Tuesday 9 September 2025
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (v. 11)
Background
Revelation includes colourful visions and a range of symbolic features which draw back the curtain separating heaven and earth. With its depiction of precious stones, bizarre creatures, and robed elders, Revelation 4 is a good illustration of the genre! The chapter follows the letter to the seven churches (Revelation 2–3) and is the first of several visions in the book that depict worship around the throne of God.
The chapter begins with John, the writer of Revelation, hearing a voice instruct him to ‘come up’ and to visit the heavenly throne (4:1-2). This may be the voice of Jesus, the ‘first voice’ within the book as a whole (1:10).
John then sees God on the throne, described through the symbolism of precious stones (verse 3). While avoiding an anthropomorphic image of God, the image of Jasper and carnelian might also allude to the first and last stone found on the priestly breastplate (Exodus 28:15-21). ‘Twenty-four elders’ also surround the throne (verse 4). While some interpreters have seen these figures as angels, most see them as representative of humanity, with ‘twenty-four’ a possible allusion to the divisions of the priesthood (1 Chronicles 24:17-18).
Later in the text, John sees ‘four living creatures’ (verses 6-7), with the description of each echoing a similar text in Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:4-28). While the 24 elders represent humanity, the living creatures probably represent the rest of creation.
The vision highlights that humans and created beings together worship God. The ‘living creatures’ give ‘glory and honour and thanks’ to the one on the throne (verse 9) while the elders prostrate themselves before him and cast down their crowns (verse 10). Together they worship God who has ‘created all things’ (verse 11). It’s only appropriate for creation to praise the one who gives life, the one from whom all blessings flow.
To Ponder:
- What do you find challenging and/or inspiring in interpreting a highly symbolic text such as Revelation 4?
- How does worship within your church include a recognition that God is our creator as well as our saviour?
Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Ed Mackenzie
Ed Mackenzie works at Cliff College as the Programme Lead for the BA in Theology and Mission, and lectures in New Testament Studies and Biblical Theology.