Yahweh Holds Counsel
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Come, let's worship him who sits on the throne.
Come, let's worship him who sits on the throne.
Jesus’ outline of Revelation:
Revelation 1:19.
19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
What was seen: Jesus Glorified - Revelation 1:9-20.
What is: the Seven Churches - Revelation 2-3.
What will be: Jesus’ judgement in the seven seals, trumpets and bowls. Revelation 4-22.
Revelation 4:1.
1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
The key phrase “after this” occurs 10 times in Revelation, each time shows the progression of the visions.
John is drawing special attention to Revelation 1:19 in two ways. First, he quotes the end of verse 19 - “take place after this.” Second, he sets off Revelation 4:1 by starting it with “after this,” and ending it with “after this”.
When does chapter four then take place?
Revelation 4:2.
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
The throne in heaven
Psalm 103:19.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Isaiah 66:1-2.
1 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
2 All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
Yahweh, the Father, is seated on the throne of heaven.
Do I recognize who is on the throne and respond in worship?
Revelation 4:3.
3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
Yahweh - with the appearance of jasper and carnelian
Ezekiel 1:4-28.
26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.
27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.
The appearance of jasper
Revelation 20:10-11.
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
John here defines the appearance of jasper. By this description, it is much like a diamond.
The appearance of carnelian is a reddish precious stone.
The Book of Revelation The Picture of God Sitting on a Throne (4:2b–3)
Individual meanings are not to be assigned to each of the stones; collectively they represent God’s sovereign majesty and glory since they appear in OT theophany scenes in which divine glory is manifested and because they are directly linked to God’s glory in Rev. 21:10–11, 18–23.
The rainbow around the throne
28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Genesis 9:12-13.
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:
13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
He is on the throne, fulfilling his promises.
Revelation 4:4.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
The twenty-four thrones and twenty four elders seated on the thrones.
The Book of Revelation The Picture of a Throne before Which are Attendants, Fire, and a Sea (4:4–8a)
The elders have been variously identified as (1) stars (from an astrological background), (2) angels, (3) OT saints, (4) angelic, heavenly representatives of all saints, (5) patriarchs and apostles representing the OT and NT saints together, and (6) representatives of the prophetic revelation of the twenty-four books of the Old Testament.
The elders are:
Sitting on thrones
Who is promised shared thrones? Revelation 3:21.
21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
The elders are:
Clothed in white garments
Who is promised white garments? Revelation 3:4, 18.
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
The elders are:
Wearing golden crowns
Who is promised crowns? Revelation 2:10; 3:11.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Why the number twenty-four?
How many tribes of Israel are there? Twelve Tribes
How many apostles are there? Twelve Apostles
So who are these twenty-four elders?
They are the OT and NT saints, together sharing the rule with Jesus and the Father.
We will share will share this with them, as well.
Revelation 4:5.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,
The significance of thunder and lighting.
Exodus 19:16.
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.
Psalm 77:13-20.
16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Thunder and lighting declare God’s great power.
Will we worship him?
The seven lamps (torches of fire) before the throne are the seven spirits of God, representing the fulness of the Holy Spirit. My discussion on this was on 6/7/2023. Scan the QR code to access it.
Revelation 4:6-8.
6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:
7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.
8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
The four living creatures:
The lion creature
The ox creature
The man-faced creature
The flying eagle creature
What are these creatures around the throne? We will explore that further on a Wednesday night study.
Revelation 4:9.
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
What is their purpose?
They give glory
They give honor
They give thanks
to the Father seated on the throne who lives forever and ever.
Will we follow suit?
Revelation 4:10-11.
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
The twenty-four elders:
leave their thrones
bow down in worship
cast their crowns before the throne
For the Father Creator is worthy of all glory, honor and power.
Will we leave our thrones and bow down in worship, casting our crowns, our rewards, at his feet?