4.22.2026 - Lisa Liou
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Revelation 4:1-11
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. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 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. 5 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. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
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 its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
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.”
Welcome today to John’s heavenly vision! When I was a kid, I thought that heaven was going to be streets paved with gold and floating on clouds. Many of the Biblical visions of heaven are actually quite surprising if you start with that notion. It turns out the angels in Revelation don’t look like chubby babies either.
In this scene John is switching from an earthly perspective to a heavenly one. Remember two days ago when we talked about the Lord’s prayer, “on earth as it is in heaven”? John is lucky enough to catch an actual glimpse behind heaven’s curtain. This vision emphasizes God’s glory (jasper and ruby), holiness (lightning and thunder), and sovereignty (throne). There are various interpretations of the 24 elders surrounding the throne in worship. Some say the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles, others see this as a picture of redeemed humanity at the throne.
We all know what they sing and say because most of us have the famous hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy” memorized. Can you imagine what it will be like to worship God eternally and declare his holiness and glory?
“Holy, holy, holy, all the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea…
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, Almighty, All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.”
Today, I want to invite you to participate in God’s will by offering God your worship. By doing so, you are practicing for our eternity with Him. Perhaps you want to play that hymn or sing the lyrics you know on your own. Or, feel free to worship with another song that is on your heart.
Let’s offer him our worship today.