Blessed be God, there is a way of access to him! There is a door opened into the most holy place, by which sinners may approach and find acceptance with the most high God. That Way is Christ. That Door is Christ (John 10:9; 14:6; Eph. 2:18; Heb. 10:19-20). We draw near to God by faith in the blood and righteousness of Christ. Salvation is ours when we come to God by faith in his dear Son (Heb. 7:25). When the believer leaves this world he is immediately with the Lord in heaven (II Cor. 5:1-9). And in the last day we shall, in resurrection glory, enter into the presence of the Divine Majesty, there to abide forever (I Thess. 4:13-18). But the only Door by which sinful man can enter in is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus said to John, "Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." That is to say, "I will show you things which must happen in the future." But remember, this took place nearly two thousand years ago! These words do not imply that there is another dispensation of time yet to come. John himself tells us that this present gospel age, the time in which we are now living, is "the last time" (I John 2:18). These future things "must" come to pass because they were appointed and decreed by God in his eternal purpose of predestination.
"And immediately I was in the spirit." Again, John's soul was drawn away from his earthly surroundings and carnal cares. His heart was fixed on God. He ceased to see with his physical eyes and hear with his physical ears. He was "in the spirit." With the eyes of his soul he looked, "and behold, a throne." John's thoughts were focused on a throne. This throne is the theme of John's second vision. All of chapters four and five are taken up with and consumed by this throne and its Occupant. The word "throne" is mentioned seventeen times in these two chapters. Remember, this is a spiritual vision. The throne is a symbol of sovereign power, authority and dominion.
The message of this chapter is as clear as the nooday sun: All things are under the control of our God, who sits upon the throne of universal dominion. This fourth chapter of Revelation does not merely give us a picture of heaven. It gives a picture of the entire universe from heaven's viewpoint. And from heaven's viewpoint the only matters of importance are the throne of God and the people of God. In beautifully symbolic language, John shows us that all things are absolutely and totally governed by our God and Savior. All things, even our trials and tribulations, are of God and shall bring glory to God. In chapter 6 John will tell us about the many trials God's people must endure upon the earth. But first we are assured that God is in control - "Behold, a throne!" No trial will be unbearable to a believer, if he can but realize, with assurance, that our God is on his throne.
First, John describes THE THRONE AND THE ONE WHO SITS UPON IT (VV. 2,3,5,6). "The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of the isles be glad" (Ps. 97:1). The assurance of this fact should give every believer a calm and peaceful heart. Child of God, in the midst of your fiery trials, "behold, a throne!" Be comforted by the knowledge of the fact that our God is in control (Ps. 93:1-5).
God's throne is set, fixed and permanently established, in heaven. "Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne" (v. 2). The throne is not in earth, but in heaven. It sets in the holy of holies of the heavenly temple, just as the ark of the covenant sat in the holy of holies in the earthly temple (Ex. 25:22). God is King! He dwells in his holy temple and sits upon the throne of sovereign majesty, ruling over all things (Isa. 6:1; Jer. 3:17; 14:21; Ezek. 1:26). This throne is a symbol of power, dominion and judgment. It is set, permanently fixed in heaven. That means that God has ruled, is ruling, and shall forever rule. His throne is immutably secure (Ps. 93:2). And the power and dominion of God's throne reaches to all the ends of the earth. His dominion is everlasting and universal. It extends to all things (Dan. 4:34,35,37; Isa. 45:7; 46:9-11).
The One who sits upon the throne is God. Tell me who is in control of the universe, and I will worship him; because the one who is in control of all things is God. Notice John's words: "One sat on the throne." He sat in the perfect ease and serenity of total sovereignty because he is in no threat of danger. His throne is secure because he is God. He will never give up his right to rule. And none can ever overthrow, or even temporarily impede, his rule (Ps. 115:3; 135:6).
That One who sat upon the throne "was to look upon like jasper and a sardine stone." John is not describing God himself, for God cannot be described by anything physical (Ex. 20:4). He is describing the majesty, effulgence and glory which he saw radiating from the One who sat upon the throne.
The glory, majesty and perfections of God's Being are here setforth as being like a jasper stone. Notice, John does not give us an image of God. He does not use any human feature to describe the Almighty, simply that God is glorious to look upon. According to Matthew Henry, "The jasper is a transparent stone, which offers to the eye a varity of the most vivid colors, signifying the glorious perfections of God." It is crystal clear (Rev. 21:11), representing the perfect holiness of God.
The sardine, or sardius, stone is blood red, representng the justice of God. God will never give up his holiness, justice and truth. He is gloriously just in his government of the world, both in his saving grace and in his fearful judgments. God is just, both in pardoning sin and in punishing sin, both in the salvation of his elect and in the damnation of the unbelieving.
No sooner had John seen the representation of God's holiness and justice than he saw the symbol of his merciful covenant. "And there was a rainbow about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald." What glorious comfort! Round about the throne of God there is a rainbow, emerald green in its apearance. What does this mean? It means that the storm is over for God's elect! Though this holy and just God must punish sin, we need not be terrified by his justice and wrath. The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, stood in the place of poor sinners and, dying as our Substitute, he satisfied the justice of God for us. The rainbow is a symbol to us that God, for Christ's sake, will remember his covenant and be merciful to his people. He will never lift his omnipotent arm in anger against his covenant people, but only in mercy (Gen. 9:13; Ps. 89:28-34; Isa. 54:7-10).
"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices" (v. 5). Proceeding from the throne of the great God we see the lightning bolts of Divine wrath, hear the thunderous terror of his holy law, and hear the sweet, tender voices of love, mercy and grace in the gospel.
The "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God," symbolize the etertnal, wise, all-seeing Spirit of God. The number seven represents perfection. The Spirit of God, full of wisdom, light and holiness, constantly burns like fire to consume his enemies and to refine his people. "Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:29).
And John saw before the throne"a sea of glass like unto crystal" (v. 6). In the tabernacle and temple of the Old Testament there was a brazen laver filled with water in which the priests were required to wash themselves when they came to minister before the Lord (Ex. 30:18; 38:8; I Kings 7:23). Symbolically, this "sea of glass" represents the blood of Christ, which is a fountain opened, in which we must be washed before we can approach the throne of God.
"Behold, a throne!" Do you see this? Our God sits upon his throne. Our God rules the universe according to his own will. Our God rules all things according to his eternal purpose of grace in the everlasting covenant, symbolized by the rainbow which circles his throne. "Behold, a throne," and be assured that all is well!
Secondly, John saw TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS AND FOUR BEASTS AROUND THE THRONE (vv. 4,6,7,8). Around the throne of God he saw twenty-four seats, smaller, subordinate thrones, and each of these seats were filled with the twenty-four elders sitting before God. They were all clothed with white garments, and they all wore crowns of pure gold on their heads. And round about the throne, between the throne of God and the twenty-four elders, John saw four beasts, or living creatures. Who are these people?
The twenty-four elders represent the whole church of God.
The twelve patriarchs represent the whole church of the Old Testament and the twelve apostles represent the whole church of the New testament, these twenty-four elders represent all of God's elect, the whole church of God, the Israel of God (Rev. 21:12-14). Several things need to be observed about these twenty-four elders.
2. All of these redeemed ones, seated around the throne, are wearing the garments of salvation. They are all clothed in the white raiment of Christ's righteousness.
3. And everyone of these twenty-four elders are wearing crowns of victory. The white garments represent our purity and priesthood in Christ. The crowns of pure gold represent our kingship, signifying that we are made kings as well as priests in Christ. John Gill says, of these twenty-four elders, "They now reign as kings over sin, satan, and the world, and have a kingdom of grace which shall never be removed; and they shall reign with Christ...to all eternity in heaven."
4. These redeemed ones from every corner of the earth do but enhance the glory of God their Savior. His throne represents his sovereignty. These twenty-four elders constantly render homage to him
The four beasts, or living creatures, represent those men who preach the gospel of Christ to his church in all the successive ages of history (vv. 6-8). It is commonly assumed that these four living creatures are angelic, spirit beings. But that is a mistake. These four living creatures are said to be redeemed by the blood of Christ (Rev. 5:8-11). The heavenly angels were not redeemed from sin, for they never sinned. These four living creatures represent all faithful gospel preachers throughout the ages. John tells us ten things about these living creature as he saw them symbolically representing God's servants.
2. They are living creatures. They have been made alive by the regenerating power and grace of the Holy Spirit. They are born of God, and they go about their work of preaching the gospel with livliness and fervency.
3. They stand between God and his people, not as priests, but as ambassadors. They receive their message from God and deliver it to his people, leading them in the worship of God.
4. These living creatures are full of eyes, before and behind. They are gifted with spiritual insight into the mysteries of the gospel, possessing that God given evangelical knowledge and wisdom necessary to minister to the needs of immortal souls. They have eyes before them, to look into the Word of God and discern its meaning. And they have eyes behind them, to observe how that all the sacrifices, types, prophecies and promises of the Old Testament have their accomplishment in Christ.
5. The first beast had the features of a lion (v. 7). Those who preach the gospel of Christ must have the courage and boldness of a lion, not fearing the faces of men. God's servants are not timid whimps. They are bold men.
6. The second living creature was like a calf. As the ox is an animal of labor, faithful gospel preachers labor diligently in the work of the ministry. They labor in the Word and in the doctrine, like an ox, treading out the corn of gospel truth for the people of God.
7. The third beast which John saw had the face of a man. God's servants are men, like those to whom they preach. They are tender-hearted and sympathetic with their fellow creatures. Like the Lord Jesus himself, they are touched with the feelings and infirmities of God's saints in this world.
8. The fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. As the eagle is both wise and swift, that man who is called of God to the work of preaching the gospel is given wisdom in the Word and wisdom with men, and he is given a heart of readiness to do the will of God in publishing the everlasting gospel (Rom. 1:15-17).
9. Like the seraphim Isaiah saw (Isa. 6:2), each of these gospel messengers had six wings (v. 8). With two they might cover their faces in reverence before God. With two they might cover their feet with humility, knowing themselves to be nothing else but sinners saved by grace. And with two they might swiftly fly to do the will of God.
10. And these fourheralds of the gospel are constantly engaged in their glorious work (v. 8). "They were full of eyes within." They are ever looking within themselves, acknowledging their own sin and corruption by nature. And they have within themselves the testimony of the truth of God. That is to say, they preach to men only what they have proved to be true by experience.