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Chapter 4

The Throne Room of Heaven

(Rev 4:1 KJV) 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 show thee things which must be hereafter.

• Notice the voice again. Like a trumpet, also notice the door opened and John was told to come up see. Now the hereafter is not a date or a timeline, it could mean an hour or days or years, but if you made a comment like this to me I would assume you were talking about after my death or way in to the future. I do not agree that it means the after the end of the church age. I see nothing here or elsewhere in the scripture to support that common taught way of understanding this. I believe the end of the church age is the end of the world. Unless I find something father to refute that, then I'll back up and correct my err.
• Rev 4:1: This verse begins the third, final, and most extensive segment of the Apocalypse. The phrase "after this" refers to the church age, and declares that the visions reported in the remainder of the book follow the church age. Some scholars have seen the open door to heaven and the trumpet-like invitation as the rapture or the taking away of all believers. While it is not necessary to interpret the passage this way, it is evident that the church is never seen on earth again until the millennial kingdom is inaugurated. It is therefore probable that the church, i.e., the body of Christ, has been rapture before the events of the Great Tribulation which follow (cf. the promise of deliverance in 3:10). Chapters 4; 5 are a unit and in a real sense the key chapters of the book. Chapter 4 presents a vision of God the Creator, and ch. 5 of God the Redeemer. The Father is central in ch. 4, the Son is central in ch. 5. The vision prepares us for the terrible judgments to follow in chs. 6-19, and it gives us the rationale for God's visiting a rebellious world with such judgment.
• 4:1-11 GOD, Sovereignty--In heaven all inhabitants testify to God's sovereignty as Creator and Ruler of the universe. God is the eternal holy One distinct from all who reside in heaven. Praise and worship is the language of heaven. The sovereign God knows the outcome of history. He sits on heaven's throne guiding the course of history and receiving the praise of all who surround Him. They attest to His holy purity in contrast to their own beings. They know He alone has always existed and always will. Even those who wear crowns of authority in heaven throw them down before the sovereign God. He rules over all.
• Verses 1-8. After the Lord Jesus had instructed the apostle to write to the churches "the things that are," there was another vision. The apostle saw a throne set in heaven, an emblem of the universal dominion of Jehovah. He saw a glorious One upon the throne, not described by human features, so as to be represented by a likeness or image, but only by his surpassing brightness. These seem emblems of the excellence of the Divine nature, and of God's awful justice. The rainbow is a fit emblem of that covenant of promise which God has made with Christ, as the Head of the church, and with all his people in him. The prevailing color was a pleasant green, showing the reviving and refreshing nature of the new covenant. Four-and-twenty seats around the throne, were filled with four-and-twenty elders, representing, probably, the whole church of God. Their sitting denotes honour, rest, and satisfaction; their sitting about the throne signifies nearness to God, the sight and enjoyment they have of him. They were clothed in white raiment; the imputed righteousness of the saints and their holiness: they had on their heads crowns of gold, signifying the glory they have with him. Lightnings and voices came from the throne; the awful declarations God makes to his church, of his sovereign will and pleasure. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne; the gifts, graces, and operations of the Spirit of God in the churches of Christ, dispensed according to the will and pleasure of Him who sits upon the throne. In the gospel church, the laver for purification is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which cleanses from all sin. In this all must be washed, to be admitted into the gracious presence of God on earth, and his glorious presence in heaven. The apostle saw four living creatures, between the throne and the circle of the elders, standing between God and the people. These seem to signify the true ministers of the gospel, because of their place between God and the people. This also is shown by the description given, denoting wisdom, courage, diligence, and discretion, and the affections by which they mount up toward heaven.

(Rev 4:2 KJV) And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

• Now in order to get in a place where God can really start to show us things we have to get in the Spirit. Now I note that this is a small S on spirit which may mean it is talking about a physical separation of the flesh and the spirit of man, or may be the translator just didn't put a capitol here. Yet we get a glimpse into heaven and what is the first thing seen inside the door. The throne room, the place where Jesus promises us access it we are overcomers in this world.
• (Rev 4:3 KJV) 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.

(Rev 4:4 KJV) 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.

• This would appear that what John is seeing is those who have made it in. Remember the promise of Jesus, this would appear to represent the church elders and the elders of Israel.
• 1 Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
• 1 Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
• Also we must remember that many of those from the Old Testament are in heaven because we know that the disciples saw them on the mount of transfiguration. Notice they all have raiment of white and crowns on their heads. I would say it would be safe to say they had eaten of the tree of life too. Again I believe we shall all receive the same if we overcome whatever circumstances we face in this life. And as already promised he will let us set in this beautiful room too.
• Rev 4:4: The identity of the 24 elders can be established from a careful observation of the descriptive data. They are clothed in white, indicating purity; seated on thrones, suggesting responsibility and status; crowned with victors' wreaths (stephanous, Gk.); and they themselves bear witness that they have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and, therefore, constitute a kingdom of priests (5:10, "us" NU, M them, "kings" NU a kingdom). Such a description can only represent redeemed humanity. Twenty-four is twice twelve. In the picturesque vision of the New Jerusalem in ch. 21, the city is said to have twelve pearl gates, inscribed with the names of the twelve sons of Jacob, and twelve foundations, inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles. A similar truth is presented in the number of elders. Both O.T. and N.T. saints are gathered as the family of God in heaven and are here represented in the 24 elders.

(Rev 4:5 KJV) 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.

(Rev 4:6 KJV) 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.

• God speaks in many different ways and many different voices. Notice the Spirits of God. I believe you will find these Sprits active in our lives. I believe that they are the Sprit of love, etc.
• Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
• Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance:......
• Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
• Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
• Rev 4:6: (vv. 6-8) "Living creatures" is a translation of the Greek word zoa. In ch. 13 two "beasts" (therion, Gk.) arise. These "living creatures" (zoa, Gk.) in ch. 4 are not brutes like those in ch. 13, but are altogether different. The creatures in Ezekiel's description are almost identical (Ezek. 10:20). Furthermore, Ezekiel names the living creatures of his vision "cherubim," an order of angelic beings (cf. Ezek. 10:20, note). There are four cherubim in Ezekiel, indicating their relationship to the world. Here in Revelation, animate creation is represented by the "living creatures" in their four faces. Man as the highest of God's created beings, the calf as symbolic of domestic animal life, the lion as the representation of untamed animals, and the flying eagle as a picture of the fowls of the heavens demonstrate the purposes of God in created life. These cherubim are God's agents in the implementation of the decrees of God in His creation. Numerous eyes indicate spiritual perception, insight, and knowledge. Thus, the heavenly scene depicts the angelic messengers and the redeemed, resurrected human beings all worshipping, honoring, and extolling the eternal God.

(Rev 4:7 KJV) 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.

(Rev 4:8 KJV) 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.

• I believe the beast represent different things in how Christ affects our lives. The lion would make me think of the power and raw strength given to the church. The calf would seem like to me to represent of the sacrifice that was made by the people of God before his son. And the men are symbolic of our nature, and last the eagle, the speed and protection that God affords us. You can look at this many ways but if he showed this to John it was to help us and allow us to see the revelation of Christ. I think if we lose sight of those first verses that we lose sight of it all. Jesus is like the lion with great strength, he came as the supreme sacrifice, he came as a man, and yet he was carried back into heaven with might of the eagle, He knows all things and nothing is hid.
• (Rev 4:9 KJV) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

(Rev 4:10 KJV) 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,

(Rev 4:11 KJV) 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 of this is to show us that we are created for the pleasure of God. And one day we too will be gathered in that same room worshipping our God. We should be doing that down here. For he is worthy. Now you can go off in many areas make this as hard as you like but I believe it is meant to be simple, no great mystery, just word of comfort for Gods people. We shall behold him from the greatest to the least, all brought to the same level before him.
• Verses 9-11. All true believers wholly ascribe their redemption and conversion, their present privileges and future hopes, to the eternal and most holy God. Thus rise the for-ever harmonious, thankful songs of the redeemed in heaven. Would we on earth do like them, let our praises be constant, not interrupted; united, not divided; thankful, not cold and formal; humble, not self-confident.