Daily Scripture Reading Revelation 4:1 - 5:5
For several centuries there has been a debate about the origins of the universe. Christians believe God created the universe and everything in it while secular scientists claim everything came into existence by chance. Some Christians don’t want to be at odds with secular scientists, so they are willing to compromise on what the Bible says about creation. The compromisers insist the debate between creation and evolution is not a big deal.
However, we will read a verse today which indicates the debate between creation and evolution is very important. It actually has an impact on the worthiness of God. Therefore, this issue is not something Christians should treat lightly.
The first chapter of Revelation tells us John was instructed to write down “the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things” (Rev. 1:19). Chapter one is the things which he saw. Chapters 2-3 are the things which are. Today, we start reading at chapter 4.
Rev. 4:1 ¶ After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
The phrase “take place after these things” indicates we are about to start reading about “the things which will take place after these things”.
Rev. 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
The phrase “sitting on the throne” communicates power and authority.
Rev. 4:3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
Rev. 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon those thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
The 24 elders wore crowns and sat on thrones, so they also had power and authority.
Rev. 4:5 And out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Think about the atmosphere created by flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, and lamps of fire burning. It sounds like it was a thunder storm. Thunder storms are not serene events.
Many Christians think heaven will be serene, quiet, and peaceful. This vision seen by John indicates a very different atmosphere.
Rev. 4:6 And before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.
Rev. 4:7 And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
Rev. 4:8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within, and day and night they do not cease to say,
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
Take note of the phrase “day and night they do not cease to say”. God is surrounded by creatures who sing His praises non-stop.
Many Christians think God’s greatest desire is for Christians to praise Him and sing to Him when they gather as a church. However, human praise and singing is nothing compared to the praise God constantly hears from the four living creatures.
Instead, God’s greatest desire is for humans to obey Him. We know this because Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and we love God by obeying God.
Rev. 4:9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
Rev. 4:10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Don’t miss the phrase “cast their crowns before the throne”. When the elders cast their crowns, it means they are giving their authority to the One on the throne. In other words, they are submitting to the One on the throne.
Rev. 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Look at the word “worthy”. God is worthy of glory, honor, and power because He is the Creator.
Over the past several centuries, the scientific community has tried to convince people that the earth and everything in it was not created by God, but that it came into existence by evolution. This is not a minor issue. If evolution is true, then that means God is not worthy of glory, honor, and power. Since being the Creator is what makes God worthy, then Christians need to stand firm on our belief that God created all things. We should not compromise on what the Bible says about creation in any way, shape, or form.
Rev. 5:1 ¶ Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sits on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
Rev. 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?”
Rev. 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.
Notice that initially no one was worthy or able to open the scroll.
Rev. 5:4 Then I was crying greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
Rev. 5:5 And one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying! Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Jesus is the Lion from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is the only One who is worthy to open the scroll.
Many people claim all religions are equal or that there are many paths to heaven. In other words, they deny there is anything uniquely special about Jesus. However, this verse declares that Jesus is the only One who is worthy to open the scroll. Jesus is uniquely special.
For several centuries there has been a debate about the origins of the universe. Christians believe God created the universe and everything in it while secular scientists claim everything came into existence by chance. Some Christians don’t want to be at odds with secular scientists, so they are willing to compromise on what the Bible says about creation. The compromisers insist the debate between creation and evolution is not a big deal.
However, the 11th verse of chapter 4 tells us God is worthy because He is the Creator. This means the debate between creation and evolution is very important. Christians must stand firm on the fact that God created the universe and everything in it. His status as the Creator is what gives Him the power and authority to establish the rules humans need to live by and determine what happens to humans when we die.
How strongly does your church and pastor defend the fact that God created the universe and everything in it?
In what ways has your church and pastor compromised the Bible’s teaching on creation because they want to get along with secular scientists?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”