Reading Revelation - Chapter 4

April 14-20 (week 3 of 12)
Revelation 4:1-11

 

Thanksgiving to our Triune God
Dr. Robert Wall

Suggestions for Daily Readings

4:1-11, first time through. 
Focus on the vision (What does this scene look like?

4:1-11, second time through.
Focus on the characters (Who appears in this scene?)

4:1-11, third time through.
Focus on the message (What are the characters saying?)

4:8b, memorize & meditate:
“Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come”

4:11, memorize & meditate:
“You are worthy, 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.”


Introduction

Have you ever consulted a travel guide before taking a journey?  On my bookshelves at home are travel guides for the United Kingdom and Mexico – two places in the world my family has travelled – as well as a set of Rick Steves’ travel guides for Italy that we won in an elementary school fundraising auction bidding war that have been read but not used.  We haven’t been to Italy, but if we ever do, we're prepared!  In his commentary on Revelation chapter 4, Dr. Wall likens Revelation to “a travel guide for readers who are about to visit a very strange place built by a prophet’s visionary experiences.”  Be sure to read his commentary (see link above) for more on Revelation as a travel guide.  As you journey through the heavenly worship described in chapter 4, here are some questions to reflect upon or discuss:

The Scene

• What does the scene look like? 
• What stands out to you visually? 
• Revelation contains a strange mix of vision elements – some readily understood and others quite mysterious.  What do you understand?  What remains mysterious?

 

The Characters

• Who are the living characters who appear in this scene?
• What does the text tell you about them?  
• How do they interact with one another…what is the dramatic action? 
• What remains mysterious about them?

 

The Message
 

• What do the characters do or say or sing? 
• If you were to summarize this in a word or phrase, how would you put it?
• What remains unclear or mysterious with regard to a message in the text?

 

 

Questions for Application

• What is your current and past experience of worship? 

 

• How might the scene of heavenly worship in Revelation 4 inspire you in your worship of God?

 

 

Memorize & Mediate – Praise Songs!

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God the Almighty,

who was and is and is to come.”

- Revelation 4:8b

““You are worthy, 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.”

- Revelation 4:11