Who is in control of this world? Do you ever wonder that? As things seem to spiral out of control, maybe you ask, is anyone in control? If you’re living in Ukraine, you would fear that Putin is in control. If you’re in Afghanistan, you would fear the Taliban are in control.
The apostle John has had his Christian friends murdered by the emperor and he is now in prison for following Christ. He may have been tempted to ask “Who is in control?” but in our reading from Revelation 4 John gets a glimmer of light from his dark cell all the way to heaven! This vision helps him to make sense of what has happened and what will happen. It gives him a different reality.
In the coming chapters of Revelation we are going to see some very hard things, and so like John we need this vision in chapter 4 to show us who is in control. The risen Jesus speaks to John to tell him what “must” take place. When you & I use the word “must” – range of meanings, if I say “I really must wash the car” – that means I know I ought to, but I probably won’t until the NCT is due! But when Jesus uses word “must” – it means—this has to happen, (e.g. Mark 8:31).
If certain things must happen, it means someone is in control of history, it’s not random, it’s heading somewhere. How do we know? Well, because of what John sees next. He sees a throne (4:2), and the good news is that there’s someone on the throne. John has seen friends killed, and is himself suffering in prison, but here comes the relief—there’s someone on the throne! Someone in control. And the one in control is unparalleled in beauty and splendour, He is gloriously good. The one on the throne is Almighty God—and He is gloriously good. Jasper and Carnelian are precious stones and in the Bible they are used to show something of the glory of God.
Around the throne is a rainbow, this not only shows the glory of God, but reminds us of the great flood (Genesis 6-9). The rainbow reminds us that God has acted in the past to judge the whole world. And in the coming chapters, John will see that God will judge the world again. Every wrong will be punished. But the rainbow also reminds John that there is mercy available, God has provided a place of safety from his judgment. In Noah’s day—the only place of safety was the ark. In the coming judgment the only place of safety is in Jesus Christ.
Around the throne are those who have taken refuge in Jesus—24 elders. These represent all the people who have taken refuge in Jesus throughout history. In Revelation, numbers are significant and 24 is a shorthand way of saying all the people of God. It’s 12+12, which is the OT tribes and NT apostles. Their sin has been covered (wearing white garments) and they are ruling with Christ (crowns+thrones).
What an encouragement to John—he’s lost his freedom, locked in a cell, he’s lost friends—they have been murdered by emperor, but look at the future—ruling with Christ! Not one of Christ’s people missing! What an encouragement to the church facing hard times—to keep going! What a relief to know there is someone on the throne, He’s gloriously good and totally in control!
Let us join with the psalmist in today’s psalm “the Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.” (Psalm 97:1)
Light and Momentary Troubles 
Leave a comment