REVELATION CHAPTER 4 The Throne of God
The Lord’s personal message to the individual churches is now over. He has told them who He is, pointed out their failures, and warned and counseled them to correct their failures. He has also given them the great promises of heaven if they will only overcome.
Now it is time for the churches to see the future events that are coming upon the earth, it is time for the churches to know that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth. He is going to end the world the way we know it and establish the kingdom of God forever and ever.
Revelation 4: 1 – 2
John is given the Vision. 5 Quick things happened to John.
1. He saw the door open in heaven.
- What he was about to see was coming from heaven, from God Himself?
- The future events were not of his own imagination.
a- There are 3 doors mentioned in Revelation
Door 1 The Open Door for evangelism & missions, the door, which God opens to the churches for bearing witness to the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the opportunity that God opens for them to carry the gospel to their neighbors, communities, cities, states, and countries and the world. (Rev 3:8)
Door 2 The Door of the Human Heart. When believers carry the message of the gospel to their neighbors, it is then up to the individual person to open the door of his or her heart & receive the gospel. The decision is the neighbor’s. Every person has a door that has to be opened before Christ will enter – the door of their heart. (Rev 3:20)
Door 3 The Door of Revelation. Once a person has opened the door of their heart to Christ, Christ reveals the glorious things of Himself, of God, of heaven, and of this world. In addition, Christ reveals some of the events that are to take place as history unfolds itself – some of the vents that surround the return of Christ and the end time. (Rev 4:1)
2. He heard a commanding voice.
The very same voice he had heard in Rev Chapter 1 Verse 10
3. He was called to come up here into heaven
Why!! The reason is clearly stated: to see future events things that must take place.
The word MUST is a mist important word. The events of world history are not by chance. They do not simply happen. They are of God; They are according to His divine will. God is sovereign. He rules over the word,
4. He was immediately in the spirit.
- He was having a deep, intense spiritual experience with God.
5. He saw the most astounding sight imaginable.
- God & the throne of God,
- John definitely declares that He saw God sitting n the Throne.
God’s throne is the throne above all thrones. It is the supreme seat of honor and majesty, of sovereignty and power. God is the supreme Majesty of’ the universe, the One who controls and holds all the events of history in His hands. He is the Supreme Authority"’ over all the world and the coming events of the end time. No person can cause the events to take place but Him,
4:2-3 Described God: there is the sight of God sitting upon the great throne of God.
An astounding thing. The appearance of the One on the throne is so glorious and majestic that He is indescribable. No human shape can describe Him. God is described in terms of light, the dazzling light of the most precious gems and jewels of that day. He is seen in all of His brilliance and dazzling splendor (Ps.I04: 2; 1 Tim.6: 16; 1).
The jewels chosen to describe God proclaim a marvelous message to the hearer. They were considered the most brilliant and the most valued, precious, and desired gems on earth. Thus God is seen and described as the most brilliant and valued, precious, and desired Being-a Being of indescribable glory and splendor
ð The countenance of God shone like a jasper stone. The stone referred to was different from the jasper stone of today. The idea is that the stone was some sort of translucent crystal through which light was shining. It was shining so brightly that it was apparently like the concentrated light of a laser. This represents the penetrating perfection and purity of God.
ð The sardine stone was a fiery red stone and it represents the justice of God.
ð The rainbow that surrounded the throne looked like emerald green. This represents the mercy of God and the new covenant of grace given to man by God.
Rev 4.: 4 Elders of Revelation: there is the sight of twenty-four elders sitting around the throne of God. Look what is said about the elders
1. They are seated upon thrones that surround’ God’s throne. This shows that they. Are near God, being honored with His presence
- Are resting in God, being fulfilled, complete, and satisfied.
- Are enthroned with God, that is, they are given a permanent place in His presence forever.and ever.
2. They are clothed in white. This means that they are clothed in the purity and holiness of God and of Christ. There is no imperfection in them at all
3. They have crowns of gold on their heads. This means that they hold positions of authority; that they are given some duty and responsibility to oversee for God; that they serve God by overseeing some rule and domain; and that others serve under them. Simply stated, they rule and reign for God, serving Him by managing some vast rule and domain of the universe.
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All the Scriptures that mention the elders are these.
a. The elders sit on thrones surrounding the throne of God.
"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 beads
Crowns of gold" (Rev.4: 4).
"And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts,
and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth" (Rev.14:3).
"And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God
that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia" (Rev.19: 4).
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b. The elders cast their crowns before the throne of God.
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"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" (Rev.4:10).
c. The elders worship God.
Rev.4: 9-11 Rev. 11: 16
Rev.5: 8-11 Rev.14: 3
Rev.5: 14 Rev.19: 4
Rev.7: 11
d. One elder encourages John when he weeps.
Rev 5:5
e. One elder brings the progress of saints to God.
Rev.5: 6
f. One elder explains part of the vision to John.
Rev.7: 13-14 Rev 5:5
Revelation 4:1-11
There is the awesomeness of the throne.
Three things are now added to the throne of God to show how awesome the presence of God is.
1. There is God’s voice, which is so commanding that it sounds like a combination of many voices and of lightning and thundering this shows us just how majestic and awesome the voice of God is. His voice flashes and thunders. Great pronouncements of God. The very will of God is sounded forth from the throne of God with the speed of light of Light and with the awesomeness of thunder.
2. The seven torches of burning fire are a symbol of the Holy Spirit in all of His fullness and completeness
3. There is a sea of glass stretching out before the throne
The sea looks like a transparent glassy sea, as if of crystal
- The elders of Israel saw a similar sight.
(Ex.24: 10).
- Ezekiel himself saw a similar sight.
(Ezk.l: 22, 26).
, -The sea of glass symbolizes at least three things.
a. The glassy sea shows us the value and preciousness of God’s presence. In the old days it was almost
Impossible to make pure glass. Pure glass that was as clear as crystal was considered to be as valuable and precious as gold. (Job 28:17).
b. The glassy sea shows us how clearly God is able to see everything that is out before His throne. It stands for His omniscience and penetrating vision into all things. Nothing is hid from Him who is upon the throne of heaven.
c. The glassy sea shows us the spectacular purity of God, as clear and pure as perfect glass and crystal. The glassy sea shows us how far away God is from the impurities of a contaminated world. He is as far away as a sea made of pure glass and pure crystal
Rev 4:6-9 Creature of Revelation
The Four: there are the ’four living creatures who surround the throne of God
Look at three things about them.
1. First is their position.
They are the closest beings to God. They are the angelic beings who are posted in the mid
Of each side of the throne. They are the guardians of God’s throne and of His holy presence
2. Note their description.
ð They are always found near the throne of God (Rev.4: 6; 5:6; 14:3).
ð They have six wings and are full of eyes (Rev.4: 6, 8).
ð Their function has to do with the holiness and wrath of God (Rev.6: 1, 7; 15:7).
ð They declare the holiness of God day and night and never cease to declare His holiness (Rev.4:8).
Note that John chooses certain animals on Earth to describe certain characteristics that he notices
ð One being was like a lion: this symbolizes supremacy
ð One being was like an ox (calf): this symbolizes strength.
ð One being was like a man: this symbolizes intelligence.
ð One being was like an eagle: this symbolizes swiftness.
3. Note their function: to glorify and honor God day and night.
The living creatures show us two things about God. Ii
A- they show us the supremacy, strength, intelligence, and swiftness of God.
They stand for all that God is.
B-they show us that all of nature owes its worship to God, both animals and man.
They picture all the beings of nature standing before God and praising Him.All the world, both animal and man, are represented in the four living beings as they worship God day and night, crying out to Him, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,). .
All the world is to praise God for His holiness.
All the world is to praise God for His sovereignty
All the world is to praise God for His eternal existence.
Rev 4:10-11 24 Elders of Revelation,
There is the function of the twenty-four elders. Their function is.
1.
· They show subjection and subservience.
· They fall down before the throne of God.
· They yield all they are & Have to Him. :
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. What a lesson for us! How we must learn how great God is-that He dwells in such glory and majesty, dominion, and power that we owe Him our lives and our all.
2.
They worship God as the eternal God.
He alone is our hope for living forever. If we fail to worship Him and to worship Him in truth, then we shall miss eternal life.
3.
They show the supreme worthiness of the Lord. They cast their crowns before the Lord.
The Lord has given the right to rule with him by overseeing certain domains throughout the universe. But in true humility and thankfulness,
the elders cast their crowns down before Him.
Why?
To show that He alone is worthy and they are acknowledging the truth forever and ever.
4.
They vocally declare His worthiness, and they praise Him as the Lord God of the universe and of creation. The Greek actually reads "Thou art worthy, our Lord and our God" (ho kurios kai ho Theos hemon).
This means that God is supreme; He is the first Being of the universe. He is the glorious Creator of all things. He is the One who created all things for His pleasure.
