Before the Throne

1. Read: Revelation 4:1-11

2. About the Text:

1) Psalm 95:1-3 says, “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

2) From this passage we rightly understand God as the King of creation.

3) As King God sits upon a throne of majesty and greatness.

4) Isaiah 6:1 states, “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.”

5) Perhaps the greatest picture of God sitting on His Kingly throne is in Revelation 4.

6) We often talk of coming before God’s throne in worship.

7) And there are many people seeking to make a decision of worship.

8) Should I worship traditionally or in a contemporary way?

9) Should I worship left or should I worship right?

10) The question of worship isn’t about left or right, but about up or down.

11) Because when we understand what transpires before the throne of God in worship, we will have no question about how we are to worship.

12) Let us open our eyes spiritually to this reality.

13) Let us picture ourselves walking up to the gates of the throne room.

14) We are permitted by virtue of the blood of the Son to approach (Hebrews 10:19).

15) The massive doors of that throne room swing open before us.

16) We see a tremendous and awesome picture.

a. Before us is a floor of pure and clear crystal.

b. We see twenty four thrones in a circle with 24 elders sitting on the thrones.

c. In the middle we see God’s throne with Cherubim circling round.

d. With the utmost awe we realize that we are in the presence of God.

17) With this setting we ask, “What transpires when we come before the throne?”

3. Reference to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Beauty

1) Dictionary.com defines beauty as follows: “The quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).”

2) We see beauty around us in various forms: art, music, or the theater.

3) We also recognize great beauty in nature.

4) There is moral purity which is a truly beautiful thing.

5) But we haven’t seen true beauty until we’ve considered God’s beauty.

6) God’s beauty surpasses the works of man’s hands.

7) God’s beauty surpasses the world of creation.

8) God’s beauty surpasses the purest of lives.

9) Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

2. Revelation 4:3 “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.”

1) Jasper and Sardius stones are deeply and brilliantly red.

2) Emeralds green.

3) The picture is of One Whose beauty is deep and brilliant.

4) God gives us intense spiritual pleasure and deep satisfaction to the mind.

5) He truly defines beauty.

1. Exalted

1) The word exalted means to be raised, elevated, or lifted up.

2) We think of an earthly king on his throne as being exalted.

3) We recognize that his place and station lifts him above the mundane and average.

4) Not only physically, but in authority, power, prestige, honor, and magnificence.

2. By comparison let us consider God’s exaltation.

1) God is that Great King of Psalm 95:3 sitting on a throne (an exalted postion) in heaven (an exalted place); He is exalted even above that which is exalted.

2) Psalm 57:5, “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.”

3. Revelation 4:4-6 “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. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”

1) We start with the sea of glass surrounding the throne: tranquil, calm, serene, peaceful.

2) We go inward and upward and before the throne are the 24 elders.

3) Still further Inward and upward and around the throne the four beasts full of eyes.

4) Inward and upward, out of the throne: lightning, thunder, voices.

5) Inward and upward, on the throne is God, the exalted One.

1. Holiness is not something that is honored in the world.

1) In the world, holiness is denigrated; nothing is sacred.

2) Speech is corrupt, filthy, and crass.

3) Sexual morals are loose, vulgar, and adulterated.

4) Relationships are pursued for intensely selfish purposes.

5) Psalm 14:1 summarizes such attitudes: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

2. But before the throne holiness is honored.

1) Holiness is a consecration and sanctification that sets one apart from the crude.

2) Holiness is accomplished by a purity of words, deeds, and thoughts which cannot be condemned.

3) 1 Peter 1:15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [behavior]; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

3. Revelation 4:8 “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

1) The exclusive purpose of these creates is to proclaim God’s holiness night and day.

2) Before the throne, holiness is perfectly honored.

1. Humility

1) Consider the throne-room of God and Who God is; man has no avenue but humility.

2) Consider Psalm 144:3-4 “LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.”

3) Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

4) It is only with the utmost sobriety and humility that man comes before the throne.

2. Revelation 4:9-10 “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 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 . . .”

1) The 24 elders, the pinnacle of man, fall down before the throne of God.

2) They cast their golden crowns, the pinnacle of their honors, the highest of their achievements, before the throne.

3) In this one supreme act of sober humility, nothing is withheld.

4) And then something remarkable happens.

5) Man’s humiliation yields honorable exaltation.

1. Praise

1) Praise is the act of lauding, commending, approving, honoring, and admiring another.

2) Psalm 145:21 “My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.”

3) Psalm 148:13 “Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.”

4) Before the throne praise can’t help but leap forth from our lips.

2. Revelation 4:11 “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.”

1) God is worthy to receive our praise. Psalm 18:3 “I will call upon the Lord….”

2) Before the throne “By him then, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:5)

1. Authority

1) To respect authority is to do things as the One in authority deems necessary.

2) Jesus is the perfect model; he never went beyond God’s authority.

3) John 12:49-50 “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”

2. Again, Revelation 4:11 “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.”

1) We see no picture of, rebellion, disrespect, dishonor, flippancy, or casuality.

2) Hence, God’s worship is conducted according to His pleasure as He has authorized.

3) Man’s inventions and innovations are absent.

4) There exists only the will of God and man’s yielding to God’s will.

5) We have no avenue but to worship as He has authorized (John 4:24).

1. Worship

1) Psalm 29:2 states, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

2) We owe worship to God.

3) Worship is the highest act of man to the One True God.

2. Revelation 4:10 “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. . .”

1) In worship there must be the presence of the worshipper and the one worshipped.

2) The worshipper offers complete adoration and devotion to the one worshipped.

3) Revelation 19:10 and Revelation 22:9 admonish us to worship God and no other.

4) To worship, we must come before the throne of God.

5) When all of these conditions are met, worship is consummated.

1. Before the throne . . .

1) Beauty is Defined – the beauty of God – His brilliance, depth, and color.

2) God is Exalted – The thunder and lightning that comes from His throne.

3) Holiness is Honored – the four living creatures surrounding our Holy God.

4) Man is Humbled – the twenty-four elders bowing and casting their crowns before Him.

5) Praise is Lifted – the praises that are offered to God.

6) Authority is Respected – Our place of humility as we grope before Him in worship.

7) Worship is Consummated – We offer complete adoration and reverence to God.

2. If we keep this picture of God’s throne before our mind’s eye, we can and will worship Him acceptably, with reverence and awe.