Rev4:4-11
Verse 4 opens up with a question ‘who are these elders?’
John sees 24 other thrones surrounding the throne of God and 24 elders seated on them.
Some scholars say they are angelic beings.
I tend to agree with Jeff Lasseigne that these are ‘men’representing both testaments of the Scriptures.
Angels are ministering and serving beings and we never see them sitting before God.
Only that privilege is given to redeemed people of God.
I go with the understanding that these are 12 from Old Testaments and 12 from New Testament.
They are also dressed in white robes and golden crowns signify their redeemed status.
John sees the Triune God in HIS majesty and Glory and Awesome power.
The lightning and thunder reflect the awesome majesty of God and the divine authority to judge HIS creation.
Holy Spirit of God represented by 7 blazing lamps is in front of the throne but not on the throne.
Verse 6 speaks of ‘a sea of glass, clear as crystal’.
I kind of imagine this to be literal as the throne of God stands on sea of glass.
Exodus 24:9-10 shed some light on this mysterious sea of glass.
In front of the throne looks like a clear sea of glass tells us that God’s throne is separated from His creation.
I just visualize but don’t know exactly what is sea of glass really means.
Verse 6 Apostle John describes 4 angelic beings with 4 different faces, 6 wings and eyes all over their bodies.
These living creatures were mentioned in the Old Testaments.
One thing is very clear that they are very close to the throne of God than any other created beings.
They are in constant praise and worship of God and they never stop saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
Not only these 4 creatures worship God constantly but the 24 elders who represent all the redeemed children of God engage in the constant worship.
The created beings acknowledge that God who is sitting on the throne is the Creator God.
God of the Bible is described as the one who is sitting on throne in heaven is being worshipped forever by the redeemed and the angelic beings.
The most unique feature of the God of Bible is HE IS HLOY.
We never come across such depth in description of other gods of other religions.
The whole essence of our God is HOLY and everything revolves around this fact.
This awesome image of God compels the creature to be fearful and reverent.
Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”
True worship of God begins with reverential fear of God.
Apostle John gives us a glimpse of God the Father on the Throne who demands worship from HIS creation always.
Worship is the essence of church gathering.
We gather in Church to give glory, praise, honor and submission to the ONE who sits on the throne.
As we gather every Sunday, we worship God in singing, in prayer, in giving, and in studying HIS Word.
As the Psalmist says, “Worship the Lord in the splendor of HIS HOLINESS.”
As people of God gather together, they worship God corporately in the Church.
Never take Sunday worship lightly or casually because we worship a Holy God.

Rev
4:1-3


1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first 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 before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 
Apostle John transports between heaven earth and records what was told and saw in his visions.
Chapter 3 concludes the period of grace with the church age coming to an end.
The last of the seven churches, Laodicea represents the present church worldwide.
Church of Christ suffered many persecutions but remained strong throughout the ages. 
No one could destroy it on the contrary it grew to be what we see it today.
One day church age will end in rapture of the believers and what is left on earth will be subjected to wrath of God never experienced before.
Before the Rapture takes place and the Tribulations begin, John is given a glimpse of Heaven where Father God, Almighty God is seated on HIS throne.
4th chapter describes the throne in heaven and its surroundings.
An open door was an invitation for John to step into another realm no human can travel with a physical body.
Author Jeff Lasseigne speaks three doors in 3rdand 4th chapters of Revelation.
Lord’s letter to Church in Philadelphia, Lord Jesus says “I have an open door and no one can shut it”.
Jeff says this is ‘the door of evangelism and the Gospel’.
Yes no one can shut this door as long as the Lord keeps it open. 
In HIS letter to Laodicea Lord Jesus is standing outside the closed door and knocks.
Jeff says the second door is ‘the door of repentance and response’.
Lord is still standing outside of those closed doors of hearts of unbelievers and knocking for them to repent and respond.
For Jeff, the third door is ‘the open door’ which leads into the very presence of God.
Scripture records only 2 people were transported to heaven in spirit.
Apostle Paul was asked not tell or write about what he saw in heaven.
Apostle John was asked to tell and write about all that he saw in heaven.
According to Jeff we have three heavens:
The FIRST HEAVEN is the one right above the planet earth which we can see and understand as the atmosphere.
The SECOND HEAVEN is the one with the Solar systems, galaxies and stars.
The THIRD HEAVEN is realm that is beyond these two heavens.
The third heaven is the throne of God and the dwelling place of Almighty God.
A throne in human terms always defines sovereignty, authority, and control.
God the Father who sits on the throne is an ALMIGHTY SOVEREIGN GOD.
What John is doing here is to tell the Christians under intense persecution to know that God is in control of their lives and everything.
Verse 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.
His human words fail to describe who was on the throne.
No human can describe how God looks like.
So he compares with what is known to us through colors and imagery.
Almighty God is sitting on the throne in heaven always with authority and power.
HE always keeps HIS promises beginning with Adam to the last believer on earth before the tribulation period.
The terrible wrath of God will unleash on the unbelievers after the rapture of the believers.
The ONE sits on the throne in heaven always HIS promises to this day.


 

Rev 3:14-22
The scholars call church in Laodicea a Carnal Church.
Lord Jesus uses three worded description of Himself in Verse 14 to authenticate His authoritative words to the church.
From verses 15 & 16 we come across three ‘Spiritual Temperatures’
Those who are spiritually hot will be on fire for the Lord with enthusiasm and excitement and share and serve HIM.
Next temperature category is ‘Spiritually Cold’.
A cold heart person continues to reject the Gospel and discards it summarily.
Their hearts are in deep freeze and nothing penetrates.
The third category is‘spiritually lukewarm’.
Lord wishes people of the church to be hot or cold but not lukewarm.
Because HE says He cannot tolerate lukewarm spirituality of the people.
The taste of their spirituality makes the Lord to spit out.
The church at Laodicea did not know that they were spiritually dead.
People in the church were comfortable because of their material wealth or worldly riches because Laodicea city was prosperous than all the 7 churches.
He tells them that they think they have everything what the world offers but they have absolutely nothing to count in their love for the Lord.
In one word HE was saying to them that they are wretched, miserable and naked.
Laodicean church was spiritually poor, spiritually naked, and spiritually blind.
Lord Jesus offers them refined gold, the treasures in heaven which are precious than earthly riches.
White garments represent purity and righteousness.
Those who receive the gift of forgiveness by faith HE imputes HIS righteousness on them and throughout sanctifying process HE imparts HIS righteousness.
HE clothes such believers with white clothes fit to be in presence of God.
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Because of their lukewarm condition the Lord was standing outside of the church doors.
HE says to them I am here but the doors were shut.
The Lord will never force HIS entry into any closed doors.
The picture of Lord Jesus standing out side of the hearts of people tells that HE is waiting for their choice to open the door of their heart.
Lord Jesus never compels anybody to receive HIM into their hearts.
To those who are faithful till the end, HE gives authority to rule with HIM in the millennial Kingdom when HE sits on the Throne of David.
Spiritually speaking the church is poor in spite of their accomplishments, monuments, cathedrals, charity work and religiosity.
The 21stcentury church is naked because many Christians continue to attend the church but never experienced forgiveness of sin and gift of salvation in their life.
Absolutely many Christians are without salvation in their life.
The 21stcentury church is blind because of its compromises, political correctness, never coming out of its comfort zone. 
Like the Laodicean church, many churches are lukewarm and in need of the Lord.
William Barclay says that no lukewarm Christian should claim as a Christian at all.
The 21stcentury church does not look like HIS anymore because it is ‘their church’ with all their agendas going through motions of religion.
Lord Jesus is standing at the door of every heart and knocking.
Every door of a human heart has no handle outside.
Only the owner of the heart has to open the door from inside for the LORD.
My friend, Lord Jesus wants to come into your heart and HE is standing outside of your heart right now.
Will you consider to open the door of your heart for Lord JESUS now?