Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation 4:1-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2004

No Other Song But Christ

 

The beloved hymn Over the Sunset Mountains was penned during the writer’s meditation on the piano.

Sure that its message would catch on, Peterson confidently approached a publisher.

We would like to use it, the approving publisher said after glancing over it, but we have one little suggestion.

Can you take out this reference to Jesus and enlarge a little more on heaven?

Heaven without Jesus?

Unthinkable!

Clutching his manuscript, the composer walked from the publisher’s office with another song coming on: I Have No Song to Sing, but that of Christ, my King.

Both songs have become favorites.

In our last 2 sermons in Revelation chapter 4 we looked at the */Rapture of the Church/* and the */Judgment Seat of Christ/*.

Today we are given a glimpse of our wonderful God.

Today, I want to look at 3 things: */The Glory of God, The Goodness of God and The Greatness of God.

/*  

 

1.

The Glory of God

 

*Revelation 4:3, 5-6a:* /And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.

Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.

/

 

/a.

Precious/

 

*/Firstly,/* God is */precious./*

John describes the Lord as resembling two gem stones; the jasper and sardius stones.

Gem stones sparkle and shine forth a beautiful light.

They are costly, precious.

*/John gives us a rare glimpse of God the Father because Jesus Christ doesn’t appear until chapter 5. /Ezekiel 1:26-27* describe the Son of God as resembling precious stones.

Gem stones have always been highly sought after.

They are precious.

This tells us that God is the most precious treasure.

*1 Peter 2:7a:* /Therefore, to you who believe, He (Jesus Christ) is precious; /To know God is the most precious relationship we can ever have.

*/John saw God as a precious stone full of glory, beauty, radiance, love, warmth and splendor./*

The New Jerusalem is also like a jasper stone.

*Revelation 21:10-11:* /And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, *having the* *glory of God.* *Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.*/

/b.

Perfect/

 

*/Secondly,/* we learn God is */perfect./*

The /Jasper stone /shines forth in a variety of colors.

The japer stone comes in a variety of colors including purple, green, blue, amber and clear.

The sardius stone is red.

This speaks of the perfections of God.

God is like a beautifully cut gem stone.

/He has so many facets that we will never comprehend His greatness.

There will always be facets about God that are mysterious to us./

God has so many beautiful qualities.

The sardine-stone is red, signifying the justice of God.

He never divests himself of this essential attribute in favor of any.

God gloriously exerts it in the government of the world, and especially of the church, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God pardons and punishes people with absolute integrity.

God’s perfection is also seen the */sevenfold nature of His Spirit./*

/God is absolutely perfect in holiness, knowledge, power justice and love.

/*Revelation 4:5:* /And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.

Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God./

In the Bible 7 speaks of */completion, perfection/*.

*Isaiah 11:2:* /The Spirit of the *Lord* shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of *wisdom* and *understanding*, The Spirit of *counsel *and *might*, The Spirit of *knowledge* and of the *fear *of the Lord.

/God doesn’t lack anything.

He doesn’t need His creation.

He is complete without it, but creation needs Him.

*/His wisdom and understanding are also complete.

Think of this wonderful world that He made.

He planned out every detail.

Job learned this when God questioned him./*

/According to the interpretation of some, this calm, *glass-like sea*, which is never in storm, but only interfused with flame/, */represents the counsels of God/*.

/His purposes of righteousness and love are often fathomless but never obscure, always the same, though sometimes glowing with holy anger./

*Romans 11:33-36:* /Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His counselor?

Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.

Amen./

 

/c.

Pure/

 

The */third/* attribute that John emphasizes about God is */purity.

Precious stones /*are transparent.

/This speaks of God’s splendor, absolute integrity and holiness/.

There is no hidden fault or impurity.

The Bible says that God is light.

He is glorious, majestic, radiant.

*/Gemstones/* shine from within and will always; they can’t change.

God’s presence is glorious.

Bible students call this the */shekinah glory./*

*James 1:17:* /Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

/The 4 living creatures declare God’s holiness.

*Revelation 4:8:* /The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.

And they do not rest day or night, saying: *Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!*/

Of all God’s attributes holiness is the most important one.

It is stated 3 times in v 8.

The 4 living creatures declare this day and night.

It could also be a reference to the Trinity.

All 3 members of the Godhead are holy.

Application

 

*/Do we remember how precious, perfect and pure God is? Do we praise Him for who He is? /*/The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

*Strangely enough a life lived for God’s glory is the only one that satisfies.

That’s what we were made for!*/

2. The Goodness of God

*/ /*

*Rev 4:3:* /And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

/

/ /

/a.

Mercy/

*/ /*

When you look at verse 5 you get the impression that a storm is about to break; and there is.

There is thunder, lightning and voices.

The Great Tribulation is about to commence.