Day 59: The Centre of the Universe - Revelation 4

1 As I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2-3 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones - like jasper and carnelian, and the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.

4-5 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.

6-7 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the centre and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty - the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

9-11 Whenever the living beings give glory and honour and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” Revelation Chapter 4 New Living Translation

It's possible that John was the last apostle alive when God gave him this vision to share with the Church and vs 1 suggests its purpose was so that God's people would be prepared for what was going to happen in the world. Jesus once told a parable of some bridesmaids waiting for a bridegroom to arrive (as the custom was in those days) but his arrival was delayed. When he finally arrived (at midnight) some of them didn't have enough oil for their lamps to go out and greet him. And Jesus said to His disciples: “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” The things God shows John were not so that we can calculate the day or hour (or even the year) of Christ's return, but to help us to keep watch!

We must also keep in mind that these are visions to convey a message rather than identikits. John often says that something he saw was 'like' something we are familiar with. (e.g. vs 6-7) Christians will sometimes differ in their explanations of these visions. My approach in these short studies is to suggest the general picture rather than try to explain every detail. But, before giving my thoughts, what is the message that comes across to you in this chapter? If you gave a one or two sentence summary, what would you say?

My 'one sentence summary' would be that God gave John a glimpse of the centre of the universe so that he could remind Christians who it is that is firmly in control of all things. He saw a glorious Person seated on an awesome throne surrounded by elders and amazing heavenly creatures. But the One on the throne is clearly central because the creatures covered their eyes before Him as they declared His holiness, and the elders cast down their crowns as they cried out that He is worthy of all glory, honour and power. It's as if John was in a great Parliament or Council Chamber where important decisions are made. Why was the one on the throne worthy of such supreme glory? (See the last part of vs 9-11).

It's because God is the creator of the whole universe that we can be confident that He is in control of everything. And it's because He is absolutely holy that we can be glad that it's God in control, and not anyone from the world. The centre of the universe is not a place, it's a person - Almighty God.