Revelation -- Part Two (Chapters 4-21 –“The Dreams”)

Chapter Four

Revelation Four’s “Diamond:”

“I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy” (Ezekiel 34:16).

After writing these letters to the churches in the seven cities, John falls in a heap on the shores of Patmos. “I’ve failed,” he says. “I was a super pastor to the churches in all those cities. And Look! They all look like dung heaps in God’s eyes. Otherwise why would he dictate those letters?”

As he moans and fills his heart with self-pity, a voice like a celestial trumpet blasts into his ear, “Come up here!”

“Immediately,” he writes, “I was in the Spirit.” Many translators miss the point: “I ‘BECAME’ in the Spirit!” The Spirit of the Lord stood him on his feet and showed him God’s glory. He had done the same thing for the priest Ezekiel many years before (Ezekiel chapters 1 and 2), turning him from priest to prophet.

“John,” said the Lord, “you’ve been relying on your own reason and strength for far too long. I’m sending you some dreams and nightmares to wake you up.” Stop fretting about Jezebel and her silver idols. I’ll take care of her. Same things for your brothers in the Synagogues who tossed you out. They’re mine, too. Even those luke-warm Christians in Laodicea.

“John, let go and let God! Soak up Psalm 37:5 ‘Leave your way to the Lord; trust in Him; He will do it’!

“First I’m sending you a vision of my throne in heaven. From here I rule over all the nations – not with spears, arrows and legions, as the Romans do. No. My “weapons” are compassion, forgiveness and steadfast love. I forgive even the “Jezebels” of this world (people who drive you out of Dodge, who betray you on your job, who bust up your family, who steal your bank accounts and put your children in the grave early with drugs).”

When we read Revelation 4, we can get so caught up in the description of God’s throne we miss the point. God passes judgment on humankind from his throne. What’s his verdict?

“Give justice the weak and the orphan, maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:3-4).

Who are the weak and needy in those seven churches? The very people whom John sees only as problems! How does God “judge” those causing problems in the churches? As the Good Shepherd seeking his lost sheep!

God is about to seek out those trouble-makers, bring them back and bind up their wounds. He will destroy all that is “fat and strong” in their hearts – their arrogance, betrayal, disloyalty, violence and hatred that “makes the love of many grow cold” (Matthew 24:9-14).

As the 24 elders surrounding God’s throne sing,” You created all things, by your will they existed and were created” (Rev. 4:11). God never destroys what he creates. He destroys only what interferes with what