God’s Presence Ignites Passion
Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 And instantly I was in the Spirit,[a] and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. 4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. 6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal.
In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. 7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), 10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Revelation 4:1-11 NLT
We are here on earth to know God, and to make Him known. Our purpose in life is found in our relationship with Him. It’s His presence that we long for; it’s heaven on earth. We want people to experience this joy—Psalm 16:11. So, we are vessels, ready for the Lord to use, housing the treasure of the gospel, reaching out to the lost—2 Timothy 2:21, Matthew 28:19. God’s presence has ignited a passion in our hearts; our message is urgent, and we cannot be silenced. We are soldiers for Christ on mission: to wake up those who are sleeping, for heaven is near—Ephesians 5:14.
Heaven is God’s presence and Jesus is the key that unlocks the door—Revelation 4:1, John 14:6.
In Revelation 4, John hears God’s voice and is instantly in heaven in the throne room of God. He sees God sitting on the throne in complete control over everything. John continues to describe God as brilliant as gemstones, drawing focus leaving John overwhelmed by God’s glory and majesty—Revelation 4:3. Twenty-four thrones surround God, and here John sees the fulfillment of God’s promise to protect His people from the time of the Tribulation—Revelation 4:4, Revelation 3:10. John beholds the redeemed, the Christians who are raptured to heaven.
Clothed in white and wearing gold crowns—Revelation 4:4, John sees the redeemed as God sees them, holy and pure—Ephesians 1:4; washed by the blood of Jesus Christ—Isaiah 1:18. They are perfect. Free from judgment. No more tears—Revelation 21:4. They boldly stand in God’s presence, passionate about their King—Hebrews 4:16, Revelation 4:10-11.
Then in front of the throne John observes flashes of lightning and thunder. He identifies seven lampstands with burning flames and the seven spirits of God—Revelation 4:5-6. It’s here where John witnesses the storm of God’s fury that is to come upon the earth; God’s divine righteous wrath and judgment that is about to war with rebellious sinful mankind, who have rejected Him. It’s here where John sees the completeness of the Holy Spirit in the seven lampstands with burning flames and the seven spirits of God– Zechariah 4:2, as seven is the number of completion, and the lampstands with burning flames symbolize abundant power. John, thus sees the complete work of the Holy Spirit taking place on earth after the Rapture, as it is the Holy Spirit’s abundant power that carries out God’s plan on earth to completion.
John’s attention is turned to the four living beings that are around the throne, the angels – the difficult to describe majestic beings – surrounding God who show complete reverence and adoration for God alone—Revelation 4:6-8. Each of the four beings was covered with eyes from the front to the back, indicating constant awareness of God – who is their sole focus and source of worship.
John then goes on to describe each of the angels symbolically likening them to animals. He said the first angel was like a lion, thus the angel emanated authority as he was described first, strength, courage, power, and protection.
The second angel was described as an ox, thus emanated sacred service and work and very important as ox were used for agriculture work and the provision for food and sustenance, and were sacrificed on the altar in the Old Testament for burnt offerings, peace offerings and sin offerings, reconciling the people to God.
The third angel was described as a being with a human face, emanating the power and wisdom of God in man being created in God’s image, and the wisdom and knowledge God entrusted to man.
John then described the fourth angel as an eagle in flight, emanating the love of God and His protection for His people, as eagles protect their young by carrying them on their wings.
John then watches these majestic beings honor and worship God day and night, saying “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come”—Revelation 4:8 NKJV! Worshiping God is their primary responsibility, their calling. It’s what they are made to do. And as these four cherubim, these four angels, work in their calling, giving glory and honor and thanks to God—Revelation 4:9, the redeemed feel the power of the majestic beings worship and fall down in willing reverence, casting their crowns at God’s feet saying, “You are worthy, O Lord our God to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased”—Revelation 4:11 NLT. As John witnesses the attitude of humility and adoration at the foot of God’s throne, he sees the passion that comes from being in God’s presence.
This is heaven.
A constant encounter with power, drawing one to worship the One true King. The One who created us for His pleasure. The One who delights in His people and messengers. The One who loves with perfect everlasting love.
We Christians long for heaven and the perfect eternal experience. Many of us know loved ones who are already experiencing this majestic glory. But we have work to do right now, while we are on earth. God has given every one of us a specific mission that honors and glorifies Him. The world cannot stop passionate Christians who are zealous for the Lord and His glory. So we are soldiers for Christ on mission: to wake up those who are sleeping, with the message of the gospel – Jesus Christ loves you and saves from eternal destruction – for heaven is near—Ephesians 5:14.
Prayer: Abba, thank You for this vision of heaven, may we all be stirred to love You and honor You with our lives, walking in Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
