The seven churches in Asia Minor, like churches today, struggled. They struggled from persecution by individuals outside the church, as well as by the compromise of members within the church. Any struggle, over time, will drain your strength. Jesus knew that if His followers’ strength wasn’t renewed His cause would be lost. That’s probably why Jesus deemed it important to give His followers a picture of heaven’s throne. It alone would renew their strength.

In a democratic society, thrones are not as esteemed as they were in history. In history they were seen as the seat of authority and power. The oldest surviving throne was built into the walls of the Minoan Palace of Knossos. This palace in Crete was first built around 2000 B.C. After being destroyed and rebuilt 300 years later, it was destroyed a second time around 1350 B.C. never to be built again. Today, it is nothing more than a tourist attraction at an excavation site.

One of the most magnificent thrones in history is the Peacock Throne. It was built during the reign of Shah Jahan, who also built the Taj Mahal. His throne was six feet by four feet and made of pure gold. It was studded with diamonds, rubies and emeralds. The diamonds were around 10-12 carats each, and the 100 or more rubies were between 100-200 carats. However, in 1739 the Persians invaded Delhi and stole the throne. The throne, now robbed of any authority or power, can be seen in a museum in Tehran, Iran.

The throne of heaven is mentioned ten times in Revelation 4, more than any other chapter in the Bible. Jesus makes it clear that the throne of heaven is far older than the throne of Knossos and more beautiful than the Peacock Throne of Delhi. Furthermore, its power and authority will never be destroyed or stolen. It will never become another impressive but impotent tourist attraction. The incomparable beauty, power and authority of heaven’s throne remain a source of strength for any believer drained by his or her faithfulness to Jesus. John’s description of heaven’s throne in Revelation 4 explains why.

A Throne:
The Constant in a World of Change

One of the reasons why the throne of heaven strengthens believers is because it is our only constant in a world of change. This is made clear in verses 1-2:

1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

In verse 1, you have the third and final time the word “door” is used in Revelation. Revelation 3:8 speaks of the open door of opportunity God has given the believers in Sardis. Revelation 3:20 cites how the pride of the Laodiceans has shut the door of their church to God. Now, Revelation 4:1 points to the open door of heaven. Once John peers through and sees the throne of heaven, what he writes should humble the proud and strengthen the weak. The doors of the church should be opened to God and the doors of opportunity should be opened for God’s people.

John states in verse 1 that the same voice that spoke to him in Revelation 1:10 is speaking to him now. It’s the trumpeting voice of Jesus. Jesus bids him, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” With this call, Jesus does not transport John (rapture John), but He places John in a trance much like the one Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4.

In this vision of heaven, John’s attention is fixed on a throne. Though the translation of the New International Version of verse 2 is compelling, it under-emphasizes a Greek verb that other translations underscore. The verb means “to set.” Like entering a home with a dinner table set elegantly before you, John enters heaven with the throne of heaven set impressively before him. Looking upon it, John not only knows that the throne of heaven is set to be seen, but it is also set to stay.

The point that heaven’s throne is set to stay was made twice in verse 1. The verse opens with “After this I looked…” and closes with Jesus’ promise to John, “…I will show you what must take place after this.” This phrase, “after this,” or “after these things,” appears throughout the book of Revelation to announce the beginning of a new vision (Revelation 7:9; 15:5; 18:1; 19:1). They mark the vision of another coming event or change.

I believe that is why John’s initial description of heaven’s throne is of a throne that is set to stay. In a world that is constantly changing, believers need heaven’s throne to be the constant that doesn’t change.

For over 2000 years mariners have used Polaris, better known as “the North Star,” to navigate in open waters. Located at the end of the “Little Dipper” it remains set in its location. Though other stars move as the earth rotates on its axis, the North Star remains fixed. Thus, regardless of the changing condition of the seas, if a mariner can find the North Star, he can chart a course for his journey.

As believers, the conditions around us, like the conditions in open water, can change. Governments can change and become either for or against Christianity. Economies can change. At one moment, you were looking for a new house and at the next you are looking for a new job. Relationships can change. A divorce has broken your heart as well has your home. Your health can change from being strong and independent to being weak and dependant upon the care of others.

When your conditions change, you feel as though the course of your life has changed. Yet as a believer, Jesus says you will always have a constant you can use to chart your life—the throne of heaven. In a world of change, it has been and always will be the constant you can rely on to chart your life.

On the Throne
One You can Trust

A second reason why heaven’s throne strengthens believers is because as a believer you can trust the One who sits on the throne. Verses 2-3 explain:

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

The One sitting on the throne has a different posture than is depicted in the book of Hebrews. Three times in the book of Hebrews it refers to Jesus completing His responsibility on earth and sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Hebrews 1:3; 10:12; 12:2). Having sacrificed His life and fulfilled His task, Jesus now rests on the throne.

John’s vision is different. With the throne of heaven spread out and set before him, John sees the One on the throne reigning, not resting. He has the strength of a lion, and yet the colors of a lamb.

John says the One on the throne appears in the colors of “jasper and carnelian.” In the original Greek, the stones mentioned are jasper and sardine. Jasper is clear as crystal, much like a diamond. The sardine stone is a fiery blood-red ruby. It’s the perfect combination of colors for the One who was our pure sacrifice and shed His blood for our sins. The colors remind us of God’s faithfulness to His promises.

Furthermore, these are two of the twelve stones identified on the breastplate of the priest in Exodus 28:17-20. Each of the twelve stones represents one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Sardine is the first stone and represents Reuben, the first born. Jasper, the last stone, is for Benjamin, the last born. The colors of those two stones represent God’s faithfulness to His people. Furthermore, the name Reuben means “behold a son” while Benjamin means “son of my right hand.” The One on the throne has been faithful to keep His promises, faithful to His people, and remains faithful to this day as He reigns.
In a world where people aren’t always faithful, it’s securing to know that God is still on His throne and He is always faithful. I have a special friend who frequently reminds me of this.

Though she is one year younger than me, God made her so she will always have the sweet mind and innocence of a young girl. Her hugs are full of love and life. That’s why they are so tight. Our special handshake took me a while to remember, but now I’ll never forget it. What makes our relationship so special is that both of us were reared in a pastor’s home and both of us loved our dads. Because her mind is sweet and innocent, when something happens in her life that’s not so sweet or innocent, it can be unsettling for her. While telling me about an unsettling episode, she said, “Whenever I get upset, I just remember what my daddy taught me. He’d say, ‘Remember, Honey, God is still on His throne.’ When I remember that, I know everything is going to be alright.”

I believe that is why God has given us such a securing picture of the One on the throne. He’s not resting because He’s tired, He’s reigning because He is Lord. Yet the reigning Lord was also the Faithful Lamb who fulfilled God’s promises, remaining faithful to God’s people. He is still on the throne, still faithful, and you can still trust Him.

Surrounding the Throne
Champions and Their Rewards

Not only does heaven’s throne strengthen believers because of who is on it, it also strengthens us when we see those surrounding it. They are identified in verse 4:

4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

Some believe the twenty-four elders represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. Yet I agree with others who believe that the twenty-four elders have a greater significance.

Since the book of Hebrews shows us that many Old Testament practices give us heavenly pictures, the same could be true of Revelation 4 and 1 Chronicles 24. In 1 Chronicles 24, King David appoints twenty-four elders to represent the Levitical order around his throne. Therefore it is likely that the twenty-four elders in Revelation 4 represent the entire heavenly priesthood comprised of all who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10).

This also supports the picture that they are wearing garments of white with golden crowns. Jesus’ promise to the believers in Sardis is that those who overcome with Christ will walk with Christ dressed in white (Revelation 3:4-5). Furthermore, the crowns worn by the elders confirm the crowns promised to believers throughout scripture. There are five crowns and they include:

• The Crown of Incorruption – awarded to those who live a disciplined life fulfilling God’s aim for their life (1 Corinthians 9:26).
• The Crown of Life – awarded to those who patiently endure trials (James 1:12).
• The Crown of Rejoicing – awarded to those who express their faith with joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
• The Crown of Glory – awarded to those faithful in ministering the Word of God (1 Peter 5:1-4).
• The Crown of Righteousness – awarded to those who love Christ’s appearing and eagerly await the return of Jesus (2 Timothy 4:8).¹

Though I don’t know specifically who the twenty-four elders will be, I know what they represent for me. They represent a day when God, who knows all, will reward all who have faithfully overcome.

When you make sacrifices to fulfill God’s aim for your life…
When you suffer through life for the cause of Christ…
When you share your faith with others and no one sees it…
When you faithfully handle and herald God’s Word…
When you live today as though Jesus is coming tomorrow…

God who sees all will reward all who have been faithful.

From the Throne
Sounds of the Coming Judgment

For those who refuse to surrender their lives to Jesus, there is a message for them from heaven’s throne as well. Verse 5 reads,

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.

There are three other times in the book of Revelation when this same picture is given. All three times it refers to God’s acts of judgment upon the godless (Revelation 8:5; 11:19; 16:18). Even Exodus 9:23 describes God’s actions against Egypt in a similar fashion. Yet it is fitting that the warning is given here in chapter 4, for in chapter 6 God’s judgment begins, and it grows progressively worse through chapter 19.
Though I’ve never sat in a courtroom to view an actual case, I have a picture of the procedures. A voice echoes in the room saying, “All rise,” and then announces the name of the judge and that court is now in session. Periodically, the judge will pound his gavel to get attention, use his or her authority, and finally render judgment.

In verse 5, the sights and sounds from heaven’s throne should cause even the most jaded of hearts to realize they are before Almighty God. Throughout history God has pounded His gavel to get your attention. If you have yet to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, you had better make your plea now because God is about to render judgment and His judgment is final.

Before the Throne
Reminders of God’s Holiness

The image of heaven’s throne in Revelation 4 is not only a warning to the godless, it is also a reminder to the faithful. It is a reminder of God’s holiness. The images in verse 5 also occur in Exodus 19:16-25 at Mount Sinai. There a cloud caps the mountain and from it Israel sees and hears lightening, thunder and trumpet blasts. As Israel trembles, God tells Moses to warn the people not to come to the mountain, for He is holy. Boundaries are marked off to protect the people from the holiness of God.
John’s vision of the holiness of Heaven’s Throne is different. In verses 5b-6a, John is given reminders of the holiness of God—reminders that are both inviting and inspiring.

Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

He sees seven lamps that represent the seven spirits of God. Unlike the seven lamps that refer to the seven churches in chapters 2-3, these seven lamps refer to the endearing qualities of the Spirit of God mentioned in Isaiah 11:1-3. The number seven is used to describe the completeness of those qualities. Isaiah lists some of them as wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and delight in the fear of the Lord. Jesus in John 14-16 cites some of these same qualities and a few more.

Before heaven’s throne you are reminded of the relational character and capabilities of the Holy Spirit. You are reminded of His care and counsel, His encouragement and guidance, His understanding and knowledge, and His ability and longing to meet your needs. It’s those remarkable endearing qualities that make the throne so inviting. Because of the character of the One that is there, you want to draw near it.

Furthermore, John is reminded that the condition of heaven’s throne and those in heaven make drawing near the throne inspiring. Before heaven’s throne, John also sees a “sea of glass.” In Exodus 30:17-21, God instructs Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to wash their hands and feet before entering the Tent of Meeting or offering a sacrifice at the altar. In Exodus 30:21, God tells Moses, “This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”

When Solomon builds the Temple, he constructs the basin so that God’s requirements are kept. 1 Chronicles 4:1-6 and 1Kings 7:23-26 record that a basin is built and placed outside the temple. Solomon calls the basin a “sea.” There in a sea of water, the Priests wash their hands and feet before approaching the altar or entering the Holy Place. It was a reminder that they were about to approach a holy God and that they too needed to be spiritually clean and holy before God.

In heaven, the sea is of glass, not water. It’s of glass as pure as crystal, for those who approach God in heaven no longer have a need for washing. They can approach a holy God and worship Him, for they too are holy.

What an inspiring experience—greater than any experience one can have on earth. While on earth, many will talk with God. The conversations, however, are more casual than close. Close conversations come from close relationships. It’s the heart to heart talk from two who know each other well and would die for each other. Without surrendering your life to Jesus Christ, your conversation with God will remain cordial, but not close. There will be an understood and uncrossed wall between you and God because He is Holy and you are not.

When you surrender your life to Christ, John 14:17 says that the Holy Spirit of God comes to live within you. The relationship is no longer casual or cordial. It’s close. Because of the Holy Spirit in you, you are seen as holy before God. This means you can approach Him and worship Him as He is worshipped in heaven. However, there is one problem. Though the Holy Spirit is in me, and I am seen as holy before God, I am not yet in heaven. While on earth, I still sin. My sins strain my relationship with God. That is why I still have to confess my sins, ask His forgiveness and repent of them, before I can approach Him intimately and meaningfully as in heaven.

Yet the day will come when believers will approach heaven’s throne without the need for any confession or cleansing. There will be no guilt from our sin, no strain in our relationship with God. We will be holy as He is holy and we will worship Him like never before.

Around the Throne
Worship!—Pure Worship!

As we worship God in Heaven, our worship will be prompted by those who have been with God and have known Him far longer than we have. They are the four living creatures mentioned in Revelation 4:6b-8a:

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings.

If you read from the King James Version, these four are called “beasts.” Some might confuse them as being similar to the beast that is mentioned later in Revelation. The Greek word for that creature is therion. It’s commonly used in the Bible to describe a wild beast. The Greek word used to characterize these four creatures is zoan. It refers to something that has been created and has life.

Psalm 8 lists the hierarchy of God’s creation. In that hierarchy, God created all and is over all. He created angels and they are superior to humans, and He created humans and they are superior to animals. When you compare the description of these four living creatures to the cherubim Ezekiel saw in Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10, and compare their actions to those of the seraphs Isaiah 6, I believe that these four creatures are part of the angelic order of God.

Since they are depicted as being at the center of heaven’s throne, you understand their closeness to God. The fact that they have eyes in the back and front reveals that they see everything in the past and future. And since they are close to God and have seen everything God has seen and everything God will see, it’s no wonder that when they speak they can’t help but herald God’s eternal holiness and power. Verse 8b states,

Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”

I’ve been in worship services where the worship leaders were musically gifted and other services where they were not. I’ve heard preachers who were great orators and those who were not. Looking back, my greatest worship experiences in life were not because the worship leaders or speakers were gifted. It was because I knew that those leading the worship had truly been with God. Because they had been close to God, I wanted to be close to God. I wanted to know what they knew. I wanted to see what they had seen.
Because of their closeness to God, these angelic creatures announced what they knew about God. They cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.” Being under God and yet superior to humans, they saw the great difference between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. No wonder the word “holy” in the Hebrew or Greek means “set apart.” God is pure and perfect; there is none like Him.

Furthermore, they announce, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” The word “Almighty” is used to describe God over three hundred times in the New International Version of the Old Testament. That’s because it translates both Hebrew words, “Sabaoth” and “Shadday” (shad-dah'-ee), as Almighty. “Sabaoth” says God is mighty because of the size of His heavenly army. It literally means “the Lord of Hosts.” “Shadday,” on the other hand, says God is mighty, not because of the size of His Army, but because of the strength of His abilities. Even without His army, God is still all-powerful. That’s why I like the way the King James Version exclusively translates “Shadday” as “Almighty” and “Sabaoth” as “Lord of Hosts,” for God would still be “Almighty” even if He didn’t have an army.

The King James Version of the Old Testament translates only “Shadday” as “Almighty,” and the word appears only forty-eight times. Remarkably, thirty-one of them occur in the book of Job. You might remember that Job was a man who was hurting. All his children were killed by a storm. He was the wealthiest man in his region, yet he lost it all to thieves. His friends told him it was all his fault and his wife nagged him to curse God and die. In his misery, Job was more interested in the strength of God’s abilities than the size of His army. He wasn’t looking for a general who could rule, but an almighty God who was real and could help. He longed to see God Almighty.

The Greek word for “Almighty” has at its root the awe of God’s ability with the awareness of His army. It appears only nine times in the New Testament. All but one are in the book of Revelation. Here’s why. The book of Revelation gives us clearer pictures of how God is seen in heaven than any other book of the Bible. Furthermore, Revelation 1-3 addresses believers and churches struggling in life as they faithfully serve God. They need a picture of an Almighty God who will always be more than they need. In Revelation 4, God gives them that picture.

Believers and churches today, like those in Revelation 4, still need the picture of a holy and almighty God Who will always be more than we need. It still amazes me how many times we are restored when we stop to see and worship God the way He is seen and worshipped in heaven. When we do that, it not only restores us, but it inspires others as well. Pastor and author Chuck Swindoll writes of a time when he was moved by someone else’s need to see and worship God. He writes,

When I was overseas, I was working with a man who was under great stress and great pressure. He was a maverick sort of missionary. He didn’t fit the pattern or the mold of what you think of as a missionary. His ministry was in great part to the soldiers, who happened to be on the island of Okinawa by the thousands – in fact, it might be safe to say tens of thousands.

I went to his home one evening to visit with him, and his wife said he wasn’t there but was probably down at the office. The office was downtown in a little alley area off of the streets of Naha. It was a rainy night. And I decided that I would get on the bus and travel down to be with Bob. She’d mentioned his stress and pressure, so I expected to find the man folded up in despondency, discouragement, and depression, and just ready to finish it off.

I got off that little bus and I walked down the alley about a block and a half and I turned right, down a little smaller alley, to a little hut with a tatami mat inside. As I got away from the street noise, I heard singing, “Come, Thou fount of every blessing, / Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.” And then that next stanza, “Prone to wander – Lord, I feel it, / Prone to leave the God I love.”

Quietly I eavesdropped on his private praise service. As I stood in the rain and looked through the walls of that little cheap hut, I saw a man on his knees with his hands toward heaven giving God praise, with his Bible on one side and an InterVarsity Christian hymnal on the other side, his little spiral notebook, worn from use. And I saw him turn from page to page, where he would read it to God, then he would find a hymn and he would sing it to God.

And the remarkable thing is that that pressure that he was under did not leave for perhaps another two weeks, it seems. But that praise service alone before God absolutely revolutionized his life.²

Obviously, seeing and worshiping God as He is seen and worshipped in heaven revolutionized this missionary’s life. Furthermore, the missionary’s genuine worship experience left a lasting impression on Chuck Swindoll as well.

And why shouldn’t it? That is why God, in Revelation 4, gave us a vivid picture of heaven’s throne. Heaven’s throne is set and here to stay. It will be our constant in a world of change. It will constantly remind the godly that God is still on His throne and it will constantly warn the godless that God’s judgment is not far away. It will constantly encourage you to be faithful as God sees and rewards the faithfulness that others overlook. And it will constantly restore you when you stop to see and worship God as He is seen and worshipped in heaven. When you do, remember that it will not only benefit you, but it will also benefit those around you.

That’s the way it happens—even in heaven. Verses 9-11 show that once the angels began to worship, everyone else was moved to do the same.

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”

What a great experience, and all it takes is a glimpse of heaven’s throne.