REVELATION 4 & 5: WORSHIP THE MIGHTY LAMB

I can recall a time when my worship for Jesus was so incredibly passionate and His Spirit buoyed my soul like a hot air balloon at sunrise. I could not get enough of worshipping my Savior and King. I would fall down on my knees in singing His praise after hours of soaking in His presence and reading His Word. Fast forward to fifteen years later—twelve years of marriage with two kids—and somewhere along the way I forgot how glorious and captivating my Savior truly is. I failed to consistently behold the glory of the Lord that is more necessary than my floors that need to be vacuumed.

FAILURE TO WORSHIP

John Piper said, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.” Suffering and trials are a result of the fallen world—our rebellion against God, our sin led to our suffering. Jesus has come to undo this curse we brought onto ourselves. Until God enlightens the eyes of our hearts, we are unable to repent and believe in the saving work of Jesus. We were not worshipping God as we should have—this is sin. This is rebellion against God.

As we look at Revelation, we see our need for the undoing of the curse. We need our sins forgiven (many of the Revelation letters to the churches exhort the churches to repent) and the need to overcome despite suffering and evil (each Revelation letter to the church encourages them to overcome). I think Revelation 4 and 5 give further hope to the suffering church. The hope that the Lamb who was slain will indeed execute God’s plans and judgment—and He is fully worthy of trust and worship.

ALL WORSHIP DIRECTED TOWARD THE ONE SEATED ON THE THRONE

Revelation four and five centers around the throne in heaven with “throne” used 17 times. This throne room portrait shows the end reality for the suffering church—Jesus glorified and on His throne. The sacrifice of the suffering church has meaning and these chapters make this clear.

What John attempts to describe in these two chapters is beyond words. John is glimpsing the glory of the Lord and struggling to find words to explain it. (Borrowing a definition from my husband, the glory of God is all God is made visible.) He likely uses the imagery of stones because in ancient times these were quite precious. Ezekiel and Isaiah also attempted to describe God on His throne and what seems to be the common thread for all three of these descriptions is brilliance, power, and beauty.

God is on His throne and surrounded by circles of worshippers. (The number 12 and its multiples represent the people of God.)  The creatures may represent all creation worshipping God—lion, ox, human, and eagle. Some commentators have different thoughts on what each represents, but I think what specifically they could represent doesn’t add much as the main point of chapter 4 is all creation’s worship directed toward the powerful Creator God.

Revelation 4:5 denotes lightning and thunder from the throne—these storms bring fearful respect for the sheer power they exhibit. Then the Holy Spirit is described as fire. We don’t typically want to get to close to fire or else the heat becomes too intense. So perhaps John is grappling with how to explain this incredibly powerful One sitting on the throne. He is painting a portrait of One that is nothing like us and yet separate because of His holiness, brilliance, power, and beauty.

The sea of glass could refer to the temple where a huge basin (sometimes referred to as the sea) was used by priests to wash themselves before entering into the temple for their duties. This adds to this scene of how God is set apart on His throne. He is not like us and is holy (4:8). This imagery of the sea of glass is used in Ezekiel 1 as well.

The worship song in chapter 4 focuses on God the Father as Creator (4:11).

THE MIGHTY LAMB OF GOD

Jesus fulfilled His purpose by His death and resurrection. Revelation 5 illustrates how He is now seeing the reward of ceaseless worship by all. The key to end the church’s suffering is found in the One who can open the scroll.

Chapter 5 is a story scene unfolding before our eyes. The details mentioned about this scroll are important to understanding this scene. A scroll is designed to be written on one side because the other side is harder to write on, but important scrolls were written on the front and back. This was likely done because the author didn’t want a second page to get lost. In Ezekiel 2-3, we see this same scroll (written on front and back), but Ezekiel can see some words that give a sense of what it contains—judgment. And the rest of the book of Ezekiel unfolds not only judgment, but God’s plans to restore His people. Ezekiel was not to add anything to the scroll because God’s words are complete. The scroll probably expresses the complete plans of God to bring salvation and judgment. This scene is a contrast from the one we just witnessed in chapter 4.

John cries because if no one is worthy to open the scroll, then man’s salvation cannot be finished. From chapter 4 we understand that only someone who is of God could approach Him in all His glory, but that one needs to also have the likeness of a man in order to pay the penalty for mankind’s rebellion and sin against Him.

The references to the Lion and Root are grounded in Old Testament references (see Genesis 49:10 and Isaiah 11), but what is surprising is the imagery of a strong Lamb. While this Lamb has been slain, it gives off an impression of strength (taking scroll from God on the throne), power (horns), and knowing (eyes).

This new song of worship is different than the one in chapter 4. The Lamb is worthy to take the scroll and open it because He has ransomed people for Himself by His blood. The Lamb paid the price for our sins and binds us to Himself—this is the implication of the word ransom used in 5:9.

So Jesus ransoms people from every tribe, language, people, and nation—the entire world. In 5:13 we also see heaven, earth, under earth, and sea worshipping the Lamb—again emphasizing the all-encompassing worship of Jesus. The Lamb receives perfect praise—seven-fold praise—power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing. Jesus is indeed worthy of all praise by all.                    

Revelation 4 and 5 show us the worship God is due. This is our God who is so amazingly powerful, brilliant, holy, and beautiful—how could we not be compelled to worship Him? For suffering believers, this scene enforces the reality that Jesus will be victorious and worship of Him is not pointless. Worship is the only right response and hope in light of who He is and what He has accomplished on our behalf in every season we find ourselves. Worshipping in light of the glory of God may look different than it once did, but I want my life to be consumed with the Lamb.

Lord God Almighty, You are worthy to sit on the throne and receive eternal praise for You alone satisfy my longing heart in this broken world. Forgive me for failing to see You for who You are and worshipping before Your throne. Forgive me for valuing lesser things and allowing my gaze to wander from You. Oh Mighty Lamb, please hold me fast and keep my gaze on You as I walk each and every day. Let me not forget the vision of your glory revealed in Your Word. Captivate my heart and let it remain passionate for Your glory alone. There is none like you. Thank you for ransoming me. Amen.