D.L.

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Revelation Chapter 4

Can you believe that this is September 2024?

From this Sunday, 1st of September till the last Sunday of November, we will look into the Book of Revelation and explore Chapters 4 to 12. We have already explored Chapters 1-3, the Message to the Seven Churches. Chapters 4-12 are rich in symbolic and prophetic imagery and are part of the Apostle John’s vision while he was exiled to the island of Patmos. The messages in these chapters are often interpreted as revealing the majesty of God, the unfolding of divine judgment, the spiritual struggle between good and evil, and the ultimate victory of God.

There have been so many interpretations and theories about the Book of Revelation that it is hard to get a consensus regarding its message and meaning. Is it about the future? Is it all about the Tribulation? Is it Millennial, Premillennial, etc?

To simplify, the Book of Revelation is an “unveiling” of unseeing spiritual forces operating behind the scenes in humanity’s story. It is full of symbolic meanings, and it is a prophetic book.

For our purposes, we want to know its message and how we can grow in our love for Jesus, who is the Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and who is the only Worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honour, glory, and blessing (Rev. 5:12).

So, can I encourage you to read these chapters? Take notes of what the Spirit is saying to you; also, look into the Book of Daniel and the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel.

“After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.
Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.
Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.”
(Revelation 4,1-11 CSB17)

Here are some questions that may help to understand this chapter:

• When John looked into heaven, what was the chief and outstanding sight which met his eyes?
• What may we also learn from this vision about the origin, the control and the purpose of the created universe?
• What do we learn about the nature and character of God?
• Why is worship so central to this chapter, and what does it teach us about our own worship?