The Glory of God

Study: # 663-Church in the Houses From: December 14-20, 2010 TOPIC: “The Glory of God” Revelations 4:1-11

John, the apostle, receives this revelation directly from God and here he begins to know what there is in Heaven. John is snatched by the Lord to Heaven. This chapter 4 of Revelations introduces us to the beginning of the tribulation that will occur on earth after the Lord has lifted the Church. Therefore, what was revealed to John will occur once the Church is in Heaven. John receives a vision of the Glory of God. In the first chapter of the book of Revelations John says that he saw the Glory of Christ. Then, this was before he was allowed to register the future history of the church. Now, for John in Chapter 4 Jesus was in His Glory, no longer being battered, crucified, or mocked, but now He was in His Glory. God lets John see this before the judgments of God arrive upon Israel and the gentiles. It is said to John "¡Come up here!" The Lord would show him the events that were to come. Jesus is the one who speaks to John. After the apostle had the revelation about the seven churches the Lord would show him the events that would take place in the future. In the revelation of Chapter 4 the time for the church on earth already remains behind, there is nothing else with the church of Jesus Christ, now the wrath of God comes upon the Israelites as well as the gentiles. Now it will be the hard way, but there is a special treat with Israel of mercy on God’s behalf with his people. The Holy Spirit possessed John in a special way. John saw the one who sat on the throne who had the appearance of a jasper and carnelian stone, this is the way His brightness is in the eyes of men. God is too bright for our eyes to see clearly, it is not as if we were looking at any man. Let us learn from John to look at God with eyes of someone who rises to Heaven so that we can see His greatness, power, authority and control of the world. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. God maintains His covenant with mankind in spite of the judgments that are to come. The twenty-four elders are beings created by God, they had crowns of gold on their heads. The studious of the Bible say a great deal about them; that they are these or those mortals from earth, but then no one who has been created for earth is supposed to have a position in Heaven beside the Father and be there constantly. The beginning of what would be the description of God’s judgments on behalf of God for the earth were to be seen, which John would see little by little in order to be able to assimilate it. The sea of glass was similar to crystal. The throne is situated in a place that cannot be altered, so this is our confidence upon being there before His Glory. The world is altered and has its instabilities, but the throne of God is stable. The enemies, the villains, have opposition to all that is holy, but the throne of our God is not moved by anything. The world is like the sea that lives agitated, unstable, in evilness, but His throne is stable and forever firm.

Around the throne there were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. Creatures created to worship God. They are guardians of God’s throne. They had faces of a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle, each one with six wings full of eyes. These living beings sing without ceasing about the holiness and eternity of God. How great is the God whom we serve! If we can be in front of a throne so great where the powerful God is, then is not for us to be defeated. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and who is to come." They give glory and honor and thanks to the great God. They know how to give thanks to God for everything. This way they moved Heaven. When we’re able to give glory, honor and thanks for all to the Lord, then we will move His Glory, it is the only thing that moves that throne which is so stable and firm in order to do what needs to be done. The elders also moved and worshipped Him; they lay their crowns before the throne. This is the way to give the living God the glory and honor, our action of thanks to Him. The elders gave cult to the Omnipotent God, this way we give cult and recognize the Lord as worthy to receive the glory, the honor and the power for He created all things and by His will it is that they exist. This vision of John prepares us for what will follow in the times of God with the men He created. God is contemplated as the Almighty, ruler of the Universe, sitting upon the throne of his Glory, surrounded by creatures that worship Him and willing to send judgment upon the earth. Let us then see His greatness, let us trust His power and wisdom and live entirely for Him. Amen.