The Lord's Servants: Boast of Christ Around the Throne

The Throne

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this" (Revelation 4:1-11). John was invited to see what no human eye had fully seen: the throne room of heaven.

The One Seated on the Throne

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow, shining like an emerald, encircled the throne.

Around the Throne

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. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

Before the Throne

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, the second like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Worship Around the Throne

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power."

The Scroll

Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals (Revelation 5:1-14). And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"

Who Is Worthy?

No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy.

The Lion and the Lamb

Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll." Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne.

The Price of Redemption

The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And they sang a new song:

"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Worship Breaks Out

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise."

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever." The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Looking Toward Christ's Return

One day we will be there. One day we will join that worship. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Look up. Look forward. Live ready. Behold, I am coming soon. The One who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.