Revelation 4:6b-11
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 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!”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 “You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Revelation’s vision of the heavenly throne room now introduces people to God, who is the Creator. The scene pictures a rightly ordered universe in which God is at the center. Around the throne are four living creatures, who represent the created order (although, in all honesty, it is always hard to understand exactly what is being represented, being that they aren’t normal things to our human insights).
Although Revelation is usually seen as a book of destruction, God’s fundamental identity is that of Creator. This scene anticipates the outcome of the book, where God’s purposes culminate in new creation. The words “holy, holy, holy” and the images of casting down crowns by heaven’s glassy sea have inspired many of the hymns that are used in worship. A few examples are:
~ The Liturgy’s Proper Preface
~ Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty
(TLH 246; LSB 507)
~ Isaiah, mighty seer in days of old (249 TLH; 960 LSB)
~ Heavenly Hosts in Ceaseless Worship (LSB 949)
How blessed are we that through our confessional Lutheran worship practices we are to be able to join in with what is always taking place in the heavenly realms. God’s Divine Service continues to be heaven on earth as Christ continues to come to us through His Word & Sacraments creating and sustaining the faith that gets us in!
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
