Word of Salvation – Vol.32 No.35 – August 1987

 

Open Bible Sermon

 

Sermon by Rev. M. C. DeGraaf on Rev.4:1-8

Reading: Psalm 97

Singing: BoW.H.10; 252; BoW.H.18; 469; 204

 

Brothers and Sisters,

This book of Revelation, where our text is found this morning, is of course not an easy one to understand.  Some passages in this book have a whole series of different interpretations.  Ever since the book was written, people have been struggling with its full meaning.  Some feel it is related only to the times in which it was revealed.  Others, on the other extreme, feel it can be used confidently as a guide-book for the history of the whole world OR at the very least the end of the world.  They look at the prophecies in this book and feel they can match it up neatly with events in the world’s history.  Every generation since John has had those who have cried out: “This is it, the end times are upon us, the signs are clear”.  And every generation has been, at least to a certain extent, wrong!!

They were WRONG because the Caesar, Gengis Khan and the Pope, and even Hitler have not shown themselves, with the test of time, to have been truly, and fully the ANTI-Christ.  They were wrong because the plagues they endured, and the wars they lost, were not, the pinnacle, as Revelation had seemingly described them to be.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, each generation has also been to a certain extent RIGHT! For ever since the beginning of the church, EVER SINCE the beginning of time, the elements of the anti-Christ have been with us.  Satan has been prowling around like a hungry lion, sometimes using the direct methods of persecution and sometimes more subtly leading astray as in our times with the twisting of humanism and human belief.  Whatever the method, the battle is the same.  The Apostle John definitely knew about it.  The church was persecuted.  The Roman emperor Domitian had ordered that the church be stamped out.  Christians were tortured and those who would not renounce their faith were put to death.  It was a time of great hardship for the young church.  It was also a time when the church within itself was struggling in its faith.  When we read the first few chapters of John’s revelation we hear Christ speak of churches which have been led astray by false teaching and false ethics.  It was in this situation, of Satan attacking from within and without, and the church obviously not standing that firmly, THAT WE should see the rest of this book.  Because it is in this way that the book is still relevant for us today!

And the first thing we notice is that in this dark and tense situation WE SEE A DOOR, like the light at the end of the tunnel.  John says: there is a door open in heaven.  We are not on our own, the doors are not closed.  God has not abandoned his beloved children and forgotten about them.  The door is open!  In the next chapter, we see that this relationship which God has with earth, means that He is deeply involved in the affairs of this planet.  BUT for now all that is indicated is the link and also as we shall see, most importantly, the ABILITY.

The door is open, and John hears the voice of Christ calling him to come up and see what must take place.  The Apostle says he was in the Spirit.  What that exactly means we don’t know.  It could mean that he was dreaming, or that he was awake but only his spirit went up as if there was a separation.  Or more likely it could simply indicate that he had had a Spirit-inspired vision.  In either case he looks in through the open door and sees the glory of heaven.  Perhaps not the way we will see it when we at last will arrive there.  It is probably more a symbolic representation of what it is like.

THE FIRST THING THAT STRIKES JOHN AND US IS THE THRONE.  This is central, the pinnacle.  His eyes are drawn immediately there, and he looks and sees it is magnificent!!!  It is interesting that John doesn’t mention GOD at this stage, nor does he attempt to describe him.  Perhaps he wasn’t shown God in his vision.  All he describes is brilliant light, like that from precious stones.  It is also noteworthy that God is very rarely referred to as “God” in John’s book.  In most places he is referred to as “the one who sits upon the throne”.

As we have already said this throne is important.  It tells us, as Psalm 99 does, that “the Lord reigns, let the earth tremble.”  Or from the angle of God’s children it tells us with Psalm 97 “the Lord reigns, let the people rejoice!”  Rejoicing and trembling, joy and fear… these are the two sides to the throne.  A God who comforts his people, a God who is in control, who protects, who sends his Spirit, a gentle shepherd who loves his sheep.  And on the other hand, a God who is angry with sin, who is at war with Satan and the members of his kingdom, a God who sent His Son to crush the serpent’s head, and who will one day hurl him and his followers into the sea of fire.

It is these things and more that the throne points to.  It tells us that right now, above the wars, the famines, the fears, the rising crime rate, and the embattled church, is a ruling King!!  God himself.

What a thought!  It is exciting, comforting, challenging, awe-inspiring – all at the same time.  No wonder that it is the first thing that John sees.  Whatever else may come in this book, or in the life of the church, this is first.  This has to be central.  Remembering this, it is beautiful to notice how John goes on.  He speaks of a “rainbow”.  And again, as we so often see in Revelation, we have an Old Testament image.  We see the God of Noah, the ruler of the world, who executed judgement on a sinful mankind through the flood, and YET was merciful.  God brought salvation for some and gave the rainbow as the symbol of his covenant love.  The rainbow which said, “I’m not going to be angry like this again.”  I’m going to make a covenant.  The rainbow which pointed at Jesus Christ who paid the price so that we would not have to face that wrath again!!

And surrounding God’s own throne was a clear symbol of this fact.  For John sees 24 other thrones on which were seated 24 elders.  Who these men are exactly we cannot say.  It seems significant that 24 is two times 12 and there were twelve tribes and twelve disciples.  Chapter 21 tells us their names are on the walls and gates of the new Jerusalem.  It seems likely that these twenty four represent both the old and the new covenants.  The church of all ages gathered before her Lord and Master.  We see that the elders wear crowns and white robes, just as Jesus had promised his faithful people in Revelation 2:10 and 3:4.  In several places they are described as worshipping and praising God, and chapter 5 tells us that they bring to God the prayers of His people.  That chapter also tells us that these people were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.  These people seem to be symbolic of a church in its entirety, worshipping, praising, adoring and serving its King who in turn watches over the church at all times from His throne.  He does so in awesome power and majesty.  John talks about flashes of lightning and great peals of thunder, just as God’s people had witnessed at Mt. Sinai.  John also speaks of the seven spirits.  Again, he doesn’t explain what he means.  What we do know is that seven usually speaks of wholeness so we see a God whose Spirit or perhaps spirits ARE complete, everywhere present and knowing all things.  And again the images are reinforcing the symbol of the throne.

The object which John says LOOKS LIKE sea of crystal seems to point to the same thing; reinforcing the glory, wonder, and also the HOLINESS of God.  For this lake-like plain seems to separate God from the apostle.  Despite the open door, there still must be a separateness.  John looks up and he sees FOUR LIVING CREATURES; one was like a lion, another like an ox, the third was like a human and the fourth like an eagle.  Like the elders, these creatures appear more often in this book, and we see that they are always near the throne, praising and worshipping just as the elders do.  They are strange creatures with many eyes and wings.  They seem to be related to the four creatures which Ezekiel talks about in his book, though they are slightly different!

Again, of course, the discussion concerning who these creatures could represent are endless.  One commentator lists 21 different interpretations.  It is impossible to pin it down exactly.  But like the elders they seem to be representative for something or someone.  Most likely they stand for creation in general, and the way God had originally created it.  We have already seen the church serving its King: now we see creation praising Him.  In the way it was created, nature sings to him, as the song says: “All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres”.  The mountains, the trees, the flowers, the birds – all things – pointing to their creator/king.  And what a song it is!  Day and night they never stop saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come”, or as Hebrews says “the same yesterday, today and forever.”

What a magnificent scene John describes for us.  As we go on in this book, we will see again that not all can be understood.  But we shall also see again as John did, GOD on His throne, filled with glory and majesty.  A King in control!  For those Christians in Asia Minor this was just what they needed, that open door.  In the darkness Satan can battle on, BUT THE WAR IS WON.  There IS meaning, there IS direction, there IS hope.  He was with us, He is with us, He will be with us no matter what!  Our Jesus! When the reality of this becomes central you begin to see what a positive book Revelation really is.  We need not be AFRAID.  Rather with the elders and with all creation we can sing: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise, and honour, and glory and power for ever and ever.”

AMEN.