A Scene From John's Revelation

This picture of God is provided by John. Who is this John? He is the brother of James, and well-known as, the disciple whom Jesus loved. Many also know him as John the Apostle, John the Evangelist and John the Revelator.

It is a picture painted by him, as the Revelator, which we shall be viewing. It’s a scene taken from the time when he was exiled on the Greek island of Patmos, for being an unrelenting and faithful servant of the Lord. I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 1: 9. Straightway, we deduce that God is with His servant, John, even in his exile, suffering and persecution. We are holding before us, a God who is not just forever faithful, but a God who is faithful, all the time, in lavishing blessing upon blessing, bounty upon bounty and beauty upon beauty on His faithful servants, in their most exiled times.

We hear, see, feel and receive the lyrics of this prophecy, made alive and real to us by faith, as John writes what God has revealed to him. This specific picture shows the absolute Deity of Almighty, Sovereign God, not just in Him being worshipped and adored, but by who is doing this worshipping and adoring, and how it is being done.

Here is a song from the lips of the twenty-four elders, who bow down in reverence and worship to God. They worship, each time the four living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to God. You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Revelation 4: 11. Above all, these twenty-four elders are unanimous and consistent in their heart-songs to God. They never fail to show and lift the One to whom they pay unlimited service, these facts. In other words, they are as timely as clock work, conscientious, without dropping a stitch and consistent, without missing a beat. What worship! What service! Their service is to One God and not shared with others, regardless of who or what it may be, for Only God is worthy.

This picture is one of God, who is Lord. Believe you me, God may not be Lord for many a believer. Trust me on this one. Many a worshipper sees Jesus as Lord, or Jesus as the Lord, and not God also. O how we separate God and Jesus to our ill! O how we are taught, in some very subtle ways, to honour and worship Jesus, of the New Testament, as gracious and forgiving, while we are to fear the God of the Old Testament, who is austere and full of vengeance.

This picture is one where God is worthy, the only One worthy to receive glory and honour and power. I know and confess with deep sorrow, that I’m not innocent in this. It is so easy for me and many of you also, to ascribe glory and honour to God with ease, and without default, but alas, ascribing power to Him is a stumbling block. O how we slide, slip and falter, when it comes to God, as Omnipotent. In ordinary ways, some hidden from our eyes, we dishonour our God of all Power. We do this by talking, thinking and acting in ways which make His power inferior, impotent and impossible to help us in our exile times. His power is good for some of our problems and issues, but alas, we lose confidence in His ability to help us in times which totally take us over.

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power.