Revelation 4:1-2

June 23-24, 2018 • Pastor Netz Gómez

THE REALM OF THE BEAUTY OF GOD

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first
voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and
I will show you things which must take place after this.” 2 Immediately I was in the
Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne..”
I. INTRODUCTION
Rev. 4-5 show us the highest revelation of God’s beauty like nowhere else in
Scripture. These chapters reveal the “Holy of Holies”, which is the central reality of all
creation that is the “New Jerusalem”. These chapters are commonly referred to as
the “Realm of beauty of God” or the “celestial symphony.” Here we see the great
Center of Government of the universe directing and administering human history
through prayer driven by worship which in turn is nourished by the revelation of the
beauty of God.
Beholding His beauty satiates the deepest longings of the human heart
designed by God to direct us to Himself as one who fully satisfies them: The longing
to be fascinated by beauty is intrinsic to our emotional and spiritual well-being.
There is a transforming power in the revelation of the beauty of God that transforms
us into His image. You become what you behold.
2 Co. 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the
Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by
the Spirit of the Lord.”
Chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation reveal the Father’s court and in the following
chapters (6-22) His “master plan” to exalt Jesus over all the earth in the Millennium
and beyond. Frequently Rev. 4 is the focus of attention for worship because it is a
heavenly scene that greatly expands our understanding of the Father’s throne but
also the following chapters give us insight into the movement of prayer and worship
in heaven and on earth that relate to the purposes of God of the end times to reunite
these two realities forever.
Ef. 1:10 “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on
earth—in Him.”
The purpose of the Father has always been to dwell in face-to-face
communion with His people on earth forever.
The focus of attention of Rev. 4 is the Father’s Throne related to His Person
and His environment. That which the beautiful God places around Himself expresses
His beauty to all creation. He started with a white canvas with the ability to place
anything He wanted around Himself. Therefore, the things that appear were designed
by Him to reveal to us specific aspects of His glory.
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The most misunderstood, neglected and at the same time challenging and
sublime theme in the Kingdom of God, is God himself and also He is the most
glorious and rewarding subject. The search for the knowledge of God is a journey
that lasts a lifetime and is for those who are determined to begin a climb to the
summit of this glorious challenge.
Phil. 3:7-8a “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord…”
Psalm 145:5 “I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on
Your wondrous works.”
The study of God’s beauty takes time, effort and dedication. We need to be
patient because it is something that comes slowly as we consistently contemplate
these truths with a teachable spirit and talk with Him and others about them. We
must persevere in faith, as we go deeper, digging into Scripture to find the gold and
precious stones of the truths concerning the Person of God.
1 Co. 2:9-12 “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered
into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love
Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things
of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the
things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have
been freely given to us by God”
Rev. 4:1 “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven.
And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying,
“Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
• “After these things I looked…”
After John had received the messages for the churches he was now about to
receive a vision of heaven wider than that of the Old Testament prophets.
• “and behold, a door standing open in heaven”
Jesus opens a door to John in heaven and as he writes his experience, he
allows us to enter through that door to see the Father. This door of opportunity
invites us to experience new dimensions of who He is and the magnificence of His
glory. Even now we should be grateful for the door that Jesus opens for us to see
more of God.
John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go
in and out and find pasture.”
“Ap. 3:7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,‘These things says He
who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no
one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”

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• “And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet [Jesus] speaking with me,
saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after
this”
Jesus with a voice of command and authority gives John the order to go up
because He was going to show him what is going to happen but for him to
understand it correctly He first shows him the Throne of holiness and glory that
gives origin to everything that is going to happen as part of His master plan for the
end of time.
This is not an invitation for the church to enter heaven in the rapture, as
some have tried to interpret but, as we have said, it is simply an invitation for John
to enter heaven to show him what was coming. Paul lived something similar:
2 Cor. 12:2-4 “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago…such a one was
caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body
or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into
Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to
utter”
These things Jesus showed him “must happen” which indicates the divine
need for them to go as Jesus said in the gospels.
Mt. 24:6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not
troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”
• “immediately I was in the Spirit” We cannot enter into the understanding of the
things of God without the help of the Holy Spirit.
Jn. 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one
is born [a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
We know we need God the Spirit for Him to reveal the Deity . If there is no
revelation, the information itself leaves us empty. When we live according to His
Spirit, the doors open to go further in the knowledge of God; That is why we want
to do everything possible to be aligned with the Holy Spirit.
• “and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.”
God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit make up the Godhead (Rom 1:20, Acts
17:29, Col. 2: 9). There is only one God, however within the indivisible unity of the
Deity, there are three distinct Persons. The three have never been separated or
divided, they are one forever. The beauty of the deity is expressed in His love, unity
and order. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in perfect unity (1 John 5:17) and
complete subjection between Himself and in eternal humility and love. Seeing
them work together in harmony is inspiring, impressive and beautifully glorious
(Gen. 1).
a. The Father is the one who sits on the Throne and is the one who has the
greatest authority as it should be between parents and children (John 10:29,
14:28). In this place of His eternal Throne God has deep plans that burn in His
holy heart (Da 7: 9-10). From this point of origin, comes the manifestation of
the wrath of God described in the body of the Apocalypse, where he even

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laughs at the conspiracies of the ungodly man (Ps 2: 4, 94:10; 103: 19; 119:
89; Is. 40: 21-26, 28-31; Da 4:17, 34-35). He changes times and ages, while
putting or taking away kings according to His perfect will and without
violating anyone’s free will (Da 2: 20-22). Although evil reigns for a time on
earth, God will eventually prevail.
Job 34:23-26 “For He need not further consider a man, That he should go
before God in judgment. 24 He breaks in pieces mighty men without
inquiry, And sets others in their place. 25 Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night, And they are crushed. 26 He strikes them
as wicked men In the open sight of others.”
Is. 40:13-17 “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor
has taught Him? 14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed
Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge,
And showed Him the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are as a
drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He
lifts up the isles as a very little thing… . 17 All nations before Him are as
nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.”
b. The Son is fully subject, delighting in doing the will of His Father, manifesting
His agreement with His plans through intercession and declarations (Heb.
10:5-10). He is the eternal Word of God made flesh (John 1: 1-3, 14).
Ps. 40:7-8 “Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of
me. 8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.”
c. The Holy Spirit (Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 5:6) is manifested in seven torches of fire that
move with power to execute the eternal plans of the Father, as proclaimed by
the Son and the saints under the authority of the Father.
Ap. 4:5 “…Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the
seven Spirits of God.”
CONCLUSION
In this last book of the Bible, John sees two kingdoms, each preceded by a
throne of judgment. From the first one of these thrones (4:2) are promulgated the
divine judgments that finally announce the Mediating Kingdom of Christ on earth for
a thousand years (20:6). From the second throne of judgment (20:11-15) come out
the final judgments that prepare the Universal Kingdom in its final form where the
only throne is the ‘of God and of the Lamb‘ forever and ever.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. After having reflected on this topic, explain in your words what the beauty of
God consists of and what it should provoke in you.
2. How do you think you can experience more of God’s beauty and what plan do
you have for you to experience it more?
3. What causes the authority of the Heavenly Father in you?

Other Sermons In This Series

Revelation 1:1

May 21, 2015

Revelation 1:4-8

April 19, 2018

Revelation 1:5b-8

April 19, 2018