Revelation 4
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After this refers to a new vision that John has, the bible does not give a time frame for how long after the vision of the risen and glorified Christ and the instructions for the seven churches. The phrase is used many times in the book to mark the beginning of a new vision or prophecy that John has.
John exclaims that he sees the entrance to heaven, the entrance to heaven standing open because the veil had been removed with Jesus’ sacrifice. Paul refers to this as the third heaven, the first being the earthly atmosphere, the second outer space and the interplanetary area, and the third heaven being the spiritual heaven, the very throne room of God. 2 Cor 12:2 “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.”
John again hears the voice of Jesus speaking to him and describes it as like a trumpet, loud and clear telling him to come to heaven and He will show John what must take place after this. Jesus is going to reveal what will take place in the church age.
Immediately John was transported into heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit and the first thing he saw is a throne and someone seated on the throne. There is some disagreement if John is talking about a literal throne or he is referring to a place of authority but either way the one on the throne is God the Father. Hebrews depicts Christ being at rest on his throne, Hebrews 10:12 “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,” but this depiction is God ruling reigning because judgement is about to take place.
John tries to describe what God looks like saying he has the appearance of jasper and carnelian or sardine. Later in Revelation John describes Jasper as crystal clear so this could be a diamond, clear and pure, reflecting and refracting all the colors of the light spectrum. The carnelian ESV or sardine stone KJV is a fiery red ruby, this is what the city of Sardis got its name from. This red stone symbolizes God’s blazing wrath that is about to be poured out on the sinful rebellious world.
A possible interpretation of the sardius and jasper stones used to describe the appearance of God is these two stones were the first and last stones on the high priest’s breastplate representing the firstborn (Reuben) and the last-born (Benjamin) of the twelve sons of Jacob thus symbolizing God’s covenant relationship with Israel. This also comes up again with the description of the four living creatures that are around God.
Around the throne John saw a rainbow with green being the dominant color. The rainbow is a symbol of God’s covenant with Noah never again to destroy the world with water, it is a symbol of His faithfulness, mercy, and grace. It’s also a reminder of a past judgement from God as another judgement is about to take place. The strong green hue of this rainbow reminds us of God’s creation, green and very good before the fall.
Also around the throne are twenty-four other thrones and twenty-four elders seated on those thrones. Here we have multiple interpretations of who these twenty-four elders are. MacArthur does not interpret these as two sets of twelve, twelve for the tribes of Israel and twelve for Jesus’ Apostles as he thinks that at this point, before the tribulations have started that the nation of Israel has not yet been saved, glorified and coronated. He believes that these are elders representing the New Testament church. This is also the view of John Gill, William Milligan however thinks that this is a combination of the twelve of Israel and the twelve from Jesus, the Apostles. I tent to side with MacArthur in his interpretations but I believe that this is representing a joining of Israel and the Apostles, his argument that Israel not being redeemed until after the tribulations does not make total sense to me, it is possible that the nation as a whole will not be redeemed until after the tribulations but this does not mean that the twelve sons of Jacob are not in heaven until that time, that to me seems that he would be arguing for a type of purgatory for the Jews until the whole nation is redeemed. Also he mentions that the twenty-four are mentioned as one group and not two sets of twelve, to me that signifies that all of the history is joined in one group now and there are no divisions of old and new, Jew and Gentile.
There were also several mentions of some who say that these 24 are angels or represent the 24 books of the Old Testament just FYI but all the commentaries I read discount this and give several good reasons, it is the vast consensus that these are men but the disagreement is who.
The elders are clothed in white garments with crowns on their heads, white garments symbolize Christ’s righteousness imputed to believers at salvation and the crowns are the crowns of life such as promised to the church in Smyrna.
From God and around the throne of God come lightning and thunder showing the growing fury of God’s wrath coming. It is also reminiscent of what Israel saw on Mount Sinai when Moses was receiving the ten commandments. Exodus 19:16 “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.”
Also before the throne of God the Father are seven lamps of fire, not the seven lampstands giving off a gentle light that you would keep in a dwelling representing the church, but seven torches burning bright and hot, these are the seven Spirits of God, the Holy Spirit, the Hold Spirit was also referenced as the seven Spirits before the throne in Rev 1:4 “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,” The Holy Sprit described as fiery hot torches like war torches, ready to make war on the sinful world.
In front of God’s throne is something like a sea of glass like crystal. This is not a literal sea but a vast pavement of glass or shiny sparkling crystal. Exodus also depicts this vision of the floor of heaven. Exodus 24:10 “and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.” Heaven is not a place of shadows but of brilliant light refracting and shining as through jewels and crystals.
The four living creatures are mostly agreed to be angels, most likely the same angels, cherubim or seraphim described in both Ezekiel 1 and Isaiah 6. John describes them to be full of eyes and having four different likenesses, Ezekiel describes them with four faces each. The way they surround the throne and move around it could mean that one of each face is pointed forward at all times. The mention of them being full of eyes symbolizes that nothing escapes their sight, they are not omniscient as God is but they see all around them and nothing pertaining to their duties escapes their sight. The first is like a lion, representing wild creatures and strength, the second a calf or ox representing domestic animals and service, the third a man the pinnacle of creation and reason, and fourth an eagle representing flying creatures and speed.
Also the twelve tribes of Israel camped in the wilderness under four banners, Asher and Naphtali under the Dan to the North who’s banner is an eagle, Gad and Simeon under Reuben to the south who’s banner is a man, Benjamin and Manasseh under the Ephraim to the east who’s banner is a calf or ox, and Issachar and Zebulun under Judah to the east who’s banner is a lion.
Just like in the vision of Isaiah the four creatures have six wings each, with two they cover their faces, with two they cover their feet and with two they fly. Four of the six wings related to worship, covering their faces as to not look at the unveiled glory of God so they would not be consumed and covering their feet since they are on holy ground.
Constantly these four creatures, most likely angels, give praises to God saying “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” The Lord God is thrice holy and deserving of constant praise from all of his creation, He is all powerful and eternal.
While the four creatures are giving praises to God the twenty-four elders join in, falling down prostrate before God in reverential worship. Casting their crowns before him as all honor and glory go to God and none for themselves.
They praise Him and confirm Him as creator of all things and He continues to maintain all existence with this power.
While this chapter describes the throne room of God, how He is worshipped continuously, and is praised as the creator of all things with all power, the next chapter tells of the glorified and risen Lamb of God with power and authority to begin the final judgement.