Revelation 4:4

“For Thy Pleasure”

Revelation 4:4 says, “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.”

This verse in revelation is describing events that will take place right after the end of the age of grace. Who are the four and twenty elders? There are 24 hours in a day. Perhaps they twenty four Christians who have loved the lord and served him the most faithfully day after day year after year. “

Revelation 4:5-8 says, “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

God is holy. Holy means to be perfect, without sin. It is obvious what is emphasized here is the holiness of God. Sometimes when we think of the holiness of God we think also of the wrath of God and rightly so. God is holy therefore God gets angry at sin and eventually once all the opportunities for forgiveness have passed the time for judgment will come. The book of revelation will talk a great deal about the wrath of God but first it talks about the Holiness of God.

It is important to understand the holiness of God. After all these things we write unto you that your joy may be full. I John 1:5 says, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Why this means that no matter what happens to me in life, no matter how painful no matter how terrible no matter how tragic God is Holy. If I can understand the holiness of God I will have one less reason to become bitter and broken by the tragedies of life. Don’t blame God for what happens too you thank Him for it because He is Holy.

Yes God is love and for God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to suffer and to die on the cross for our sins. But it is all vanity if you do not repent of your sins to Jesus. What good is it that Christ died for you if you reject that? This is why revelation talks about the Holiness of God before in the coming chapters going into detail about the judgment of God on the world. God is Holy therefore God is love. God is holy therefore God judges sin. The nations of this world have gone 2000 years since the death and resurrection of Christ. Is God patient and merciful yes He is. But the judgment is coming it must come for God is holy.

Revelation 4:9-11 says, “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Once again the 24 elders are mentioned. They seem to be singled out here and given a special opportunity to worship God before His throne. The lesson is this, if you follow the Lord faithfully oh the truths you will learn and the special times of worship you will experience.

Notice what the 24 elders say, “thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” It is interesting to notice that God is mentioned as being worthy because of having created all things and having created them for His pleasure.

The word pleasure is not a word that many people associate with organized religion. But true Christianity has at its roots great pleasure. God is motivated by pleasure. Why it says right here that all things were created for His pleasure.

Ephesians 1:5 says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”Ephesians 1:9, “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which he hath purposed in Himself.”

Human beings by nature tend to be motivated by pleasure. But the pleasures of the world are not the pleasures of God. They are very different. The one is temporary and the other eternal and everlasting. What a shame it is that billions go through life ignorant and never learning of the good pleasure of God’s will. The 24 elders understood it though and they said “thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

What a wonderful day that will be to stand before the throne of God, to hopefully have a crown to cast before his feet. What holy pleasure it will be to worship Jesus in that way.

You can enter into the good pleasure of God’s will today simply repent of your sins to Christ and ask Jesus into your heart.

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