NT Fire Starters – Day 344: Revelation 4:1-11
READ: Revelation 4:1-11
THINK: Are you good at explaining things to others in ways they understand? Or do you sometimes have difficulty verbalizing your thoughts and intentions? Regardless of your way with words, there are things that simply defy description. There is just no vocabulary to verbalize how extraordinary they are. More than anything, this applies to God. The Bible describes many aspects of His character, His attributes, His activity and His purposes. At times it describes people’s reactions to God’s glorious presence, which typically rendered humans speechless, immobile and virtually lifeless (1:17). But mere words don’t do justice in describing God himself. Even in this passage, John doesn’t attempt to describe God directly, for His glory is too great for words and beyond describing in any shape or form.
RESPOND: At this point in the Revelation, what type of transition seems to take place in how things were revealed to John? (See 4:1 note.) What do many scholars and interpreters think has happened prior to the events described in this passage and beyond? Why do they believe this? Who is sitting on the “throne in heaven”? (See 4:2-3 note.) Why do you think that John doesn’t describe God directly? What sense do you get from John’s description of the setting surrounding God’s throne? What are some of the views regarding who the twenty-four elders are or what they represent? What are the “seven spirits of God,” or what do they represent? (See 4:5 note.) What do the four living creatures around the throne likely represent and what is the significance of their appearance? (See 4:6 note.) What do these creatures “never stop saying” (v. 8)? What’s the significance of repeating this continuously? (See 4:8 note.) What does this indicate about God’s character? Why do the elders lay down their crowns as they worship God? (See 4:10 note.) What is the essence of their worship to God (v. 11)?
PRAY: Worship God the Father for His indescribable glory and perfect holiness.
ACT: Take extra time throughout the day to worship God. Notice the people and things around you and praise God for specific aspects of His creation, His work, His purposes, His power and His protection. See the articles on Worship, p. 608, and The Attributes of God, p. 786. Write on a note card or enter a memo on your phone listing some of God’s character traits highlighted in these articles. Use this to worship God for specific aspects of His personality.