Revelation 4:2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, 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.”
In the spirit, John sees a throne with 24 elders seated around this throne. There are also 4 living creatures around the throne. They never cease saying “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” When these living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks the 24 elders fall down and worship Him, who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before His throne saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.”
Some commentaries explain the 24 elders as the 12 patriarchs of Israel and the 12 apostles. Whoever they are and what whatever the 4 living creatures are it is what they do that is most important. They give absolute praise. In His presence, there is nothing else that seems worthy of their attention. In His presence, they are in awe continually. They are fully aware of creation and the fact that all things were created by His will. Do you ever wonder why we get distracted so much that we can go hours or even days without giving heart, mins, and soul-deep praise, thanks, and worship? We get so caught up in the things of this world and the busyness of life that the One who is worthy of all our praise, thanks, and worship. We are shown these things for many reasons, and for sure one of those reasons is to focus our eyes, heart, mind on Him who is worthy. What we do with what we see and have seen, and what we hear and have heard from the Spirit of God, we will be held accountable for how we respond. If we live with our heart, mind, and soul given over to things of this world, and living for things of this world rather than for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ we will have lived unworthy of that to which we have been given through Jesus Christ. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart, mind, and soul to His majesty, power, and creation. You will then just begin to understand the awesomeness of God.
