Reflection on Revelation 4

I studied Revelation 4 this week and want to share with you what I learned from this very short chapter, 11 verses in total.

First, Jesus' call to "come up here" through a door into heaven invites us to join John in getting a glimpse of God's unmatchable majesty and sovereignty. What John saw immediately reminds me control centers, the ones I saw in movies sometimes. But this one is the only real control center of the whole universe. The sole ruler is God Himself. The glorious sovereign God reigns on His throne and rules over His creation. As rainbow represents God's faithfulness to His people and His creation, the profound power of thunder and lighting declares that judgment will come. God controls not only the final outcome of human history, but also every detail of every day in your life. The brokenness of our world and the painful struggles in our personal situations sometimes lead us to doubt whether God is really in control or concerns at all. By directing your gaze on God sitting on the heaven's throne, you can be comforted by the fact that God's rule and reign are not merely a future hope, but a powerful, present reality.

Besides God, there are four living creatures. I do not understand the description of the creatures, but I do understand what they are doing. They are worshipping. The living creatures speak of God's holiness and His eternal nature.

“Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almigty,

who was, and is and is to come."

God is entirely separate from His creation. His holiness characterizes all He is. Time does not limit God.

As the song of the living creatures ends, immediately the twenty four elders start a second hymn of praise. They praise God's worthiness as Creator.

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created and have their being."

Everything exists in heaven and on earth because God made it. Everything continues to exist because of God's sustaining provision. 

The two worship groups worship God constantly. They continuously repeat their hymns. Worship begins with a correct view of God. It is the continual surrender and honor rightfully due God. 

Will you worship God through deliberate surrender of your will to Him who is worthy? You are God's creation. He sees everything you say, do and feel. Nothing in your life or in this world is random or outside of His control. He is advancing His purposes, and you are part of them. The only proper response to God is heartfelt praise and humble Worship~~We are created to worship Him non stop.

On this earth now, true worship calls us to offer our "bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." This is true and proper worship.