Bethel Baptist Church of Tillamook, OR
September 6, 2026
  • Holy, Holy, Holy
  • All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name
  • Grace Greater Than Our Sin

  • Revelation 4:1-11

    Big Idea: Our lives are transformed when we recognize and respond to the majesty of God on His throne, leading us to a deeper commitment to worship and obedience in every aspect.
    Jewish understanding of the throne as a symbol of power and majesty.
    review: Interpretive views on Revelation:

    1. Sight of Supreme Authority

    v. 1 - “after these things” is chronologically following the messages of Revelation 2 and 3, indicating a shift to a new vision John receives. The time of this vision is portrayed here as contemporaneous with John’s earthly time. What we will see is that the songs of worship in this chapter and in chapter 5 which celebrate Creation and the Cross are already past events, yet are anticipating the judgments to come and the saints’ future reign on earth .
    The “door standing open in heaven” — the unlocked access between earth and heaven. God’s heaven may seem distant and alien to everyday reality on earth, but John will be shown that it is close at hand and pervades all that takes place on earth. The Cross work of the Lord Jesus Christ makes it possible for believers to access heaven and the Most High. It is the Lord Jesus who is the “first voice” that John heard at the beginning of the Revelation. It is He who gives the invitation to John so he can receive a vision of the future events on earth and in heaven. These will include God’s full judgment and renewal of all things.
    v. 2 - John was not physically taken into heaven but “was in the Spirit”, expressing his state of Spirit possession. He entered immediately after Christ’s call to “Come up here.”
    The first detail: a throne standing in heaven, from where the universe is ruled and the One who wields the authority to rule. We will see it is the Lord God Almighty, God Most High.
    1 Kings 22:19 NASB95
    Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
    Psalm 47:8 NASB95
    God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.
    Isaiah 66:1 NASB95
    Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?
    This general detail is followed descriptions of the ...

    2. Splendor Surrounding the Throne

    Revelation 4:3-7
    v. 3 - John seeks to describe He who is indescribable in His glory, using the term “like” to give a idea of what he sees. His description is given both reverently and discretely. It has similarities to the description found in Ezekiel 1:26-28
    Ezekiel 1:26–28 NASB95
    Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.
    He is like a Jasper stone and a Sardius in appearance - let’s cf. Revelation 21:11
    Revelation 21:11 NASB95
    having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
    Some scholars believe this is a reference to a diamond, thus the Jasper in this verse is considered by some to refer to a diamond as well.
    The appearance of a sardius (some translations have carnelian) in appearance suggests a reddish-brown or orange color.
    The rainbow (or bow) around the throne is like an emerald in appearance, describing a bright green color. These precious stones portray the impressive value and beauty of what they describe. The green color may point to life-giving quality of the One on the throne.
    v. 4 - John sees more. There are 24 thrones surrounding the one throne, demonstrating its supremacy over the others. The thrones were not empty either. Each of the twenty-four had an elder sitting on it; elders throughout scripture are those who have been given responsibility. John gives us no detail of who they are, but that they are elders in God’s throne room, a royal council in heaven. They could be representing the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles or depicting the heavenly order of priestly ministers, of which the 24 orders of Levitical priests are an earthly picture of the heavenly reality. 1 Chr. 24 and 25
    The elders are described as being clothed in white garments, picturing the holiness which is expected of those who approach God. They also have golden crowns (stephanos) on their heads, picturing an exalted status, or victors in the face of struggles.
    v. 5 - Out from the throne speaks of the throne being the source of the flashes of thunder, sounds (“rumblings”), peals of thunder. When we compare this to Exodus 19:16-19, we see once again the symbols of theophany and the portents of coming judgment.
    Exodus 19:16–19 NASB95
    So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.
    Now John sees the heavenly source of the seven seals, trumpets, and bowl judgments.
    Revelation 8:5 NASB95
    Then the angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
    Revelation 11:19 NASB95
    And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.
    Revelation 16:18 NASB95
    And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.
    John also saw seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, representing the fulness of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah 11:2
    Isaiah 11:2 NASB95
    The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
    v. 6 - before the throne … John depicts a gleaming, transparent floor stretching out in front of God’s throne. It depicts the glory and purity of heaven.
    Climaxing what John sees are four living creatures who are in the center and around the throne; they make up the innermost circle around God’s throne. Ezekiel shares about the same creatures (with some important changes and omissions), identifying them as cherubim, whereas in Isaiah 6, Isaiah calls them seraphim. They are described as being full of eyes in front and behind, seeing all.
    v. 7 - each of these have a certain likeness: like a lion, like a calf, having a face like that of a man, like a flying eagle. They are creatures offering worship and service to God as they guard His purity and holiness.
    Genesis 3:24 NASB95
    So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.
    Psalm 18:10 NASB95
    He rode upon a cherub and flew; And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
    Isaiah 6:2–7 NASB95
    Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

    3. Songs of Sovereign Worship

    In verse 8, they also are said to have six wings and it stated a second time that they are full of eyes around and within. They are creatures of complete vigilance in protecting and doing God’s bidding.
    They lead in unceasing worship of the Lord God. “Holy, holy, holy” speaks of His absolute uniqueness as Lord and God, cf. Isa 6:3
    Isaiah 6:3 NASB95
    And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
    They then proclaim His worth as the self-existent One who controls history from beginning to end, with His future coming to bring all things to fulfillment in His eternal future.
    v. 9 - When the creatures give glory and honor to God, they are acknowledging His possession of His mighty attributes, recognizing and celebrating the glory and honor the Lord has and displays. Giving thanks, in combination with the giving glory and honor to the Lord, is a declaration about God’s character and an acknowledgment that He deserves gratitude for the blessings He bestows. They do this while He sits on his throne as the eternal self-existent One, reinforcing the point of God’s sovereignty over all this world’s history. Cf, Dan 4:34-35
    Daniel 4:34–35 NASB95
    “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
    Daniel 6:26–27 NASB95
    “I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; For He is the living God and enduring forever, And His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, And His dominion will be forever. “He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
    v. 10 - The creature are not alone in their worship. They are joined by the 24 elders who in humble adoration will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and respond in worship, not just a body position but indicating an attitude and activity of reverence and honor to the eternal God, demonstrating graphically their homage toward God by their act of casting their crowns before the throne. They rightly offered back to God that which they had received from him, thereby acknowledging that all creaturely honor is dependent on God’s gifts and must redound to the Creator’s praise.
    v. 11 - The elders sing of God’s perfection. Their song is addressed directly to God:
    They exalt God as the One deserving of all acclaim.
    They cite His creation of all things as the grounds of His worthiness.
    They extol God as Creator by acknowledging His control over the history of the world He created.
    They acknowledge that God alone has the right to direct the course of the world and its creatures according to His intent and timing.
    All the songs that John records here are only the beginning of repeated acclamations of worship that will flow in anticipation of God’s great victory to come.

      • 1 Kings 22:19NASB95

      • Psalm 47:8NASB95

      • Isaiah 66:1NASB95

      • Ezekiel 1:26–28NASB95

      • Revelation 21:11NASB95

      • Exodus 19:16–19NASB95

      • Revelation 8:5NASB95

      • Revelation 11:19NASB95

      • Revelation 16:18NASB95

      • Isaiah 11:2NASB95

      • Genesis 3:24NASB95

      • Psalm 18:10NASB95

      • Isaiah 6:2–7NASB95

      • Isaiah 6:3NASB95

      • Daniel 4:34–35NASB95

      • Daniel 6:26–27NASB95

  • God Of Grace
Bethel Baptist Church of Tillamook, OR
revrlcasper@gmail.com
(503) 842-5598
https://bbc-tillamook.faithlifesites.com
20 members • 1 follower