Fourteen and a half years ago, in July of 2010, Paul Crowther, professor of astrophysics from the University of Sheffield's Department of Physics and Astronomy, announced that he and his research team had discovered a star that they described as the brightest star ever found in the universe. The mass of this star is roughly 265 times the size of our sun. But that's nothing. The brightness of this star is said to be some 10 million times greater than the light coming from our sun. Now think about that. This star, currently named R136A1, is not twice as bright as our sun. Now that would be overwhelming, wouldn't it? It's not even a hundred times brighter. It's not even a thousand times brighter than our sun. It is said this newly identified star is 10 million times brighter than our sun. That is far beyond any normal person's comprehension. How can anything possibly be that bright? Thinking about the star gives us a chance to sense what the glorious presence of God is like. Scripture says in 1 Timothy 6.16 that God is a being who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen nor can see. The prophet Ezekiel and the apostle John were both given glimpses of God's glorious presence. Let me assure you, it was just a little part of it. And they had great difficulty trying to describe it. Neither one had a proper vocabulary. They just couldn't do it. Now, I gotta be honest. I gotta tell you that whenever I come to their attempts to express what they saw, partially of the glory of God's presence, when I read that in Scripture, these depictions are so far beyond my understanding. Now, I'm just being honest with you here. Whenever I come across those, I just wanna quickly pass through it. I'd almost prefer to preach a long passage on the genealogy sections in the books of the Older Testament. You know those passages I mean, so-and-so begets so-and-so, and so-so begets so-and-so, and these strange sounding names that I mispronounce all the time. I think I'd rather preach on all those names than to try to clarify a Bible passage that attempts to depict the glorious presence of God. Boy, that would seem so much easier to me. I've looked to see what the Bible scholars say, what they write about these descriptions of Ezekiel and the Apostle John as they try to depict what God looks like. But since I'm still being honest here about this, I'm usually left scratch in my head, even after I read what they have to say. Much of the explanations that try to make it clear only confuse me more. I can no more comprehend what Ezekiel and John try to communicate than I can comprehend a star that is 10 million times brighter than our sun. or the vastness of what God has created in the sheer number of stars and galaxies that he merely spoke into existence. But then the tension that I go through trying to comprehend it It slightly eased when I remember I really don't want to believe in a God that I can comprehend. That would reduce his deity. He would be less than God if I could comprehend him. A God that fits into the realm of my understanding would be no God at all. In order for God to be God, he needs to completely transcend our thinking and our ability to manipulate him. God can and has revealed to us all that he wants us to know and all that is necessary for us to know through his creation and through his holy word, the Bible, and through the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. Okay, so my apprehension finds some relief. However, I still have tension. Why did the ultimate author of Scripture, the Holy Spirit, lead Ezekiel and John to write their incomprehensible descriptions of God's glorious presence? I mean, does God want certain Scripture to frustrate us? Why are they in Scripture? Are they really needed? The passage that we come to this morning forces me to try to answer these questions and to contend with that tension because we come front and center today with John's portrayal of God's glorious presence. Now, in full disclosure, I was tempted to speed through it in order to avoid exasperating both you and I. But once I dealt with the question of what is the value of this to us, It was obvious that rushing through Revelation chapters 4 and 5 was not what God desired. So this week we will study Revelation chapter 4, and next week we will take on Revelation chapter 5. instead of combining both chapters into one message with a few generalized comments, as I first thought about doing. Now, before we turn to our passage, let me first try to answer, what is its value? Now, as I tried to wrap my mind around this, I came upon the words of Dr. Kent Hughes, who has written an excellent commentary on Revelation chapters four and five. Here is in part what he wrote, and this kind of put it in perspective for me, changed my way of looking at this. What will it take to set you free from the world's idolatries? What will it take to keep you from trusting in things that are no gods at all? What will make you free from the world's immoralities? What will it take to make you untouched by the lust for smut that the world peddles and with which worldlings ruin their lives? What will it take to liberate you from the world's false perspective on the way things are? The perspective that assumes there is no God, there is no revelation of truth in the Bible, and there will be no judgment. I'll tell you what it will take. It will take seeing God as he is. Beholding God will purify you from immorality because when you see God, you see what beauty and faithfulness are. And that exposes the ugliness of adultery. Beholding God will give you new lenses through which to look at the world because God himself defines reality." Close quote. Ah, okay. Now I think I see why God has this here and why God would want me to preach on it and do my best with it here. Now, building upon what Dr. Hughes has written, let me just add this. If you happen to find yourself in any of the situations that he was talking about there and what I'm about to mention here, such a passage as this will benefit you. Number one, if the things of God have begun to lose their luster, And you find it harder every day to get into God's word and to pray. Or number two, perhaps you find yourself more interested in and engaged by the sinful pleasures of this world. Their appeal is increasing. And what's worse, you see other Christians giving in all around you and falling prey. Or number three, possibly you've been looking at the crazy chaos in the world right now. It seems so out of control. We're reminded this week that the Islamic motivated terrorism exists. ISIS is here. not just in the Middle East. Powerful political influences are trying to bring down the United States and other world superpowers so they can set up a one world system. They see that as better for mankind. People in general believe that the world is getting better. But God says that it will increasingly become worse. In Matthew chapter 24, scripture reveals that in the end times, there will be an increase just like birth pangs that increase with intensity and frequency. Wars, rumors of wars, famines, disease, floods, disasters, and nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. Yet, society foolishly assures itself that in the years to come, mankind will win the battle against disease, famine, war, and hardship. Here's my point. By seeing God in his greatness in his throne room, a striking contrast is revealed between God's glorious majesty and all the empty assumptions and pretense of mankind's arrogant pomp and futility and quickly fizzling brilliance. We need to see true God as John described him in his throne room in Revelation chapter four and five. God is in full control. He has a very hands-on approach to the destiny of us all. We need the words of this passage to reach out of the page and grip our hearts with the very glory of God. It throbs with God's majesty and power. Listen, today's passage is intended to transform your life, not just to be, oh, that's interesting. Always wondered what God looked like. It's intended to give you a reason to live your life for Christ. To participate with him in his eternal plan of the ages. Because folks, this is not some game that we're playing here. Seeing God upon his throne gives us the motivation to purify ourselves from every defilement and take us all the way home. So let's take a look at our passage in its entirety. Then we'll go back and break it up and think through what we read here. And we're going to read right now in its entirety. Revelation chapter four. After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. 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. And around the throne were 24 thrones and seated on the thrones were 24 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 24 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. Here we see into the throne room of heaven. God is on the throne orchestrating all the events that John is about to record here in the book of Revelation. It's important for us to see that the world is not spinning out of control. The God of creation will carry out his plans. as Christ initiates the final battle with the forces of evil. John shows us heaven before showing us earth so that we will not be frightened by the future events. We don't need to be frightened unless you're not a believer. because the scene that was just described reveals that Christians will no longer be on the earth. There's several things in those verses which we just read that indicate that, that show us that, and I'll show you those in just a moment. Two weeks ago, we came upon one of the clearest verses that declares believers in Christ will be kept from The Greek word ek means out of. It cannot mean anything but out of. Be kept from, ek, out of, the hour of tribulation that is coming upon the whole world. It says it that explicitly. That's Revelation 3.10. We studied it two weeks ago. So allow me now to briefly turn your attention to how we will miss this great judgment that is coming. I turn your attention for temporarily away from Revelation over to 1 Thessalonians chapter four, where Paul wrote this. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with a sound of the trumpet of God. and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, encourage one another with these words. True followers of Christ will be raptured into heaven to be with Christ before the great tribulation. You know, there are two purposes for the tribulation. Number one is to bring the Jewish nation to realize that Jesus is the Messiah. And number two, it's for God to pour out his wrath on unbelievers who have rejected him. Every person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ is part of his church and does not need to fear God's wrath. If we have to fear God's wrath, if we have to fear this great punishment, then the death of Jesus Christ was completely useless. But let me assure you, it wasn't useless. Jesus completely absorbed the punishment that you and I deserve. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote Romans 8 verse one, there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Folks, Jesus's death was effective for those who put their faith in him. We're no longer condemned. There is no need for us to be put through the coming wrath. We won't be honored. And the scene that we have read in Revelation chapter four here, and we're going to look at again in chapter five next week, it depicts us in heaven before the tribulation. All right, let's go back into it. Take you back now to Revelation chapter four, verse one, which says this. After this, Alrighty, that's so key. After this, after this, I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, come up here, and I will show you what must take place. There's that phrase again. After this. You see that phrase, after this, twice? After what? There is only one thing that makes any possible sense. After what John has just described in the preceding two chapters. What did he describe? the entire church age from its beginning at Pentecost to the seventh and final church era, the Laodicean church age. After the church age on earth, the church is in heaven. How do you know? How do I know? Well, there's more in John's description that I want to show you. Now, before I get to the description of God's indescribable appearance, before I attempt that one, let me show you who the worshipers are at God's throne. Just jump ahead to verse four now. Revelation 4.4 says, Around the throne were 24 thrones, and seated on the thrones were 24 elders, clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads. Who are these 24 elders? Well, we don't know for sure, but I think it's a pretty good guess. I just gotta tell you, this is just a guess here, that they are representing the 12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament, and the 12 apostles of the New Testament. These 24 elders you see, I think, is giving us a composite picture, probably representing all the redeemed of God from all time, both before and after Christ's death and resurrection. Old Testament believers, New Testament believers. It symbolizes all those, both Jews and Gentiles, who are now part of God's family. The 24 elders show us that all the redeemed of the Lord are worshiping him. These 24 represent all of the believers in heaven, giving him that worship. Now listen to me, please, hear this. This is so important. In Daniel chapter 7 verse 9, write that down, look it up later on. Daniel 7 verse 9, Daniel also described God's throne room. Daniel merely saw empty thrones being placed in God's presence. What Daniel saw was the place for these 24 elders being established, but they were not yet occupied. Now, and this is very significant. Now, as John views the thrones, they are occupied. In Daniel, they were unoccupied. Now in Revelation four, they are suddenly occupied and these occupants, what? Look at this. They are clothed in white robes and they have on their heads crowns of gold. You know what the significance of that is? Their golden crowns are victor crowns. The Greek word here is stephanos. We do not see angels wear victor crowns anywhere in scripture, but we do see resurrected saints wearing them as rewards for their earthly service. The judgment seat of Christ where he hands out rewards to believers. has already occurred when this scene takes place. What John is describing here. The church has been raptured and rewarded. And from the two chapters that we just finished in Revelation, this all fits in the context of what John has been writing. Take a look at this context now with me. Jesus promised the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3.21 that those who conquer will sit with him on his throne. John here sees those who have what Jesus has promised. Suddenly the thrones are occupied. Jesus promised a church in Sardis in Revelation 3, 5, the one who conquers will be clothed in what? White garments. And John now sees these 24 elders clothed in white garments, very next chapter. Jesus promised a church in Smyrna. Revelation 2.10, be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life. And now John sees these 24 elders wearing golden victory crowns. Makes sense. It all fits. The vision of these 24 elders seated on thrones around the throne of God, clothed in white garments, gold and victor crowns on their head, is a significant picture for us that God keeps his promises. The scene appears in Revelation here before the tribulation takes place and is described. Our God is faithful. Jesus will give what he says he will give to us. In Revelation 119, John was told what to write in this book that we call Revelation. He was given three parts. The three parts, according to Revelation 119, are as follows. Part one, the things you have seen. Now, that was the vision of Christ in Revelation chapter one. Part two, those things that are. That was the seven letters to the seven churches depicting the church's history in seven distinct periods of time, and we see that description in those letters all the way to its end. And then part three, those things that are to take place after this. After what? The church on earth. J. Verna McGee wrote this. We've seen the history of the church in the seven churches of chapters two and three. But as we come to chapter four, the question naturally arises, what has happened to the church? From chapter four through the rest of the book of Revelation, there is no mention of the church. I have to disagree with J. Herman McGee here. It does, we're gonna be riding on horses in chapter 19 with Jesus in his return, but it doesn't call us the church, so technically I guess he's right. Okay, so there is no mention of the church except when you get to the invitation at the end, which is a general invitation and hasn't anything to do with the chronological chronology of the book. From here on, you will not find the word church mentioned. Up to this point, the word has occurred again and again, in fact, 19 times. But now the church goes off the air. There is no mention of it. It has gone off the air because it went up in the air. It was caught up in the air to meet the Lord in the air. The church has gone to heaven. That is what has happened to it. Our next verse, Revelation chapter four, verse two, says this. At once I was in the Spirit and behold, a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne. You know, just as a little exercise, Whenever we begin to try to picture God, I encourage you, I invite you to consider just the most beautiful thing you've ever seen in your life or anything you could ever possibly imagine here on earth in your earthly experience. Just, if you could try to get any image, maybe a vacation you've once had. For me, my mind turns to the beautiful sunsets on the Oregon coast. and just watching the water and lapping up in the beautiful oranges and purples and yellows and just try to, whatever your scene is of the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, take that beauty and magnify it by infinity. Put that in your prayer life. When you're talking to God, We might be getting kind of close to what John saw here. God created beauty. There's no defect in him. He is perfection. He's 10,000 times more lovely than the most compelling thing you or I could possibly think of, imagine, or desire. That's why this passage of scripture is so practical. He is 10,000 times more attractive than the most compelling thing here on earth. Verse three, let's get into this description now. Can't wait. 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. Now, of course, there is no possible way for humans to describe what God is like, and so John here is reduced to using comparisons. Notice the word like. What John saw was so indescribable that he could not explain exactly what it was, but only what it was like. Now, two stones mentioned are especially glorious. In a figure, they tell us the one on the throne was glorious. Jasper is described as a crystal. It's most likely a diamond. most brilliant of all stones. Jasper probably represents God's holiness and his purity. Sardis was blood red in color, perhaps it was a ruby. It probably represents God's justice and wrath. Then surrounding the throne was a luminous rainbow that cast an emerald glow. Now a typical rainbow has a multitude of colors, but this is simply a beautiful emerald green. This rainbow speaks of the splendor around the throne. And as a rainbow after Noah's flood here on earth, which symbolized God's faithfulness and his mercy in the midst of judgment, probably it's symbolizing the exact same thing here. You know, rainbows usually appear after a storm, but this rainbow appears before the storm of tribulation is about to take place. I see this as a reminder that in the judgment that is coming, we'll have mercy mixed in with it. God, you probably know, you've maybe read ahead in the book of Revelation, you know there's going to be 144,000 evangelists, 144,000 Billy Grahams, leading people to see they miss the Messiah and not to take the mark of the beast. Folks, His mercy is still going to be there in the midst of all those horrible things. And Revelation makes that very clear. To the Jews, they would look at these stones, they would see jasper and lasarta stones, and probably to a Jewish reader of this, to their mind, they would think of the breastplate of the high priest that's described for us in Exodus 28, verses 17 through 20. You see, there were 12 stones on the breastplate of the priest. The first stone that is there, because all twelve represent all twelve of the tribes of Israel, so the beginning and the end are these two stones. The first one up here represented Reuben, the jasper, the diamond, represented the tribe of Reuben, the firstborn. And the 12th stone represented Benjamin, and that was the red one, the sardis, the ruby. So it was the complete Israel that I think the Jewish mind would immediately turn to as they see this. Israel is precious to the Lord. And here in this throne room are these two stones reminding them of that. He's not forgotten them. In fact, we're gonna see, or we would have seen if we were to turn to Ezekiel chapter 38, God is gonna bring them all back to a belief in him. I love the way, starting in chapter 36 of Ezekiel, when it begins to show that God is going to bring Israel, after being scattered all over the world, he's going to bring them back into the land, and at first presents them as coming back in unbelief. That's where they are now. That's where they are now. But then as we read on into Ezekiel 38, we see that God is gonna control the circumstances where Russia and some of the people that align with them come into Israel, and it looks like Israel's gonna be wiped off the map, but God comes and saves them, and that is the turning point when Israel comes back to the Lord in belief. God's not forgotten. He hasn't. Well, for now, this image we see is the faithfulness of God, I think. These jewels and so forth. Our God is faithful. He is not finished with Israel. He is faithful. And these symbols depict that his people are still close to his heart. All right, going back to verse four. Around the throne were 24 thrones and seated on the thrones were 24 elders clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads. You and I simply must be more sure that this is real. What really keeps you and I from being zealous for God? Let's face it, we have been lulled into thinking that earthly pleasures are more certain. What I can get right now is a sure thing, baby. It's more certain than the truth of what John saw in this vision, our future. I don't think Satan wants us to think very much or very deeply. about this vision of heaven. Do such things as television, romance novels, impure thoughts and images capture too much of your excitement? God's glory and his rewards are infinitely more interesting than anything this world has to offer. You were not made to squander your life away. Are the white garments promised to those who conquer that are worn by these 24 elders around God's throne, are they more precious to you than being in the in-group of society? Your enjoyment of those things will be very short in terms of the eternal rewards that we're seeing here. Beg God to impress on you very deeply these truths. And there's something else that we can do to move ourselves in the direction of having this right motive. Read, study, memorize, meditate on the Bible. One reason we give way to temptation is that we are not thinking about what we have been promised. If we could say to temptation, in the moment we are being tempted, when temptation comes upon us, if we could learn to say, what I've been promised, my eternal reward is better than this. We'll be able to stand. We will be overcome. So the next time you are tempted to compromise with the world, ask yourself whether you will gain from the compromise, whatever it is you see as your gain there, if that is more valuable to you than being clothed in white at the throne of God for eternity. Verse five. 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. you know, cosmic disturbances, lightning and thunder that we often observe. I've noticed here in Central Oregon, as high as we are right up here, it seems to be louder than where I came from. First time I heard a thunderstorm, wow, that's pretty loud. But we gotta get away from what we experience. These soft rumblings, these weak flashes of light that we see around here, As much as they are, I think we need to imagine ground-shaking thunderclaps, blinding flashes, the kinds that make children cry and adults very uneasy. After God came down on Mount Sinai this way, he spoke the Ten Commandments to Israel. Lightning and thunder filled the sky at Mount Sinai. God had given the people his laws. We see that in Exodus 19, verse 16. The Old Testament often uses such imagery to reflect God's power and majesty. We see it over and over in scripture. For example, Psalm 77, verse 18. In revelation, thunder and lightning always form part of the scene of God's throne room. And they highlight a significant coming event. We see it will mark the seventh seal, Revelation 8.5, the seventh trumpet, Revelation 11.19, and the seventh bowl, Revelation 16.18. Now the seven lampstands, what are those? They represent the Holy Spirit, says it right there in the text. And we saw that when we were in Revelation 1, it was referred to the seven spirits there as well, Revelation 1.4. We also see the same imagery in Ezekiel 1.13 and Zechariah 4.2-6. The seven spirits of God is another name for the Holy Spirit. Okay, in Zechariah 4, verses two through six, we read about these seven torches of light, like what we see here, and these images are the one perfect, complete Holy Spirit. The judgment is about to fall, and it's not gonna be based on hearsay, but on the perfect, all-knowing, all-seeing, Holy Spirit. You know, the seven torches is a picture of illuminating everything. He sees everything. Nothing is hidden when he comes to judge. You know, it always amazes me when believers think they're hiding something from God. We can't. We can't. The Holy Spirit is described here as seven illuminating torches. Nothing can be hidden. First part of verse six says this, and before the throne there was, as it were, a sea of glass like crystal. Sea of Glass appears in prophetic visions of God's throne room, and again, several other places in scripture. Exodus 24.10, Ezekiel 1.22, Revelation 15.2, we'll see it again. And I think what we're to take from this right here is it's a transparent tranquility. Sea of Glass speaks of calmness, peace, in contrast with the earth's turmoil. Moving on, around the throne and 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. Dr. David Jeremiah believes these are seraphim because of the six wings and moving all about. These are maybe angelic beings, maybe a special type of seraphim to be around the throne of God. These angelic creatures represent the universe of God's created order, all of which worships him and centers itself around him. Everything will praise the Lord. The lion perhaps is symbolic of the whole animal creation, being the greatest example of the animal kingdom. The ox may represent all domestic animals and strength. The eagle probably represents birds and flight and swiftness. The figure of a man represents human creation. All that God has created is represented here before his throne. It is the most amazing picture. The three living creatures that are described like animals, they're not called a lion, they're not called an ox, they're not called an eagle, but they're said to be like these creatures. And the third is said to have the face of a man. And the point of these descriptions seems to be the way these four living creatures, they all reflect the glory of God. Something about God is captured in the likeness of these four living creatures. God is noble, he is royal, he is fast like a lion, he's massive, he's patient, he's slow, serving strength like an ox, God has a sensitivity and spirituality that we can see in the face of a human being, and he has a soaring transcendence like an eagle in flight. John's vision in Revelation chapter four shouts, he is able. He is able to fulfill every promise he has made. He cannot be overcome, he cannot be outmuscled, he cannot be outsmarted, he cannot be outdone. And his goodness will never fail. The right response to this God, the only response is given to us in verses eight through 11. 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 24 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. This passage in Revelation is a reminder that our primary job as created beings is to worship God. That's our primary reason. The four creatures represent all of God's created beings. Six wings depict their ability to move around, observe things from all angles. The fact that they are full of eyes without and within seems to indicate they see everything. Nothing escapes their notice. And it's precisely because they see everything, because they have all the facts laid before them. Because they behold God as he is, and history, all that has happened, all the truth about the way things are now, and because they see God's character and how he will bring all things to resolution because they are full of eyes all around and within, they are continually compelled to confess the almighty everlasting God of holiness. If we had the same understanding they have, we would be so compelled as well. The elders representing you and me fall before God. They place their crowns at his feet as a sign of humility and acknowledgement of God's authority and right to receive worship. Now in John's day, military generals who had been victorious in battle, they would participate in the celebration. It would include a ritual of casting the rewards at the feet of the emperor, acknowledging that because of this emperor, they were able to go out and obtain this victory. They still kept the rewards, but it was just a symbol saying, because of you, I was able to have this. Now, when we cast our crowns at the feet of God, it doesn't mean that we're going to be giving up our rewards. I don't know if you've wondered that. You know, whether we're going to be casting our crowns at his feet doesn't mean that we give them up, we no longer have them. It symbolizes our acknowledgement that even our ability to earn a reward in this life is all because of the grace of God, because of Him. And so that's what we're going to do when we cast our crowns before Him. Now, let me just close here. I want to do so with the words, once again, from Dr. Kent Hughes. He's really inspired a lot of my thinking about this passage here. So let me just give you his wording on Revelation chapter four. Once again, here's what he says. I close with this now. Do you want to win crowns that you can use for the praise of God? This life is the one chance we have to stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and to fight to be faithful to God. Here is the best possible motivation we could have for pursuing greater holiness, greater Christlikeness. Every triumph on the way will become one more laurel for us to cast at the feet of the one who sits on the throne. Pray right now that the next time you are tempted by sin, called to make a sacrifice, or confronted with a compromise, the Lord will remind you that what is before you is an opportunity to win a trophy you can place before him in his honor. On that day, when we see him as he is, When we are awed by the living creatures, but most of all by the one who sits on the throne, we will wish we had more to cast at his feet. We will wish we could have suffered more for him, sacrificed more for him, registered greater temptations than the ones we gave in to. we will wish we had fought more for him, wish we had overcome more for him, and wish we had more with which to praise him. If you were to ask me why it matters that we study a passage like this to explain the glorious presence of God, I'd say if we don't, if we fail to understand his true character, we'll never be amazed by him, we'll never feel small as we stare up at him, we'll never worship him as we ought, we'll never run to him for refuge, and we will never choose him over the worthless pleasures of the world. Let's pray.