Revelation 4:8 Each of he four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
Some people are very good in emergencies. They see what needs to be done and they do it. But other people seem to get lost in the confusion and get overwhelmed by the overload of information. They don’t know in that moment what is truly important and what can be ignored.
This skill can be very important for those who respond to emergencies. They are able to quickly assess and then get to work. They don’t get sidetracked by what they see and hear. They are able to remain focused on what is most important.
Sometimes when we read Scripture we can get sidetracked. This is especially true when apocalyptic images are used. This type of literature is filled with creatures and events that go beyond language’s ability to describe. They speak of events that are impossible to speak about.
Our text is near the beginning of a series of events that are described by two different realms of knowledge. The narrative toggles between what is seen and what is heard. But so often we get stuck on what is seen, since the descriptions are of very otherworldly creatures and events.
But the problem with focusing on what is seen is that we miss what is heard. While the things seen seem to carry varying messages, what is heard seems to be a very consistent message. But if we focus on trying to understand the nature of the creatures and the events, we miss the message of what is heard.
So, I want to read chapters 4-7 paying attention to what is seen and what is heard. It will change how you hear these four chapters. Let’s start with our text.
Our text comes after the first set of things seen. The author sees a throne in heaven, in the sky above, and someone is sitting on the throne. This person’s appearance is nothing like anything that could be experienced here on earth. They look like precious jewels! Have you ever met anyone who looks like expensive jewels? I haven’t.
And around this person is a glowing that looks like another gem encircling the throne. And then there are twenty-four people dressed like royalty, crowns and all. Then the lightning and thunder starts and the fires come up.
And then there are the four living creatures in the middle. Do you see how we can get caught up on trying to decipher what was seen? It could be easy to spend so much time trying to keep these images straight that our minds miss our text, the message that is heard.
This whole heavenly scene is punctuated and focused on that message that was heard. “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” The reason that heavenly throne room exists is for the proclamation of a message. The LORD is holy. He is unique. He alone is worthy of worship and praise.
If you just go through these four chapters and read what message is heard, just those sections, you get a very consistent messages. The Creator of the Universe, the inhabitant of the throne in heaven, is so different from us as to be indescribable. He is worthy of all our worship and adoration. He is the source of everything.
The Arnold Journey 