Look Up
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, you are the God of the ages, the Savior of all who trust in you. Speak to me now from your Word.
The Throne in Heaven
4 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.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 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. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[b]
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “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.”
Footnotes
[a] Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
[b] Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
Revelation 4
REFLECT:
‘I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!’ (Psalm 121:1,2, NLT). What do you need help for today? Talk to God about it.
What a privilege! We are invited to accompany John through the thin veil separating earth and heaven (v1), and we immediately find ourselves in the epicenter of creation – God’s throne room (v 2). In our journey into the subsequent chapters, we must never lose the golden thread tying us to this moment and this great truth: God is on the throne of history.
This whole chapter is designed to cement God’s sovereignty into our consciousness. Shouts of praise constantly echo around the throne room (vs 8,11) as all of creation (symbolized by the four fantastic creatures in verses 6 and 7) and all his people (the 24 elders are symbolic figureheads of God’s people in every age – 12 Old Testament patriarchs and 12 apostles) worship him.
One can only imagine the effect this vision must have had on the embattled Christians who first heard it read in the context of their hardships and suffering. Despite all appearances, when they paused to look up, God was still supreme. What effect does this vision have on you in your context today?
APPLY:
Bring to mind the events of your day. Hold them as you prayerfully reflect on these words from the hymn: ‘Be Thou my vision … /… whatever befall, / Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.’ (Traditional. English version, Eleanor Hull, 1912.)
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will pray every day this week for the light of Jesus to be carried all over the world.
Pray with us
CLOSING PRAYER:
Living and loving God, when I feel overwhelmed, remind me that you are my fortress and I’m safe in your care.
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