Transcript

God's Transcendent Holiness

The modern church has brought us some excellent teaching about cultivating a personal relationship with the living God. We've emphasized doctrines such as the love of God and the complete forgiveness found in Christ. The wonderful truth of salvation by grace apart from works is hammered home in most evangelical pulpits.

I applaud these efforts, but I believe the enemy has distorted these incredible truths in the minds of many churchgoers. The wonderful truths of grace are not to be held to the exclusion of other important biblical concepts such as the holiness of God, brokenness over sin, personal repentance and hallowing His name. I submit to you that there is very little fear of God amongst modern churchgoers. God is only the "big buddy upstairs" existing to meet my needs. If I'm happy-He's happy. Obedience is optional. Worship is passionless. Prayer is flippant. Spiritual disciplines are limited. Reverence is neglected. Moment-by-moment living for His glory is nonexistent.

As people who continually seek to make god into our image, we need regular reminders of who He really is. For that, the only place to turn is the Word of God and this morning as we consider this essential topic we find ourselves in one of the greatest of those places. Chapter 4 of Revelation is commonly called, "The Throne Room Scene." It was the inspiration for Handel's Messiah. This morning we'll get a direct picture of God's character, specifically His transcendent holiness as we are transported into the very heart of heaven.

Many like to divide the book of Revelation into five units. John has already given us the purpose of the book and a description of the risen Christ in chapter 1. In chapters 2 and 3 we looked in detail at the seven churches of Asia Minor. That was the first unit. Now as we turn our attention to chapter 4, we enter the second unit of the book that will span all the way to chapter 7, verse 8. This textual marker is seen in verse 1 when John says, "After these things." This indicates to us that a new vision is now coming.

As John relates his spiritual (verse 2) vision, he immediately recalls in verse 1, an open door in heaven. Sounding like a trumpet, he hears the voice of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:12f) which bids him, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." The living God is about to show John not only a picture of Himself, but also what will transpire in the years ahead.

These two truths are extremely significant when we consider the original readers of the book. Let's remember that the Christians of this time were undergoing extreme persecution. Many we suffering, even to the point of martyrdom for their faith. What encouragement it must have been to them to not only be able to see the greatness of the God they are suffering for, but also be reminded of the fact that all the events on earth first have their origins in heaven. That God is in control. That all history is His-story.

John says in verse 2 that "immediately" he was given a vision of heaven. Interestingly, the first thing he comments on is the "throne…standing in heaven." The word "throne" is used 38 times in Revelation. 17 of them are found in chapters 4 and 5. The throne symbolizes absolute sovereignty, total dominion.

Specifically, John speaks about, "One sitting on the throne." His appearance is likened to three colors that held an honorable place in antiquity. In verse 3 we read, "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." I don't believe the intent is to assign individual meanings to the stones. Rather the goal is to portray the brilliance and majesty of God. God is the centerpiece of heaven and in His appearance, which reflects His character, shows that there is no one in all of creation like Him.

Right away we observe that heaven is about the sovereign King. It's not ultimately about reuniting with departed love ones. It's not about playing golf all day on courses without water hazards and sand traps. It's not about sitting on a cloud and strumming a harp with wings too small to support our overweight bodies. Heaven is not ultimately about me. Heaven is about the glory of God and we'll see its participants are those who are consumed with that glory. And only those who delight in God's glory here on earth are the ones who get to enjoy the consummation of that glory throughout all of eternity.

John's vision of God in heaven, unlike the many bogus visions of heaven today, is totally consistent with the other biblical prophets in depicting God's utter holiness when they too were given a vision of heaven.

Listen to Ezekiel. "Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking" (Eze. 1:26-28).

Or Isaiah, "In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.' And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke" (Isa. 6:1-4).

Paul said it well in the New Testament that God "who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen" (1 Tim. 1:15-16).

As John looks beyond the One on the throne, what he sees are concentric circles of beings devoted to the sole purpose of worshipping God. First in verse 4 he mentions the "twenty-four…elders," each of them sitting on their own throne. So now picture twenty-four thrones surrounding the throne of God.

There have been many interpretations thrown out as to the identity of these beings, but the most likely explanation is that they are a high order of angels. The number twenty-four is significant. Most see that as encompassing the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. In other words, these elders are angelic beings each representing the redeemed community from both the Old and New Testament.

They will appear again in Revelation, but for now we notice in verse 4 that they are "clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads." What we'll see of those surrounding the throne of God is a representation of God Himself. The white garments signify holiness and the crowns signify majesty.

In verse 5, John returns to his description of the throne. He says, "Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder." If you have even been in a good electrical storm you know just how terrifying this can be. Today we might compare it to the detonation of a nuclear bomb, but John was using language and images available to him in the first century.

The idea is a visual and audial demonstration that was awe-inspiring and fear-producing and majestic beyond comparison. We think of Mount Saini and the scene that followed the giving of the Ten Commandments. "All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, 'Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die'" (Ex. 20:18-19). I'm sure even that that was nothing compared to what John saw in the heart of heaven itself.

Verse 5 says there were "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." This is either was a way of referring to the one Holy Spirit, seven being a number of perfection, or reference to seven different angelic beings commissioned to do God's command.

Verse 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."

So immediately approximate to the throne, possibly one in each direction like the four points of the compass, were what John calls the "four living creatures." Their description, as we'll see in a moment, very closely mirrors that of the cherubim and seraphim, the highest rank of angels, spoken of frequently throughout the Bible.

They are described as being "full of eyes" - which speaks of their alertness. Verse 7 says each had a unique appearance that resembled a lion, an ox (NIV), a man and an eagle. Most likely these suggest royalty, strength, intelligence and power respectively. Verse 8 also mentions that these "four living creatures" each had "six wings" - like the description of the Seraphim in Isaiah 6. "With two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew" (Isa. 6:2). Reverence, modesty and speed to execute God's commands.

As the twenty-four elders represented redeemed humanity (we can say God's special creation or those born-again), many believe these angels represent all animate life throughout all of God's creation (we can say God's general creation or those simply born).

And in representing God's general creation, we find them doing the ultimate purpose for which all of creation came into being. They are worshipping God. Verse 8 goes on to say, "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.'" Let me say that again. "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.'" What does that do for you?

We have a nasty Civil War going on in Syria. The leadership under Assad is evil. Few trust the rebels. ISIS is there as well. Russia now, not in conjunction with the US, is presently conducting military operations. It is estimated that nine million have fled from their homes since 2011. It's called "the worst humanitarian disaster of our time." Do we receive the refugees here in America? Is it helping the desperate or opening a pipeline for terrorism? How do you process this?

Just three days ago, a deranged gunman killed ten people and left many injured on a college campus in rural Oregon. Reports say he targeted Christians. Others were shot in the legs, while professing Christians were shot in the head. How do you process this?

Research proves that a life form is created from the point of conception. Furthermore, overwhelming evidence is there at an unborn baby can feel pain as early as 8 weeks gestation. Recently a bill was introduced and passed in the House prohibiting abortions (with a couple exceptions) of babies 20 weeks or greater. It's called the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." More recently it was shot down by 42% of the Senators. Despite the horrific facts, our country voted to not only keep killing, but keep torturing defenseless babies. How do you process this?

Last week the Pope made a visit to the United States. Without a doubt he is the most revered living religious figure in the world. For many he represents all of Christianity. Here's what he told our country. "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! 'Father, the atheists?' Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter  that so much. We must meet one another doing good. 'But I don't believe, Father, I am an atheist!' But do good: we will meet one another there." With those statements, countless people will be ushered to hell with a false sense of security. How do you process this?

We have just made a deal with one of the leading sponsors of terrorism. Iran is permitted to continue their nuclear program - the very country that recently shouted "Death to America" and has vowed to wipe Israel off the map in a couple decades. How do you process this?

Close to 100,000 Christians are being killed every year because of their faith, according to statistics from a Pew Research Survey and the International Society for Human Rights. It's about 273 each day. Eighty percent of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today are directed against Christians. The NY Times heading from July 22, 2015: "Is This the End of Christianity in the Middle East? ISIS and other extremist movements across the region are enslaving, killing and uprooting Christians, with no aid in sight." How do you process this?

I can keep going: The erosion of Christian liberties here in America. The overwhelming support and celebration of immorality. The vast rejection of God. Now more than ever we need to see and we need to worship the greatness of our God!

Let me again read Revelation 4:8, "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.'"

Could God change things immediately? Of course He can. But He has chosen not to do so. Why? Because He has a purpose unknown to us that He is unfolding in His wisdom. The world is spinning out of control, but our hope is in a sovereign God who is in total control. Those around His throne are praising Him continually for that. Are you? This is where our hope lies.

You can see the living creatures focus on our Lord's dominate attribute. They don't sing, "love, love, love." They don't sing, "mercy, mercy, mercy." They sing, "holy, holy, holy" and they do it without ceasing. They praise the Almighty One who is eternally unchanging in His nature. And His nature is one of exquisite holiness - totally separate from His creation in absolute purity. Holiness it is the only attribute of God mentioned together more than one time in the Bible.

For now in chapter 4, John paints us a picture of God whereby He is independent and terrifying. Scared of all that's going on in the world? Your fears, my friend are misplaced! Not sure if you should follow God or follow the world? You can't have both. Why not choose the winning team? Uncertain about where to place your trust? Behold your God!

Verses 9-11 say, "When the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 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 [showing any authority or glory of themselves is ultimately received from God], saying, '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.'"

Interestingly, one of the reasons given here that God is worthy of "glory and honor and power" is because He is the creator and sustainer of all things. All things therefore owe their allegiance and obedience and worship to Him because He has created the world for that very purpose.

I believe the main point this morning is to take one look at our world and see how it pales in comparison to the glories of heaven. And when we get a mere glimpse into heaven, we see God at the center of all the activity. Surrounding Him are concentric layers of created beings designed for the sole purpose to serve Him in worship. You don't rush in on this God. Apart from the truths we'll learn in chapter 5, simply put, you don't even approach this God. All you do is you fall on your face and worship this awesome Being for His impeccable glory.

So let me ask you, is this the God you know? Through your reverence and obedience, is this the God you are showing your children? Does your home; does your heart mimic heaven in worshipping God above all things? Do you rest in God's absolute control and sovereignty? Does your worship in song give evidence that you know and love and fear this Lord? Do you praise Him? Do you delight in praising Him here on earth the same way with the same intensity the angels praise Him in heaven?