Eternity at a Glance

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

This quote is taken out of the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation. There John sees a picture of the sovereign God enthroned in heaven as the One who has created all things. 

And around the throne of God, John sees the highest order of God’s creation in heaven, represented by the four living creatures; and the highest order of God’s creation on earth, represented by the twenty-four elders.

This is a scene in eternity past of the harmony that once existed between God and His creation before either were corrupted by rebellion and sin. This harmony is exemplified by His creation praising Him for His holiness and for Him creating. 

The original state of God’s creation whether in heaven or on earth was perfect and good and in complete harmony with God’s holiness.

Man could be in the presence of God, walking and talking without fear of wrath or judgment. Perfect fellowship with God, perfect transparent conversations with God. Perfect perception of what God was saying. And perfect doing of what God said to do.

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it....Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.” Gen‬ ‭2:15, 19‬ 

So the Four Living Beings representing that which God created in heaven sing,  

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

And the Twenty-Four elders representing  all God’s creation on earth before the fall, who though were not there at God’s original creation, but yet were there, present in the mind of God:

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love” Eph 1:4

So also, the Twenty-Four elders now representing God’s creation on earth sing, 

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”