The Thrones of Scripture
Part 4
The Creator’s Throne: a Throne of Worship.
“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. And immediately I was in the Spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and one sat on the throne” (Rev. 4:1-11).
Worship actually means worth-ship and is an acknowledgement of worthiness. In the Old Testament this was shown by the prostration before another to indicate honour and reverence. The word worship in the Holy Scriptures occurs for the first time in Genesis 18:2, Abraham “bowed himself toward the ground.” In the
New Testament the Greek word “proskuneo” indicates worship; it implies the kissing of the hand, such as a slave might do to his master in order to demonstrate his reverence and affection.
Wonder and worship go together; as soon as we cease to wonder, we cease to worship.
The heavenly temple (Rev. 4:2-3): The Shechinah glory fills all that holy place. He that sat upon the throne was like unto a jasper which is a clear transparent gem suggesting that God is light. He also was like unto a sardius, a crimson gem, suggesting that God is love.
In this heavenly temple there is no altar for sacrifice and no laver for washing, only a sea of glass to reflect the beauty of redemption. Furthermore, there is no holy place: no lampstand, no table of shew bread, no golden altar.
The Throne in Heaven: Notice the prepositions used in this passage: “on the throne” One is seated; no doubt the Lord Jesus (Rev. 3:21). “In the midst of the throne” appear four living creatures, all near the Lamb. “Round about the throne” the rainbow of the divine covenant shines. The four and twenty elders “cast their crowns before the throne.”
The throngs of worshippers: There are five great throngs mentioned within two chapters. I. In Revelation 4:8, the four living creatures (Not beasts, this is a different word to that used in Revelation 13). It is well to notice the form of these living creatures in Ezekiel 1:10, and in Revelation 4:7, and to notice that they worship God as the Eternal, Self-existent One. They are living creatures because the primary essential to worship is life in Christ.
II. The twenty-four elders (Rev. 4:10-11) worship God as Creator, saying, “For Thy pleasure they are, and were created” (Col. 1:16). III. The living creatures and the twenty-four elders (Rev. 5:8-10) worshipped God as Redeemer. They speak of the price of redemption, the blood of the Lamb; the privilege of redemption, a kingdom of priests; and the prospect of redemption, they shall reign.
The Lamb is the central person in Revelation 5:6; He has offered a sacrifice for sin, occupies the seat of power, and opens the seals of the closed book.
IV. The living creatures, the elders, and the angelic hosts all worship God as the Great Conqueror (Rev. 5:11-12). Moreover, they engage in a sevenfold ascription of praise, a doxology of power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory, and blessing.
V. According to the scene described in Revelation 5:13-14, every created intelligent being worships God as the Universal Ruler.