Revelation 4



Revelation 4

Revelation 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10,11,12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

  • A trumpet talking with me = The voice of God
  • John is actually right there on the threshold of heaven.
  • We know when the last trump sounds, this is The Lord Day
  • We know John was taken to that day = The Millennium
  • John is going to be shown, not only what will happen, but what does happen until that time

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

  • The one that sat on the throne was the Living God
  • Psalms 103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
  • Psalms 9:1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works
  • Ezekiel tells us about the same throne of God, Ezekiel 1

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

  • The sight which John saw of the precious stones and the rainbow, no doubt, was the Shekinah Glory of God.
  • It is difficult for us to imagine at this time, just what His appearance is, but we know from John's description it is spectacular.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

  • Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
    Revelation 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
    8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

  • What are theses thundering and voices?
  • Revelation 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
  • Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
  • Seven Lamps = Seven Spirits of God = God's very elect
  • Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

  • The word crystal means absolute purity
  • The Greek word used here for "beast" is "zoon" - meaning living ones or creatures
  • They are not angels or men
  • Their sole task is to love God and guard the throne
  • They are always present when the throne is mentioned
  • They cannot be swayed away from their master by choice, even their own
  • They have been set there as protectors of the throne
  • This beast (zoon) is different from the satanic or serpentine beast (there on, meaning venomous beast) which is used through out the rest of Revelation as kingdoms and kings.
  • Look and see how many times the definition of ''a living creatures'' has been translated into the English word ''beast'' when it only means a living creature.
  • These four ''beast'' were with God from the beginning.
  • They are referred to in Genesis as cherubim (Hebrew word Kerub).
  • They were part of the cherubim that were placed in the garden to protect the tree of life (Christ) and to keep man from partaking of it at that particular time
  • Which would have given man eternal life in the state of sin even in the garden
  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

  • Beast here are living ones or living creatures "verse 6"
  • Where the encampment of Israel is set forth
  • Numbers 2:2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
  • Numbers 2:8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
    9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
    10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
    11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
  • The lion is Judah, which is always on the east
  • Reuben is on the south, is the man
  • Ephraim, on the west, is the ox
  • Dan, on the north, is the eagle
  • So here is the throne of God in the midst of Israel
  • He is talking about the house of Israel and Judah

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

  • They were all knowing and all seeing
  • They were sensitive to all things that went on around the throne
  • Ezekiel 1:8 speaks of the same creatures
  • Ezekiel 1:8 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
  • They were on the flying wheels described by Ezekiel
  • To whom do the creatures refer when calling "Holy, Holy, Holy"? Our Living God
  • We continually see these four creatures in His presence, paying homage day and night to our Father.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

  • They cast their crowns before the throne, because the power which comes from the throne allows them to wear the crowns.

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

  • All things were created specifically for God's pleasure.
  • He alone is counted worthy to receive honor, glory and power, because in Him alone resides the power to create.
  • The glory, The honour, The power
 





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