Awesome, Awesome, Awesome

May 10, 2020

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

Faith Alliance Church of Fuoss Mills is tentatively planning to re-open June 7. (Yes, the Governor is opening our part of the state, with some restrictions.) If the supplies arrive on time, we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. I think it’s appropriate to start with worship and celebration. If you are not familiar with us, search "Fuoss Mills" and get directions. We would love to welcome you.

 

Speaking of worship and celebration, the “prophecy” part of the book of Revelation begins with worship and celebration. Let’s join the heavenly scene.

 

Vision of heaven

“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.^’  At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.” [Revelation 4:1 – 2 NIV] Here is the image of the “trumpet” again (see yesterdays lesson).

 

Revelation 4 begins with John being asked to “come up here.” The moving of an individual by the Spirit is seen in other places in Scripture. Some examples include:

• Elijah: ^“I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you” [said by Obadiah in 1 Kings 18:12 NIV].
• Ezekiel: “The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed” [Ezekiel 3:14 – 15 NIV].
• Philip: “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing” [Acts 8:39 NIV].
• Paul: ^“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows” [2 Corinthians 12:2 NIV].

The Revelation 4 throne is occupied. This is the appearance of God the Father. There is NO physical description of the one on the throne other than colors and impressions. The language is rabbinical to describe the “shekinah” glory of God. We also have God posturing Himself as the confident victor in the inevitable war that follows.

 

“And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.” [Revelation 4:3 NIV]The rainbow (literally “iris” and can be translated “halo”) is the symbol for covenant and promise (see the covenant given to Noah after the flood).

 

“Surrounding the throne were 24 other thrones, and seated on them were 24 elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.” [Revelation 4:4 NIV] This is the only mention of the number 24 (used symbolically in scripture). A variety of people have proposed meaning to this image, for instance Wesley suggests the 24 thrones/elders represent “the whole body of saints.” Other ideas: the 12 tribes + 12 apostles, the divisions of Aaron’s descendants (and duties), angelic rank (Colossians 1:16), great and minor prophets, etc…

 

“From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal” [Revelation 4:5 – 6a NIV]. The ancient world worship “gods” that terrorized people with lightning and thunder. However, the image we have brings joy to those in heaven. The seven lampstands have already been identified as the seven churches, but they also have a connection to the lampstands in the temple. The significance of seven connects with the seven-fold Spirit (Holy Spirit). Notice the nature of the old covenant (temple), the new covenant (church), and the Holy Spirit are to light up their surroundings. 

 

The point of all this is “awe.” When was the last time you simply sat in awe of Almighty God. Remember when John first meets Jesus again in his full glory, "When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man." [Revelation 1:17a CEB] Maybe the awe of God is something we have been robbed of by our culture and theology. It's like we have bought the "blue light special" version of God, instead of the one true God. Time to relearn our need to be in awe of God.