And is it possible, if we sought to model our own worship, whether individual or corporate, on what is portrayed here, that, as we declared the same truths about God as the heavenly beings do, the same Holy Spirit who is pictured as being before the throne would deepen and transform our understanding of God and His glory in a way that touches our whole being, in its spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and even physical components?
– G.K. Beale on Revelation 4 in Revelation: A Shorter Commentary
– Grant Osborne on Revelation 4 in Revelation (BEC)
Behold our God is glorious, Come with awe and endless praise
He created and sustains us, Submit now in all your ways
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship our glorious God
Behold God is fully righteous, Rejoice – wickedness can’t win
We are sinners – woe now to us, Give thanks – Jesus saves from sin
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship our righteous Savior
Behold our Lord God Almighty, Come to Him with every need
He reigns over all completely, To His ev’ry word take heed
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship the Lord Almighty
Behold our God lives forever, Come and ponder your short life
Come with hope that none can sever, A future eternal life
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship our eternal God
To the tune of “Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending”
God is revealing himself in glory to you right now as we consider what chapters 4, 5 show us about the Creator and Redeemer. God reveals himself to you in his creation, which reflects his glory, and God reveals himself in a uniquely precise way in the Bible that he inspired. With the glory of God in creation all around you and with the Bible before you, you are surrounded by God’s glory. Drink it in and pray that God will set you free from the world’s idolatry, immorality, and godless way of interpreting life.
– James M Hamilton, Jr. on Revelation 4-5 in Revelation (PTW)
John’s readers lived in a world (as we do) where evil was rampant and apparently all-powerful. Goodness was weak and frustrated and ineffectual. But John’s very first vision of heaven shows that these appearances are deceptive….God’s power and eternal being ensure that His holiness will triumph over all evil.
– Leon Morris on Revelation 4:8 in The Revelation of St. John (TNTC)
Behold in heaven stands the throne
Of God in His glory
Rich and brilliant like precious stone
In splendor and beauty
Lightning and thunder from the throne
Announce coming judgment
But faithful mercy to His own
With whom He is present
Around the throne four Living Ones
Cry “Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
Holy, holy, holy”
The Elders join and cry “Worthy
Is He who makes all things
All power, honor, and glory”
Now lift your voice and sing!
Holy, holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Is our Lord God Almighty
Who reigns eternally
Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy
Is our Creator King
All power, honor, and glory
Let all creation sing!
To the tune of “We Sing The Greatness Of Our God”
– William Hendriksen on Revelation 4 in More Than Conquerors
– G.K. Beale on Revelation 4 in Revelation: A Shorter Commentary
The word must is important. The concern of this book is not with things which simply will happen, as though the future were of absorbing interest in itself. It is rather taken up with things which must happen, the outworking of the divine will. God is in supreme control. John is not writing about matters of chance, but about events which will certainly occur, for they are part of the divine plan.
– Leon Morris on Revelation 4:1 in The Revelation of St. John (TNTC)
Brian J. Mikul 