Revelation 4

Now that we have seen the world from Babylon's point of view and the horrors it has wrought, I want to return to the very beginning of John’s vision, which starts in Christ's throne room.

Verses 2-8 paint a surprisingly expected picture, but not typical. John pulls from the language of Daniel's vision of the throne room in Daniel 7 and describes what a throne room would have looked like in Daniel’s day. One such throne room from the 17th century BCE has been reconstructed among the ancient ruins of the palace of Minos, king of the Minoans. His throne room features many of the elements described in Revelation 4:2-8, including a central throne with more thrones on either side of it (v4), four beasts painted on the wall around the throne (v6), paintings of clouds and nature decorate the walls around the throne (v5), as if nature is playing along with this man who claims to be both a king and a god, and more.

But pay attention to how John describes the throne room of Christ, and you will see something very different. The beasts and the lightning are real and they join in the worship of their king. And instead of a small wash basin across from the throne, we find a sparkling ocean.

Johns point? That the kings of this earth are pretending. In Johns eyes, they are merely a parody of the reality found in Christ. The kings of the earth are no higher than you or I; their crowns might as well be made of paper, their thrones of cardboard. John wants the seven churches to see themselves as the lampstands in the throne-room of God (Rev 4:5). They have no need to grovel at the feet of the emperors, they serve in the throne room of Christ whose glory are proclaimed by heaven and earth alike.

This will be important as they prepare to participate in the ideological battle between the lamb and the beast.

Discussion Questions:

1) What things are the powerful of this world promising that only Christ can truly deliver?

2) What types of emotions do you think John was trying to stir in his audience of persecuted Christians?
In what ways could these descriptions of the throne room of Christ bring encouragement to Johns listeners?

3) We have been saying that Revelation is for dissidents; In what ways does chapter 4 inspire dissidence?

4) In what ways do they inspire worship?

5) If you were to describe the “Oval Office” of Christ, how might you describe it to embolden Christians to turn from Beast power (earthly power) towards Lamb power (the power of Christ)?