Chapter 4 begins the transition into the ‘things which are to come.’  Last week we focused on preparation to enter heaven.  You should note that from here until the end of the book the word ‘grace’ is not mentioned.  The church is not mentioned again until chapter 22.  Some scholars believe that the rapture occurs in verse 1 with the invitation to “come up here.”  John was invited and transported into heaven which is the throne of God.  It was instanteously which I believe will also occur when we are raptured.  A quick trip, in the blink of an eye.  The heavens where the stars and planets are located is vast and beyond our knowledge even though we have been given much insight thanks to NASA and the Hubble telescope.  But the heaven where God’s throne is located is beyond our reaches.  Only four humans have ever seen it and lived to tell about it:  Isaiah, Ezekiel, Paul and John.  All four had the same response:  absolute awe and reverence, and an overwhelming realization that they were in a place that was holy and they were not.  They were sinful men in the presence of One who is completely holy.  They were not buddying up with Jesus, or having their ever whim catered too.  They were prostrate in fear and awe.  Heaven is a place of worship.  It is a real place and the only way there is by Jesus.  He is the open door.  So now let’s take a peek at what John saw.

 Vs 4  Surrounding the throne were twenty-four elders.  They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

Who are the elders?

Some say they are angels but I think based on scripture that they are men.  Angels do not age, nor do they reign.  They do not receive crowns nor are they dressed specifically in white.  They are not the nation of Israel because this is at the beginning of the Tribulation and ‘all Israel’ has not been saved yet.  The same can be said for the tribulation saints – that has not occurred yet.  Elders in the church were leaders.  They were the representation of the church.

 Why 24?

That number seems to mean ‘representation’.  There were 24 officers of the sanctuary representing the 24 course of the Levitical priesthood (1 Chronicles 24:4-5, 7-18, 25).

 What does the white clothing signify?

White clothing symbolizes Christ’s righteousness imputed to believers at salvation.  White clothing was mentioned to the church at Laodicea.  And also the bride of Christ which is the church will be dressed in white.  Another thing to remember is that the OT priests dressed in white when they entered the Holy Place.

 Why do they have crowns?

These are the victor’s crowns.  The word for crown is stephanos and was worn by those who successfully competed and won the victory.  Christ promised such a crown to the believers at Smyrna (Rev 2:10).  Paul also spoke of receiving a crown in 2 Timothy 4:8.  See also James 1:12

 So based on the above I believe that the elders are 24 men who represent the raptured church.  They are dressed in righteousness of Christ and have received their victor’s crown.    Now whether these men remain on those thrones I don’t know.  Could be they rotate as in the OT Levitical priesthood.

 Vs 5  From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.  Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing.  These are the seven spirits of God.

 What does lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder mean?

These are the signs of a coming storm – God’s impending judgment.  John is given a preview of the wrath to come (Rev 8:5, 11:19, and 16:18)

What are the seven lamps?

This use of lamps means outdoor torches not the inside soft lamps.  These torches lit the dark way and were also used in war.  This is not the single lampstand mentioned in Exodus for the ark or later the temple.  These were individual torches with each representing the Holy Spirit in all His fullness (Isaiah 11:2)

 What are the seven spirits of God?

From Isaiah we learn the seven spirits of God or the sevenfold Spirit is:  wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, reverence, deity.  The Counselor was about to become the Consumer.

 Vs 6  Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.  In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

 What does a sea of glass look like?

A sea is large and vast.  Glass is transparent and also reflective.  This is a real place, not a shadowy, floaty scene.  Before the throne was a vast expanse of transparent and reflective area.  Exodus 24:10 describes it as sapphire or crystal.

 What does it represent?

This is metaphorical, this is not a sea of water.  I think it shows the hugeness and grandeur of the throne.  As far as the eye could take in was brilliant light, reflecting, refracting in all angles the glory and brilliance coming from the throne.

  Who are the four living creatures?

Read Isaiah 6.  These are not animals.  The word for the creatures means ‘to live.’  They are not men.  They are angels and their location to the throne reveals their importance.  They are of a higher order.  There are seraphim which I found in studying, that hover above the throne and then there are cherubim which serve around throne.  Then there are archangels which do special functions (deliver God’s message and also do battle) – Gabriel and Michael.  Then there are a host of angels who serve God.  These angels who are described as before the throne will play an important role in the soon-to-come events.  Ezekiel describes them in Ezk 1:4-25.  These are the same creatures.  Ezk 10:15, Genesis 3:24, 1 Kings 6:23-28, Psalm 99:1 identify them as cherubim.

 What do the eyes represent?

The eyes represent that they are ever attentive, watching everything that goes on around the throne.  They are the guardians of the throne.

 Vs 7  The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

 Why a lion?  The lion represents strength

Why an ox?  The ox or calf represents service

Why a face of a man?  The man represents reason

Why an eagle?  The eagle represents speed

These are the characteristics of these particular angels:  strength, service, reason, speed

It is also interesting to note that the tribes in assembled under the following banners:

Reuben – man

Dan – eagle

Ephraim – ox

Judah – lion

**Reade Ezekiel 28:11 (the cherub who fell)

Vs 8  Each of the four living creatures, had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings.  Day and night they never stop saying:  “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

 Holy, holy, holy – the complete holiness of God.  He is not referred to as love, love, love or mercy, mercy, mercy.  Holy is who He is.  The triune God is Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Spirit.

Is the Lord God Almighty, – the name El Shaddai.  The all-sufficient God.

Who was, and is, and is to come – eternal: before time, during time, after time – no beginning and no ending.

What do the wings mean on the creatures?

Two wings were for service, flying; four wings were for worship – covered their feet and eyes

The eyes?

again we see that they are alert, attentive, seeing what is going on, ever-vigilant but not omniscient

Why do they never stop their singing?

They are the leaders of worship in heaven, they forever sing of God’s holiness and praise Him eternally

 

 Vs 9  Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,

The four living creatures acknowledge God’s holiness, omnipotence, and eternal nature.  That is where worship should always begin.

 

Vs 10  the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever.  They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

Why do the elders fall down?

Because of whose presence they are in.  It is voluntary but it is compulsory because of His holiness.  We will see that they fall prostrate six times in Revelation (here and then in 5:8, 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, and 19:4)

 

Why do they lay their crowns down?

They case their crowns before out of love and adoration.  What can you give to One who has all and created all – your love.  They take off that which was bestowed to them by Him in the first place and with hearts of love and adoration place it before Him in full gratitude and praise.

 

Vs 11  “You are worthy, our Lord and God,

To receive glory and honor and power,

For you created all things,

And by your will they were created

And have their being.”

The elders join the living creatures in giving praise to God.  They praise Him for His holiness and power.  They praise Him as the Creator (which by the way just smashes evolution in the head).  This is the beginning of five great hymns of praise in chapters 4 & 5:

– A quartet – the four living creatures

– The 24 elders join in

– Harps are added

– The rest of the angels join

– All created beings in the universe join in the throng of praise

The take-away for this study tonight is not to split hairs over seraphim and cherubim, what the creatures look like, or even the identity of the elders.  The focus is the One who sits enthroned and is over all and deserving of all praise.  It is a peek behind the curtain of heaven and see an enthralling scene of worship to Him who was, and is, and is to come.