READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l We often approach Revelation searching for answers to questions like: Who is the anti‑Christ? or What is the mark of the beast? John’s vision of the happenings in God’s throne room offers a more vital truth — a reality that transcends time: the unchallenged sovereignty of God, His way of victory through self-sacrifice, and the unceasing worship that surrounds His throne.
Who Reigns?
John’s original audience lived under the shadow of the Roman Empire, confronted daily with its imperial power and the emperor’s godlike status. Richard Bauckham describes Revelation as offering “Christian prophetic counter‑images” — reshaping the way believers see the world, replacing imperial propaganda with the true image of reality. (Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation)
In Revelation 4:6, John sees a ‘sea of glass, like crystal’ in front of the throne. This striking image holds great significance:
- The sea usually symbolized great chaos and the unknown: Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep’ (Genesis 1:2)
- In apocalyptic visions, monsters and oppressive powers emerged from the sea: Four great beasts… came up out of the sea (Daniel 7:3)
But here, the waters are tamed, still like glass. This recalls the Gospels’ account of Jesus calming the storm — a demonstration that He holds authority even over the most chaotic forces. The message is clear: God’s throne is absolute and unchallenged.
Yet, we often place too much emphasis on world powers and governments, expressing fears over wars, impact of regimes on economies. We place optimism on certain governments that we deem stable and good. In Singapore, we rest in the assurance that we have a wise government (and we do!), believing that this guarantees our survival. Such hope is ultimately misplaced.
History shows that every human empire declines. J.B. Glubb’s study The Fate of Empires outlines seven recurring stages over 3,000 years:
- Age of Pioneers
- Age of Expansion/Conquests
- Age of Commerce
- Age of Affluence
- Age of Intellect
- Age of Decadence
- Age of Decline
Only God’s reign is truly eternal. Even the twenty‑four elders wearing golden crowns (Revelation 4:4) reign only because God shares His authority with His people. Human rule is always derivative, never ultimate.
Let us decide: Which kingdom will we belong to?
Who Conquers?
The Greek word ‘nikao’ (“to conquer”) has a strong connotation of military might and appears repeatedly in Revelation’s letters to the 7 churches (Rev 2-3). However, the Conqueror revealed in Revelation is completely unlike the conquerors that Revelation readers would be familiar with.
“Then one of the elders said to me, “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain…” (Rev 5:5-6)
God’s way to victory is through self-sacrifice, not self-promotion or oppression. Rev 12:11 describes God’s people conquering “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
Who Sings?
Revelation is a book of worship and praise!
In John’s vision, the worship of God is unending and constant.
Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev 4:8)
This ongoing chorus is seen throughout Revelation (Rev 4:8-11, 9-13).
The message is simple: Worship happens not because humans are present but because God is. When we worship, we take our rightful place in the created order, with God at the very center of our lives.
(Sermon notes by Stella Chiam)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- The theme of worship and singing is not one we immediately associate with the Book of Revelation, yet it is a major theme. Besides Chapters 4-5, where else does worship and singing appear in Revelation? What is the context for each?
- Read Revelation 20:4. What are the characteristics of those who are resurrected and reign with Christ? Keeping in mind that the Israelites were to have the Torah on their hands and foreheads (Deut 6:6-8, 11:18; Exodus 13:9), what does this tell you about one’s devotion through worship and word?
- The Greek word, ‘nikao’ means ‘to conquer’. In the context of the Roman Empire of John’s writing, it was closely associated with military might. But even though John hears “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered” (5:5), he sees “a lamb standing as if it had been butchered” (5:6) John is intentionally redefining what it means to ‘nikao’.
- a. Read Revelation 7:1-17. Again, John hears about a military census (cf. Numbers 1) of the 144,000 , but what he sees is a great multitude that proclaim the butchered lamb as king (7:9) and who have come out of the great ordeal with their robes washed in the blood of the lamb (7:14).
- b. How does Revelation invert our understanding of what it means to ‘conquer’?
- a. Read Revelation 7:1-17. Again, John hears about a military census (cf. Numbers 1) of the 144,000 , but what he sees is a great multitude that proclaim the butchered lamb as king (7:9) and who have come out of the great ordeal with their robes washed in the blood of the lamb (7:14).
- What demands most of your attention and commitment in your life right now? What do you give ultimate significance to in life? Why?
- a. Do your commitments fall in line with the worship of the lamb? Or the worship of the powers of the age?
- What is one way that God is calling you to live counter-culturally? What are your struggles in living that out?
