Revelation 4
AFTER this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2, 3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper (of a rich and brilliant colour) and a sardine stone (of blood red hue): and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (Lest the brightness indicated by the jasper, and the fiery justice symbolised by the sardine stone, should repel the gaze of faith, the throne is surrounded by the covenant rainbow, in which the predominating colour is the gentle green, the ensign of mercy.)
4 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. (These represent the church glorified in heaven. Royal ones, for they are crowned; priestly ones, and therefore clothed in white. “He hath made us unto our God kings and priests.”)
5 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.
6 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 (or rather living creatures) full of eyes before and behind. (Probably representing some noble order of creatures which are very near to God, and serve him with great watchfulness and ardour. Perhaps above all angels, cherubim and seraphim, these four orders of beings rise into greater nearness to God.)
7 And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature had a face as a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8 And the four living creatures 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.
9–11 And when those living creatures 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, saying, 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.
Adoration is the employment of heaven, and none can be desired more honourable or delightful. How happy shall we be when we too shall stand and bow before the throne in concert with that mighty host.
Revelation 5
AND I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
The roll was full and written on both sides. The divine purposes are here intended.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3, 4 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. (He possesses fulness of power, fulness of wisdom, and fulness of the Holy Spirit.)
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
No man knows the Father save the Son; the Son alone can reveal the decrees of Jehovah.
8–10 And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The Lamb is, therefore, God, or he would not thus be adored, Jesus, our Saviour, is assuredly “God over all, blessed for ever. Amen.”
11, 12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Do all things thus worship Jesus? then let us adore him. Oh for warm hearts with which to extol his precious name. All hail, Lord Jesus! our very souls worship thee with lowliest and most loving reverence.
Who shall the Father’s record search,
And hidden things reveal?
Behold, the Son that record takes,
And opens every seal!
Hark how th’ adoring hosts above
With songs surround the throne!
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues;
But all their joys are one.
“Worthy the Lamb that died,” they cry,
“To be exalted thus;”
“Worthy the Lamb,” our lips reply,
“For he was slain for us.”
Now to the Lamb, that once was slain,
Be endless blessings paid;
Salvation, glory, joy remain
For ever on thy head.
Thou hast redeem’d our souls with blood,
Hast set the prisoners free;
Hast made us kings and priests to God,
And we shall reign with thee.
Thou art the First, and thou the Last;
Time centres all in thee,
The Almighty God, who was, and is,
And evermore shall be.
Thou hast promised by the prophets,
Glorious light in latter days;
Come and bless bewilder’d nations,
Change our prayers and tears to praise:
Promised Spirit,
Round the world diffuse thy rays.
All our hopes, and prayers, and labours,
Must be vain without thine aid:
But thou wilt not disappoint us;
All is true that thou hast said:
Gracious Spirit,
O’er the world thine influence spread.
Praise ye the Lord, exalt his name,
While in his holy courts ye wait,
Ye saints that to his house belong,
Or stand attending at his gate.
Praise ye the Lord; the Lord is good,
To praise his name is sweet employ;
Israel he chose of old, and still
His church is his peculiar joy.
The Lord himself will judge his saints;
He treats his servants as his friends;
And when he hears their sore complaints,
Repents the sorrow that he sends.
In Gabriel’s hand a mighty stone
Lies, a fair type of Babylon:
“Prophets, rejoice, and all ye saints,
God shall avenge your long complaints.”
He said, and dreadful as he stood,
He sank the millstone in the flood:
“Thus terribly shall Babel fall,
Thus and no more be found at all.”1
1 Spurgeon, C. H. (1964). The Interpreter: Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible (pp. 765–766). Baker Book House.
Truth2Freedom's Blog 