PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE SERMON BY LOOKING THROUGH THESE SUGGESTIONS THAT WILL ASSIST YOU IN MAKING THE MOST OF OUR TIME TOGETHER HEARING GOD'S WORD.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read Revelation 4:1-6.
• What are “these things” which are referenced in verse one?
• What two things does John see according to verse 1?
• How is the voice that John hears described?
• What does the voice say?
• What does John see when he is in the Spirit?
• Who is sitting on the throne?
• Is there significance to the description of the throne in verse 3? Compare to Revelation 21:11-20 and Ezekiel 1:26-28? How do these other passages in their context help understand the meaning of this description?
• Who are these sitting on the thrones around the main throne? What do we know about them? Read Matthew 19:28; Rev. 4:10, 5:8-10,14, 19:4. Consider also Rev. 2:26-27, and Luke 22:30. Justify your answer.
• There are also four creatures described in verse 6. What descriptions are given to these? What is the identity of these creatures? Compare Rev. 4:6-8, Ez. 1:4-14, Is. 6:1-3.

Prayerfully Meditate

• What is the significance to the attire of those sitting on these other thrones? Consider Rev. 2:10 and James 1:12. Also consider, Rev. 3:4-5 and 19:8.
• How is God’s kindness evident in His revelation of “what must take place after these things?” List several ways.
• How is “after these things” used as a transition phrase in the book of revelation? Look for other times this phrase (or similar phrases) is used and list them out. What might be the significance of this transition here?
• Summarize the main idea of this passage in 21 words or less? Justify your answer.