在一个水深火热的大危机时期，使徒约翰写这封信给小亚细亚的教会，针对第一世纪的基督徒，迫害大大加增严峻情况。
约翰因为拒绝敬拜罗马皇帝，被放逐到拔摩岛上。他是从那里发出这封信，描述了从神而来的异象。他挑战他的读者们看到，他们正在忍受的一切迫害，不过是主再来时那欢欣庆祝的前奏。
我们也必须透过信心看待今天世界上发生的事。透过信心，我们看到神的国已经来到了，因为耶稣已经来到了。透过信心，我们可以每天都喜乐地事奉神。
约翰邀请我们以歌唱来敬拜神，连同宝座周围的四活物一起说：“圣哉！圣哉！圣哉！主 神是昔在、今在、以后永在的全能者。”
每当我们敬拜神，我们都受邀与这些活物一起歌唱说：我们的神是永恒的，祂全然圣洁。无论我们处在生命的哪个季节，又或者我们的环境如何，无论这世界看似能翻云覆雨的人物有哪些，我们都可以歌唱：“我们的神作王！祂执掌王权！”因着耶稣，我们今天就可以喜乐地就近祂的施恩宝座来敬拜祂。
全能的神啊，祢是圣洁的！我们在祢面前跪拜，因祢是那位昔在、今在、永在的神。我们感谢祢，我们世世代代都在祢的掌管之中。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
启示录 4:1-8
1此后，我观看，见天上有门开了。我初次听见好像吹号的声音，对我说：“你上到这里来，我要将以后必成的事指示你。”
2我立刻被圣灵感动，见有一个宝座安置在天上，又有一位坐在宝座上。
3看那坐着的，好像碧玉和红宝石；又有虹围着宝座，好像绿宝石。
4宝座的周围又有二十四个座位；其上坐着二十四位长老，身穿白衣，头上戴着金冠冕。
5有闪电、声音、雷轰从宝座中发出；又有七盏火灯在宝座前点着；这七灯就是神的七灵。
6宝座前好像一个玻璃海，如同水晶。 宝座中和宝座周围有四个活物，前后遍体都满了眼睛。
7第一个活物像狮子，第二个像牛犊，第三个脸面像人，第四个像飞鹰。
8四活物各有六个翅膀，遍体内外都满了眼睛。他们昼夜不住地说： 圣哉！圣哉！圣哉！ 主神是昔在、今在、 以后永在的全能者。
"Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.'" — Revelation 4:8
The apostle John wrote this letter to the churches in Asia Minor in a time of great crisis. Persecution had greatly increased among first-century Christians.
John was banished to the island of Patmos for refusing to worship the Roman emperor as Lord. From there he sent this letter describing a vision from God. He challenged his readers to see that what they were experiencing was a prelude to the joyful celebration that would take place when the Lord returns.
By faith we too must see what is going on in the world. By faith we must see that the kingdom of God has come because Jesus has come. By faith we can serve him with joy every day.
John invites us to worship God in song, joining with the four living creatures near the throne, saying, "'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come."
Whenever we worship God, we are invited to sing with these creatures that our God is eternal and absolutely pure. No matter what season of life we are in, or what our circumstances may be, and no matter who the shakers and movers in our world appear to be, we too can sing, "Our God reigns! He is in control!" Because of Jesus we may joyfully approach his throne and worship him today.
You are holy, Lord God Almighty. We bow before you, the one who was and is and is to come. We thank you that our times are in your hands. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
