BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD
** Revelation 1:19
” the things which shall take place after this”.
__This is the revelation of things which shall take place in the future
**” I was in the spirit…” (Revelation 4:2)
__ Immediately I was in the Spirit: John already said he was in the Spirit at Revelation 1:10. This was yet a different experience, as John came to heaven and a heavenly perspective.
__ “In the Spirit”: Where was his body? Was John’s body in heaven also, or was it just his spirit? This is impossible to know. Paul, when he had his heavenly experience, didn’t know if he was in the body or not (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).
John’s description of heaven.
**” And behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne”. (Revelation 4:2-3)
__ This throne was what first impressed John, and it is the centerpiece of this vision. John was fixated on the occupied throne, and everything else is described in relation to this throne.
__ The throne is not empty. There is some One who sits on this great heavenly throne. The throne is a powerful declaration of not merely God’s presence, but of His sovereign, rightful reign, and His prerogative to judge.
__ “There is here no description of the Divine Being---- The description rather aims to point out the surrounding glory and effulgence than the person of the almighty King.”
__ Like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance: Instead of describing a specific form or figure, John described emanations of glistening light in two colors: white (jasper may mean “diamond”) and red (sardius).
__ Perhaps these two colors are meant to communicate the glory of the empty tomb (white, Matthew 28:1-3) and the sacrificial love of Calvary (red, indicating blood). Or, perhaps they are linked with the first and last gems in the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 39:8-13).
__ The throne was surrounded by a green-hued rainbow (in appearance like an emerald). The rainbow is a reminder of God’s commitment to His covenant with man (Genesis 9:11-17).
__ God has a reminder of His promise to never destroy the earth again with water, a promise that directs His sovereignty, so that it is not capricious or against His promises.
__ A throne says, “I can do whatever I want, because I rule.” A promise says, “I will fulfill this word to you, and I cannot do otherwise.” A rainbow around the throne is a remarkable thing, showing that God will always limit Himself by His own promises.
** Revelation 4:4
“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones, I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads”.
__ Before the elders caught John’s eye, he noticed the twenty-four thrones they sat on.
__ These twenty-four elders sat on thrones, around the throne of God. Later John will mention their song of worship (Revelation 4:10-11).
__ the elders certainly seem to represent God’s people.
__ Elders represent the people of God, especially in the Old Testament. The 24 courses of the priesthood represented all the priests (1 Chronicles 24), and the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles represent all the faithful.
__ In Revelation 5:9-10, the twenty-four elders sang a song of praise to Jesus, and they cried out: For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. In that passage, the twenty-four elders clearly spoke as representatives of all God’s people, of the great company of the redeemed.
__ Clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads: The white robes and crowns of the elders seem to indicate that they are indeed human beings – in glory, of course.
__ Angels are sometimes presented in white robes or garments (Mark 16:5; John 20:12; Acts 1:10), but saints also have white robes (Revelation 6:11, 7:9, 13-14) as a picture of their imputed righteousness (Isaiah 61:10, Revelation 3:5-18). However, we never see angels crowned but believers will be (1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4).
__ Therefore, redeemed, glorified man sits enthroned with Jesus. On lesser thrones, to be sure, but thrones none the less. We are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), and we will reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).
__Revelation 4:5
“And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thundering’s, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”
__ The lightning, thunder, voices and fire are reminiscent of God’s fearful presence at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19 and 20:18-19). They communicate the awe associated with the throne of God.
__ The Holy Spirit (the seven Spirits of God, as referred to in Revelation 1:4 and Isaiah 11:2) is represented by seven burning lamps. In other passages He is represented as a dove (Matthew 3:16) or a flame of fire (Acts 2:3).
__ The lamps of fire are important because the Holy Spirit is not ordinarily visible. To become visible, He represents Himself in a physical form like a dove or a tongue of fire.
__” Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.” ---- Is this sea really made of glass, or did it just look like it? Commentators are divided on this point. For example, Robertson says, “appearance, not material” and Alford says, “material, not appearance.” Whether it looks like glass or is actually made of glass, it is the finest glass, like crystal.
__ This body of water before the throne is reminiscent of the laver in the Tabernacle, and our washing of the water of the word (Ephesians 5:26).
__ “The word is to us a crystal glass, giving us a clear sight of God and of ourselves, (2 Corinthians 3:18) (James 1:23).”
**(Revelation 4:6-8)
“And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.”
__ From comparison with Ezekiel 1:4-14 and 10:20-22, we understand these creatures to be cherubim, the spectacular angelic beings surrounding the throne of God. Satan was once one of these high angelic beings, according to Ezekiel 28:14.
_ Cherubim were also prominent in design of the tabernacle, particularly in the Most Holy Place (Exodus 25:17-22 and 26:1-31). The Scriptures show us that the tabernacle is a model of the throne of God, in some manner (Exodus 25:8-9).
__ Their multitude of eyes indicates these living creatures (not “beasts” as in the KJV) are not blind instruments or robots. They know and understand, and have greater insight and perception than any man.
__ These beings of great intelligence and understanding live their existence to worship God. All failure to truly worship is rooted in a lack of seeing and understanding.
__ The way these super-intelligent beings worship God reminds us that our worship must be intelligent. “Our service must not be rash but reasonable, Romans 12:1, such as wherefore we can render a reason. God hates a blind sacrifice, a Samaritan’s service, when men worship, they know not what nor why, John 4:22.”
__ . “The word beast is very improperly used here and elsewhere in this description. Wycliff first used it, and translators in general have followed him in this uncouth rendering.”
__ these were the four creatures whose portraitures were in the four ensigns of the Israelites as they were marshalled into four companies, allotting the men of three tribes to each company.
__ Judah’s standard had a lion in its colors, according to Jacob’s prophecy of that tribe, Genesis 49:9
__ Ephraim had an ox, Reuben had a man, Dan an eagle.
__ The four different faces of the cherubim are often taken as symbols of Jesus as represented in each gospel. In classical church architecture, these four “characters” are repeated often as a motif that signifies both heaven and the four gospels.
__ Most have seen Matthew as the “Lion” gospel, showing Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
__ Mark is seen as the “Ox” gospel, showing Jesus as a humble servant, a worker.
__ Luke is seen as the “Man” gospel, showing Jesus as the perfect man, the second Adam.
__ John is seen as the “Eagle” gospel, showing Jesus as the man from heaven, the sky.
__ The lion is the mightiest of wild animals, the ox strongest of domesticated animals, the eagle king of all birds, and man is highest of all creation.
__ ‘There are four which have principality in this world: among intellectual creatures, man; among birds, the eagle; among cattle, the ox; and among wild beasts, the lion: each of these has a kingdom and a certain magnificence, and they are placed under the throne of glory, Ezekiel 1:10, to show that no creature is to exalt itself in this world, and that the kingdom of God is over all.’
__ These creatures may be considered the representatives of the whole creation.”
__ These cherubim are “Qualified with all necessary endowments, for the discharge of their duties, being bold as lions, painful as oxen, prudent as men, delighted in high flying as eagles.”
__ As well, it is significant to see that the Bible associates a face with the idea of person (1 Chronicles 12:8; 2 Chronicles 29:6; Isaiah 3:15, 13:8). Here we have singular beings with four faces. Apparently, there are beings that can be more than one person – as our God is One God in three Persons.
__ these four faces illustrate the different personalities God’s ministers have: “By them is signified the various gifts with which God blesseth his ministers, giving to some more courage and fortitude, that they are like lions; to others more mildness and meekness, that they are like oxen or calves; others have more wisdom and prudence, which most adorn a man; others a more piercing insight into the mysteries of God’s kingdom, rendering them like eagles.”
**(Revelation 4:8)
And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
__ The cherubim constantly repeat the phrase holy, holy, holy. God’s holy nature and character is declared, and emphasized with a three-time repetition.
__ “In Hebrew, the double repetition of a word adds emphasis, while the rare threefold repetition designates the superlative and calls attention to the infinite holiness of God.”
__ “They have no rest, and yet they have no unrest neither, the sweet content they take in their continual employment is fitter to be believed than possible to be discoursed.”
__ The cherubim declared that the Lord God is Almighty. As in Revelation 1:8, the ancient Greek word is pantokrator, with the idea of “the One who has His hand on everything.”
__ This repeats another idea from Revelation 1:8, and refers to God’s eternal Being. It translates the thought behind the meaning of the name “Yahweh.”
**(Revelation 4:9-11)
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
__ The worship of the twenty-four elders is prompted by the cherubim. Since the cherubim worship God day and night, so do the elders.
__ Knowing angels should worship God should prompt our worship also. Do we have any less to praise Him or thank Him for? “Do we sing as much as the birds do? Yet what have birds to sing about, compared with us?
__ Do we sing as much as the angels do? Yet they were never redeemed by the blood of Christ. Birds of the air, shall you excel me? Angels, shall you exceed me? You have done so, but I intend to emulate you, and day by day, and night by night, pour forth my soul in sacred song.”
__ “If we would have our souls set as a pearl in the fair ring of heavenly courtiers that compass the Lamb’s throne, let us praise God as they do.”
__ The twenty-four elders’ worship (which means to credit worth or worthiness to) God. The elders credited God for their own work and reward, and they did this as they cast their crowns before the throne.
__ They recognized that the worth, the worthiness belonged to God, not to themselves.
__ Casting the crowns simply acted out their declaration, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power”. If God was worthy of the glory and honor and power, then He should get the crown.
__ The crowns mentioned in Revelation 4:10 are the stephanos crowns, the crowns of victory, not royalty.
__ These are the crowns of achievement that a winning athlete would receive at the ancient Olympian Games.
__ The twenty-four elders – representing all the redeemed of God – threw every achievement reward they had back to God, because they knew and proclaimed that He was “worthy… to receive glory and honor and power”.
__ “Our text says they all cast their crowns before the throne. There are no divided opinions in heaven, no sects and parties, no schisms there. They are all in perfect harmony and sweet accord.
__ What one does, all do. They cast their crowns, without exception, before the throne. Let us begin to practice that unanimity here. As fellow Christians, let us get rid of everything that would divide us from each other, or separate us from our Lord.
__ I do not read that there was a single elder who envied his brother’s crown, and said, ‘Ah, I wish I wore such as one as he is, and had his crown.’ I do not read that one of them began to find fault with his brother’s crown, and said, ‘Ah, his jewels may be bright, but mine have a peculiar tint in them, and are of greater excellence.’ I do not read ought of dissension; they were all unanimous in casting their crowns at Jesus’ feet. They were all unanimous in glorifying God.”
__ The twenty-four elders worshiped God because of His creative power and glory. The fact that God is Creator gives Him all right and every claim over everything – even as a potter has all rights and claims over the clay (Romans 9:21).
__ God’s right over us as Creator is a fact that can be accepted and enjoyed, or rejected, leading to frustration. There is tremendous value in our recognizing our “creatureliness” before God.
__ “God’s power put forth in the creation and administration of the world is twice here mentioned; as that which can never be sufficiently admired and adored.”
__ we each exist to give glory and pleasure to God. Until we do that, we don’t fulfill our created purpose.
__ Because they represent all the people of God, the worship, the crown, the robes, the heart of these twenty-four elders belongs to us also.
__ “There is a throne in heaven that no one can occupy but you, and there is a crown in heaven that no other head can wear but yours, and there is a part in the eternal song that no voice can ever compass but yours, and there is a glory to God that would be wanting if you did not come to render it, and there is a part of infinite majesty and glory that would never be reflected unless you should be there to reflect it!”
__ But it also means that we should plan ahead for that great day. “If you and I should walk into some great cathedral where they were singing, and ask to be allowed to sing in the choir, they would ask whether we had ever learnt the tune, and they would not let us join unless we had. Nor can we expect that untrained voices should be admitted into the choirs above. Now, dear brothers and sisters, have you learnt to cast your crowns at the Savior’s feet already?”
__God loves us so much this is a promise and a prophecy and a description of our future, how we are going to spend our eternity with Father, and His glory, worshiping Him and praising Him, there won’t be any sin found anyone’s heart during that time
