Series: The Radical Call of Jesus
Message: Radical Choice
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
Daily Walk: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 102:1–11.

Read: Revelation 4:1–8:1 (Message). Note 1–3 insights that arise from the paraphrase. 

Reflect: The opening scene of Revelation 4 is fantastic. The symbol of the throne used in this book—more than any other in the Bible—is the place of power and authority. When the scene opens, you see that God the Father and the Holy Spirit are both present, but Jesus is not there. Jesus will appear in Chapter 5. Suddenly, we are introduced to the symbolic number of 24 elders. Ranko Stefanovic in Plain Revelation, states that:

The twenty-four elders, thus, represent the entire body of God’s people from both the Old and New Testament—the church in its totality (p. 60).

Stefanovic further notes that these elders recognize God as the source of everything. 

The worship scene in Revelation 4–5 emphatically points to two things: creation (chap. 4) and redemption (chap. 5). It shows that the essence of true worship is to recount and celebrate God’s mighty acts of creation and redemption. The scene shows that the God who created the world also has the power and ability to restore it and, therefore, to provide eternal salvation for lost and suffering humanity (p. 63).

What takes place next in chapter 5 is that everyone sees the scroll on the right hand side of God is unopened. Stefanovic reminds us that:

The Greek text clearly shows that the scroll lay on the throne at the right side of God—not “in the right hand” of God as various Bible translations suggest (Rev. 5:1). In ancient Israel, thrones were large enough for more than one person to sit on. To sit at the right side of the king was the highest place of honor (cf. 1 Kings 2:19). The Israelites understood that the king in Israel sat at God’s right side as co-ruler with God (Pss. 80:17; 110:1). The scroll lying on the throne implies that the person who takes the scroll is to take its place on the throne. Thus, when Jesus a few moments later picked up the scroll (Rev. 5:8), He took His seat on the throne at the right hand of the Father, thereby assuming His role as the new ruler of the Davidic royal line (5:5) (p. 67).

Recalibrate: ​​​When was the last time you felt like the 24 elders of Revelation 4/5?

Respond: Pray for the experience of powerful worship of Jesus in your life.

Research: Who are the four living beings? How does Ezekiel 1:5-14; 10:12-15 help answer this question?