Apr 21, 2018
John is seeing things that no man has ever seen before. He is undergoing a relentless assault on his senses, with sights, sounds and smells coming at him in rapid succession. And to his surprise and wonder, he finds himself standing in the throne room of God in heaven, surrounded by amazing imagery that defies human logic and description. But the most memorable aspect of this particular vision is the sheer volume of clues that point to the holiness of God. Yes, John is being given an opportunity to see “what must take place after this.” In other words, he is being provided with a preview of coming attractions – the events associated with the last days. But in spite of the fantastic nature of all that John is about to see and hear, what stands out in this chapter is the holiness of God. His very appearance is that of precious jewels. He is surrounded by colors and a host of characters who focus all their attention on Him. There are flashes of lightning and the sounds of thunder. John sees torches of fire and what appears to be a sea of glass. But even more impressive and impossible to ignore are the voices of the four living creatures singing of God’s holiness. And they are joined by the 24 elders, who sing of the worthiness of God to receive glory, honor and power. Revelation 4:1-11 is filled with imagery that speaks of God’s holiness. And it provides John and all who will read his book, with a powerful reminder that all that is to come in the book will come from the throne and through the hands of our holy, righteous, all-powerful, and sovereign God.