Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.

There are times when Scripture doesn’t just tell us about God, it lets us see Him. Revelation 4 is one of those moments. John isn’t describing a symbol or a parable here. He’s describing reality. He’s been invited into the throne room of heaven to witness what’s happening around God’s presence right now.

It’s hard to picture, isn’t it? The colors, the sounds, the movement. It’s a scene that stretches our imagination to the limit. Yet what stands out most isn’t necessarily the mystery of it all, but the worship that fills the room. The closer anyone gets to God, the more worship naturally overflows from them.

This passage isn’t just meant to inform us about heaven. It’s meant to transform how we think about worship, purpose, and the glory of Jesus Christ. The vision John saw wasn’t meant to stay locked in the pages of Revelation. It’s meant to awaken our hearts to the same reality right now, that God reigns, and that all of creation exists to honor Him.

Let’s take a closer look at this breathtaking picture and see how it points us to Jesus, the One who holds all things together and who alone is worthy of all praise.

The Four Living Creatures: Reflections of God’s Glory

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. (Revelation 4:6b-7)

John describes “four living creatures” surrounding the throne. Their description immediately reminds us of the heavenly beings seen by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:4–14) and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1–4). These beings symbolize the fullness of creation, worshiping its Maker.

It’s been said that the lion represents strength and power. The ox represents service and endurance. The man represents wisdom and reason. The eagle represents majesty and swiftness. Together, they reflect every realm of life on earth, including wild animals, domestic animals, humanity, and the creatures of the sky.

These beings are “full of eyes in front and behind.” That detail may sound strange, but it shows us something consequential. They see. They perceive. They are aware of the holiness of God in a way that nothing escapes their notice. Because they see Him clearly, they never stop worshiping.

That’s an important truth for us too. Worship flows from what the Lord allows us to see, perceive, and value. When our eyes are open to the glory of God, worship isn’t forced or formal. It becomes natural. The more clearly we see God’s goodness, His holiness, and His love, the more our hearts want to respond.

The problem we wrestle with is that sin is blinding. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers” so they can’t see “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” Sin clouds our spiritual vision. It keeps us from seeing what’s right in front of us, specifically the majesty of our Creator.

That’s why Jesus came. He didn’t just come to forgive sin. He came to give sight to the blind. Every time He healed physical blindness in the Gospels, it pointed to the deeper miracle of spiritual sight. Through Jesus, we can finally see God for who He is, and when we do, worship becomes our first and lasting response.

“Holy, Holy, Holy”: The Eternal Song

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, 'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!'  (Revelation 4:8)

John writes that these creatures “never cease to say, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’”

This is heaven’s soundtrack. It has no intermission, no pause, no ending. The holiness of God is their endless meditation and their constant joy.

This threefold declaration, “holy, holy, holy,” should remind us of Isaiah 6:2-3. In Hebrew thought, repetition expressed intensity. To say something three times is to express it in its absolute perfection. God’s holiness isn’t partial or situational. It’s complete and eternal.

Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”  (Isaiah 6:2-3)

Holiness means God is utterly pure, completely righteous, and entirely distinct from His creation. It also means He’s perfectly good and full of beauty. When the creatures cry out “holy,” they aren’t only describing His moral perfection but also celebrating His unmatched splendor.

Here’s what’s amazing: the same holiness that causes heaven’s beings to worship is the very quality that once separated us from God. But now, through Jesus, that barrier has been removed. Hebrews 10:19–22 tells us we can “enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.” The holiness that once condemned us now welcomes us.

So when we join in heaven’s song, we aren't outsiders looking in. We’re invited participants. Jesus has made a way for us to stand in the very presence of the One who is “holy, holy, holy.”

When you really grasp that, worship becomes personal. It isn’t a ritual. It’s a response to grace.

The Response of the Elders: Casting Their Crowns

“And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 'Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.'"  (Revelation 4:9-11)

John then describes twenty-four elders who fall down before God’s throne and cast their crowns before Him. Their actions are simple, but they’re also symbolic.

The crowns they possess represent victory, reward, and honor. These elders have been given authority and glory, but when they stand before God, they willingly lay it all down. They know everything they have came from Him in the first place.

That’s what true worship does. It humbles us. It reminds us that even our greatest accomplishments, our talents, and our victories are all gifts from God’s hand. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

The elders don’t cling to their crowns. They cast them down. It’s an act of surrender and gratitude. They’re saying, “Everything we’ve received belongs to You.”

We’re called to do the same. When we worship, we lay our pride, our possessions, our ambitions, and our plans before the Lord. We give Him the glory for every good thing in our lives.

And as the elders fall before the throne, they cry out, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.”

That’s not a statement of obligation. It’s an expression of joy. They’ve seen the glory of God, and the only fitting response is praise.

“For You Created All Things”

Their worship continues, “For you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

The elders root their praise in God’s identity as Creator. Everything exists because of His will. The universe didn’t come into being by accident or chance. It was born from the intentional word and purpose of God.

Genesis 1 tells us that God spoke, and creation responded. Psalm 33:9 says, “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” Everything that exists does so because God wanted it to.

That includes you. You are not an afterthought or an accident. You’re part of the will and design of a God who made you for His glory. Psalm 139:13–14 says, “You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

You were created to reflect the glory of the One who sits on the throne. Your purpose isn’t self-made. It’s God-given. And when you begin to live for His glory instead of your own, life finally starts to make sense.

Colossians 1:16–17 reminds us that Jesus Himself is the Creator: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth... all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Everything begins and ends with Christ. He made it, He sustains it, and He’s redeeming it.

Living with Heaven in View

It’s easy to read Revelation and think it’s describing a distant future, but the worship in this passage isn’t waiting for a later day. It’s happening right now. Heaven is filled with the sound of praise at this very moment.

And the beauty of the gospel is that we’re invited to join in. We may not see the throne with our physical eyes yet, but we can live our lives in alignment with that reality.

When you choose to thank God instead of complaining, you’re joining the song of heaven. When you forgive, when you serve, when you trust God in uncertainty, you’re echoing the worship of the elders and the living creatures.

Every act of faithfulness is a way of casting your crown before the throne. Every prayer whispered in gratitude is a note of that same heavenly song.

This perspective changes everything. It reminds us that our lives aren’t about building our own little kingdoms (something I've seen far too many Christians attempt to do). Our lives about bringing glory to the King who reigns forever.

Seeing Jesus at the Center

Revelation 4 naturally leads into Revelation 5, where the focus shifts to the Lamb who was slain. The connection is intentional. 

Heaven’s worship always centers on Jesus. He’s the Creator, the Redeemer, and the rightful King of all. He’s the holy God who became human, the eternal Word who entered His own creation to rescue it.

When the elders declare that God is “worthy,” they’re also declaring the worthiness of Christ.

This is why the gospel is the heartbeat of Revelation. Everything that happens, from judgment to renewal, flows from the victory of the Lamb.

Final thoughts...

If worship sometimes feels distant or difficult, this passage offers hope. Worship isn’t about trying to stir up emotion. It’s about seeing God clearly. The clearer you see Him, the more your heart will respond.

When you realize that the same God who reigns in heaven also reigns in your life, gratitude begins to rise. When you remember that He created you intentionally and redeemed you at great cost, your heart finds its song again.

And one day, you’ll stand before that throne, surrounded by all who’ve been redeemed, joining the song that never ends. You’ll cast your crown before His feet and say, “Worthy are you, my Lord and God.”

Until that day comes, let’s live in rhythm with heaven’s worship. Let’s fix our eyes on the throne, trust Jesus, and live each day as an offering of praise to the One who was, who is, and who is to come.

He is worthy.

© John Stange, 2025