REVELATION 4:1-11
THEME: John Describes His Vision of the LORD GOD in
Heavenly Glory and the Worship of Him Around His Throne as the Almighty
Creator.
INTRODUCTION:
1.
True spiritual worship is perhaps one of the greatest needs in our
individual lives and in our churches.
There is a constant emphasis today on witnessing
for Christ and working for Christ,
but not enough is said about worshiping
God. To worship means "to ascribe
worth" (see Rev 4:11; 5:12). It means to use all that we are and have to praise God
for all that He is and does. (Wiersbe)
2.
Heaven is a place of worship, and God's people shall worship Him
throughout all eternity. Perhaps it would
be good for us to get in practice now! A study of Rev 4-5 will certainly help
us better understand how to worship God and give Him the glory that He
deserves.
3.
After we are summoned to Heaven, God's judgment of the earth can begin. But before God pours out His wrath, He gives us a glimpse
into glory and permits us to hear the worshiping creatures in Heaven as they
praise God. Much can be learned from the various aspects of their worship for
our instruction and imitation. (Wiersbe)
LESSON:
I.
THE SUMMONS TO HEAVEN (Rev. 4:1).
If Rev 1:19 is God's inspired
outline of this book, then Rev 4 ushers us into the third division: "the things which shall be hereafter."(4:1).
— Things which thou hast seen. The Past (Rev. 1:10-20).
— Things which are. The Present (Rev. 2 & 3)
— Things which shall be
hereafter. The Prospect (Rev. 4– 22)
A.
SUMMONED BY THE VISION (Rev. 4:1 a):
John
sees a door standing open in Heaven.
1. The Time of the Vision. Vs. 1
“AFTER
THIS” points to the time after the Church Age
is completed. This phrase literally
points to a time sequence for the future events of the book.
A. The Rapture Will End the Present Church Age.
1. There is NO mention of any church between Rev. 2:22–22:16.
2. There have Always Been NT Churches Since the
Time of Christ as Seen in Rev. 2 & 3.
3. The Coming of Christ for Believers Has Always
Been Imminent (it could happen anytime).
B. The Time of This Vision Support
the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Position.
The
experience of John in Rev. 4:1, 2 represents the believer’s translation into Heaven before
the Tribulation period actually begins.
1. Chapters 4 & 5 Depict Believers Worshiping God in Heaven Itself.
2. Chapter 6-19 Depict Primarily What Will Happen on the Earth during the
Tribulation. (Rev. 6:4)
3. Christians will not Pass through the 70th
Week of Daniel–including the Great Tribulation.
4.
The Christian life is, however, filled with tribulations– Jn. 16:33.
2. The Significance of the Vision. Vs. 1
“A door
was opened in Heaven,” therefore the Apostle
John is transported to Heaven “in the spirit” and given a foretaste of the glorious Rapture of the
saints. In fact, that is exactly what God said to John when He summoned him to
Heaven! There are three doors mentioned in the Revelation:
A.
The Open Door. Rev. 3:8– Christ is Seeking.
B.
The Closed Door. Rev. 3:20– Christ Pleading.
C.
The Heavenly Door. Rev. 4:1—Christ
Receiving.
It would appear that, in this experience, John
illustrates what will happen to God's people when the Church Age has run its
course: heaven will open; there will be a voice and the sound of a trumpet; and
the saints will be caught up to Heaven (1 Cor
15:52; 1 Thess 4:13-18). Thus we will be received by our glorious
Lord.
B.
SUMMONED BY THE VOICE (Rev. 4:1 b):
A
voice says, "Come up hither."
1.
The Voice Like a Trumpet.
Vs. 1
This
most likely signifies the “trump of God” and the “last trump” related to believers summing us to Heaven for the purpose
of worshiping Christ the King!
1 Thes.
4:16, For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first:
1
Cor. 15:52,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed.
2. The Voice of Jesus Christ. Vs. 1
A.
This May be the voice of the archangel Michael (1Thess. 4:16); he is the
only archangel in the Bible (Ju. 9).
B.
This Could be the Voice of the Savior.
John
refers to it as the “first voice which I heard”— indicating the voice which he heard at first, namely that
of Christ, in Rev 1:10-11. Once again the Savior speaks and calls the saints through
the open door into Heaven unto God’s throne.
3. The Voice of the Rapture. Vs. 1, "Come
up hither."
1 Cor.
15:51-52, Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
A. For the Resurrection.
1 Thes.
4:16, For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first:
Clearly
the voice of the resurrection is the voice of Jesus Christ as illustrated
during His earthly ministry!
Mark
5:41, And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi;
which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
John
11:43, And when he thus had spoken, he cried
with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
B. For the Rapture.
Philip.
3:20-2, 1 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious
body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things
unto himself.
We
will receive glorious bodies like that of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C. Not For The Revelation.
In is
important at this point to distinguish the Rapture from the Revelation.
1. At the Rapture Christ does not return to the
earth–the people of God are “caught up” to meet Him in the air.
2. Then in the Revelation, Christ will literally
come back to the earth. Always bare in
mind that the “Second Coming of Christ”
as two phases–The Rapture and The Revelation. These verse point to the latter
phase.
Zech.
14:4, And his feet shall stand in that
day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and
the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and
toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the
mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Acts
1:11-12, Which also said, Ye men of Galilee,
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this
same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
[12] Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is
from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
APPLICATION:
Ensure that you are living for the Lord and ready whenever He calls us Home in
the Rapture. Because as with John we could “immediately” find ourselves passing through the doorway into the very
Throne room of God!
II. THE SIGHTS IN HEAVEN (Rev. 4:2-8)
Vs. 2, “Behold a throne was set in HEAVEN”
The
key word in this chapter is “throne;” it is used
fourteen (14) times. In fact, this is a key word in the entire book, appearing
forty-six (46) times. No matter what may happen on earth, God is on His throne
and is in complete control. Various teachers interpret Revelation in different
ways, but all agree that John is
emphasizing the glory and sovereignty of God. What an encouragement
that would be to the suffering saints of John's day and of every age in
history.
Psalm
103:19, The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
A. JOHN SEES SOMEONE SEATED ON A THRONE (Rev. 4:2-3 a):
He has
the appearance of a jasper and sardine stone.
1. This is Not Jesus Christ.
Christ
Jesus does not enter the Throne Room until chapter 5 when He is formally
presented and when He takes the sealed book from the hands of the Heavenly
Father (5:6, 7, 13).
A.
When the Son Jesus Christ, “the Lamb,” is introduced, Rev 5:5–9, a new song is
sung which distinguishes the Sitter on
the throne from the Lamb, “Thou hast redeemed
us to God,” (5:9).
B.
A Similar distinction is made in Rev 5:13, “Unto Him that sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
C.
So also in Rev 5:7, as in Da 7:13, the Son of man
brought before the Ancient of days is
distinguished from Him. The Father in essence is invisible, but in Scripture at
times is represented as assuming a visible form.
2. This is Not the Judgment Seat of Christ.
While
it is true that Believers will appear before the judgment seat after the
Rapture, this is not the focus of this event.
The primary emphasis is on the worship of the Creator (Rev. 4:9-11) and not
judgment of service for rewards.
However, since the elders are casting the crowns before the feet of God,
it is safe to conclude that Believers have already been to the Judgment Seat of
Christ. Notice several facts about this
judgment.
A. It is After the Rapture.
1 Thes.
2:19, For what is our hope, or joy, or
crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ at his coming?
1
Cor. 4:5,
Therefore judge nothing
before the time, until the Lord come,
who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make
manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of
God.
2 Tim. 4:1, I charge thee therefore before God, and the
Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the
quick and the dead at his appearing
and his kingdom;
2
Cor. 5:10,
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad.
Romans
14:10,
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy
brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans
14:12,
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
B. It is Only for Believers.
C. It is for Works and Not Salvation.
According
to 1Cor. 3:9-15
the Lord will evaluate our service to Him in building up the people in our
church.
D.
It is for Rewarding Faithful Church Ministry.
1 Cor.
3:14, If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward.
Again
the mention of Crowns regarding the 24 Elders (Rev.
4:4, 10) indicates that they have already been
through this judgment, though not recorded in the events of the book.
3. This is Almighty God. (Vs. 2, 3 a).
On the
throne in Almighty God the Father, since the Son approaches the throne in Rev 5:6, and the Spirit is
pictured before the throne in Rev 4:5. There is no possible way for human words to describe what
God is like in His essence. John can only use comparisons.
A. His Appearance was Like a Jasper.
Jasper is a clear gem like the diamond (see Rev 21:11). The Lord
is robed in transparent light, according to the Word.
Psalm
104:2, Who coverest thyself with light as
with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
1
Tim. 6:16, Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power
everlasting. Amen.
Once
again this depicts the Father in radiant glory, and brilliant fascination.
Clearly both the stones reveal Him in exceptional glory and brilliance.
B. His Appearance was Like a Sardine.
The sardine is a blood red gem
like the ruby. It seems to convey the Father as ready to take up the matter of
judging the nation of the Jews.
C. His Appearance Points to Israel.
Both
the jasper and
the sardine
were found in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex 28:17-21). These stones were the first and the last in
the High Priest’s breastplate. The jasper represented Reuben,
Jacob’s first born son and the sardine represented Benjamin,
Jacob’s last born son. Thus the two
stone represent all the other sons and sets forth the nation of Israel, the
people of God. By this means God relates
Himself with His ancient covenant people and the judgment that will befall them
during the 7 years of tribulation on the earth.
Jeremiah
30:7, Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he
shall be saved out of it.
Daniel
9:24, Seventy weeks are determined upon thy
people and upon thy holy city,
to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make
reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to
seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
B. JOHN SEES AN EMERALD RAINBOW ABOVE THE THRONE
(Rev. 4:3 b).
Around the throne appears a rainbow (v. 3 b).
1. This Rainbow Was a Complete Circle, Not
Merely an Arc!
For in
Heaven all things are completed. What the Father initiates He will bring to
completion.
Numbers
23:19, God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he
should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and
shall he not make it good?
Romans
11:29, For the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance.
1
Thes. 5:24,
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
2. The Rainbow Reminds Us of God's Covenant with
Noah (Gen 9:11-17).
This
is symbolic of His promise that He would never again destroy the earth with a
flood. God's covenant, as we shall see, was not only with Noah, but with all of
His creation.
3. Judgment Is about to Fall, but the Rainbow
Reminds Us That God Is Merciful.
Even
when He judges (Hab 3:2) he still remembers mercy.
Habakkuk
3:2, O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work
in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
4. Usually, a Rainbow Appears after the Storm;
but Here, We See it Before the Storm.
A. This Rainbow Looked like the Emerald.
Thus
the most prevailing color was a pleasant green, to show the reviving and refreshing nature of the new covenant.
Jeremiah
31:31-34, Behold, the days come, saith
the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with
the house of Judah: [32] Not according to the covenant that I made with their
fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land
of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them,
saith the Lord: [33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their
inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they
shall be my people. [34] And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour,
and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me,
from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
B. The Rainbow Represents Returning Grace.
Before
the time of judgment begins the Father is anticipating the Jews embracing the
New Covenant! Clearly the rainbow
symbolizes grace returning after wrath! It is a promise that God will keep His
promises to the creatures of the earth and the nation of the Jews.
C. JOHN SEES MANY CREATURES SURROUNDING THE
THRONE (Rev. 4:4, 5 b, 6 b-8).
Around
the throne we find the elders and beautiful living beast creatures (Rev. 4:3-4, 6-7). The
rainbow was around the throne vertically,
while these heavenly beings were around the throne horizontally. They are, as it were, the king's court.
1. Twenty-four Elders (4:4):
They
are dressed in white and wear golden crowns.
A. Who Are These Twenty-four
Elders Seated on Thrones?
1. They Are Not Angles.
A. It is unlikely that they are angels, because
angels are not numbered (Heb 12:22), crowned, or enthroned.
B. They believe that the elders are an angelic
group providing the worship. Their continuous praise and the fact that they
serve along side the four living creatures (Rev.
4:11; 5:9-10; 11:17-18; 19:4) supports this
view. Therefore they conclude that the
twenty-four elders are beings who live in heaven and worship God at his throne
(see also 14:3). Their actions, such as
worshiping and offering bowls of incense, seem to be that of a special order of
angels.
C. The Elders are Different from Angles.
Notice
in Rev 7:11,
the elders are distinguished from the angels (see also Rev 5:8-11).
D. The Elders are Rewarded
and Angles are Not. (Rev. 4:4)
The
crowns they wear are the "victor's
crowns" (the Greek word stephanos, see Rev 2:10); and we have no
evidence that angels receive rewards.
2. They are the People of God. (N.T. Christians)
These
elders most likely symbolize the people of God in heaven, they represent the NT
Saints raptured prior to the Tribulation Period and then enthroned and rewarded
in Heaven.
A. They are Symbols of a Priestly People.
1. There were twenty-four courses of priests in
the Old Testament temple (1 Chron 24:3-5,18; see also Luke 1:5-9). But these depict the believer priests of the NT Era.
2. God's people are "kings and priests"
(Rev 1:6),
reigning and serving with Christ.
3. Note especially the praise of these priests (Rev 5:9-10).
Here
the elders represent the raptured believers, which sing the song of redemption
(Rev. 5:8–10).
1 Peter
2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew
forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
B. They are Symbols of an Enthroned People.
1. Their Thrones.
The
word “seats” (Rev. 4:4) literally refers
to twenty four ‘stately seats or thrones’
pointing to powerful potentates.
However, these are lesser thrones!
2.
Their Crowns.
The
crowns were similar to those given victors
in Greek games (stephanos), in
contrast with the crown of a sovereign
ruler (“diadem”). The crowns seem to indicate that the elders had been
judged and rewarded.
3. Their Presence.
When
Daniel (Dan 7:9)
saw the thrones set up (note that "cast
down" actually refers to the
establishment of these thrones), they were empty; but when John saw them, they
had been filled.
C. They are Symbols of a Redeemed People.
1. White Robes.
The
white robes and golden crowns speak of righteousness and victory (also see Rev 7:9, for tribulation
saints).
2. Golden Crowns.
They
are the NT believers who have their crowns and live in the place prepared for
them, where they have gone with Jesus (John
14:1–4).
3. Redeemed Overcomers.
Rev.
3:21, To him that overcometh will I
grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne.
These
are the "overcomers" who have conquered because of their faith in Christ (1 John 5:4-5). Their joint
rule with Christ, their white garments (Rev.
19:7,8), and their golden crowns (Rev. 2:10) all seem to
indicate that these 24 represent the NT redeemed people of God (Rev. 9–11; 5:5–14; 7:11–17; 11:16–18; 14:3; 19:4).
B. Why are There Twenty Four
Thrones Surrounding the Throne of God?
1. Possibly For Twelve Patriarchs and Twelve
Apostles.
Some
believe that it is because there were twelve tribes of Israel in the Old
Testament and twelve apostles in the New Testament, the twenty-four elders
(twelve plus twelve) in this vision represent all the redeemed of God for all
time (both before and after Christ's death and resurrection). Some view them as
representatives of the Heads of the
Old and New Testament churches respectively, the Twelve Patriarchs (they compare
this passage with Rev 7:5–8, not in their personal, but in their representative
character), and Twelve Apostles. They believe they symbolize all those -- both
Jews and Gentiles -- who are now part of God's family. The twenty-four elders
show us that all the redeemed of the Lord are worshiping him.
2. They Do Not Symbolize Redeemed Israel.
Since
the nation is not yet saved, glorified, and coronated it could not possibly be
them. That is still to come at this point in the events of the end. Their
resurrection and glory will come at the end of the 7 year tribulation time (Dan. 12:1–3). Tribulation
saints aren’t yet saved (Rev. 7:9,10). Only one group will be complete and glorified at that
point—the NT Christian Saints.
3. Twenty-four as a symbolic number occurs only
in this book and only for these elders (Rev 4:4,
10; 5:8; 11:16; 19:4). We do know that there were twenty-four
courses of priests in the Old Testament Temple (1
Chron 24:3-5,18; see also Luke 1:5-9). Perhaps Christians
will form this very order in Heaven itself.
We do not really know why this number is chosen!
2. Seven Spirits of God (4:5 b)
Before
the throne were also lamps of fire (Rev. 4: 5).
A. Seven Fold Spirit of God.
1. Completeness of
the Spirit.
The
seven lamps connote completeness and symbolize the Holy Spirit of God (Rev 1:4; Ezek 1:13; Zech 4:2-6).
Seven is the number of completeness, so John is identifying the fullness of the
Holy Spirit. Christ has the fullness of the Spirit, for seven is the number of
fullness (Rev. 3:1).
2. Character of the Spirit.
The
concept of the sevenfold character of the Spirit (Isa. 11:2-3; Rev. 1:4; 5:6).
Isaiah
11:2-3, And the spirit of the Lord
shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom
and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of
knowledge and of the fear of the
Lord; [3] And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the
Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after
the hearing of his ears
These
should be understood to represent the Holy Spirit rather than seven individual
spirits or angels.
B. Fire is a Symbol of the
Spirit.
Rev.
1:4, John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and
peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his
throne;
Ezekiel
1:13, As for the likeness of the living
creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it [Holy
Spirit of burning] went up and down among the
living creatures; and the fire was
bright, and out of the fire went
forth lightning.
Isaiah
4:4, When the Lord shall have washed away
the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of
Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the
spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
1. These are symbols of the Holy Spirit (Rev.1:4), who is “the Spirit of burning” (Isa 4:4).
During
this age of grace, the Spirit is pictured as a dove of peace and guidance (John 1:29-34); but after the
Christians are taken up in the Rapture, the Spirit will minister a judgment of
fire.
2. With God the Father seated on the throne and
the Holy Spirit represented by the seven burning lamps, the stage is then set
for the revelation (chap. 5) of Christ Himself as the slain Lamb.
3. Four Beautiful Beasts.
(Living Angelic Creatures) (4:6
b-8)
Also
around the throne, John saw four "beasts" who were nearer to God than the angels and the
elders. They appear to be on four
corners around the throne. They are literal creatures, with symbolic meaning.
A. Their Description (Rev. 4:6b-8a) (The Beautiful Beasts)
1.
They Resemble Cherubim.
They
resemble the cherubim that the Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek 1:4-14; 10:20-22), but
they may not actually be such. But, as
such they depict the burning judgment of God.
2. They Resemble Seraphim.
Then
their praise “Holy, holy, holy” (Rev 4:8) reminds us of the seraphim of Isa 6:2-7, but again they
may not be such. But, as such they depict the burning purity of God. Both Cherubim and Seraphim are guardians of
the Throne of God; these creatures seem to be a combination of the other two
classes.
3. They Symbolize Earthly
Creation.
These
are most likely special creatures who symbolize God's creation and are related
to God's covenant with Noah (Gen 9:8-17).
A. Four is the number of the earth, so we have
here God's covenant with earthly creation.
B. Read Gen
9:8-13 and you will see that God has made His
covenant with mankind, fowls, cattle, and the wild beasts; and each of these is
represented by a face on the living creatures.
C. God gave man dominion over creation, but this
rule was lost through sin (Gen 1:28-31; Ps 8:1).
D. However, in Christ, that dominion will be
regained when the kingdom is established; see Isa
11:6-8 and 65:25.
E. The presence of the four creatures
(symbolizing creation) before God's throne teaches us that He is in control
of creation, and that He will keep His promise to one day deliver creation from
the bondage of sin (Rom 8:19-24).
4. They Are Covered with Eyes
(Rev. 4:6b).
A. They Signify the Wisdom of God.
These
creatures signify the wisdom of God ("full
of eyes") and proclaim the
holiness of God. They are heavenly reminders that God has a covenant with His
creation and that He rules His creation from His throne. The presence of the
emerald rainbow further enhances this image, since the rainbow was given as the
sign of the creation covenant. No matter what terrible judgments may fall on
God's earth, He will be faithful to keep His Word.
B. They Signify Comprehensive Perception.
Although
not omniscient—an attribute reserved for God alone—these angels have a
comprehensive knowledge and perception. Nothing escapes their scrutiny (also 4:8). They are “eye
witness” to the faithfulness of the Lord to His covenant with creation.
5. They Had a Four Fold
Appearance. (Rev. 4:7)
A. The first has the appearance of a lion; the second, a calf; the third, a man;
and the fourth, a flying eagle (4:7).
B. The faces of the living creatures parallel
God's statement in Gen 9:10-His covenant is with Noah (the face of the man), the fowl
(the face of the eagle), the cattle (the face of the calf), and the beasts of
the earth (the face of the lion).
C. Some Bible students see in the four faces
described (Rev 4:7) an illustration of the four fold picture of Christ given in the Gospel
accounts.
1. Matthew is the royal Gospel of the King,
illustrated by the lion.
2. Mark emphasizes the servant aspect of the
Lord's ministry (the calf).
3. Luke presents Christ as the compassionate Son
of man.
4.
John magnifies the
deity of Christ, the Son of God (the eagle).
6. They Each Have Six Wings
(Rev. 4:8 a).
This seems
to symbolize swiftness, strength and
power. Perhaps they fulfill their service to God with the swiftness of
eagles’ wings and as such they are presented as strong and powerful creatures
poised to execute His will.
B. Their Duties (Rev. 4:8 b): (The Beautiful Beasts)
1. They Emphasize the Holiness
of God. “Holy,
holy, holy” (Rev 4:8).
Day
and night they proclaim the holiness of God.
Men may curse Him during the judgments (Rev
16:9,11,21), but nature will praise Him and
magnify His holiness. He is praised as
"holy":
A. For His majesty (Rev 4:1), about to display
itself;
B. His justice (Rev 4:4) now displaying itself;
C. His mercy (Rev 4:6-8) displayed in time past.
2. They Emphasize the Might of
God.
The
name used by these creatures, "Lord God
Almighty," emphasizes the power of God.
A. As mentioned in chapter 1, the name Almighty
is used nine times in Revelation.
B. The only other such usage in the New
Testament is 2 Cor 6:18.
2 Cor.
6:18, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.
C. But it is found at least, thirty-one times in
Job, a book that magnifies the power of God in nature. Clearly, He Who possess power to create the
world has power and right to judge.
3. They Emphasize the Eternity
of God.
“God
Almighty, which was and is and is to come.”
(See Rev.
1:4). God’s
eternal presence is not limited by time. He has always been present and will
come in the future. So here His eternal nature is emphasized, "holy," as He "which was;" "holy," as He "which is;"
"holy," as He "which is to come."
A. He presents Himself as the object of “holy” worship in the past
creation of all things:
B. More fully He presently shows Himself to be “holy” in governing all
things:
C.
He will in the future, and to the highest degree, show Himself to be “holy” in the consummation
of all things.
Romans
11:36, For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory for ever. Amen.
Isaiah
6:3, And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Thus
the Lord signifies His clear intent to be true to His eternal character of
holiness as He prepares to deal out judgments upon the earth and mankind.
4. They Emphasize the Providence
of God.
The
cherubim described in Ezekiel one seem to have a part in the providential
workings of God in the world, pictured by the
"wheels within the wheels." God uses
the forces of nature to accomplish His will (Ps
148), and all nature praises and thanks
Him. Perhaps these symbols of natural
creation foreshadow the Lord’s providential work still to come. These judgments are providential not
haphazard, nor are they the ultimate goal of the Lord, redemption and
reconciliation are.
D. JOHN SEES A CRYSTAL SEA OF GLASS IN FRONT OF
THE THRONE (Rev. 4:6a).
1. The Sea Was Like Glass. “There was a sea of
glass” (A Symbol of
Peace)
The
emphasis on a glass like sea depicts still waters and symbolize the calmness,
peace, and tranquility that will characterize our time in Heaven.
A. Peace Through the Blood.
Col.
1:20-22, And, having made peace through the blood of his cross,
by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be
things in earth, or things in heaven. [21] And you, that were sometime
alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled [22] In the body of his
flesh through death, to present you holy
and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
1. A Symbol of the Temple Laver.
John
saw before the throne a sea of glass, as in the temple where there was a great
container of brass–brazen laver– filled with water. This "sea
of glass" (Rev. 15:2) must be an
allusion to the sea in Solomon's temple (1 Kings
7:23; 2 Chron 4:2,6). Israel’s priests were to wash when they went
to worship and serve the Lord.
2. A Symbol of the Cleansing Blood. (Fellowship,
not Redemption)
The
laver or basin is a type of Christ, cleansing the believer-priest from the
defilement of sin (John 13:2-10; Eph 5:25-27). The priests, after serving at the bronze altar (which
was a type of Christ's cross on which He, as our whole burnt offering,
purchased our redemption), could not enter the Holy Place of God's presence
until their hands and feet were cleansed.
APPLICATION:
Today the sea or laver for cleansing is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, who
cleanses from all sin. Our duty is to
come to Him with confessions on our lips.
In relating the “sea of glass” to glorified believers it would symbolize the truth that
all who have been washed are admitted into the gracious presence of God in
Heaven for worship and service. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power
are washed in the blood of the lamb?
Romans
5:1, Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ:
Hebrews
10:19-22,
Having therefore, brethren, boldness
to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] By a new and living
way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his
flesh; [21] And having an high priest over the house of God; [22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,
and our bodies washed with pure water.
B. Peace Through the Battles.
1. The Time of Trouble is Past.
Sometimes
life can be like a ragging stormy sea.
At periods we seem to live in a mad battle to remain afloat and avoid
being drowned in the waves of a troubled life.
The sea sometimes represent the wicked in their restlessness ( see Isa. 57:15-21) and its a
symbol of the seething nations of the world and of the troubled lives of the
unrighteous (Dan 7:2-3; Matt 13:47; Rev 13:1). Yes, even the
people of God have seen some turbulent and troublesome times, but that is all a
part of the past! Now is the time of
rest, relief, and peace within the soul and in their environment.
2. The Time of Tranquility is Come.
All
that the sea once stood for-storms and treacherous waves, agitation and unrest
among the peoples of the earth-had now been subdued, conquered, and silenced!
Its will be a matter of history for us as we are finally brought completely
under the rule and reign of our great God.
APPLICATION:
This “sea of glass” is before His Throne.
Therefore the rule and administration of God will result in peace in the
lives of His subjects. God portrays His throne as symbolizing the peace,
calmness, and majesty of His rule. This “sea of glass” is
emblematic of the calmness, the peacefulness of God’s administration-like an
undisturbed and unruffled ocean of glass He rules and leads on with His great
plans. Indeed God is on the Throne, let
there be peace in the hearts of His people.
The life truly ruled by Him will enjoy His peace in the soul.
Philip.
4:7, And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
Col.
3:15,
And let the peace of God rule in
your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye
thankful.
Isaiah
9:6-7,
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his
kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from
henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
While
the world below will experience tribulation and judgement, we as Christians
will enjoy peace in Heaven with the Lord on the throne.
2.
The Sea Was Like Crystal. “A Sea of glass like unto crystal” (A Symbol of Purity)
A. Symbolizes Purity and Transparency.
Crystal
refers to clear glass and colorlessness-as the transparent crystals of
quartz. Thus the crystal sea was
perfectly clear and transparent. The “sea of glass like unto crystal” serves as a fascinating part of the floor or foundation of
God's throne room and highlights both the magnificence and holiness of
God.
B. Symbolizes the Holiness of God.
This
is intended to be emblematic of the rule of God which is always in purity and
based on His holy nature. A pure crystal sea symbolizes God's holiness, and the
mingled fire speaks of His holy judgment (Rev.
15:2).
1. The crystal "firmament" in Ezekiel's vision also comes to mind (Ezek 1:22); it was the
foundation for God's throne.
2. We shall meet this "sea of glass"
again in Rev 15
where it is connected with Israel's victory over Egypt.
3.
The Rule and Judgment of God is always based on His Righteousness,
Holiness and Purity.
Psalm
50:5-6, Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with
me by sacrifice. [6] And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
Psalm
96:13,
Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness,
and the people with his truth.
Psalm
98:9,
Before the Lord; for he cometh to
judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.
Isaiah
11:3-5,
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and
he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the
hearing of his ears: [4] But with
righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek
of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with
the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be
the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
Rev.
19:11, And I saw heaven opened, and behold a
white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make
war.
3. The Scene Was Like the Temple (Rev 4:4-7).
John
also seems to suggest in Revelation that the "heavenly sanctuary"
follows the pattern of the earthly tabernacle and temple.
Hebrews
8:5, Who serve unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about
to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according
to the pattern shewed to thee in the
mount.
Hebrews
9:23, It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens
should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better
sacrifices than these.
Hebrews
9:24,
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which
are the figures of the true; but
into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Hebrews
10:1,
For the law having a shadow
of good things to come, and not the very
image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered
year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
A. The Types.
The
parallels these “examples,” “shadows,” “figures,” and “patterns” are as follows:
1. Earthly temple 1. Heavenly sanctuary
2. Holy of holies 2. The
throne of God
3. Seven-branched candlestick 3. Seven lamps of fire before the throne
4.
Bronze laver 4. Sea of glass
5. Cherubim over the mercy seat 5.
Four living creatures around the throne
6.
Priests 6.
Elders (kings and priests)
7.
Brazen altar 7. Altar (Rev
6:9-11)
8. Incense altar 8. Incense golden altar (Rev 8:3-5)
9.
Ark of the covenant 9. Ark of the covenant (Rev 11:19)
B. The Temples.
1. The entirety of Heaven should be viewed as
God’s Temple. Clearly all of Heaven is
God's sanctuary for those who serve before His holy throne (Rev 7:15).
2. However, John indicates in Rev 15:5-8 that there is a
special “temple of God” a ‘smaller sanctuary’ within Heaven itself which serves as
a special place for God, His Word and some angelic beings (note also Rev 11:19). This parallels
wonderfully with the “ark of the covenant” in the holy of holies (Exodus
26:33-35).
3. In the eternal state, there will be no temple
(Rev 21:22).
APPLICATION: John describes these scenes in such detail
because Christians in the first century came from many backgrounds. Not all of
them understood Jewish history or knew the glory of the Temple. Revelation
instructs us in worship. It shows us where, why, and how to praise God. What does worship do?
— Worship takes our minds off our problems
and focuses them on God.
— Worship leads us from individual
meditation to corporate worship.
— Worship causes us to consider and
appreciate God's character.
— Worship lifts our perspective from the
earthly to the heavenly.
E. JOHN SEES A STORM DEVELOPING FROM THE THRONE
(Rev. 4:5 a).
Out of
the throne of God we can see storm signals (v.
4:5 a).
“Lightenings and thunderings and voices”
1. These Are Indications of a Coming Storm.
These "storm signals" will be
repeated during the time of judgment, always proceeding from the throne and
temple of God.
Rev.
8:5, And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and
cast it into the earth: and there were
voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
Rev.
11:19,
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his
temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and
great hail.
Rev.
16:18,
And there were voices, and
thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not
since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
2. These Are Reminders of God's Awesome Power.
Exodus
9:23, And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the
ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
Exodus
9:28,
Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will
let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
Exodus
19:16,
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick
cloud upon the mount, and the voice of
the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp
trembled.
3. These Are Reminders That God Has Indeed
Prepared His Throne for Judgment.
Psalm
9:7, But the Lord shall endure for ever: he
hath prepared his throne for judgment.
Psalm
77:18, The voice of thy thunder was in the
heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
Our
world does not like to think of God as a God of judgment. They prefer to look
at the rainbow around the throne and ignore the lightning and thunder out of
the throne. He certainly is a God of grace, but His grace reigns through
righteousness (Rom 5:21). This was made clear at the cross where God manifested
both His love for sinners and His wrath against sin.
III. THE SONG OF HEAVEN (Rev. 4:9-11)
Not
only do we have a Summons to Heaven,
and have seen the Sight in Heaven,
but be also have the Song of Heaven.
Praise to Him that sits on the throne (vv. 9-11).
A. THE
SINGERS (Rev. 4:9-10):
All
the inhabitants of heaven will offer worship to the Lord on the Throne.
1. The Four Beautiful Beasts. Rev. 4:9 (Living Angelic Creatures).
This
round of the praise worship service begins with these glorious beautiful
beasts. In the most proper sense,
Angelic beings do not sing. They recite
their words of praise to the Lord.
Notice the word “saying” in Rev. 4:8 and 5:12.
2. The Twenty Four Elders. Rev. 4:10 (Glorified Believers
Enthroned).
The worship
was contagious! Whenever the living
creatures glorified God, the elders would fall before the throne and praise Him
and casting the crowns at the feet of Almighty God.
A. Our Works Will Glorify Him.
Matthew
5:16, Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
B. Our Rewards Will Glorify Him.
Rev.
4:10, 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,
1
Cor. 3:8-10, Now he that planteth and he
that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. [9] For we are labourers
together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. [10]
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder,
I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man
take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1
Cor. 3:14-15, If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15]
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall
be saved; yet so as by fire.
C. Our Words Will Glorify Him. Rev. 4:11
1.
Because He is Worthy. “To receive glory
and honour and power”
2. Because He is Creator.
I
suppose it is safe to say that there will be no evolutionist in Heaven! Since
the twenty-four elders typify the people of God in heaven, then we must ask, "Why should God's people praise God the
Creator?" If the heavens are declaring the glory of God, why shouldn't God's
heavenly people join the chorus?
A. Creation bears constant witness to the power,
wisdom, and glory of God (Ps 19).
B. Acknowledging the Creator is
the first step toward trusting the Redeemer (see Acts 14:8-18; 17:22-31). "All things were created by Him [Christ] and for Him ...
and by Him all things consist [hold
together]" (Col 1:16-17).
D. The Revelation Constantly Encourages Praise!
The
Book of Revelation is filled with hymns of praise (Rev 4:8,11; 5:9-13; 7:12-17; 11:15-18; 12:10-12; 15:3-4;
16:5-7; 18:2-8; 19:2-6). The emphasis on
praise is significant when you remember that John wrote this book to encourage
people who were going through suffering and persecution!
B. THE SONG (Rev.
4:11):
They
worship God for his great work in creating all things. The song of this section
teaches us two things about the purpose of creation.
1. Creation is for the Praise of God.
The
theme of this hymn is God the Creator, while in Rev
5 the elders praise God the Redeemer. The
praise in Rev 4
is given to the Father on the throne, while in Rev
5 it is directed to the Son (the Lamb) before
the throne. The closing hymn (Rev 5:13) is expressed to both, another proof of the deity of Jesus
Christ.
2. Creation is for the Pleasure of God.
But
sinful man worships and serves the creature rather than the Creator, and this
is idolatry (Rom 1:25). Furthermore, sinful man has polluted and destroyed God's
wonderful creation; and he is going to pay for it (see Rev 11:18).
Creation
is for God's praise and pleasure, and man has no right to usurp that which
rightfully belongs to God. Man plunged creation into sin, so that God's good creation '(Gen 1:31) is today a groaning creation (Rom 8:22); but because of
Christ's work on the cross, it will one day be delivered and become a glorious creation (Rom 8:18-24).
CONCLUSION:
It is
unfortunate that churches today often neglects to worship the God of creation.
The real answer to the ecological
problem is not financial or legal, but spiritual. It is only when man
acknowledges the Creator and begins to use creation to God's glory that the
problems will be solved. (MacDonald & Wiersbe)
How important it is for us to recognize and praise the
mighty power of our Creator God. This hymn, “I
Sing the Mighty Power of God,” teaches us to sing of His goodness, wisdom
as well as His omnipresence. God’s people have much to sing about!
I sing the mighty
pow’r of God that made the mountains rise that spread the flowing seas abroad
and built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the
day; the moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.
I sing the
goodness of the Lord that filled the earth with food; He formed the creatures
with His word and then pronounced them good. Lord, how Thy wonders are
displayed where’er I turn my eye: If I survey the ground I tread or gaze upon
the sky!
There’ s not a
plant or flow’r below but makes Thy glories known; and clouds arise and
tempests blow by order from Thy throne. While all that borrows life from Thee
is ever in Thy care, and ev’rywhere that man can be, Thou, God, art present
there.
Try to catch a
new awareness of God’s great power, goodness, and wisdom. Thank Him for His
promise to be at your side. Praise Him as you go!
