Revelation: He Who Lives Forever

Revelation: Justification by Faith

He Who Lives Forever

Revelation 4:8
And the four living creatures, each of them having six wings, were full of eyes all around and within. They had no rest day or night, saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 “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.”

This is how God is praised in His temple.
He receives all glory and power and is described as the Eternal Almighty.
A similar kind of homage in similar words is only found again in Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a dream in Daniel 4.
Daniel gave the interpretation of the dream:

Daniel 4:19
Then Daniel—whose name was Belteshazzar—was astonished for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation your enemies.
20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and was visible to all the earth,
21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the air had their nests—
22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. For your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’—
24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
25 They shall drive you from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall feed you grass like oxen, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven. Seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will.
26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you after you come to know that Heaven rules.
27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

From a worldly perspective, Nebuchadnezzar had every reason to be proud. He had a mighty kingdom over which he reigned, and nothing seemed able to stand against him.
He was that golden head of Daniel 2, and it was difficult for him to understand that even his kingdom must fall.
Despite the dream, he once again fell into pride:

Daniel 4:29
At the end of twelve months, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
30 the king said, “Is this not great Babylon, which I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
32 And you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He will.”
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men, ate grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

But after this humiliation, we find one of the most remarkable conversions in the entire Bible. Rarely do we see such a great man of the world truly repent.
But it was preceded by great humiliation. This is what happened:

Daniel 4:34
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing;
He does according to His will among the host of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth;
And none can stay His hand
Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and the glory of my kingdom, my majesty, and splendor were restored to me. My counselors and nobles sought me out, and I was reestablished in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.

Here we find the same kind of homage as the four living creatures and the elders give in heaven.
On earth, it echoes here in Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon. He acknowledged God and was humbled. And even after his restoration, Nebuchadnezzar still praises this King of Heaven, who deposes kings and raises them up.
This is the throne we are talking about.