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| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation Chapter 4 By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
Chapter 4
The Heavenly throne room scene before tribulation begins.
Verse 1
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice
which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will
show you things which must take place after this.”
John is now called into heaven to see the things which must be hereafter. The voice John
hears is the voice of Christ.
Verse 2 & 3
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the
throne. 3 And He who sat there was[a] like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and
there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
John is now in the realm of the spirit. Four times in the Book of Revelation John says he was
in the spirit. This expression means that the Holy Spirit was giving him a vision, showing him
situations and events he could not seen with mere human eyesight. The one upon the throne
is glorious and can be none other than G-d before whom all prostrate themselves. The
rainbow around the throne tells us in a sign that there shall be mercy in the midst of
judgement during this tribulation period. There is by contrast no rainbow around the Great
White Throne of 20:11-15 for before that throne's holiness the unrepentant will without
exception be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Verse 4
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders
sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Elders are not only the leaders of the congregation, but they are its representatives. These
elders represent some group. Their number 24 could mean they represent the redeemed of
both the Old and New Testament dispensations (times) 12 for the tribes of Israel and 12 for
the apostles. They are sitting they are in heaven resting from the earthly labors; they are
clothed in white raiment (justified from their sins by a garment of righteousness provided by G-
d),: they are wearing crowns of gold (Stephanos - victor's crown of leaves) so they have been
crowned as over comers through Christ's blood in the struggle upon earth.
Verse 5
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were
burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
We now ask what do these lightening and thunders signify? They symbolize G-d's presence
coming nigh for judgement. Thus judgement and wrath are about to fall; and the seven lamps
before the throne portray the all present all knowing all holy Holy Spirit who witnesses
against the sin of the world and to the righteousness of the wrath about to be unloosed. Man
will witness power he could never before imagine, G-d's power!
Verse 6 & 7
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and
around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first
living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living
creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
"Sea of glass like unto crystal" Here John speaks in the language of appearance. This is
how it appeared to John's eyes and he describes it in the terms of that which he has
experienced. In John's day glass was usually dull and semi-opaque. Thus glass that would
be as clear as crystal was then as precious as gold for it was rare. Glass was first made in
Egypt 2500 years before Christ. Mirrors were made of polished bronze by the Hebrews. The
only direct reference to glass found in the Old Testament is the book of Job, (Job 28:17)
where gold and crystal are compared with wisdom. John's comment must have made a great
impression on his mind. Around the throne the Apostle sees four beasts that have many
eyes. These living creatures are proclaimers of G-d's glory and they seem to represent His
government over the four corners of the earth. A lion (majesty, authority and power) a bull
(faith - strength), a man (intelligence, moral choice and responsibility) and a flying eagle
(majesty, swiftness, and transcendence). The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel saw four
similar creatures in Ezekiel 1:5-10.
Verse 8
The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And
they do not rest day or night, saying:
“ Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
Here creatures give us the triad of Holy, Holy, Holy as they ceaselessly glorify God.
Verse 9-11
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the
throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits
on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the
throne, saying:
11 “ You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Surely there is a lesson here for us when we see the four living creatures giving "glory and
honor and thanks" to G-d. So too the 24 elders adore and praise G-d and cast their crowns
before the throne. Note the attributes of G-d which are magnified: "Who liveth for ever and
ever" His eternal being and duration "thou art worthy (His worthiness to receive worship,
glory, honor and power). "Thou hast created all things (He is the Creation of All things -
despite what evolutionist claim.)
As Christians there are 5 crowns which we can share:
1.) A crown of life - James 1:12
2.) A crown of righteousness - II Tim. 4:8
3.) A crown of glory - I Peter 5:4
4.) A crown for soul winners - I Thess. 2:19
5.) A crown for Martyrs - Rev. 2:10
So overjoyed will we be in the heavenly Kingdom that we will cast our crowns at His pierced
feet. Imagine the joy that will be ours, eternally, in the Day that never ends!
The Heavenly throne room scene before tribulation begins.
Verse 1
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice
which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will
show you things which must take place after this.”
John is now called into heaven to see the things which must be hereafter. The voice John
hears is the voice of Christ.
Verse 2 & 3
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the
throne. 3 And He who sat there was[a] like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and
there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
John is now in the realm of the spirit. Four times in the Book of Revelation John says he was
in the spirit. This expression means that the Holy Spirit was giving him a vision, showing him
situations and events he could not seen with mere human eyesight. The one upon the throne
is glorious and can be none other than G-d before whom all prostrate themselves. The
rainbow around the throne tells us in a sign that there shall be mercy in the midst of
judgement during this tribulation period. There is by contrast no rainbow around the Great
White Throne of 20:11-15 for before that throne's holiness the unrepentant will without
exception be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Verse 4
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders
sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Elders are not only the leaders of the congregation, but they are its representatives. These
elders represent some group. Their number 24 could mean they represent the redeemed of
both the Old and New Testament dispensations (times) 12 for the tribes of Israel and 12 for
the apostles. They are sitting they are in heaven resting from the earthly labors; they are
clothed in white raiment (justified from their sins by a garment of righteousness provided by G-
d),: they are wearing crowns of gold (Stephanos - victor's crown of leaves) so they have been
crowned as over comers through Christ's blood in the struggle upon earth.
Verse 5
And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were
burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
We now ask what do these lightening and thunders signify? They symbolize G-d's presence
coming nigh for judgement. Thus judgement and wrath are about to fall; and the seven lamps
before the throne portray the all present all knowing all holy Holy Spirit who witnesses
against the sin of the world and to the righteousness of the wrath about to be unloosed. Man
will witness power he could never before imagine, G-d's power!
Verse 6 & 7
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and
around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first
living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living
creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
"Sea of glass like unto crystal" Here John speaks in the language of appearance. This is
how it appeared to John's eyes and he describes it in the terms of that which he has
experienced. In John's day glass was usually dull and semi-opaque. Thus glass that would
be as clear as crystal was then as precious as gold for it was rare. Glass was first made in
Egypt 2500 years before Christ. Mirrors were made of polished bronze by the Hebrews. The
only direct reference to glass found in the Old Testament is the book of Job, (Job 28:17)
where gold and crystal are compared with wisdom. John's comment must have made a great
impression on his mind. Around the throne the Apostle sees four beasts that have many
eyes. These living creatures are proclaimers of G-d's glory and they seem to represent His
government over the four corners of the earth. A lion (majesty, authority and power) a bull
(faith - strength), a man (intelligence, moral choice and responsibility) and a flying eagle
(majesty, swiftness, and transcendence). The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel saw four
similar creatures in Ezekiel 1:5-10.
Verse 8
The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And
they do not rest day or night, saying:
“ Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
Here creatures give us the triad of Holy, Holy, Holy as they ceaselessly glorify God.
Verse 9-11
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the
throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits
on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the
throne, saying:
11 “ You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Surely there is a lesson here for us when we see the four living creatures giving "glory and
honor and thanks" to G-d. So too the 24 elders adore and praise G-d and cast their crowns
before the throne. Note the attributes of G-d which are magnified: "Who liveth for ever and
ever" His eternal being and duration "thou art worthy (His worthiness to receive worship,
glory, honor and power). "Thou hast created all things (He is the Creation of All things -
despite what evolutionist claim.)
As Christians there are 5 crowns which we can share:
1.) A crown of life - James 1:12
2.) A crown of righteousness - II Tim. 4:8
3.) A crown of glory - I Peter 5:4
4.) A crown for soul winners - I Thess. 2:19
5.) A crown for Martyrs - Rev. 2:10
So overjoyed will we be in the heavenly Kingdom that we will cast our crowns at His pierced
feet. Imagine the joy that will be ours, eternally, in the Day that never ends!
Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc.
Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007
Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007