WORSHIP HIM WHO IS FOREVER AND EVER

Passage: Revelation 4:1-11

Key verse: 11

NIV

The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open(A) in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet(B) said, “Come up here,(C) and I will show you what must take place after this.”(D) 2 At once I was in the Spirit,(E) and there before me was a throne in heaven(F) with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper(G) and ruby.(H) A rainbow(I) that shone like an emerald(J) encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.(K) They were dressed in white(L) and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.(M) In front of the throne, seven lamps(N) were blazing. These are the seven spirits[a](O) of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,(P) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,(Q) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.(R) 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.(S) 8 Each of the four living creatures(T) had six wings(U) and was covered with eyes all around,(V) even under its wings. Day and night(W) they never stop saying:

“‘Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,’[b](X)

who was, and is, and is to come.”(Y)

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne(Z) and who lives for ever and ever,(AA) 10 the twenty-four elders(AB) fall down before him(AC) who sits on the throne(AD) 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,(AE)
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”(AF)

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Footnotes
  1. Revelation 4:5 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 4:8 Isaiah 6:3
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Throne in Heaven

4 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me (A)like a trumpet, said, (B)“Come up here, and (C)I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once (D)I was in the Spirit, and behold, (E)a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of (F)jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was (G)a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were (H)twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, (I)clothed in white garments, with (J)golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came (K)flashes of lightning, and rumblings[a] and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning (L)seven torches of fire, (M)which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was (N)as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are (O)four living creatures, (P)full of eyes in front and behind: 7 (Q)the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, (R)each of them with six wings, are (S)full of eyes all around and within, and (T)day and night they never cease to say,

(U)“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
    (V)who was and is and is to come!”

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, (W)who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders (X)fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast (Y)their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 (Z)“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for (AA)you created all things,
    and (AB)by your will they existed and were created.”

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Footnotes
  1. Revelation 4:5 Or voices, or sounds
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Next, John received a vision of heaven. A voice invited him to go through an open door to heaven. Heaven was fantastic and glorious! John saw God sitting on his throne and described God’s appearance as beautiful, precious stones. Twenty- four elders, each on a separate throne, surrounded God. These elders were dressed in white and crowned with gold. Flashes of lightning and peals of thunder came from the throne. The Holy Spirit, represented by the seven lamps, blazed in front of the throne. Four living creatures with wings, each with a different face and covered with eyes, never stopped declaring the holiness of the eternal Lord God Almighty (8).

Heaven itself was majestic and nearly indescribable. But the focus was always on God on his throne. The living creatures gave him glory, honor, and thanks. The elders worshiped him, laying down their crowns. Our Lord and God is the only one worthy to receive all glory, honor, and power. He created all things and all creatures, including us, have life because of God alone.

How will you respond to this picture of heaven? Worship God as the heavenly creatures did in John’s vision!

Prayer: Father, you are holy and worthy. Please bring heaven into my heart so that I may overcome the world by worshiping you.

One Word: Give glory, honor, and power to God