Praise to the Almighty, the King of Creation

Adrian Rogers called the four living creatures “God’s cheerleaders!” While the meaning of their appearance may be unclear, their activity is not. “Day and night they never stop.” These angels never sleep. And what is their message, their chant, their song? Echoing the words of Isaiah 6, they say,

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God, the Almighty,

Who was, who is, and who is coming.

I appreciate the insights of Alan Johnson on this verse:

The four living creatures ceaselessly proclaim the holiness of God: “Holy, holy, holy” (cf. Isa. 6:3). In Hebrew, the double repetition of a word adds emphasis, while the rare threefold repetition designates the superlative and calls attention to the infinite holiness of God—the quality of God felt by creatures in his presence as awesomeness or fearfulness (cf. Ps. 111:9: “Holy and awesome is his name”). The living creatures celebrate God’s holiness and power as manifested in his past, present, and future activity. Such holiness cannot tolerate the presence of evil (21:27). . . . This hymn is the first not only of the five sung by the heavenly choirs in chs. 4–5 but also of a number of others in Revelation (4:8,11; 5:9-10,12,13; 7:12,15-17; 11:15,17-18; 12:10-12; 15:3-4; 16:5-7; 18:2-8; 19:2-6). These hymns relate to the interpretation of the visions and provide a clue to the literary structure of Revelation. In these two chapters, the sequence of hymns shows that the first two are addressed to God, the next two to the Lamb, and the last one to both (“Revelation,” 2006, 642).

Yes, His creature continually and forever tells of His holiness.

REVELATION 4:9-11

Our King is the “Lord God, the Almighty,” a title found 10 times in our New Testament, nine in Revelation (see 2 Cor 6:18). He is possessed of unlimited power and might. He is the great “I AM” of Exodus 3:14, the One “who was, who is, and who is coming.” Indeed, “The future is characterized by His coming” (Beasley-Murray, Revelation, 118). Because our God is eternal, infinite, and omnipotent, the worshiping creatures in heaven acknowledge that their existence and being are completely dependent on the One who sits on the throne in heaven. In witness and word they testify to His greatness, to His worthiness. Wonderfully, we can join them in their worship.

Whenever the living creatures “give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne,” which is always and forever, the redeemed (the 24 elders) worship! And how do they worship? They fall down and cast their crowns before the throne. What He gave they joyfully give back. They acknowledge that all they have is His gift to them. They did not earn it. They did not merit it. Nothing they have would they withhold from the One on the throne who is majestic, awesome, and holy.

This brings deep conviction and raises a question: Am I withholding anything from my God, even good things? Money? Time? Mind? Service? Heart? Chuck Swindoll is right: “We miss it when our focus becomes horizontal—riveted on people and things—rather than vertical—centered on God and God alone” (Insights, 98).

Our passage ends with a glorious and majestic hymn praising God as the Creator. Falling down and casting their crowns before the throne in worship, the 24 elders now sing to our Almighty Creator: “Our Lord and God, You are worthy.” Mounce notes:

the first words of the hymn are taken from the political language of the day: “You are worthy” greeted the entrance of the emperor in triumphal procession, and “our Lord and God” was introduced into the cult of emperor worship by Domitian. For the Christian only the One who sits on the heavenly throne is worthy: the claims of all others are blasphemous. (Revelation, 127)

This singularly worthy One is worthy to receive glory (Gk doxa), honor (Gk timen), and power (Gk dunamin). Why? First, “because You have created all things.” Only God is eternal; the universe is not. Only God is eternal; matter is not. This God spoke into existence all that exist (Gen 1). Second, He is worthy “because of [His] will they exist and were created.” God willed it and creation happened. God wills it and creation continues. Had He not willed it there would be nothing. If He does not continue to will it, there will be nothing. You are still here because He willed it. Adrian Rogers is right: “If you woke up this morning and you are still here, then God still has a plan for your life.” That alone is worth praising Him for!

Written in 1826 for Trinity Sunday by Reginald Heber (1783–1826), a bishop in the Church of England, the hymn finds its inspiration in REVELATION 4:1-11. Its title: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,” and its words provide a fitting conclusion to this chapter:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,

casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,

which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,

though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,

perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,

God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

A. W. Tozer said worship is “the missing jewel in modern evangelicalism” (Swindoll, Discoveries, 29). Might a glimpse of the God of Revelation 4 help us rediscover that jewel?