A calm sea at first light under a long, low bank of white cloud, with one bright gap in the cloud glowing pale gold like an open doorway.

The Book of

Revelation 4

The churches have heard Christ’s letters. Now a door opens in heaven, and John is shown what sits at the center of everything.

11 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

Tap any post to go deeper

Where we are

1–3Seven churchesChrist among His lampstands
4–11Seals & trumpetsThe Lamb opens the scrollChapter 4
12–16The great conflictThe dragon, the beasts, the bowls
17–20The King comesBabylon falls; the Lamb wins
21–22All things newA new heaven and a new earth

The Throne in Heaven

After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.

Reflect

Someone on the throne

Before John sees anything else in heaven, he sees “a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.” The churches he wrote to were small and under pressure. What in your life right now makes it feel as if no one is in charge? What changes when you remember that the throne is not empty?

Worship of the Creator

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, covered with eyes in front and back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within.

Revelation 4:8

Question

Quick question

Closest to the throne, the four living creatures have one thing to say, and they never stop saying it.

What do the four living creatures say day and night?

Where the picture comes from

Whiteboard

John sees what the prophets saw. Ezekiel saw a throne, a rainbow and four living creatures; Isaiah heard six-winged seraphim calling out God’s holiness; Daniel watched thrones set in place; Sinai shook with thunder and lightning. All of it gathers around one throne, where the living creatures never stop saying “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty.”

Several simple golden victors’ crowns lying where they were laid down on broad white stone steps, the steps rising into brightness.

Listen · Read along

And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever.

0:00 / 0:16

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.

Revelation 4:11

Pray

Worthy are You

Join the worship of heaven. Tell God that He is “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Thank Him that He made you and everything around you: “by Your will they exist and were created.” Then lay before Him whatever you are tempted to wear as your own crown, your successes, your plans, your good name. He alone is worthy “to receive glory and honor and power.”

You’ve experienced

Revelation 4

0 of 22 chapters read

A verse to carry with you

Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.

Revelation 4:11

or swipe left