who sat
there
had the
appearance
of Jasper
and Carnelian
and around
the throne.
It was a
rainbow that
had the
appearance
of an
emerald.
The Greek
language,
which this
is a
translation
of,
it's
actually
more
specific.
It would
read like
this.
And he
who sat
there
had the
like
appearance
of Jasper
and Carnelian
and around
the throne
was a
rainbow
that had
the
like
appearance
of an
emerald.
He's
playing off
of Ezekiel
chapter 1
where Ezekiel
has a
vision of
God
on his
mobile
throne
and he
describes,
Ezekiel
describes
the God
he sees
as an
appearance
of his
likeness.
He's
not even
getting
close
to
describing
imaging
God
which
would
have
been
forbidden.
Though
there's
reverence
here.
Did you
notice the
stones,
Jasper,
Carnelian
and
Emerald?
They're
very valuable
stones.
They're going
to show up
later in
21
talking about
the new
Jerusalem
but all
these stones
are
translucent
which means
they let
light shine
through
and they
bring color.
without
seeing
what's
behind
them.
It's like
privacy
glass in
your
bathroom.
Let's
light out
but you
can't see
anything
inside of
it.
There's
mystery
here.
But
color,
light,
brilliance,
awe,
wonder.
And did
you notice
the rainbow
around the
throne?
verse
three,
and around
the throne
was a
rainbow.
Your
mind
should
make a
beeline
to
Genesis
chapter
nine
where
after the
flood
God
promises
not to
send
another
flood
and he
marks
that
promise
and we
see it
every time
there's a
summer
thunderstorm
rainbow.
You should
be thinking
mercy.
This
throne
exalted
high
with the
one
on it
over
all
things
mercy.
Awe
inspiring.
What we
have here
is God
and his
breathtaking
beauty
sitting
on his
overall
throne
in heaven
and what
the emphasis
of this
passage is
is God
is on
the throne
right now.
Would you
mind turning
to the
person next
to you
and telling
them right
now God's
on his
throne right
now?
Go ahead.
He is
on his
throne
right now.
The churches
in 96
AD
would have
welcomed
this
despite
what they
may have
been feeling
despite
the threats
and the
challenges
they were
experiencing
they were
being given
a vision
of God
on his
throne
and we
are too.
I don't
know what
you're going
through.
I don't
know if
you're burnt
out,
if you're
strung
out,
if you're
checked
out,
if you're
a sell
out,
or if
you're
about to
tap
out.
God's
on his
throne
and that
is to
have an
effect
on your
soul
which you
start crying
out,
worthy.
This
awe
gives
persevering
power.
All right,
we've
been
summoned,
we've
seen God
on his
throne,
are you
starting to
get your
awe on a
little bit?
The third
step now,
interesting
activity coming
from and
before the
throne.
I'm just
going to
point out
some stuff
and I'm
going to
camp out
on something.
There are
three things
here.
From the
throne are
coming
lightnings
and rumblings
and thunderstorms
and what
you're to be
thinking about
in light of
our Bibles
is Exodus
chapter 19,
Mount Sinai.
God
delivered his
people,
brought them
to this
mountain,
he's going
to make a
covenant with
him,
give him
his law,
and he
is theophanizing,
he's showing
up in
dark clouds
and rumbling
and you
know what
the people
were feeling?
A little
scared,
awe.
It's going
around the
throne,
it's coming
from the
throne.
And not
just that,
we read
that there
are these
seven burning
torches
and we're
told in
verse 5
that the
seven spirits
of God,
God.
I'm going
to come
back to
verse 4
in a
little bit.
These
seven spirits
of God
we've learned
earlier from
this series,
it's actually
a reference
to the
one Holy
Spirit
in his
fullness.
That number
seven for
the Hebrew
mind meant
completeness
and fullness.
And so
before the
throne in
heaven is
the fullness
of the
Spirit's
presence lighting
up the
heavenly temple.
that's what's
going on
there.
But what I
want to
show you
is this
sea.
There is a
sea before
the throne.
We read,
and before
the throne,
verse 6,
there was,
as it were,
a sea of
glass,
like crystal.
It's
interesting.
A sea,
am I reading
that right?
S-E-A,
sea of
glass.
You need
to understand
that in the
book of
Revelation,
and in the
Bible generally,
the sea is
associated with
evil,
with chaos.
It's a
chaos maker.
Do you
remember in
Mark chapter
4 and 5,
chapter 5,
Jesus shows
up in the
area of the
Gesinnerines,
and there is
this guy going
nuts.
He's a
demoniac
possessed by a
legion of
demons,
and he's
running around
the cemetery
naked,
and nobody,
no human
could bind
him.
Jesus shows
up,
and he sets
this guy
free,
and he's
calming in his
right mind.
Do you remember
what happened
before it?
Jesus is on
a boat on
the Sea of
Galilee,
making headway
to this place
to set this
demoniac free.
Do you
remember what
happens on
the sea?
It goes
nuts.
It's chaos.
Do you
remember what
Jesus says to
the sea?
Peace, be
still.
Be still
chaos.
Done.
It was
like glass.
glass.
And then
he sets
the demoniac
free.
There's a
connection
between
demonic,
satanic
activity
in the
raging sea.
Let me
point to
you further.
In Revelation
chapter 13,
the beast,
one of the
three of
the members
of the
anti-trinity,
dragon,
beast,
false prophet,
the beast,
do you know
where he comes
up from?
The sea.
Chaos maker.
And then
maybe you
remember when
you read in
your Bible
at the end
of Revelation,
Revelation 21,
you're reading
about the new
heavens and
the new
earth being
created,
and there's
this little
line there
that says,
in the sea
was no more,
and usually
what I do
is like,
I don't know
what that
means,
I just keep
on reading.
Here's what
that means.
Chaos is
done.
So now we
come back
to the
throne room.
And before
the throne
is a sea
of glass
like crystal,
smooth as
ice.
Oh,
there's no
chaos in
the throne
room of
God.
There's no
crazy making
going on.
it's at
peace,
tranquil.
God is
in control.
What we
see going
on around
here,
the
thunderstorm's
power,
the fullness
of the
Spirit's
presence,
and a
peaceful
sea right
in front
of the
throne.
It's
supposed to
get your
awe on.
It's good
news for
the burnt
out,
the strung
out,
the checked
out,
the sell
out,
and those
about to
tap out.
God's on
his throne
right now.
You may
not feel
like that,
but he
is.
Now I
want to go
back to
verse 4 and
verses 6 and
8, because
this is the
fourth move.
There is this
entourage around
the throne,
and I'm
guessing many
of you have
been like,
what are these
living creatures
with all those
eyeballs?
Well, this
entourage around
the throne is
encircling the
throne.
Think of two
concentric circles.
The group
around, the
furthest out, is
24 elders, and
then inside that,
right almost on
top of the throne,
are four living
creatures.
They're surrounding
the throne.
So who are these
24 elders?
Well, there's a lot
of debate.
Scholars say, well,
they might represent
the 24 Levites
worshiping the
temple in the
Old Testament.
Or there's some
really smart folks
that think that
this is a distinct
class of angels
around God's throne
that are kind of
like God's
angelic advisors.
But there's another
option, an option
that I tend to be
persuaded of,
key word,
persuaded,
lean to.
I wouldn't die
on this hill,
but I think you'll
see why in a
second.
That these 24
elders are actually
representing
redeemed humanity.
That they are
representing saints
of old and new.
Now, why would I
say that?
When you read the
descriptions of
these 24 elders
elders in verse
4, you read
that they're
seated on
thrones, that
they're clothed
in white garments,
that they've got
gold, gold crowns
on their heads.
It should ring
some bells.
The letter to the
church of Laodicea,
you remember
what Jesus said,
come by for me.
Come by for me.
Gold refined by
fire,
white garments.
And then,
towards the end
of three,
he says,
the one who
conquers,
I will grant him
to sit with me
on my throne,
as I also conquered
and sat down with
my father on his
throne.
Throne,
white garments,
gold.
I think that this
beleaguered church
is given a vision
of their representatives
around the throne.
throne.
There are 24 of them.
What's up with the
number 24?
Well, it's a clear
doubling of the
number 12, as in
the 12 tribes of
Israel, as in the
12 apostles of the
Lamb.
And when you get
back into Revelation
21, the new
Jerusalem, this
glorious city coming
down from heaven,
what you see is
described as this
gigantic wall around
the city has 12
gates, and there
are names on those
12 gates, the 12
tribes of Israel.
And this same one
city has 12
foundations, and on
those 12 foundations
are 12 names, the
12 names of the
apostles of the
Lamb.
This one city,
together,
representing all of
God's redeemed, 12
tribes, 12
apostles, God's
people who believe
in Jesus, Jew and
Gentile.
These 24 elders are
representatives of the
Old Testament and New
Testament saints
reigning with God in
His presence.
And that's just the
first part of the
entourage.
Let's turn to the
second group around
the throne, those
within the circle.
And verses 6 and
8, we read about
them.
They are described
as living creatures.
And when you read
their descriptions of
having eyeballs all
over the place and
wings, you're kind of
left shocked.
this is really weird.
It's meant to have
that effect on you.
And it's meant to
stir your thinking.
These symbols often
point back to the
Old Testament as
these are right now.
These creatures,
living creatures
around the throne,
these four living
creatures, they have
so many similarities
to the angels of
Ezekiel 1 and Isaiah
6 that are
surrounding the
throne visions
there.
Winged creatures
with really odd
features.
In verse 7, we
read that the first
of these living
creatures is like a
lion.
The second is like
an ox.
The third is like
a man.
And the fourth is
like an eagle.
Do you know what
those four creatures
have in common?
they are the
strongest of their
species.
They represent
their species.
And when he put
four of them
together around the
throne, you have
representation of
all species, all
creation around the
throne.
four carries the
sense of the
four winds, the
four points of the
compass.
These four living
creatures are
representatives of
all of God's
creation.
And these creatures
have six wings like
the seraphim in
Isaiah 6.
In verses 6 and
8, we read that
they're covered with
eyes.
You kind of think
it's kind of
grotesque until you
realize why they're
so eyeballed out.
Look at verse 8.
And the four living
creatures, each of
them with six wings,
are filled out with
so many eyeballs.
It's who they're
around.
All of their eyes
are fixed on the
one sitting on the
throne.
All attention, all
attention in the
heavenly throne room
is on the one
sitting on the
throne.
All eyes on the
one sitting on the
throne.
All of their eyes
are on him.
All of creation is
bearing witness to
the creator on the
throne.
these four creatures
represent all of
creation and they
make up the second
half of the entourage
around the throne.
Let's put it all
together.
Because if you put it
all together, and
this is why I think
they represent what
they do, you have
representation of all
of God's works of
redemption and
representation of all
of God's work of
creation in the throne
room paying close
attention to the one
on the throne.
It's an entourage of
representations of
those who are blood
bought and those who
God has called into
existence.
we are being given a
glimpse into the throne
room of God and those
attending him and it
is awesome.
It's what's happening
right now.
We're going to wrap up
this service maybe at
1120, 1125.
we're going to go our
different ways.
But the heavenly worship
service never ends.
It never stops.
Because the entourage,
they're not indifferent
into whose presence
they're in.
they're not burnt out.
They're not strung out.
They're not checked out.
There's no sell out.
They're not about to tap
out.
Oh, they're dialed in.
We've seen the entourage.
They've got their awe on.
Because awe always
culminates in praise.
And that's what we see
happening in verses 8 and
11.
It's the final move of
this chapter.
Summons.
We've seen the one
sitting.
We see what's going on
around the throne.
The entourage.
And now the praise.
Both the four living
creatures and the 24
elders offer up
praise to the one
sitting on the throne.
It starts with the
four living creatures.
They read in verse 8.
They never cease to say,
Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty
who was and is
and is to come.
This is what they do.
They keep on praising
God.
They've got their awe on.
And it culminates
in praise.
It's what the seraphim
are doing in Isaiah.
6.
Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God
Almighty.
And that's what we see
happening here.
There's a three-fold
praise for who God
is.
His holiness,
His power,
and His eternality.
Holy, holy, holy.
It's the distinct
character trait of God.
It's the only word
used three times
to describe God
in worship of Him.
There's no other word
repeated three times.
We don't have,
oh, you're God of love,
love, love.
Oh, you're God of power,
power, power.
We have a God who is
holy, holy, holy.
It's emphatic.
It means set apart
in one's nature,
in one's essence,
other.
And these four living
creatures recognize it.
There's no one like you.
No one like you.
God doesn't think
that His holiness
is boring,
and neither do
these four living
creatures around
the throne.
There's no boredom
in God's presence.
There's no boredom
in God's presence.
Not only is He
holy, holy, holy,
He is almighty.
And we're very familiar
with this word almighty.
Maybe overly familiar.
It means all-powerful,
unlimited,
unrivaled.
There's no other
created being
or thing
that even comes
close to rivaling
God in His power.
Let me give you
an example.
I like sci-fi things.
I like movies
about black holes
and spaceships
coming to black holes
and they gotta put
all their thrusters on
in order to get away
from the black hole.
Black holes
are like
mysterious,
gigantic things
that nobody
wants to deal with.
They can have
kind of like this
almightiness to them.
But if this is true,
God the Creator
not only thought up
black holes,
not only has them
named all throughout
the universe,
He's the one
who flicked them
into existence
with His pinky.
God doesn't get
sucked into black holes.
There is nothing,
no one,
that comes close
to the power
of the Lord God
Almighty.
He speaks things
into existence
with just words.
He saves
sinners
from the consequences
of their sins.
There's a power,
no one has a power
like that.
And not just
is He powerful,
He is eternal
who was
and is
and is to come.
Here are four
created beings
around the throne
and they are
basically
kind of reiterating
Psalm 92,
from everlasting
to everlasting,
you are God.
God,
there's no one
like that.
You may have
an eternity
in front of you,
you do not have
an eternity
behind you.
God does.
He is the
ancient of days,
no beginning
and no end.
He is the
everlasting
I am
set apart
in all that He is.
In a very real sense,
time owns you.
You are bound
by time.
We've got 70,
80 years
if we're strong.
We've got to be places.
We've got to hit our marks.
But isn't it good to know
that the one sitting
on the throne,
He is timeless.
He owns time.
Time serves God's purposes.
That's why Jesus
can say,
I will show you
what must
take place
because I've got
time as a tool.
God owns time
because
God is
timeless.
It's three-fold praise.
these living creatures
are
praising God
for His holiness,
for His power,
for His eternality
and none of them
are bored.
It's a glorious
sight.
And then
these four living creatures
in verse 9,
they're like worship leaders.
they're saying,
holy, holy, holy.
Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty.
He who was
and is
and is to come
and whenever
they say that
because they keep on
saying it
or things like it.
Verse 10,
the other,
those outside
the circle,
the 24 elders,
they hear that
and then they respond.
They've got their
awe on
and it culminates
in praise.
They hear these words,
holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty.
He who was
and is
and is to come
and you don't
see the elders.
What time is it?
They're falling down.
They're worshiping Him.
They're lifting
their voices.
They're casting
their crowns.
This crown
is mine
because you gave it
to me.
I'm giving it back.
You be praised
and glorified.
Oh, it's such a good
picture for us
of how to respond
to who God is.
When we are awed
by God,
the response
is dropping down.
It's humility.
It's giving back.
It's a great picture
for us
and look what they're saying.
worthy are you,
our Lord and God.
You don't know this,
but that same phrase
was used
to
greet
the Emperor
Domitian
in 96 A.D.
worthy are you,
Emperor,
Roman Emperor.
Worthy are you,
our Lord and God,
Emperor.
You see what's going on here?
The 24 elders
surrounding the throne,
they're like,
uh,
no.
There is only
one who is worthy.
He is no created thing.
He is no man or woman.
He's not sitting
on a human throne.
He's the one lifted up.
He's the one
on the throne in heaven.
These elders
representing
all of the redeemed
are saying
there is only one
who is worthy
to receive glory
and honor
and power.
It's a pile up
of praise words
words.
Words just can't
get all the way
around it.
It's,
they're seeing
His majesty
and their
worship
is reserved
for no other
than Him.
They give a reason
for it.
For you created
all things.
Worthy are you
for you created
all things.
there is no one
else who speaks
things into
existence
and then by
their will
keep them
existed.
That's the claim.
Not only did He
create,
He sustains.
And for
these churches
and for us,
that means
He is keeping
alive
all of
our
friends
and enemies.
God reigns
over it all.
He keeps
all things
in existence
by His
will.
Okay,
take a breath.
God's will.
Take another breath.
God's will.
He's keeping you
alive.
He's keeping
all things
alive.
just to let you
know.
Chapter 5
rolls around
and the four
living creatures
join their
voices with the
24 elders.
They're no longer
singing by themselves.
They're together
with one voice
singing a new
song,
no longer to the
one on the throne,
but to the Lamb
who was slain.
We're going to learn
about Him in two
weeks.
They form a chorus
because they got
their awe on.
And then chapter 5
verses 11 and 12
joining the
entourage are
all the angels,
myriads of angels
all in heaven
and they join the
four living creatures
and 24 elders
to sing a song
to the Lamb
who was slain.
The angels
got their awe
on and it
culminates in praise.
And then in 5
13,
all of heaven
is joined
by every creature
on earth
and under the
earth
to bless
the one
sitting on the
throne
and to the
Lamb.
It all
culminates in
praise
of all things
on heaven
and on earth
and around.
It's awesome.
The throne room
of God
is filled
with the glory
of God
and awestruck
attendants
who see Him
for who He is.
Awe
culminates
in praise
in heaven
and on earth.
It's from this
throne room
as we go
through the
book of Revelation.
This throne room
filled with
beautiful glory
and ceaseless praise.
It's from this
throne room
that the Lamb
will execute
the very plan
of the one
sitting on the throne
for the fullness
of time.
He's on
His throne
right now
carrying out
His purposes.
That's good news.
Are you feeling
burnt out?
Strung out?
Checked out?
Sell out?
You want to tap out?
Maybe you're just
bored out
of your mind.
right?
It's time to get
your on
because God
is on
His throne
right now.
So join the
chorus of praise.
The cure for
burnout
is awe.
The cure
for getting
strung out
is awe.
The cure
for getting
checked out
is awe.
The cure
for a sell out
is awe.
The cure
for being
wanted to
tap out
is awe.
The cure
for the one
bored out
of their mind
is awe.
Get a line
of sight
on the throne
room.
Get a line
of sight
on the one
seated on
the throne.
throne.
You need to
get your
awe on.
And the way
to get your
awe on
is beholding
the one
sitting right
now
on the throne.
And when you
do
you're going to
join the
chorus of praise.
Let me leave
you with this
final thought.
the heavenly
worship
of God
right now.
The heavenly
worship service
that is going
on right now
it's going
to continue.
You're going
to leave
this building
but the
24 elders
and the
four living
creatures
and the
myriads of
angels
they're going
to continue
to worship
Him.
It is
our glory
and joy
to enter
into the
ceaseless
praise
of all
attending
Him
and to
cry out
to Him
worthy.
Worthy
are you.
Worthy
is the
one who
is holy.
Worthy
is the
one who
is almighty
and worthy
is the
one who
was and
is and
is to
come
who is
on His
throne
forever
and ever.
Amen
and
amen.
God
we thank
you so
much
for
revelation
4.
God
would you
use
this
to
give
persevering
power
to our
souls
to get
through
this
week
and
this
day
for you.
For the
glory of
your name
the good
of all
people
and all
God's
people
said
amen.