August 30 - The Throne Room

August 30 - Revelation 4:1-5:14 - The Throne Room

If I said before that I had a favorite passage in scripture, it pales in comparison to how I view these verses. There is no greater desire in my heart and soul than to be standing before God in heaven, bowing down before Him with all that I have and all that I am and offering Him the words, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come." (Rev. 4:8)

The glory and majesty of this scene in John's vision entrances me. From the twenty-four elders dressed in white with crowns of gold on their heads to the four living creatures covered in eyes, the spectacle barely begins to be described.

The throne, encircled by an emerald rainbow, and enabling flashes of lightning, rumbling and peals of thunder, is filled with one having the appearance of jasper and carnelian. Seven lamps blazing before the throne light up a crystal clear sea of glass.

We have met the Creator and before Him all praise and worship flow from the elders, who lay down their crowns ... those glorious crowns of gold ... before him, crying out "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." (Rev. 4:11)

Some of these images are too intricate to be comprehended by my small mind, but in the next scene, John tells us that he sees a Lamb, who had been slain standing in the center of the throne. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders surround him. He has seven horns and seven eyes.

The beginning of the prophecy is about to occur as he takes the scroll from the right hand of God. The elders are holding harps and golden bowls. Each of those bowls is filled with incense, which is the prayers of the saints. These are our prayers.

They sing a new song of praise to the Lamb. "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals," they cry, "because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God 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." (Rev. 5:9)

Then, thousands of angels join in the chorus, a chorus I so desperately want to sing with them, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise." (Rev. 5:12)

After the angels join the elders in song, every single creature in heaven, on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, join singing, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever." (Rev. 5:13)

To which the four living creatures respond with "Amen" and the elders fell down and worshipped.

"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever."

Amen. We can do no more than to fall down and worship.