Friday, February 22, 2008

Jesus Revealed In The Revelation #11

Rev. 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever . . . Rev. 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

Today we want to notice the phrase "him that sat on the throne." In Chapter Four of Revelation, we have a scene in Heaven as John is taken up to view this splendid place. This One who sat on the throne is none other than Jesus Christ, a wonderful revelation of him in this final book of scripture. The One sitting on the throne was worthy of all praise from the four beasts (living creatures) who shouted to him "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."

Following the four beasts and their thanksgiving to the One sitting on the throne, the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him. This is the praise that our God deserves and that only God deserves. Since Jesus is God, then he deserves this ultimate praise and worship. He sits in the heavens (Psalm 2:4). He is Hosanna in the highest (Mark 11:10). He sits on the circle of the earth (Isa. 40:22). He is in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3). Thus, we, too, must bow to our Lord who is above all principalities and powers, and might, and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in the world to come (Eph. 1:21).

But not only does our praise go to the heavenlies where Jesus sits on the right hand of the Father (Acts 7:55), but our service should be done with the knowledge that Jesus watches our every motive and movement; and we know that God does not look upon the outward appearance as much as he looks upon the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).

As we serve Jesus Christ, we understand that he is higher than any man and that our trust in him, as well as our dependence upon him, provides everything we need to serve him and to live righteously in this present world (Titus 2:12). He supplies every need we have (Phil. 4:19), and we can do all things through him, because he strengthens us (Phil. 4:13).

So we are "bound to give thanks to God . . ." (2 Thess. 2:13), for it is he who "has chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." With thankfulness we trod along this journey realizing that only God through Jesus Christ can satisfy our souls. He redeemed us by his own precious blood; he saved us by his grace; he keeps us by his Spirit; and he promised to come to take us away to heaven, there where he sits on the throne.

What a glorious morning that will be when we see Jesus there at the Father's right hand, either standing or sitting. We shall see him as he is and know him as he is. We shall worship him as he is, and he is the same yesterday, today and forever. We shall know that he is the only human being who has the right to sit with God in his throne. We shall not lust after or covet that position, because his being in that position has made us what we are, for it is by grace that we are what we are (1 Cor. 15:10).

No comments: