{"id":30185,"date":"2024-02-27T22:00:19","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T05:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/revelation-3_14-22-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-02-20T22:33:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T05:33:53","slug":"revelation-4_1-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/revelation-4_1-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Living to Worship Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Revelation\u00a0 4:1-11\u00a0 \u00a0(CLICK HERE FOR\u00a0BIBLE VERSES)<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today’s passage is\u00a0Revelation 4:1-11.\u00a0 As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a04:1\u00a0(NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0After 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.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse\u00a01:\u00a0 After receiving messages from Jesus for seven churches in Asia (chapters 2-3), John, still in a posture of prayer, sees in front of him a door open to heaven.\u00a0 The same trumpet-like voice he heard before \u2013 Jesus\u2019 voice \u2013 invites him to come up to the door and He will show John \u201cwhat must take place after this\u201d.\u00a0 In other words, Jesus is about to show John things that will happen in the future.<\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a04:2-3 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 2-3:\u00a0 The moment Jesus speaks those words in verse\u00a01, John \u201cat once was in the Spirit\u201d (v2), that is, he is so deeply impacted by God\u2019s presence.\u00a0 John sees a throne in heaven, encircled by an emerald shaped rainbow, with Someone sitting on it.\u00a0 That Someone is God.\u00a0 John describes God as having the appearance of jasper (which according to some scholars was a clear gem back in John\u2019s day) and carnelian (which is a red gem).\u00a0 To John, God looks like a brilliant colourful gem.<\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a04:4\u00a0(NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Surrounding 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse\u00a04:\u00a0 These remaining verses of chapter\u00a04\u00a0describe what is happening around Jesus who sits on the throne.\u00a0 In verse\u00a04, John sees 24 elders, adorned with gold crowns and dressed in white, surrounding Jesus.\u00a0 Various interpretations have been given regarding who these 24 elders are.\u00a0 Some scholars think the 24 elders are the 12 patriarchs of Israel (i.e. Jacob\u2019s 12 sons), representing believers in the Old Testament, and the 12 apostles, representing believers in the New Testament.\u00a0 Other scholars think the 24 elders represent the entire church as a whole.\u00a0 Whoever they are, as we will see in verses 9-11, these elders are worshipers, as they can be seen falling down before Jesus, laying their crowns before Him and worshiping Him.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0No matter how much honour, power or glory you receive, remember to lay it all back down at Jesus\u2019 feet, knowing that in the end it\u2019s all for Him.\u00a0 Jesus is worthy of all honour, power and glory.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a04:5 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 5:\u00a0 Lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder flash from the throne.\u00a0 John also sees before the throne \u201cthe seven spirits of God\u201d, represented by seven blazing lamps (v5).\u00a0 These seven spirits are first mentioned in\u00a0Revelation\u00a01:4\u00a0and together probably symbolize the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 These seven blazing lamps apparently help to light the area in front of the throne so that John can see the throne more clearly.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0If we want to see Jesus enthroned in His glory and majesty, we need the Holy Spirit to go before us and light the way.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0There is no\u00a0revelation\u00a0about God without the Holy Spirit of God.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a04:6-8 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.\u00a0In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The 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.
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:\u00a0“Holy, holy, holy\u00a0is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 6-8:\u00a0 John sees near the throne in the centre four living creatures, each with wings.\u00a0 The first looks like a lion, the second like an ox, the third like a man, and the fourth like an eagle.\u00a0 According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary, one interpretation (though I personally think it\u2019s a little too far fetched) is that the four living creatures represent Christ as revealed in the four Gospels: He is the lion of Judah in Matthew, the hard-working servant (represented by the ox) in Mark, \u201cthe incarnate human Jesus\u201d in Luke, and the Son of God in John (represented by the eagle).\u00a0 Whoever they are, what intrigues me about these four living creatures is how they are \u201ccovered with eyes\u201d (v6).<\/p>\n

In Isaiah 6, the prophet Isaiah sees a vision of God\u2019s throne in heaven.\u00a0 His vision is similar to John\u2019s in that they both see a throne and around the throne are impressive winged creatures who sing, \u201cHoly, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty\u201d.\u00a0 A big difference however is that while in Isaiah\u2019s vision the winged angels around the throne are all covering their faces as if they do not dare to look at God, in John\u2019s vision the living creatures around the throne are \u201ccovered with eyes all around, even under their wings\u201d (v8).\u00a0 This suggests to me that because of Jesus and how He paid for our sins at the cross, when we get to heaven we can have a full, unencumbered view of God. \u00a0Because of Jesus, we don\u2019t need to cover our faces and eyes in shame anymore.\u00a0 We can stand before God eyes wide open and enjoy the fullness of His presence without fear.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a04:9-11 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0the 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:
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“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.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 9-11:\u00a0 The four living creatures worship Jesus on the throne (v9), and the 24 elders join in the worship by laying down their crowns and singing of how worthy Jesus is (v10).\u00a0 What can we learn from this?<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0As awesome as the living creatures are, they exist not to worship their own awesomeness, but to give Jesus worship.\u00a0 I believe you are an awesome creature yourself and you were made to give Jesus worship too.\u00a0\u00a0The reason we have breath in our lungs is because we were made to worship Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0Notice that the elders call Jesus \u201cour Lord and God\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus is not just an extraordinary man, but He is God.<\/strong><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus is described as the One who \u201ccreated all things\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus is the Creator<\/strong>\u00a0and it is by His will that all things were created and have their being.\u00a0 That means that\u00a0it is by God\u2019s will that\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0were created and have life today.\u00a0 You are not an accident or a mistake.\u00a0 God created you as an act of His perfect will.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord Jesus, I worship You as God, Creator, King, and the One who is worthy of all praise, honour and glory.\u00a0 Holy Spirit please continue to show me more of how great and awesome Jesus is.\u00a0 Just like the living creatures and the 24 elders, may I live to worship You.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today’s passage is\u00a0Revelation 4:1-11.\u00a0 As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit\u2019s help, then read the GAME sharing below.\u00a0 Let’s go!<\/p>\n

Revelation\u00a04:1\u00a0(NIV)\u00a0
\n1\u00a0\u00a0After 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.”
\n\u00a0
\nOn verse\u00a01:\u00a0 After receiving messages from Jesus for seven churches in Asia (chapters 2-3), John, still in a posture of prayer, sees in front of him a door open to heaven.\u00a0 The same trumpet-like voice he heard before \u2013 Jesus\u2019 voice \u2013 invites him to come up to the door and He will show John \u201cwhat must take place after this\u201d.\u00a0 In other words, Jesus is about to show John things that will happen in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30188,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30185"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30189,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30185\/revisions\/30189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}