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a Christo-centric future

Revelation 4:1-11

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and noticed in the sky was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Revelation 4:2 Immediately I was in the Breath, and noticed a throne in the sky and someone was seated on it.
Revelation 4:3 The one seated there looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like emerald surrounded the throne.
Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.
Revelation 4:5 Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven breaths of God.
Revelation 4:6 Something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal, was also before the throne. Four animals covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side.
Revelation 4:7 The first animal was like a lion; the second animal was like an ox; the third animal had a face like a human; and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:8 Each of the four animals had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Sacred, sacred, sacred, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the animals give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives for ages and ages,
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives for ages and ages. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
Revelation 4:11 Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your desire they exist and were created.

a Christo-centric future

John’s picture of the future continues with a picture of the redeemed universe. He sees…

24 elders on 24 thrones that make a circle around the perimeter of the scene. The represent redeemed humanity of all time.

Forming a smaller circle around the throne in the center are the four animals. They represent – wait for it – all the animals of the future. They have both diversity and unity. The unity is focused on the final element of the scene.

In the center of the universe of the future is Christ on his throne. He will be eternally praised because he both created all things and brought redemption.

LORD, you are the center of the universe. May we so live as to witness to that reality to a world that has forgotten it.