Strathalbyn Church of Christ

There’s an expression, “The big picture”. We might say of someone, ‘he is a big picture person’, or ‘she’s got a big picture of this’. In other words, he/she’s got a big view of things. A C.E.O might have a big picture; a P.M. or Premier might have a big picture. This morning let’s try and get a big picture, a big view of God.

In the bible reading for today from The Revelation, ch 4, we hear these words: “At once I was in the Spirit, and lo a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne!”

The first thing John notices when he looks through the door into heaven, is a throne, with one seated on the throne. We will think a bit about that in a minute, but first a little background to the Book of the Revelation.

The time is probably towards the end of the first century A.D., in the time of the Roman Emperor Domitian who called himself ‘god’ and ruled the world. The emperor had built the Pantheon, with its niches for every little god, so he could mix all the religions and unite the world religiously. The Christians would not join in; and they were severely persecuted.

In such a time, no doubt some were asking, ‘Where is God? Who is in charge of the world?’ John, who by now is an aged apostle of Jesus and in prison on the Island of Patmos off the coast of Turkey, is given a revelation. “Revelation” is translated from the word “apocalypse”, and means to go backstage, to see what is really happening, to see who is in charge. God gave John a revelation to help the Christians to see that however difficult the present troubles may be, God is still on the throne, right will eventually triumph, and wrong will be finally conquered.

Now we too, in our day for various reasons, may also need this assurance that God is still on the throne.

Coming back now to the reading. As I said, the first thing John notices when he looks through the door into heaven, is a throne. A big picture, a big view of God, is to see that God is on the throne.

Now human reason doesn’t always tell us that God is on the throne, but divine revelation does.

We don’t always see that God is on the throne by looking out at the world, but we do see that God is on the throne by looking in the Bible.

Finally, it is not reason that tells us God is on the throne, but revelation.

What comes to mind when we hear the word “throne”? Some people may have seen a throne in an overseas country. I am told that there is a golden throne somewhere in the Palace of Versailles. Once a King,

Louis XIV sat upon it issuing his commands and orders.

Or perhaps some saw the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and saw her sitting on an impressive looking throne.

Well here, John looks into the throne room of heaven and sees God’s throne!

Today the word “throne” doesn’t convey the idea of power very much to us because we aren’t used to it like they would have been in Bible times.

Our Queen has very little power, for ours is a constitutional monarchy. But in Bible times in a kingdom back then, the throne was the highest authority in a realm, and the highest court in the land. A throne then was a place of power and a place of judgement; it was the highest authority and the highest court to judge appeals. Let’s listen to David, himself a king, as he speaks to God.

I’m reading from 1 Chronicles 29: 10-13 in the Old Testament.

“David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly; and David said: ‘Blessed are you O LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Yours O LORD is the greatness and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you our God, and praise your glorious name.”

And so, David declared “Yours is the kingdom, O LORD…” that is, yours is the sovereignty, yours is the reign, yours is the royal rule. David knew for sure that God was on the throne!

In psalm 97 we hear these words: “righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.” 97:2. In other words, God’s rule is built on, based on, righteousness and justice. His laws, commands, judgements are right and just, good and fair. Everything God does is right.

Coming back now to what John tells us he saw as he looked through a door into heaven. He sees a throne and one seated on the throne. Now we don’t want to get lost in the details, but rather to get an impression.

“And he who sat there appeared like Jasper and carnelian.” - bright red precious stones.

“And round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.” - Emerald is a beautiful translucent green. And so John saw beautiful flashing colours. The rainbow may recall God’s rainbow after the flood. The rainbow was a sign of God’s everlasting covenant with the earth - “the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh”.

“And round the throne were 24 thrones, and seated on the thrones were 24 elders.” Some see the 24 elders as representing the redeemed - 12 Patriarchs in the Old Testament, and 12 Apostles in the NewTestament.

Others see them as 24 angels; they are God’s privy council.

In the kingdoms of the ancient world the king sat on his throne, and then on seats around him sat his private council who were there to apply his orders, to execute his will.

“From the throne issue flashes of lightening, and voices and peals of thunder.” This may remind us of lightning and thunder at Mt Sinai when God gave the Israelites his laws. Lightning and voices and peals of thunder speak of God’s power and majesty.

“And before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass like crystal”. Sometimes Cheryl and I go to the beach and look out at the sea on a still morning with not a breath of wind and the sea is so calm.

There is a serenity about the throne of God, it is not disturbed. Glass was very rare in New Testament times, and crystal-clear glass was virtually impossible to find. Sea of glass highlights the magnificence and holiness of God.

And so, power and peace, sovereignty and serenity. God is King and he is on the throne.

“And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures….” Here are four different angels. Ezekiel Ch 10 talks of four living creatures: a man, a lion, an ox, an eagle. In Ezekiel they are Cherubim. The cherubim carry out God’s orders of judgment, they guard the holy things of God.

In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve were shut out of the garden, it was the cherubim who were told to keep them out.

The pictures given of these convey to us their character: they have the intelligence of a man, the strength of a lion, the service of an ox, the swiftness of an eagle. Full of eyes, so they have perception; six wings, so they have speed. All this conveys an impression of judges under God who are efficient in their task.

The creatures sing about what God is, and the elders sing about what God does. If we are going to praise him; let’s praise him for what he is, and what he does.

The four creatures day and night never cease to sing about what God is.

He is pure - “Holy, holy, holy”.

He is powerful - “is the Lord God Almighty”.

He is permanent, always there - “who was, and is and is to come!”

“ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,

‘Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you did create all things, and by your will they existed and were created.’ ”

The elders sing about what God does, and they say he is “worthy”. What does the word ‘worship’ mean? It means ‘worthship’. In our worship we are telling God how much he is worth to us; when we worship we are declaring God’s worthship.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power.” Why? “for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

The universe and planet earth are not the result of chance, but of choice - God’s!

The main thought, truth, picture, of this revelation given to John is that God is on the throne. What can this mean for us who believe in the Lord Jesus?

I’d like to share that it can mean at least three things - solace, security and strength.

Solace. God is on the throne, and he is a good God, and that means he is working for good in our lives. Let us hear how it is put in Romans 8:28 -

“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purposes.”

“in everything God works for good…” God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good. Whatever happens, a Christian knows the God will work for his/her good. That’s solace.

Security. God is on the throne, and that means security.

God has a big hand and a firm grip! Jesus said, ‘my sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10: 27-29

It is in this that a Christian’s final security lies. If it is God’s will that none shall pluck us out of his hand, who can do so?

Our security is in God’s sovereignty: God is on the throne.

Strength. And knowing that God is on the throne means strength. Knowing God is on the throne strengthens us to trust Him with our lives, and in our circumstances.

Mary, mother of Jesus, trusting in God, accepted his will for her, and said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Or take Job, who suffered great loss, and yet said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

And of course Jesus trusted his Father and accepted his will when he prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, “…nevertheless not my will, but yours be done”, and who taught his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

God is on the throne, and that means solace, security and strength for us.

And we know who this God is - He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God, who is rich in mercy, and who, out of the great love with which he loved us gave his only begotten Son to bear our sins in his body on the cross, and then raised him up and made him sit at his right hand. He is “the God of all grace.” “Let us then draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4.16

God is on the throne; what might it mean for God?

It means “success”. He will succeed in carrying out his plan. And what is that?

Reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, “He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

What’s that saying? It is basically telling us that history is neither meaningless nor purposeless, but is moving towards a glorious goal of uniting all things in Christ.- “ to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth’.

Putting those words in another way - God’s grand plan is, at the right time to bring everything together under the authority of Christ - everything in heaven and on earth.

But how can anyone be included in God’s grand plan?

Let me read again from Ephesians. “ in Christ we have redemption through his blood,the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us.” Eph 1.7,8.

That’s telling us that the Saviour has come and done what we could never do. He has completely paid the price for our breaking God’s law. There is nothing left for us to pay. God has lavished upon us the riches of his grace!

Let’s finish by hearing God’s final invitation in the Bible. “Let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price”.

“ without price” - it’s free - because Jesus paid the price!

Rev 22.17

Are you thirsty? Then come and take the water of life without price.

Series: Revelation

Topics: #Revelation