He Reigns
Bible reading
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
– Revelation 4:1-11 NIVUK
In the centre, round the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and behind. 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. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all round, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
‘ “Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,”
who was, and is, and is to come.’
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne 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 honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.’
Devotional
Where I’m from in Canada we have a big outdoor show called the Calgary Stampede. Each year, for ten days, over one million people will visit the Stampede and experience the excitement, games, rodeo, and special performances. But two days before the Stampede actually begins, they have “sneak-a-peek” where you can visit the Stampede early to see everything that is going to happen before the crowds come in for the main event.
Revelation 4 is like sneak-a-peek! The throne is central to John and the book of Revelation. He mentions it 47 times and refers to it 77 times. While most of us focus on the seals, trumpets and bowls, or on the strange beasts, the horses, the plagues or the beast and his cohorts… John is focused on the throne.
The throne is ground zero; central stage; the command room of heaven and of the universe. Everything that happens begins and ends, at the throne. Someone is sitting on the throne and there are strange but wonderful things all around the throne. John spends the whole chapter trying to explain what he’s seeing!
What I think we need to understand from this is the majesty of the scene and to remember that the throne has someone on it! The throne is not empty… not just anyone can take it… it is occupied… by God. We also need to notice that John doesn’t go up or down to get to the throne room…he’s not transported to another place or time, he simply turns around from where he is on Patmos. The throne room has been there all the time. The veil has just been removed. So, heaven might be closer than we think!
But perhaps what we need to notice most of all today is the beauty of spontaneous worship. All of the elders, the four living creatures bow down to worship the One on the throne. It doesn’t appear to be planned, it just happens. It’s wondrous and rich, it’s totally God focused both on who God is and what He has done. It is so heart-felt, that it moves the entire body. The Elders who were once seated, fall to the ground! Worthy and Holy is the One who sits on the throne!
This is our God! This is where our prayers are heard every time we bow down to worship and pray together. Welcome to the throne room of God.
– Connie Main Duarte
This devotional is part of a series that helps us navigate the texts of the book of Revelation with fresh eyes. A new devotional every Saturday.
These devotionals are available in Portuguese and in English.