Revelation 4–5 is full of perplexing imagery, as is much of the rest of the book.

One seated on a throne with the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. Do I even know what jasper and carnelian stones are?

A rainbow with the appearance of an emerald. Green, right?

Twenty-four elders. Who are they?

Thunder, lightning, and torches. OK, this I get, especially from my time living in Florida.

But dont’ even get me started on the four living creatures. What in the world?

So Many Questions

If you are like me, you likely have just as many questions about these two chapters, and our kids will too. So what do we do? Do we walk through these chapters and try to make sense of each object? We could. And that would be meaningful—each is there for a reason. But, is that really what our kids need most? Is it that what we need most? I don’t think so.

One Big Answer

Instead, perhaps it would be best for us to zoom out and look at this picture as a whole. I’m not an art person, but I do know that there is great value at leaning in really close to admire a painting’s brush strokes. But if that is all we ever looked at, we would miss what it is all about, right? We need to also step back and look at the painting as a whole. I suggest we need to do the same with Revelation 4–5.

What is it that we see when we stand back? Well, maybe it is better to ask what we feel when we do. The answer is awe. At least it should be. Awe is the desired effect of Revelation 4–5. Imagine John as he stood there that day. What do you suspect he felt? I imagine awe. And in these chapters, John invites us to step into that awe. Every image is his attempt to capture the majesty of the scene that unfolded before him. The images he used are not as important as what he wanted those images to convey. Power. Authority. Beauty. Splendor. Awe.

This week, be sure that you give your opportunity to stand in awe of God. If they leave wondering first and foremost who the twenty-four elders were, they will have missed the awe of the One those twenty-four elders worshiped.

Who is this, both lamb and lion? He endured death as a lamb; he devoured it as a lion. Who is this, both lamb and lion? Gentle and strong, lovable and terrifying, innocent and mighty, silent when he was being judged, roaring when he comes to judge.”  — Augustine (354-430)

Augustine, Sermon 375a.1, quoted in Revelation, ed. William C. Weinrich, vol. XII in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament(Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2001) [Logos].

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