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Revelation 4
9 When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!"
(Rev 5)
1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book [scroll] written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?"
3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.
4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.
5 One of the elders said to me, "Don't weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals."
6 I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
What I find most compelling in what we see in connection to these creatures and elders is the idea of synchronization. These are the connecting links that provide communication between heaven and earth, between the family of heaven in God's immediate presence with the family on earth where darkness constantly attempts to block all light and obfuscate the view of reality that is clear to the rest of the universe. The apparent transition plane between these two views of reality is called a sea of glass, clear as crystal. At least that is how it is viewed from heaven's perspective.
What we are learning is that these creatures represent an emotional dimension central to relationships, especially in our relationship with God. Satan hates this potential for intimacy with God for which we are designed, so he does everything possible to discredit, minimize or keep us ignorant of this. Yet without emotional involvement it is impossible for anyone to be brought into harmony with God's design for life, love, joy and peace. These creatures are both above and below the sea plain.
The elders, those who represent God's people, who are mature, full of wisdom and experience, are aroused to worship the One on the throne every time the 4 creatures pour out glory, honor and thanksgiving. The 4 creatures represent four stages of our right brain it goes through as it boots up, and four aspects of what it means to be sentient and alive. They represent our emotions, indicating we must not divorce ourselves from our emotions, but integrate them into our worship of God.
These 24 elders are described as seated on thrones around the throne where there is One seated also. Normally when we think of people in the presence of one considered a supreme ruler, we don't expect to see them sitting around just like the one who is considered far above them in authority and power. Yet in the kingdom of heaven we discover God seems to do things very differently from how we are used to thinking, so He treats the elders as if they were on an equal level with Himself, having them sit instead of standing respectfully or making them prostrate themselves in subjugation. Again, this is a revelation of the stark difference between the methods and motives of heaven compared with the social arrangements and expectations we know relating to rulership here on earth.
Yet when the emotional outbursts of admiration explode from the 4 creatures, overcome with appreciation and awe of the goodness of the One on the throne who is so different than everyone else, the elders, who in a way can represent the more left brain, logical, pragmatic part of how we are designed, are moved off their thrones to prostrate themselves and remove the crowns they are honored to wear and humble themselves, not out of fear but only from admiration of the amazing character and worthiness of God that has for so long been in doubt by so many.
"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, the Holy One, to receive the glory, the honor, and the power, for you created all things, and because of your desire they existed, and were created!
Worthy is a term of relative value and demands a context by which to determine its meaning.
Is this worth referring to commercial value?
Is this because God is richer and owns more stuff than anyone else?
Is this worth related to raw power?
Is He to be worshiped because we need to be afraid and if we don't we might offend Him?
What is this standard of worth referred to? This is key for unmasking the real issues involved and the cause for authentic worship.
This refers to worthiness to receive. Where does this steer us in our thinking?
How can God receive glory? What is glory? We thought glory came from God as the origin of glory.
How can God receive power when He alone is the originator of all power?
Here we are given the reason for His worth – He created all things.
In addition, they say He is worthy to receive because of His desire.
Desire is very similar to emotion if not the same thing. God emotionally desired for creation to exist. Contemplate this and its implications. There is enormous potential for new insights here. What can it do deep inside us to actually believe and feel God's desire that we exist and were created by Him?
What we find here is an introduction to a major element in Revelation that emerges more throughout the book. It is a New Song that is essential for any to learn if they choose to participate on the winning side of this war. This new song, as we shall see more and more clearly as we progress through this book, is a single-minded focus on the goodness of God with no suggestion that God has a dark side. This is key for learning this song, and as we shall see it seems to be extremely difficult for God's people to divest themselves of the penchant to include at least a little of their old way of thinking into their praise. Yet the sooner we come to appreciate the true song of the Lamb and its unique difference from the song of Moses, the sooner we may practice singing this new song. And this is not just a song but the most powerful weapon we may access that can defeat the enemy.
As we move into the next chapter, which really is a seamless continuation of this one, it becomes even more clear what this word worthy is all about.
God must be appreciated as worthy of all our trust, for God never resorts to force or retaliation like His enemy claims, and He always remains consistently the same despite all claims to the contrary.
This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
The authority God relies on is that received from others that is given to Him willingly, not authority forcibly imposed on others like we do it here on earth. This is why these beings say God is worthy to receive – it is an invitation for us to see the truth of His complete trustworthiness that can spontaneously elicit all such expressions of praise and admiration we see listed here.
The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love—service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service.
So long as all created beings acknowledged the allegiance of love, there was perfect harmony throughout the universe of God. It was the joy of the heavenly host to fulfill the purpose of their Creator. They delighted in reflecting His glory and showing forth His praise. And while love to God was supreme, love for one another was confiding and unselfish. There was no note of discord to mar the celestial harmonies.... (PP 34-35)
I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book [scroll] written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
What are the implications emerging from all the clues and descriptions we have read thus far when we read that the One on the throne is left holding a sealed scroll in His right hand that no one can open?
What does this say about the One on the throne? Why can He not open the scroll Himself?
Is God powerless in this situation? Does the enemy have something over on God that is holding Him hostage like others are held captive?
This unavoidably indicates a crisis in the government of heaven. If we think otherwise we are blinded by the many false assertions of the enemy about the nature of God's character, methods and government. This chapter is crucial in coming to a real appreciation of what this entire book is all about. If we fail to grasp the powerful revelation in this chapter, we are likely to miss everything in the rest of the story and will be left to wild speculations with no foundation but our own prejudices.
This is the tipping point in the story where we begin moving into the core issues of the war described more clearly in chapter 12. Something is seriously amiss here, and we need to see this now.
If we assume it is the Father who is sitting on the throne, why is He seemingly paralyzed and unable to deal with opening this scroll?
Strongly inferred here is that this scroll must hold highly classified information that someone is keen to keep hidden. What might this mean, and who would have such vested interest in keeping this information hidden that they used 7 seals to prevent anyone from gaining access to it?
Why 7 seals?
What might be implied by the mention that this scroll has writing inside and outside?
Are the same things on both sides, or would that remove the aspect of urgent secrecy?
What if what can be seen on the outside of this key piece of documentation is deliberately misleading to distract or confuse anyone attempting to discern what might be inside?
It appears that whatever this information is that is prevented from getting public exposure, it may well have something to do with the One holding the scroll. Discuss that for a bit.
What might be the significance of the scroll being held in the right hand of God? What do we usually find at the right hand of God? You might be surprised at what we discover in Scripture.
But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky." (Matthew 26:63-64)
But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I AM. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky." (Mark 14:61-62)
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19)
This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. (Acts 2:32-33)
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" (Acts 7:55-56)
God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:1-3)
Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; (Hebrews 10:11-12)
[Jesus Christ] who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him. (1 Peter 3:22)
We normally assume that what or whomever is at the right hand of God represents one who has access to the most authority. This is not necessarily wrong, but also is not the whole story. One of the main themes long overlooked by most Christians but is central to the issue of our salvation is the contest over who is allowed to represent us in this pivotal position.
He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. Yahweh said to Satan, "Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn't this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?" (Zechariah 3:1-2)
Does this sound familiar?
Now it happened on the day when the God's sons came to present themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them. Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it." Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil." Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face." (Job 1:6-11)
Does this story contain key clues as to why the scroll is in the right hand of the Father on the throne?
