(Chapter 4)

Some, in all sincerity; would state that chapter 4 opens up with a vision of the Rapture. That John being caught up into Heaven - is symbolic of the church being caught up to God. The rapture is visible in several places in Revelation - but not in chapter four. When John is requested to “Come up here . . .” to see what must take place; he is being ushered into Heaven by the Spirit of God - so that he may view the physical from a spiritual view. No different really than Isaiah or Paul; and their being before God.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings . . . And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand . . . (Isaiah 6:1 - 6)

. . . I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know - God knows. And I know that this man - whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. (2Corinthians 12:1 - 4)

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:55 - 56)

John is caught up to Heaven - so that he may be shown what must take place after this . . . The promise of this prophecy - is to reveal the future. Jesus has discussed the essential and various elements of Christianity; and the numerous foibles which so easily entangle each and every one of us - in this glorious walk with Him. Now - He is about to start revealing the very end times. To do so - John must be in Heaven - so that John can be shown an extremely vivid and accurate future . . .

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. . . . (Rev 4:1)

The open door is Jesus - providing entrance to John.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved . . . (John 10:9)

. . . And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Rev 4:1)

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place . . . (Rev 1:1)

John is now directly transported by the Spirit to Heaven, where he sees a throne with Jesus sitting on it . . .

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. (Rev 4:2 - 3)

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. (2Kimgs 2:11)

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away . . . Philip, however, appeared at Azotus . . . (Acts 8:39 - 40)

We then have a description of this small portion of Heaven; and what John initially sees . . . In my consideration - this initial description - is not necessary for an understanding of what Revelation teaches; with regards to end times. And the distress and actions ushering in the events which must take place - before Jesus assumes His rightful place as Ruler of all. However, God has included this description - so I will briefly discuss some parts of it. But I have a tremendous tendency to mostly gloss over chapter four, and the description herein.

I mean, we are describing the FANTASTIC. Would you rather that it stated the following:

A voice said: “Come up here.” So, I allowed God to take me to his dwelling place. There, in heaven, I found myself in a dull, drab room. Sort of an olive green color. A dusty, obviously not sat in much - throne occupied a small portion of said musty room. Seen one throne, seen them all - I always say . . . So there was this dusty old throne, and a guy seated himself on it. And it was really dark; and I asked if he couldn’t have bothered to put in some windows . . . to let in some light . . .

People get so caught up in the tiniest minutiae, they easily forget the focus of this prophecy.

. . . “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1Corinthians 2:9 - 10)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:11 - 12)

As long as I exist in a ‘tent’ or a body which experiences pain & decay; as long as I myself am not perfect, and sin - yelling at my wife for the most insane trivial nonsense - as long as I am not BEFORE HIM - I will have a really, really hard time understanding what Heaven is like . . . Heaven and GOD are incalculable. A description beyond words . . .

Revelation, chapter four - opens with a sliver; the tiniest, tiniest bit of a description of an extremely small portion of Heaven! My viewpoint on this is: WOW. AMAZING. WOW. ALL THIS, AND MORE - IS FOR ME??!! GOD, HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO KNOW YOU. HOW AWESOME IT IS THAT YOU LOVE ME. Me, a broken person, full of hurt and anger; and yet GOD, the CREATOR of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE - LOVES and cares DEEPLY - for this insignificant person... WOW. THANK YOU GOD AND LORD!!

And so John finds himself in Heaven, before a throne with Jesus seated on it; and Jesus has ushered in a new covenant for us. A covenant where we have FREE access into Heaven - without any sin between us and God - totally because of Jesus’ actions; and His immense Love for His people. And since Jesus ushered in the final covenant between God and man - (and because Heaven is a totally blinding place); we have a Rainbow encircling the throne of God. A rainbow is the quasi-essential reminder of one of the first covenants between God and man.

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (Genesis 9:13 - 16)

Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown . . . (Ezekiel 1:28)

And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. (Rev 4:3)

Then we have the twenty-four elders; seated on thrones; with crowns of gold on their heads. The elders are priests, and possibly (could/may) represent the Bride of Christ, seated around their Husband and Lord. We are seated with Christ in Heavenly places, and Christ lets us sit with Him on His throne; and He is seated on God’s throne... So do with this what you may... I’m not wrapped around the axle about it. You can (if you want) read about the twenty-four courses of Priests who ministered in the temple of God - in 1^st Chronicles chapter 24. The entire chapter - of chapter 24 - deals with the twenty-four courses of priests . . .

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. (Rev 4:4)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. (Matthew 25:31)

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64)

. . . heaven . . . is God’s throne; (Matthew 5:34)

And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:29 - 30)

. . . heaven . . . God’s throne . . . (Matthew 23:22)

which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:20 - 21)

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:6)

We continue with more descriptions of the power of God. Have you ever been up close to a LIGHTNING strike? Do you realize that ONE average bolt of lightning discharges well over 100 million volts of electricity, with peak currents on the order of 20,000 amperes; and heats the air in its path to over 60,000 °F (33,000 °C)? One bolt from cloud to ground can be 9 MILES long (14 km) and a flash that travels through clouds side by side may be more than 90 miles (140 km) long. The entire process is very rapid; the leader stroke reaches the juncture point or the ground in about 20 milliseconds, and the return stroke reaches the cloud in about 70 microseconds . . . [electronic (cd) sources: 1999 World Book Deluxe & Britannica 2002 Deluxe] And more energy in that one tiny bit of time - than man can hardly comprehend or have any idea of how to harness or control . .  Flashes of lightning; and rumblings of thunder . . . (POWER; AUTHORITY; JUDGEMENT.)

Now Joseph A. Seiss; [1823 - 1904] who wrote THE APOCALYPSE; AN EXPOSITION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION stated the following with regards to the above verses . . .

["And a rainbow encircled the throne, in appearance like to an emerald." The rainbow is one of the most beautiful and majestic of earthly appearances. It is the token of God's covenant with all flesh, never again to destroy the earth or its inhabitants, as in the flood (Gen 9:11,17). Encircling this throne, the intimation is, that, although a throne of judgment, it is not a throne of destruction, but one of conservation, which bears with it the remembrance and the stability of the ancient promise. From what the apostle subsequently saw go forth from this throne, and the shakings and overturnings in heaven and earth of which it was to be the source and means, fears might naturally arise as to the continuity of the earth as an organized structure for the habitation of God's creatures. But this rainbow around the throne forever scatters such apprehensions . . .

"And out of the throne go forth lightnings, and voices, and thunders." These demonstrate that the throne is one of judgment, and that wrath is about to proceed from it. When God was about to visit Egypt's sins upon her, He "sent thunder (in Hebrew, 'voices'), and hail, and fire ran along upon the ground." And Pharaoh sent and said, "Intreat the Lord that there be no more voices of God" (Ex 9:23,28). When He wished to show Israel the terribleness of His anger with sin, "there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud" (Ex 19:16). When He sent forth His wrath upon the Philistines, "the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them, and they were smitten before Israel" (1 Sam 7:10). So also was His displeasure expressed at Israel's demand for a king. Samuel said, "The Lord shall send thunder and rain in wheat-harvest, that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king. And the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared" (1 Sam 12:17-18). These instances show us, that this is not a throne of grace, but a throne of judgment. These lightnings, thunders, and voices, proceeding from it, tell of justice and wrath to be visited upon transgressors . . .]

I appreciate some of his insights on Revelation, and thought I would share the above.

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. (Rev 4:5)

. . . Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, (Rev 1:4)

. . . These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars . . . (Rev 3:1)

. . . He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Rev 5:6)

the seven lampstands are the seven churches (Rev 1:20)

We repeat the number seven - which with God signifies immense completeness and perfection. So, we have the seven ‘aspects’ of God; just after God has finished giving the seven ‘Churches’ instructions, rebukes, and encouragement. The ‘Churches’ are His church... they form one body; and Jesus is stated to be the Head of His church . . . (Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Colossians 1:18)

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col 1:18)

Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. . . . (Rev 4:6)

No significant comment on 4:6. Possibly the sea of glass represents redeemed saints; who no longer have any darkness or even a hint of sin, and are totally perfect and consequently; clear as crystal.

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb . . . (Rev 15:2 - 3)

Mixed with fire would be the refining which occurred as a result of overcoming the tribulation, and being victorious over the beast.

. . .The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. (Rev 17:15)

This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold . . . (Zechariah 13:9)

. . . you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine . . . (1Peter 1:6 - 7)

The bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining goes on in vain; the wicked are not purged out. (Jeremiah 6:29)

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore . . . (Genesis 22:17)

Oh, the raging of many nations - they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples - they roar like the roaring of great waters! (Isaiah 17:12)

Continuing . . .

. . . In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings . . . (Rev 4:6 - 8)

I believe the four living creatures represent additional aspects of God. They are around kuvklw/ (all around, in a circle, surrounding) the throne of God. Whether they do or not, does not affect the basic interpretation and understanding of this prophecy given to us - by Jesus. Some believe the four ‘creatures’ to be redeemed men. Because the King James translation of chapter five states:

. . . for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood . . . (Rev 5:9 KJV)

The Greek word translated above as ‘us’ does not exist in the Greek text. The meaning was assumed by the King James translators. Same for the New International - using the word ‘men’.

. . . because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God . . . (Rev 5:9)

The assumed word men, and the subsequent sentence structure, does not indicate the four creatures or ‘beasts’ to be redeemed saints. Possibly they are - but I don’t think so . . .

I believe the four living creatures represent additional aspects of God. They are around kuvklw/ (all around, in a circle, surrounding) the throne of God. They are like o{moion (like, similar, of a same or similar nature or quality) a Lion, an Ox, a Man, and an Eagle. All four creatures are covered in eyes. Front and back; and covered in eyes all around - even under their wings. Eyes with which to see. It is well known that man is made in the image of God. And Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. And that God sees everything man does - and discerns the intent of his heart.

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8)

The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him . . . (2 Chronicles 16:9)

However - God also references his strength to be like that of the ox; and that He rescues, and conquers man on the wings of an eagle . . .

“No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’ The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till he devours his prey and drinks the blood of his victims.” (Numbers 23:21 - 24)

Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water. “Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted. “God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces . . . (Numbers 24:7 - 8)

“Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly! (Job 40:15 - 16)

“Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night? Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he till the valleys behind you? Will you rely on him for his great strength? (Job 39:9 - 11)

with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth... (Deuteronomy 33:16 - 17)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. (Proverbs 14:4)

Reach down your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful. I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you . . . Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters . . . our barns will be filled . . . our oxen will draw heavy loads . . . (Psalms 144:7 - 14 edited)

Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. (Isaiah 50:2)

In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. (Psalms 31:1 - 2)

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. (Exodus 19:4)

In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions. The LORD alone led him; no foreign god was with him. (Deuteronomy 32:10 - 12)

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

This is what the LORD says: “Look! An eagle is swooping down, spreading its wings over Moab. Kerioth will be captured and the strongholds taken . . . (Jeremiah 48:40 - 41)

Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor. (Jeremiah 49:22)

And each of these ‘creatures’ sing a really cool song - day and night - 24 seven; they sing this song. They never stop (except in Rev 8:1) singing this song - it is God’s song; the plan of redemption he had for man - before he ever laid one iota of the foundation of the world! Part of this song declares Jesus to be God . . .

. . . “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Rev 4:8)

Who was: declares that God existed; but then died.

And is: declares that God lives and has always existed.

And is to come: declares that God is going to physically and bodily return.

This glorious song of the sovereignty, triumph and redemption of God - continues with the 24 elders picking up a refrain and singing:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rev 4:11)

*******

“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. (John 13:13)

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:13 - 18)

*******

And this glorious song of the sovereignty, triumph and redemption of God continues a little further on with the following:

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Rev 5:9 - 10)

*Chapter 3*   *Chapter 5*

"Questions??? Give a shout!"

All Greek/Hebrew definitions (unless otherwise noted) are taken from
The NIV Exhaustive Concordance by Edward W. Goodrick & John R. Kohlenberger III © 1990 by The Zondervan Corporation. ISBN 0-310-436970-7

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, International Version®, NIV84®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
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Copyright 2011 - Revelation Disclosed Updated 10/14/11

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