Jesus Speaks to His Churches 8: The Throne in Heaven and the Worthy Lamb (Revelation 4–5)
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The letters to the seven churches have ended. The warnings have been given. The promises have been spoken. The call to overcome has gone out to every believer.
Now the scene changes dramatically.
John is no longer looking at the churches on earth. He is called upward to behold the reality that stands behind all earthly events.
Before the seals are opened, before the trumpets sound, before the judgments unfold, God grants His servant a vision of heaven itself.
What John sees reminds every generation of Christians that no matter how chaotic the world appears, history is not spinning out of control. The throne of God remains occupied.
A Door Opened in Heaven
John writes:
"After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."Revelation 4:1
Immediately John finds himself in the presence of heavenly realities.
The first thing that captures his attention is not an angel, not a crowd, not a city, but a throne.
"And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne." Revelation 4:2
The throne dominates the entire vision.
Throughout Revelation, kingdoms rise and fall. Nations wage war. The dragon rages. The beast exerts power. Yet above every earthly throne stands the throne of God.
John's vision begins where our confidence must begin: with the sovereignty of God.
The Majesty of the One on the Throne
John struggles to describe what he sees.
"And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald."Revelation 4:3
Rather than describing God directly, John describes flashes of brilliance, precious stones, and radiant glory. (My father, Rudolph, was a jeweler and reveled in describing the glories of each sont to me. I will never forget!)
Around the throne appears a rainbow, reminding us of God's covenant mercy even as Revelation prepares to unveil divine judgment.
The God who judges the earth is the same God who keeps His promises.
The Twenty-Four Elders
Surrounding the throne are twenty-four elders.
"And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."Revelation 4:4
Their white garments speak of purity and victory.
Their crowns testify that they reign only because God has granted them authority.
Throughout church history many have understood these elders as representing the redeemed people of God—the fullness of God's covenant people from both Old and New Testaments.
Whatever their precise identity, their role is unmistakable: they exist to worship the One upon the throne.
Thunder from the Throne
John continues:
"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices."Revelation 4:5
The imagery recalls Mount Sinai when God descended before Israel.
The throne is beautiful, but it is not tame.
This is the throne of the Creator, Lawgiver, and Judge of all the earth.
Before Him every power must ultimately answer.
The Four Living Creatures
Closest to the throne are four extraordinary living creatures.
"And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle."Revelation 4:7
Day and night they never cease their worship.
"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."Revelation 4:8
The words echo the vision of Isaiah centuries earlier.
Before God's throne, heaven's worship remains unchanged.
The holiness of God still overwhelms every created being.
The Worship of Heaven
Whenever the living creatures glorify God, the elders respond.
"The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne."Revelation 4:10
Their song declares why God deserves worship:
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11
God is worthy because He is Creator.
Everything exists because He willed it into being.
Every breath, every star, every kingdom, every human life ultimately derives its existence from Him.
Yet Revelation 4 is only preparation for an even greater revelation.
The Scroll and the Crisis of Heaven
In chapter 5 John notices something new.
"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals." Revelation 5:1
The scroll represents God's purposes for history—the unfolding of His plan for judgment, redemption, and the final restoration of all things.
A mighty angel asks:
"Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" Revelation 5:2
The search begins.
Heaven is searched.
Earth is searched.
The underworld is searched.
No one is found worthy.
"And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon." Revelation 5:3
John begins to weep.
"And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book." Revelation 5:4
If no one can open the scroll, God's purposes remain unfulfilled.
Sin remains unconquered.
Justice remains incomplete.
The story of redemption cannot move forward.
Then comes one of the most glorious announcements in Scripture.
The Lion Who Is a Lamb
One of the elders says:
"Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book." Revelation 5:5
John turns expecting to see a lion.
Instead he sees a Lamb.
"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne... stood a Lamb as it had been slain." Revelation 5:6
The Lion conquers through sacrifice.
The King reigns because He first became the Lamb.
The victory of Jesus was won at Calvary.
His wounds remain the eternal testimony of His redeeming work.
The throne of heaven is occupied not only by the Creator but by the crucified and risen Redeemer.
A New Song
When the Lamb takes the scroll, heaven erupts in worship.
"Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Revelation 5:9
The song of chapter 4 celebrated creation.
The song of chapter 5 celebrates redemption.
The Lamb is worthy because He purchased a people through His blood.
His kingdom is not limited by nationality, language, race, or geography.
The redeemed come from every corner of the earth.
The Worship of the Universe
The praise expands outward.
Thousands upon thousands of angels join the song.
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:12
Then every creature joins the chorus.
"Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Revelation 5:13
The vision ends not with fear but with worship.
Not with chaos but with sovereignty.
Not with judgment but with the certainty that the One directing history is both infinitely holy and infinitely worthy.
Looking Ahead
Before Revelation reveals the terrifying judgments that will come upon the earth, God first shows John the throne and the Lamb.
This is no accident.
Believers must see heaven before they can understand history.
The God who reigns is still upon His throne.
The Lamb who was slain is still worthy.
And every event that follows in Revelation unfolds under their sovereign authority.
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Lord Jesus, I thank You for revealing Yourself to John and to us. As I see You as Lamb and on Your throne, I realized this how you are now, and I bow in worship. Your glory is overwhelming and I pray in silence and awe in Your mighty name. Amen
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With Harps And With Viols There Stands A Great Throng
In The Presence Of Jesus, And Sings This New Song:
Unto Him Who Hath Loved Us And Washed Us From Sin,
Unto Him Be The Glory For Ever! Amen.
All These Once Were Sinners, Defiled In His Sight;
Now Arrayed In Pure Garments, In Praise They Unite.
He Maketh The Rebel A Priest And A King,
He Hath Bought Us And Taught Us This New Song To Sing.
How Helpless And Hopeless We Sinners Had Been,
If He Never Had Loved Us Till Cleansed From Our Sin.
Aloud In His Praises Our Voices Shall Ring,
So That Others, Believing, This New Song Shall Sing.
Arthur T. Pierson, 1837-1911
Next week we will watch as the Lamb begins opening the seven seals of the scroll, revealing God's purposes for judgment, redemption, and the ultimate triumph of Christ over every enemy.
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