Builders, welcome to 2008! I hope and trust that the Christmas holiday gave you some time to contemplate the great mystery of the God-man, Jesus, and His incarnation on our planet.

After taking a brief hiatus from our trek through Revelation, we’re ready to pick up where we left off working through John’s apocalyptic book. The letters to the churches were relatively easy to understand; from here on out, things get progressively stranger. We see beasts, a dragon, a prostitute, the Lamb, a serpent, three frog-like evil spirits, 7 seals, 7 bowls of the wrath of God, 7 trumpets, and four creatures resembling earthly creatures but with 6 wings and eyes all around and inside. What a story!

This week, we’ll start unraveling the remainder of John’s tapestry in Revelation 4. In this chapter, we enter the very throne room of Almighty God and see some very curious sights. I encourage everyone to take some time to read this chapter several times through before we gather on Sunday. In fact, I suggest that we read all of Revelation (preferably in one sitting) to gain a better understanding of why this scene is included where it is in the vision. Below are a couple of points to ponder and perhaps guide your thinking. By the way, there’s extra credit if you read Isaiah 6 and compare and contrast.

• What is the focal point of the throne room?
• How can the 24 elders sit in a room with the King and have crowns on their heads as well? Does God share His authority?
• What is the point of revering God as “holy, holy, holy”?
• What is the heavenly response to God’s revealed holiness?
• What is your response to God’s holiness?