Skeptics of heaven (Revelation 22)

Christ is coming

Two hundred years ago, the people of Leeds thought the world was coming to an end thanks to prophetic messages delivered to them by a chicken.

This chicken, owned by a lady named Mary Bateman in 1806, started laying eggs with the words, “Christ is coming” written on them. Those who read these words saw them as an apocalyptic sign from God.

The event recorded by Scottish author Charles Mackay in a book entitled, “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds,” described how the eggs caused “a panicked terror“ as “a great number of visitors” descended upon Leeds to witness this strange phenomenon of a chicken delivering messages from God.

As it turned out, the eggs were a hoax. Mary had written the messages on the eggs herself using some sort of acid, then reinserting the eggs into the hen to be re-laid.

Ouch.

A deeper skepticism

Today we are looking at the last chapter of the bible to discover what God says will happen at the end of time. I fully expect that as we approach this chapter, many will come to it with a certain degree of skepticism. “What if it’s another hoax designed to scare us? How can I know it’s real?”

But what I really want to deal with today is a deeper form of skepticism - one that is not unbelief but actually stems from a position of faith and belief in Jesus Christ. One that doesn’t say, “How can I know it is true?” but rather says, “So what if it is true?”

I think it is this deeper form of skepticism that keeps genuine Christians from reading the book of Revelation. We think Revelation is for crackpots - people who have nothing better to do than to calculate the number of the beast or postulate the symbols of the seven seals and then posting them all over the Internet.

It’s not that we don’t believe the book of Revelation but that we don’t believe Revelation is for us today. It’s about heaven. It’s about the future. It’s just not that relevant today. So when we hear a sermon about Revelation, we think it’s going to be another lecture about the end of the world, in which case, Hollywood does a better job of portraying that reality. At least movies like Armageddon aren’t boring. But a talk about heaven? We expect it to go whoosh over our heads.

Why? It’s not that we don’t believe it’s true. We do, but there’s a voice in us that goes, “So what if it’s true?”

Revelation expects that response. It deals with that form of skepticism because Revelation - especially right here at the end in Chapter 22 - speaks directly to the skeptical believer, it speaks to the weary believer, and says, “Heaven is real and it affects you today.” What we are going to see is a preview of heaven, yes, but what Revelation does is address the impact that heaven has on our lives today.

And it does that at three levels - our heads, our hands and our hearts. Revelation speaks to our heads, “How do I know it’s true?” It addresses our hands, “How is my life and how are my actions affected by this truth?” Finally, it deals with our hearts, “Why do I have a hard time desiring this truth?”

There are three levels of skepticism. Our heads - what I know about heaven. Our hands - how I live in the light of heaven. And our hearts - why is it that I’m not excited by the prospect of heaven.

1. Our heads: The assurance of heaven

Look with me to verse 6.

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirit of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

“Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”

Revelation 22:6-7

Why does the angel say to John, “These words are trustworthy and true.” Well, because in one sense, they are. It is reinforcing that fact that this is God’s word.

But in another sense, it’s because of the fantastic nature of the visions John has seen throughout the book - the visions of the throne room of God, the judgement of the seals, the return of Jesus Christ. These are amazing and overwhelming pictures of what God will do at the end of time.

And the angel is saying to John, “All of this which you have seen is real.”

In particular, the angel is referring to the vision John has just seen of heaven. Look with me to the beginning of the chapter.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:1-2

Notice the emphasis on life - the water of life and the tree of life - and how it is pointing to the source of life: God himself. From God’s throne flows the river of the water of life. Growing on each side of the river is the tree of life.

This is picture language taken directly from Genesis Chapter 2. God plants a garden in Genesis 2 and right in the centre of that garden of Eden is the tree of life.

Fast forward to the end of the bible. Here in heaven we see another garden. We see the tree of life here in this garden, only it has now become a garden city. The tree produces twelve crops of fruit, symbolising how eternal life is now available to the people of God (Remember how Israel was made up of twelve tribes of the sons of Israel).

The angel says to John, referring directly to this vision of heaven, “These words are trustworthy and true.” Why does he say that?

Not simply because these visions are hard to understand, though they are. The throne, the river, the tree of life (How can there only be one tree growing on both sides of the river?) I mean, these are pictures that ought to make us pause: What do they mean?

But there is a deeper struggle here, especially for Christian believers, in understanding what these symbols mean. Because Christian believers don’t simply ask, “Is this true?” but, some of us who do believe in the truth of these words might respond by saying, “Is this too good to be true.”

And the reason we say that; the reason these vision of abundant life sound almost too good to be true is because of the curse in verse 3.

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of a sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 22:3-5

Here, right in the middle of the angel’s description of heaven, we find two big negatives: No curse and no more night.

This promise was first introduced back in Chapter 21, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Heaven is described in terms of the negative. No more death. No more pain. No more curse.

You see, the real struggle for Christian believers is understanding the bible’s promise of life today in the light of their experience of death today. That’s our perspective and our experience today. We know what the curse means. We know what the darkness represents. Because we live in a world under this curse of death.

Don’t you see? Revelation speaks directly to our heads when we say, “I know this. I know God will fix this broken world. I know he will judge all evil through Jesus Christ. But sometimes that reality seems so far away.”

Revelation speaks to believer. “I know the bible promises eternal life. I know I’m forgiven of my sins through the death of Jesus on the cross. But I’m in pain right now.” Or, “My friend’s dying in the hospital right now.”

Revelation doesn’t deny death. It doesn’t deny pain or depression. It addresses it head on. Which is why, if you look back to the tree of life in verse 2, you see that this tree isn’t just there as a source of new life, of joy and triumphalism. No, the tree of life is also there for our healing.

And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:2

It’s an odd thing to have in heaven, don’t you think? Leaves that are meant to heal.

You heal a wound. You heal someone who is sick; someone who is in pain. Yet again and again, woven through the bible’s description of heaven we find God healing his people and giving them comfort. It’s there in Chapter 7: “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst... he will lead them to springs of living water.” (Revelation 7:16-17).

But I think the most powerful picture of God’s comfort we see in Revelation is there in Chapter 21: “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 21:3-4) We will weep before our God and he will come to us with comfort and in tenderness. He will wipe away every tear.

It means that heaven isn’t a country club where businessmen turn up in their polo-shirts for a round of gold and a spot of tea. Heaven is a hospital. After all, the Greek word for “healing” in verse 2 (therapeian) is where we get the word “therapy”.

Think about this for a moment. We’re talking about eternal life, everlasting life that is in heaven with God but here, Revelation talks about healing. Why? It is because of the curse of death. It is speaking to us today who live under this curse, and it is saying to us, “One day, this curse will be lifted.” Verse 3: “No longer will there be any curse.”

There is therefore a sense in which heaven makes the most sense to those who know this curse of death, first-hand. Revelation was written for the suffering church. It was written for their comfort and assurance. If you are a Christian and you are in pain or in depression or in doubt, this book is specifically for you, to remind you that God is sovereign over your pain. He promises that a day will come when there will be no more pain and no more death.

More than that, verse 5 tells us a day will come when there will be no more night.

There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:5

The night that is described here is talking about the darkness of doubt, the darkness of fear, the darkness of our ignorance about God. We know this because it goes on to say that the true source of light in heaven is God himself. “The Lord God will give them light.”

What is it saying? Don’t you sometimes feel tired in the faith? Don’t you sometimes wish the things you are trusting in you could see with your own eyes? Revelation is saying to us that day will come.

Verse 4: “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.” Friends, one day, you and I will see God. We will see Jesus. As clear as we see one another’s face here today, we will see the face of our Creator. And Revelation is assuring us: That day will come.

Until then, what do we do today? We hold on. We hold on to the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

Revelation 22:6

These things that John says must soon take place encompass all the events of the whole book of Revelation - all of God’s judgement as well as his salvation.

Revelation speaks to heads, assuring us that God’s word is true. That God’s word can be trusted even when that truth seems too good to be true. Especially when that truth seems too good to be true.

“These words are faithful and true,” says the angel.

2. Our hands: Our worship in heaven

The second point is our hands and this has application for our worship. How does heaven shape our worship of God? What will worship look like in heaven?

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.

Revelation 22:8

Pause and think about this for a moment. Imagine you could see heaven with your own eyes. How would you react? Would it make you bold? Or would it scare you? Look at how John responds.

And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”

Revelation 22:8-9

I really admire John for his honesty for writing this. He bows down and worships the angel and he tells us that the angels rebukes him for doing that. John is honest enough to tell us how foolish he was to do this.

The funny thing is, the same thing happens back in Chapter 19, verse 10. “At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it... Worship God!’” Meaning, this is the second time John has been tempted to worship an angel!

What an idiot! How foolish! How could he make the same mistake twice?

Friends, if it happened to John - twice - do you not think that we might be tempted to do the same? Revelation is there to point us to God, to focus on Jesus. Yet one of the great dangers of reading a book like Revelation is to fall down and worship something less than God.

In part, this applies to those of us who tend who quarrel over the book of Revelation (“This sign means this!” “No, you idiot, it means that!”).

But let me suggest to you a greater danger, one that has to do with heaven itself. In talking about heaven, in speaking about eternal life, in describing a joy that is everlasting, we as Christians will be tempted to worship the things of heaven instead of the God of heaven.

That is, we will tempted to bow down and worship idols: to worship something good we have received from God instead of God himself. This is a real danger for us who have received much from God, whether it is blessing, knowledge, friendship, opportunities, gifts. We we will be tempted to worship the things of heaven instead of the God of heaven.

That’s what John did. He did it, mistakenly, of course. But still he did it twice. Don’t you think we would be tempted to do the same? With the gifts God has given us? With the people he has put in our lives? With the knowledge and insight he has revealed in his word? Don’t you think that we, too, like John, might bow down to these good and heavenly things mistaking them for God himself?

Revelation gives us a picture of heaven, yes, but more than that, it draws our attention to the God of heaven. The throne of God and the lamb who is the source of life. We will see his face. His name will be on our foreheads (verse 4), meaning, we will belong to him and we will know God fully.

It’s not about who has the ticket to gain entry into heaven, like a bus pass. No, it is about who really knows the God of heaven.

If you are reading this and you are not a Christian, might I ask you: Do you know this God? That’s the point of heaven, by the way. It’s not simply a place that God will put you in if you’re really, really good, where he might drop by every now and then. Heaven represents God’s abiding presence in our lives.

Because that is what we ought to see in these pages: God himself. Heaven is not so much a place as it is God’s plan to glorify his Son, Jesus. Heaven is the final reality when Jesus returns to rule as the King.

So much so, that the bible can say to Christians: You are now in heaven. In Ephesians Chapter 2, Paul writes, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 2:6) Christians have been raised with Jesus through his death on the cross so that he now reigns over our lives. Jesus is our King. We live in obedience to his rule.

Do you know this King and do you worship this King? That’s our second point which has to do with our hands. That is, are we living our lives today worshipping Jesus, serving Jesus, in obedience to Jesus? Because that is what we will be doing in heaven. No one and nothing else deserves our worship other than Jesus, not even the angels of heaven.

Like a little kid who is given a brand new toy by his parents, who, instead of saying, “Thank you,” to his mum and dad; who, instead of hugging his mum and dad and acknowledging their love for him, runs in the opposite direction so that he can occupy himself with this new toy. The bible says that’s what we do with the blessings we receive from God. That’s idolatry: the worship of heaven instead of the God of heaven.

Which brings us to our last point, which I think, is the most important: our desire for heaven.

3. Our hearts: The longing for heaven

Look with me to verse 17.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes (or desires), let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22:17

This, I think, is the hardest thing to do. Most of us talk about going up to heaven or being in heaven. Yet the picture we have in the bible is Heaven coming down to us. The new Jerusalem comes out of heaven from God and descends to earth. We don’t go up to heaven. It comes down to us.

Verse 17, the Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Verse 20 says, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” What is it talking about? Our expectation: what are we looking forward to?

If I’m honest, I read this and my first instinct is not, “I can’t wait for heaven.” My heart is saying, “I can’t wait for lunch,” or, “I’m looking forward to that movie.” My heart does not long for heaven.

If anything, heaven might come in the way of want I really want: to advance my career, to enjoy my life, to make lots of money. I don’t mind heaven in the future when I’m old and sick, but now? Now I want to live my life my way for myself.

And that’s where Revelation addresses us: at the level of our desires and it does this by creating new appetites in us. “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever desires, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” The requirements for entry into this new heavenly reality is thirst! It is desire!

We are not meant to read about the river of life and go, “Hmm, how interesting. Maybe I’ll go fishing in heaven.” We are meant to thirst for its water. And what the bible does so powerfully is that it creates this thirst in us as we hear these words. “Let him who hears, say, ‘Come.’” See that connection between hearing and thirsting? The one who hears is the one who thirsts.

Christian believer, that’s why we need this book. Because we don’t thirst. Because we don’t have such desires. Because, if we’re honest, heaven’s just an idea to us, it is not a longing. But something miraculous happens when we read Revelation, or any book in the bible for the matter. God creates that hunger in us for him. God plants in us a new appetite that turns us away from our sin, from our selfishness, and makes us long for him.

If nothing else, these closing verses in Revelation are saying to us, “If you know that you don’t long for heaven, then listen! Listen to these words. Read these promises. And God will create that desire for himself through these words!”

Revelation speaks to our hearts and enables us to say to Jesus, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)

Conclusion

Our heads, our hands and our hearts.

The reason why we read the book of Revelation and we need to come back again and again to the book of Revelation is because we need that assurance that comes from knowing God’s promises in his word - that God will do all that he says he will do. In the face of our doubt, God says you can trust in his word. In the face of our suffering, God says he will wipe away every tear.

Secondly, it’s speaks to our hands. Whom are we serving? To whom to we give our worship? Revelation warns us of the real danger of worshipping the things of God instead of God himself.

Lastly, Revelation speaks to our hearts. What are you truly longing for in this life and the next? If we are honest, our hearts long for selfish things. Our hearts long for earthly things. Our desires are for the here and the now. If we are honest, our hearts do not long heaven. Even as Christians, we can be skeptical of the promises of heaven, because if we know our hearts, we know we don’t belong in heaven.

But that’s why we have the book of Revelation! It speaks directly to our hearts creating that longing and desire for God. It reminds us that Jesus has secured our place in heaven through his own sacrifice on the cross. He paid for our sin. He intercedes on our behalf. And one day, he will come to rule as our King!

For the Christian, our deepest longing and our heart’s desire is for Jesus, but it is a longing that has been put there by God, by his Spirit, through his abiding word. He creates that longing in those who hear his voice and obey his will.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Worthy is the Lamb (Revelation 5)

What did Jesus accomplish on the cross?

Or put it this way: What difference does it make whether or not Jesus died on the cross?

Some say it makes no difference at all. Jesus was a good moral teacher who taught us how to live good upright lives. It was tragic that he died, but that is no different from any other human political assassinated for his political beliefs, such as Martin Luther King.

Others might say, as Muslims do, that Jesus did not really die. Now, the Qur’an does mention Jesus as a prophet sent from God. But to say that God would allow his prophet to be stripped naked and executed on a cross is going to far. That would be blasphemous and insulting towards God. So much so, that Muslims believe that Jesus will one day return to earth to destroy the symbol of the cross.

Yet Christians believe that Jesus did die. The bible even insists that Jesus had to die on the cross.

In case you are new to Christianity; or perhaps you are not convinced by Christianity and are skeptical about any claim from the bible about God or Jesus Christ, today’s passage might still interest you. Because either this passage from Revelation 5 is going to be the strangest, most unbelievable, outrageous piece of science fiction you are ever going to encounter; or, it is going to be the clearest, most convincing and most convicting explanation Scripture has to offer, as to what Jesus accomplished when he died on the cross two-thousand years ago.

The scroll

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 5:1

John picks up from his vision in Chapter 4 of God as King ruling from heaven. God is the one seated on the throne. Meaning: God is always powerfully working out his purposes in all of creation, even in the face of opposition, rejection and evil. God is always in charge and in control of his creation.

And what we see here is God holding a scroll symbolising his full and final plan for creation. Yet this scroll is sealed with seven seals. It is locked up.

John tells us that the scroll has writing on both sides. This was unusual in John’s day as only one side of a scroll would be used for writing. The reason has to do with the way scrolls were made. You may remember learning in school about the papyrus plant. Strips of papyrus would first be laid vertically side by side, and then a second layer would be overlaid horizontally across and glued to together to form the papyrus scroll. Usually you only wrote on one side of the scroll - the side with the horizontal strips. If you had more to say, you would write on a second scroll. The only reason why you would write on both sides of one scroll instead of using two separate scrolls, is to avoid the possibility of the two scrolls being separated from one another.

This scroll in God’s right hand is written on both sides. This indicates the fullness of God’s purposes written in this one scroll, but also signifies that its contents must not be separated. The scroll contains God’s plan for salvation as well as judgement. Both are part of the same plan. Salvation and judgement must not be separated.

Yet the scroll is sealed. Until the seals are broken, God’s plans cannot be known or carried out.

Who is worthy?

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.

Revelation 5:2-3

Notice that the angel does not ask, “Who is strong enough to break the seals?” The issue is not strength or ability, but rather, suitability. “Who is worthy?”

Last week we saw the four living creatures and twenty-four elders bow down before God saying, “You are worthy, our Lord and God...for you created all things.” God is worthy to be worshipped. Creation was made to worship its creator.

But now the angel asks who is worthy to carry out God’s purposes for salvation and judgement by breaking the seals and opening the scroll. And the answer is: no-one. Not in heaven, nor on earth; meaning: none of the angelic beings can do this and no human being or creature can do this. Nor under the earth; meaning: not even a someone from past history who is now dead and buried can do this.

In all of creation, no one is worthy. In all of history, no one is worthy.

I wept and wept

I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

Revelation 5:4

The news of a hit-and-run accident involving two-year old Wang Yue sparked outrage and sadness amongst the online community in China this week. Surveillance footage showed the toddler being run over by two vans and ignored by eighteen passers-by as she lay on the street bleeding and unconscious. Wang Yue finally succumbed to her injuries and died on Friday after spending a week in hospital in a coma. Millions of comments have since flooded the Internet expressing anger, disbelief and sorrow at the tragedy. Many were outraged at the apathy of the passers-by who did nothing to help the little girl, even questioning the moral compass and apathy of the Chinese people in general. One commenter wrote, “We are all passers-by”.

Are these responses are simply emotional or psychological? Granted, the death of any child is reason enough to be sorrowful. Some have suggested the passers-by were afraid of being scammed. Others have proposed laws mandating bystanders to help accident victims.

Yet suppose you were one of passers-by that Friday. And suppose you saw Yue Yue lying unconscious on the street. Should it be a law - and the fear of prosecution under that law - that ultimately motivates you to help her? Should we not be moved to action by our conscience, our compassion or justice - our sense of right and wrong? Or are these merely emotional responses?

The bible says God is the ultimate objective measure of truth and goodness. Without God, it would be meaningless to discuss the problem of evil because by definition there would be no measure of what is evil outside the objective goodness of God. Similarly, there would be no meaning to our suffering, pain and sorrow without God. Commenting on tragedies like the death of Wang Yue would, at best, be academic or utilitarian, like fixing the economy.

You see, when we read in Revelation of John weeping and weeping because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and look inside, his is both an emotional response and a right response. Contained within the scroll are God’s final resolution to all the injustices in the world and all the suffering in the world. This is God’s plan to put right a world gone wrong.

Yet John’s tears are not simply an expression of sadness and grief, but ultimately, of despair. The locked scroll implies that evil will get away with evil. That is the world we live in, isn’t it? We see unfairness, exploitation, selfishness, apathy and cruelty everyday that goes unresolved and unpunished. Evil gets away with evil.

But if there is a God who is all good and all powerful, then he will punish evil. God is angry when he see a two-year old being run over again and again and God will do something about it. If there is a God who is all loving, then God is saddened when he sees our apathy. God will do something about that to.

It means when we look at a tragedy - a death of a loved one, the suffering of the cancer patient, the death of an unborn child - our response of grief is not just natural. It is right. Do you hear what I’m saying? There is meaning in your sadness. And the bible says we find that meaning in the cross of Jesus Christ.

Because right after this, one of the twenty-four elders tells John to stop his crying and to look to Jesus, “He has triumphed.”

I saw a Lamb

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 5:5-6

Notice that the elder tells John to see the lion, but when John does look he sees a lamb instead. What is going on? Did the lion transform into a lamb? No. Rather, the first is a description of who he is, and the second, what he has done.

Firstly, who he is. He is the Lion of Judah and the Root of David, both titles referring to Messiah or Christ. This is God’s chosen King. The term “Lion of Judah” comes from Genesis 49 at the scene of Jacob blessing his son Judah with the promise of authority - even, kingly authority - as symbolised here by the mention of the “scepter” and “ruler’s staff”.

Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet.

Genesis 49:9-10

From this tribe would descend, eleven generations later, the great King David. Additionally, it was to David that God promised one of his descendants would always be on the throne - very similar to the prophecy giving to Judah by his father Jacob, God was pointing forward to a greater king who would rule over a greater kingdom. Even though most of David’s descendants turned out to be sinful and idolatrous kings who disobeyed God and led the entire nation astray, this promise remained one of the most powerful symbols of hope for Israel in the Old Testament. The prophets kept pointing forward, saying one day, one of David’s descendants would inherit the throne and establish God’s kingdom in righteousness here on earth.

Such was the prophet Isaiah, who wrote these words over 700 years before Jesus was born:

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of power,

the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD—

and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 11:1-3

Notice how Isaiah talks about the stump and roots of Jesse (Jesse being David’s father). This is picture language of a remnant - leftovers, if you like - of the kingdom that is left long after David’s reign. It is in tatters. It is just a stump - like what you get when you cut down a tall tree. It is a humble shadow of its former glory. Yet, Isaiah says that out this stump will come a shoot, symbolising another king. Upon this king would rest God’s spirit of power, wisdom and love.

Who is this root of David and Lion of Judah? It is God’s chosen king, also known as the Christ. This is why Matthew, the gospel writer, goes to great pains in the opening chapter of his gospel to show how Jesus was the true descendant of King David and the fulfilment of all the expectations of the Old Testament for the Messiah. In fact, the title “Son of God” in gospels like Mark was another way of referring to the Christ or God’s chosen king.

So back to Revelation, the elder taps John on the shoulder and says to him, “John, stop your crying. Look! The King of Kings; the heir to the throne of David is coming. He is worthy to open the scroll.” You would expect at this point to see an image of great power - he is the Lion of Judah; of great strength - he is able to break open the seals on the scroll; of glory and triumphant victory after a great battle - he has overcome, the elder says.

But instead John sees a lamb that was slain. It is not that John sees two animals - a lion and then a lamb. Rather the point is, the lion is the lamb. He is the king who offers his life in sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain for our sins.

And because he was slain, Jesus is worthy to approach God’s throne and take the scroll from God’s right hand. More than that, Jesus is worthy to be worshipped.

Because you were slain

He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 5:7-8

All of four living creatures and the twenty-four elders - all of the angelic servants before God’s throne - bow down and worship Jesus, the Lamb of God. Remember what happened last week in Chapter 4. They were worshipping God. God was worthy of worship. God created the universe. But now, these same heavenly angels give their praise and worship to Jesus.

Each one of the elders are said to be holding a harp. I have heard this used as illustration for why we should have electric guitars in church; why it is important to have music in the church - and I think there is great truth in this picture of heaven itself praising God in music and song, and even with instruments of song.

Yet the purpose of the harps is symbolic of joy. Today we hear “harp” and think foyer at the Marriott hotel. But in Jewish culture, the harp was a happy instrument. Think mariachi band - big hats, loud trumpets and Speedy Gonzales.

Which is why “by the rivers of Babylon”, the Israelites hung up their harps, in Psalm 137. They were evicted from their country and oppressed by a foreign enemy. They could no longer sing songs that were happy and joyful.

And moments earlier, John was weeping in sorrow and despair. But now Jesus turns up and heaven is rejoicing. That is the symbolism of the harp. Mourning has turned to joy and praise.

And singing:

And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased men for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9-10

Go back to the image John saw standing in the centre of the throne: a lamb that was slain. It is repeated here in this “new song” sung by the angels - “You were slain and with your blood you purchased for God”.

It is a gruesome picture. John uses a word borrowed from the abattoir where animals are slaughtered. That is what “slain” means - animals were cut open. That is what the priests did as they sacrificed animals at the temple. The lamb was symbolic of God’s judgement for the sins of the people. It was killed to take our punishment so that we could be forgiven of our wrong-doing.

Also, this reminds us of the Passover lamb recorded in the book of Exodus. Blood from this sacrificial lamb was sprinkled on the door posts of the Israelite homes. That night, the Destroyer sent from God would see the blood and “pass over” that house, therefore sparing the life of the first born in that family.

Back in Singapore and Malaysia, the loan-sharks scare people into paying up their overdue debts by splashing red paint on their front door or even blood, and sometimes placing a severed pig’s head at the entrance of their homes. It was a vivid way of saying, “Pay up, or else!”

But here, the blood of the lamb means the debt has been settled. It has been paid in full. “With your blood you purchased - that is, you paid the price for - men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” That includes us Chinese. We don’t deserve this, by the way, but God has decided that he would sacrifice the life of his own Son, so that there would be such a strange thing as a Chinese Church smack in the middle of an English city like Cambridge. Every people. Every nation.

But then again, it also means we cannot just be Chinese here at the Chinese Church. If we truly understand what this verse is saying, we should not just invite Chinese friends, Asian friends, BBC’s to this church. In fact, I wonder if we ought to even be more intentional about telling people who are not Chinese the gospel. How well we understand the death of Jesus Christ and preciousness of his blood, is not just seen in how fervent our prayers are or how sincere you live your life for God. It is seen in who you intentionally go out of your way to love and tell the message of Jesus’ death of the cross. To walk up to someone who is totally unlike you - who has different values from you, who has an entirely different background from you, who speaks a different language from you, whose culture and heritage might even be offensive to your own - and so passionately desire to communicate to that person, “Jesus Christ died for you to make you a kingdom and a priest before God” - that’s how you show you understand the this verse in the bible.

Who would that be for us? You know, International Ministry seems to be a popular focus for churches in Cambridge today. Everyone wants to evangelise the Chinese. Everyone wants to reach the Muslims. In a way, it is almost be a sensible thing to do here in Cambridge where there are so many Chinese and so many Muslims living in this city. Yet, when Jesus approached the Samaritan woman at the well, it was a gesture so shocking and so scandalous, that woman was surprised Jesus was even talking to her. What kind of person would be totally caught off guard if you starting talking to him or her about the gospel? Who would that be for us here in the Chinese Church? Would it be inconceivable for us to have an African ministry here in the Chinese Church? Would it be surprising to have a service entirely in Japanese, or even a bible study with more English locals than internationals?

Why not?

If this verse is true, Jesus died for the Chinese Church, but not just for the Chinese Church. His blood paid for men and women from every tribe, every nation, every tongue, every people group.

Do we understand this verse? It will show in the way we preach the gospel and who we go out of our way to love and bring into the Kingdom of God.

And it will be motivated by the worship of the Lamb.

Worthy is the Lamb

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honour and glory and praise!”

Revelation 5:11-12

Now look again at who is praising the lamb. It’s the angels. But not just the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders around the throne. Now John sees the entire host of heaven joining in worship and praise of Jesus - “thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” - meaning: all of God’s angelic servants in heaven.

But he also says he hears this innumerably number of angelic beings singing in one single voice and this is John’s way of saying there is just one reason why they praise Jesus in heaven. He was slain. “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.”

Why should you worship God? Well, last week we saw, because he made you. You owe him. Every moment you exist, every breath you have, that comes from God. It is his gift of grace for you - in sustaining you - so that you would recognise him as your creator. All creation was made to worship God. Fundamentally, that should be all the reason we need. But here, the bible gives us another reason. In fact, it is a better reason.

Jesus is worthy because he was slain. When he went to the cross, most people abandoned him. Many rejected him. Some pitied him. One guy even asks him to remember him in heaven - the thief on the cross.

But one thing most people don’t realise is that Jesus went to the cross to be crowned. He went to the cross to be glorified. That is what the angels are praising Jesus for. His majesty seen on the cross. He is worthy to be praised. He is the crucified king.

Even as Christians, I wonder if we need to be reminded of this truth. It seems to be a popular these days to have Good Friday meditations where we reflect on the events leading up to the cross. Often times, this becomes a good opportunity to reflect on our sin and Jesus’ suffering for our sin. But it does worry me when we miss the point entirely and only ever feel sorry for Jesus on the cross. That is entirely the wrong idea. In fact, that is precisely with Muslims hate the cross, and rightly so, if all it represents is weakness and pity and shame.

The cross is the coronation of the Son of God. Jesus defeated Satan on the cross. “Look!” the elder tells John in verse 5, “The Lion of Jesus has triumphed!” It is a word that means “conquered” or “overcome”, and it is in the past tense. Jesus has won a battle!

That is why all of heaven praises - not just God on the throne - but Jesus, the lamb who was slain. He is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!

All creation sings

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped.

Revelation 5:13-14

So initially it was just the angels who were praising God. But now all of creation join in - heaven, earth, under the earth and the sea. All in praise of God seated on the throne and the lamb that was slain.

Just before we look at the implications of this, I wanted to quickly recap what we have learned and answer the question we asked right in the beginning: What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? Very quickly I would like to make five observations from this text:

1.    Jesus carries out God’s final plan for salvation and judgement
There will be an end to this universe. There is a purpose to our existence. There will be punishment of all evil. There will be salvation of God’s people. What makes it all possible - salvation, judgement, the new heavens and the earth, the eternal kingdom of God - is Jesus’ death on the cross.

2.    Jesus ascends to the throne
Through his resurrection, God raised Jesus up as the true Messiah and chosen King. Jesus now rules all of creation under God’s authority from God’s throne.

3.    Jesus is worthy of worship
In Chapter 4, God alone is worthy of worship for he created all things, but now in Chapter 5, the angels now say that Jesus is worthy because he was slain. Our greatest praise of God is through Jesus and through his sacrifice on the cross. Therefore, the songs that we sing, the prayers that we speak, the gospel that we preach must always centre on the cross as the focal point of true worship of the true God.

4.    Jesus defeated Satan and death
On the cross, Jesus defeated all his enemies, including Satan, the accuser of men and women before God. He defeated death by taking the punishment of our sin upon himself and was raised to indestructable and everlasting life. The cross also means God has given all judgement over to Jesus who will one day return to judge the living and the dead.

5.    Jesus purchased men and women from every tribe and nation for God
He paid for us with his blood. Our salvation comes through the death of God’s own Son. Forgiveness and reconciliation is offered to every nation under heaven. God created the world and all its vast cultures and peoples. God’s plan is to redeem men and women from all cultures and all peoples to display his grace and his glory in Jesus.

Amen

Finally I just wanted to end by looking at the last verse of Chapter 5. The four living creatures say, “Amen.” Now why do they say that? Well, it’s the end of a prayer, that’s why. Amen is what you say when you agree with the content of that prayer. It is saying, “Yes, I agree with that. I want that. That is true.” Amen.

But I wanted to point out a very curious thing I’ve noticed in this verse, in that, when the four living creatures and the elders bow down and say, “Amen”, it is very different from when you or I say, “Amen.” Let me explain why.

If you look back to verses 11 and 12, the angels sang a “new song” praising Jesus as the lamb who was slain. But they also say that Jesus is worthy for dying on the cross because he paid for a kingdom of priests to serve God. That is, he saved men and women. Yet curiously, verse 10 reminds us that this salvation excludes the angels themselves. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth.”

You see, I hope that when we sing this song we will sing it rather differently. We will sing, “You are worthy, Jesus because you purchased us for God with your blood. You have made us to be kingdom and priests to serve our God forever and ever.” Or as Paul writes in Colossians, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13) Or as Peter writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

So when we say “Amen”, I pray that what we mean is “Jesus, you have done this for us because you loved us. You saved me through your death with your blood. You have made me your own. You were slain for my sins and through your cross I receive forgiveness, hope and the promise of everlasting life. I worship you as my God and my Saviour.”

Amen.

You laid aside Your majesty, gave up everything for me.
Suffered at the hands of those You had created.
You took away my guilt and shame,
When You died and rose again.
Now today You reign,
And heaven and earth exalt You.

I really want to worship You my Lord,
You have won my heart and I am Yours.
Forever and ever, I will love You.
You are the only one who died for me,
Gave Your life to set me free.
So I lift my voice to You in adoration.

("You laid aside your majesty", Noel Richards)

Behold our God (Revelation 4)

Worth-ship

What do Christians mean by the word “worship”? In the bible, various words translated as worship usually mean “bowing down”(Hebrew: shachac; Greek: proskuneo) or “serving” (Hebrew: ‘abad; Greek: latreuo). That is, they often translate a physical action or response toward God such as offering sacrifices or falling down on your knees.

It is different in English.

In English, “worship” comes from the word “worth”. It means giving back to God what he is worth. So we read in today’s passage, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honour and power.” (Revelation 4:11)

This passage isn’t about how to worship God: Do we sing? Do we give money? Do we stand up or sit down? Will there be electric guitars in heaven? No, it does not teach us how to worship God. Rather, it tells us why we should worship God.

It tells us why God is worthy of our worship.

After this...

After this I looked and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

Revelation 4:1-2

I just want to remind you that John is writing this from prison. He is a pastor who has been arrested and sentenced to spend the rest of his life isolated from other Christians. He is suffering in prison alone. But here he continues to worship God. And here, Jesus appears to John.

And Jesus says to him, “Write what you see on a scroll and send it to the seven churches” (Revelation 1:11). Write to other Christians and remind them: They are not suffering alone. So, we’ve seen in the past weeks, John writes to seven churches reminding them that Jesus knows everything they are going through. He is with them in their suffering.

That was Chapters 2 and 3. But now, Chapter 4 begins with John saying, “After this” - that is, after the seven letters to the seven churches. But notice that Jesus also says in verse 2, “I am going to show what must take place... after this.” That is significant.

After you’ve read the seven letters - after reading Chapters 2 and 3 - keep on reading. Some people like to split Revelation into two parts: The first part, which are the letters to the churches, which is relevant to us as Christians today; and the second part which is just weird and confusing. Don’t bother with the weird chapters. Chapters 1 to 3 are the safe chapters, like watching the BBC Channels - Strictly Come Dancing, Great British Bake-Off, the daily news-roundup - stick to those channels. Chapters 4’s where you find the dodgy stuff, it’s the Sci-Fi channel - Dr Who, Star Trek, anything with Vin Diesel in it. Chapter 4 is OK for geeks and weirdos; keep to the safe chapters.

But no, John says, there’s more to Revelation that chapters 1 to 3. After this, much much more happens. Jesus says to John, after this, God has determined what must happen.

That is because Revelation is not one book with two parts; nor is it one book with seven letters stuck in the front. Revelation is one book with one message to all of God’s people, symbolised by the seven churches. As far as Chapters 1 to 3 are concerned, that’s just the address line in the letter - “Dear Ephesus, Dear Smyrna... “ and so on. Today we begin with the body of the letter.

Jesus says, “Come.” He says he will show us what must take place after this.

The throne

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 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. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

Revelation 4:3-6

What John sees is a throne: one sitting on the throne; twenty-four other smaller thrones around this throne; lightning coming from the throne. Verses 3, 4, 5 and 6 all focus on this one throne in heaven.

Now we need to keep in mind that John says he was “in the Spirit” (verse 3). He keeps describing what he saw by saying “it looked like this” or “It had an appearance like that”. Meaning: these visions were hard to describe. He was trying his best to get the message across, but these images given him in the Spirit were so amazing beyond words.

So, later on, when he says that he saw a living creature that looked like a lion -  it doesn’t mean it was a lion, but that it looked like a lion; the creature that had a face like a man - doesn’t mean that it was a man - but that what John saw looked like a man.

Still, this does not mean that the images are random. John chooses words and images that are actually familiar to his readers. He wants to help them - and to help us - to understand fully what he saw. In fact, these are images that we find recurring in the Old Testament. Meaning this: John is describing what he sees, but also what they signify. Meaning: if you know your Old Testament, you may be more familiar with many of these images and what they mean.

First of all, John sees a throne.

The throne signifies that God is king and that he rules from heaven. We need to remember that this was a culture where everyone sat on the floor. To sit on a throne was to place yourself above everyone else in the room. It was a position of authority. Kings sat on a throne. Judges sat down when they delivered a verdict. In church today, the speaker normally stands while everyone else sits on chairs, but in Jesus’ day, when the bible was read in the synagogue, everyone in the room would stand, and the person read the scroll would be sitting down.

Here, God sits on his throne and all of heaven worships him before the throne.

God is described as having the appearance of “jasper and carnelian” - precious stones; today we might say “diamonds and rubies”. The idea is that of light: God is the source of light. At the end of Revelation it tells us that there is no sun, for the only source of light is God himself and Jesus - God is the source of all light. But here, John describes God as a light that is brilliant - that is attractive. Not light from a fluorescent lamp - cold, boring, like the ones you find in office buildings - rather it’s like looking at a chandelier. This is light brilliantly emanating from a source that looks like diamonds. Similar to when a girl gets engaged and everyone crowds round and says, “Let me see the ring.” It doesn’t matter how big or how small the ring is: everyone wants to look at the diamond. Everyone is drawn to its beauty and preciousness.

And from this light we get a rainbow. John tells us “a rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne”. God is the source of light, and his glory is manifested into a myriad of colours - the way the colours of a rainbow are refracted from its source.

So far, heaven is very different from the all white, boy-band image, Harry Potter death-scene, Star Wars sterilised cloud-city image we are used. It is colourful! It is brilliant and glorious. And God is right at the centre of heaven, not hidden away in the distance.

But the rainbow also reminds us of God’s mercy. God told Noah, after the destruction of the flood that covered the whole earth, “Never again will I cause the waters to become a flood to destroy all life” in Genesis 9. As a sign of his promise he placed a rainbow in the clouds.

Now the fact that we see this rainbow here, in heaven, before God’s throne, means he is still keeping his word. Its not here on earth, after it rains a bit and we might find a faint hint of a rainbow in the sky. Here the rainbow “encircles the throne”. It is part of the furniture, “in emerald”. Almost as if, God is reminding himself, he will never break his word. He will always be merciful, gracious, faithful to his covenant.

Our God is sovereign: he sits on the throne. Our God is faithful: he keeps his promises.

Also around the throne are twenty-four other thrones and on them are twenty-four elders. God sits on the throne - he has all power and authority - but he invests his authority in others, in these twenty-four elders or leaders, who also sit on twenty-four thrones.

The number 24 is significant. It represents the whole people of God, under the old and new covenants symbolising the 12 tribes of Israel under the Old Covenant, and the 12 disciples of Jesus under the new - all the people of God are represented in heaven before God. All who are redeemed - saved - under the Old and New Covenants are there.

Some prefer to think of these elders as actual people from biblical history: specifically, the twelve sons of Jacob followed by the twelve apostles of Jesus. After all, Jesus does say in Matthew 19 to his disciples, “You will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).

More likely, however, these are not people but angelic beings. I do not think that these are the twelve sons of Israel and the twelve apostles; first of all, because John would then be seeing his future self seated there on the throne, worshipping God (“Hmm, future me needs to lose some weight.” It would be like a scene from Dr Who where River Song sees her future self on Lake Silencio.)

Secondly, we see in the next chapter that these elders distinguish themselves from the redeemed community of God, when they say to Jesus, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Meaning: they are not part of saved community.

Rather, I think these elders are angelic beings, always in God’s presence, always representing all God’s people; in the same way that we saw that there were seven angels representing seven churches back in Chapters 2 and 3.

There is something to be said about their being called “elders”. God has given them authority: they sit on twelve thrones; they wear crowns of gold on their heads; in the same way, that the elders of a church are given authority by God over his people. This authority is from God in submission to God. Later on we see in verse 10: “The 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.” These elders in heaven are doing two things: they are always worshipping God and they are always in submission to Jesus. Peter writes to fellow elders and fellow pastors in 1 Peter 5 - he uses the two terms interchangeably - urging them to be pastors of God’s flock under their care. “And when Chief Shepherd appears (or Jesus, the Senior Pastor appears - “pastor” simply means “shepherd” in the bible), you will receive a crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:4).

God rules from his throne in heaven but he mediates his authority through his angels, through elders and through leaders to lead God’s people graciously and lovingly.

What we have so far, is the vision of God ruling from heaven in majesty, glory and power. The rainbow reminds us of God’s faithfulness and mercy. The twenty-four elders on twenty-four thrones represent God’s people under the Old and New Covenants, in worship and in submission.

But next we will see God in his awesome holiness. And we will see him sitting in judgement over those opposed to his rule and authority.

The sea

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

Revelation 4:5-6

The scene is reminiscent of the events in Exodus - the thunder and lightning; the sea. Remember how Moses led the people of God out of slavery from Egypt to God’s mountain at Sinai. And there we read that God’s people were afraid. The mountain was covered in smoke; there was fire on this mountain, thunder and lightning. God was a holy God. This was God’s holy mountain. At Sinai, God speaks to them with a voice like a trumpet, similar to the voice John heard at the beginning of the chapter.

And here we see that God’s spirit is holy. There are seven lamps burning before him, referring either to God’s seven-fold spirit, his Holy Spirit. Or even possibly referring back to Chapters 2 and 3, to the seven churches in which his Spirit dwells. God wants his church to be holy as he dwells in them.

And before the throne is what John calls “a sea of glass, clear as crystal”. It is tempting at this point to imagine God on a holiday by the beach, dozing off on his deck chair, staring into the deep blue sea, as if this were a picture of calm and serenity. But that could not be farther from the truth.

In the bible, the sea is symbolic of chaos, destruction and evil. Daniel records a vision of the “four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came out of the sea” (Daniel 7:2-3). The same thing happens in Revelation Chapter 13 where dragon - symbolising the devil - stands on the shore of the sea, out of which emerges the beast of the sea.

When John says the sea was like “glass” (verse 6) he wasn’t describing the smooth shiny surface of an iPod Touch. Glass in the ancient world was full of imperfections. So, when verse 6 says that the sea was “like crystal” (the word “clear” isn’t in the text) - it is actually describing movement and motion. This was a raging sea.

In the very same vision Daniel records of the sea, and the beasts emerging from the sea, he writes:

As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

Daniel 7:9

The sea represents all that is opposed to God. And here in this vision, we find this image of rebellion right before the throne, before the presence of Almighty God. What does this signify? God is sovereign even in the face of opposition. He sits on his throne of fire ready to pour out judgement on all the forces of evil that stand opposed to him.

It reminds us: even though we live in a world broken by sin; even though we live in a world in opposition to God and does not want to acknowledge that there is a God - God still reigns. He will judge. But his patience and grace means salvation. We should not take that for granted nor should we despair. God is sovereign even over a world that rebels against him.

God is still on the throne.

The four living creatures

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 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. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings.

Revelation 4:6-8

The next time you are at St John’s College (it’s opposite Hong Kong Fusion Restaurant!), look up at the gatehouse where you will see a stone statue of John the gospel writer, standing in a tabernacle, and if you look at his feet you will notice a golden eagle. Now the reason why the eagle is there (and you’ll find golden statues of eagles all around the college) is because of this passage in Revelation. In the past, people used to think the four living creatures represented the four gospel writers. Matthew was the man, Mark was the lion, Luke was the ox and John was the eagle. No biblical reason whatsoever to support this, but it was popular at one time in history, nonetheless.

The four creatures are likely to be angelic beings, similar to the twenty-four elders. While this bit of the vision might seem the strangest, it is actually one of the most familiar from the Old Testament. The prophet Ezekiel records his vision of God’s throne where he saw four angelic beings with wings, each having a face of a man, an ox, a lion and an eagle.

I think that altogether, these four creatures (literally, “living ones”) symbolise all of God’s creation. We have just seen the sea in rebellion towards God, but here we see creation in worship of God. That is what we were made for - worship. The four living creation continuously offer worship before the living God. They are covered in eyes - a symbol of God’s all-knowing nature, sometimes called him omniscience - telling us that God knows everything that happens in the world that he has made.

John tells us these four creatures are in perpetual worship.

Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”

Revelation 4:8

This is what the four living creatures say day and night. They are in perpetual praise of God. While you were sleeping last night, they were praising God. While you were driving to church, parked your car and stopped off for a bite to eat, these four living creatures around the throne were saying, “Holy, holy, holy!”

This is continuous, ongoing, unceasing worship in heaven in the presence of God. Not just on Sundays. Not just when the music is playing. Continuous, ongoing and unceasing praise of God for his holiness and majesty.

God is three-times holy. It is a superlative. In English, we might use words like “holy”, “holier” and “holiest” to describe degrees of holiness. But in Hebrew, you represented degree by repeating the word: “Holy, Holy Holy”. It is saying that God is the Most Holy God. It is the very definition of God. He is Holy.

At the heart of worship is knowing who God is. He is holy. He is “Almighty” - referring again to his authority and majesty. In the Old Testament, “Almighty” often translates “Lord of hosts” which is a picture of the God who owns all armies and every authority, again referring back to the picture of God as king on the throne and God as judge on the throne.

And he is the Everlasting God. Who was, who is and who is to come. He is coming. One day, all will see God for who he truly is. One day, this vision is what we will see, because Jesus will come and display his full glory before his new creation.

At the heart of this worship is the true God, and knowing who this true God is. He is holy, Almighty, Everlasting. And the four living creatures never stop worshipping. Now the difference between us and these four creatures is not simply that they are always worshipping and we aren’t. No, the real difference is that they worship the true God and we often don’t.

We are all worshippers - we were made to worship. And the problem is we worship what we do not know, we worship idols or we worship ourselves. Jesus dares to tell the Samaritan woman, “You worship what you do not know.” (John 4) Doesn’t matter how sincere you are. Do you know this God who has revealed himself in creation but more so, in the bible? Paul says to the Athenians, “Let me tell you about this God you say is unknown, he is the God who made the world, he is the God who made you, he is the God who sent Jesus Christ.” (Acts 17)

We are worshippers, and we are always worshipping, but often we worship other gods, even in the knowledge of the true God. We look for satisfaction and fulfilment in something else other than God. The bible calls that idolatry.

You see this in ads that say, “You’re worth it.” You deserve to look beautiful and attractive, so buying this product, spending your money, taking the time to use this shampoo, will make you the person you deserve to be. Beautiful. Adored. We want to be worshipped. We want to be on the throne.

Instead what we find here in Revelation are angels saying to God, “You are worth it!” They say to God, “You are worthy!”

You are worthy

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the 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:

“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.”

Revelation 4:9-11

God is worthy or worship. That’s what they are saying. That is what worship means - giving God his worth.

Again, the person who is still thinking, “I am worth it!” may turn around and ask, “Is God worth it?” It is worth my time paying any attention to this God. Is it worth my life trusting in this God? And granted, the bible does promise that he is. God offers forgiveness, reconciliation, eternal life, heavenly reward to all who place their trust in Jesus alone. Yet asking, “Is God worth it?” is fundamentally a flawed question when it comes to worship.

It is the question a person asks when he spends all night trawling through eBay looking for that deal - trying to get the most of the least. It is the question the new graduate asks when deciding what job to apply for - which has the best perks and the biggest salary. It is the question, I wonder, that maybe many Cambridge Christian students are asking when after weeks and later, months in university they still hop from church to church - is this where I will get the most for my precious time on a Sunday morning. What can I get out of this? Where can I get the most for the least?

Yes friends, God is worth it. But this passage teaches us a greater truth. God is worthy.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive all glory and honour and power, for you created all things.” God created you. The first thing we learn in our bibles is that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He made you. He owns you. That is why he is worthy. He made you to worship him.

Our desire to worship ourselves is a fundamental indication that we reject God as our creator. We don’t want to be owned. We don’t want to owe anybody anything.

But Revelation also says, “By your will they were created and have their being.” Your very existence is owed to God. Every breath. Every moment. Every new day is a new sign of God’s loving grace to you. He sustains all of creation purely by his will.

At the very least, we ought to thank him, should we? Verse 9 says the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to God. It is simply recognising God for what he has done for us. Worship is a response. You worship truly by knowing the true God.

He is holy. He is Almighty. He is Everlasting. He is your creator. He continues to sustain you by his will.

And he made you to worship him.

Jesus is worthy

The real question you need to ask yourselves is not “Am I worshipping today?” Or “Do I stand for this song?” No, the more fundamental question is, “Do you know who this God is?”

That is what Jesus wanted to show John. Here was a man in prison, isolated from his friends, suffering for the gospel. But on the Lord’s Day - on a Sunday like this - he worshipped God. Jesus used him to encourage other Christians who are also suffering to show them - God is still God. God is still on the throne.

And you what else? Revelation 4 is just a set-up for Revelation 5. Because next week see how God left the throne to come to us. Next week we see Jesus.

He left the worship of angels to be rejected by men. He left the glory of heaven to crucified on a cross. He submitted himself to the will of his Father and was obedient unto death. And there on the cross, Jesus was enthroned. He took our sin and shame upon himself, bearing our punishment for our rebellion against God.

Because there on the cross, Jesus offered the only true sacrifice to the only true God. He offers our worship so that we would be acceptable before a holy God. On the cross, we see that Jesus, the Lamb of God who was slain, is worthy of all our praise, our thanks and our worship.

Behold our God. Come let us adore him.

Who has held the oceans in His hand

Who has numbered every grain of sand

Kings and nations tremble at His voice

All creation rises to rejoice

Behold our God seated on His throne

Come let us adore Him

Behold our King nothing can compare

Come let us adore Him!

(“Behold our God”, Sovereign Grace Music)