The Heavenly Liturgy focused on God and the Lamb 4:1-5:15 Setting the Scene for what is Revealed

After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! 3 And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. 4 Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; 6 and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal. Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.“ 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

John and the Vision of Heaven 4:1-11 4:1 The revealing voice (1:9)and a door opened (by God!) 4:2-3 The One upon the throne not described 4:4-8 Those around the throne: 24 elders and 4 creatures 4:9-11 All in heaven caught up in the praise of God The symbolism operates again at conceptual level and does not lend itself to visualisation. The vision seeks to express not only the utter transcendence of God but also the transcendent dimension of the Church and creation.

The Throne in Heaven At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! 3 And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald. Biblical picture of heaven modelled on earthly throne room Heaven not a place so much as the realm of God, God’s sphere. No description given of the one on the throne (compare Ezek 1 and Dn 7). The Jasper and carnelian point to the splendour of God. The rainbow speaks not only beauty but also God’s covenant faithfulness (see Ezek 1:28 Gen 9:16-17) Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

4:4-7 Those around the Throne Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God; 6 and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal. 24 – The idea of the heavenly council (see Job 1-2 or Ps 82:1) but here they are human beings, elders, who have been victorious (white robes) and wearing the crown of symbol of their ruling with the deity. They possibly point to the people of God made up of the 12 tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. The utter transcendence of the divine presence indicated by the thunder and lightening. The seven flaming torches – the perfection of divine light reflected in the fullness of God’s Spirit indicated by the seven spirits. Something like a sea of glass. Water frequently a source of chaos and struggle in biblical imagery (see Gen 1:2) but in heaven all is under the control of God.

4:4-8 Those around the Throne (2) Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” This imagery is derived from Ezek 1:5. From the late 2nd century due to Irenaeus the four creatures became associated with the Evangelists, but no such association is suggested here. They may represent the created order – the entire creaturely world in all its mystery ceaselessly vigilant in its role of giving praise to the Creator. See Is 6:3

4:9-11 The Praise of God 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, 11 "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.“ The dynamic of praise that characterises the living creatures (creation) draws in the heavenly “people of God” (the 24 elders who become totally absorbed in the praise of the Creator. The casting down of their crowns indicates that though they rule with God they are not to be identified with the Deity who is totally Other and the only one worthy to receive such praise. This is very much a reflection of the liturgy of the Jewish people and their prayer book – the Tehillim, the Praises – The PSALMS.

5:1-7 The Scroll and the Lamb Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?“ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.

The Meaning of the Scroll Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?“ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Behind the symbolism of the scroll lies a combination of Is 29:11-16, and Ezek 2:9. The emphasis in both on either coming to know the plan of God or concealing human plans from God. The perfectly sealed and complete scroll represents God’s saving will for the world which is unknowable to anyone in the created order.

The Christological Redefinition of Winning! And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.

The Paradox of the Triumph of the Cross The Messiah of Jewish expectation, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David (Gen 49:9-10, Is 11:1) has conquered; he is able to open the perfectly sealed scroll, to know and reveal the mind of God. This is none other than the Lamb who was slain (Is 53:7, Jn 1:29). This title is used 29 times for Jesus in Revelation. The slain lamb is standing (alive again, risen!) and he has possesses the fullness of divine power and knowledge (7 horns and 7 eyes). In taking the scroll from the right hand of God he is depicted as the one who alone reveals the mystery of God. The paradox of the slain lamb, standing leads to a yet greater outpouring of praise and thanks to God

When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; 10 you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth." 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped. (Rev. 5:8-14 NRS)

Praise of God The only possible response to the revelation of the Lamb is unconfined praise and thanksgiving that emerges from the whole created order, the heavens, the earth and under the earth! They sing the new song that celebrates what God has achieved: I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, the one who gives victory to kings, who rescues his servant David. (Ps. 144:9-10) Knowing what has taken place it is the 24 elders who worship and say Amen!!

Two Worlds Collide “Either one takes the condition of the world seriously or one does not. If one does then its transformation clearly has not occurred and the Christian claim to have found in Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah cannot be honoured.” Martin Buber “Only Christians have a Good Friday. Only they recall in text and liturgy a public historical event that once made and still makes a mockery of their most central claim, and yet they return to it as their most central truth: the coming of the messiah in an unredeemed world.” Paul W. Meyer