Revelation 4:1 – 5:14
Vision of heaven
“After this I looked,
and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had
first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show
you what must take place after this..’
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in
heaven with someone sitting on it.”
Revelation 4 begins with John being asked to “come up here.”
The moving of an individual by the Spirit is seen in other places in Scripture.
Some examples include:
Elijah: “I
don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you” [said
by Obadiah in 1 Kings 18:12].
Ezekiel: “The Spirit
then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger
of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord on me. I came to the exiles who
lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I
sat among them for seven days—deeply distressed” [Ezekiel 3:14 – 15].
Philip: “When they
came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and
the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing” [Acts
8:39].
Paul: “I
know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven.
Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows” [2
Corinthians 12:2].
The Revelation 4 throne is occupied. The general feeling is this is THE ONE who
rules all. Everything comes from and to
this one who is seated on the throne.
This is the appearance of God the Father. There is NO physical description of the one
on the throne other than colors and impressions. The language is rabbinical to
describe the “shekinah” glory of God. We also have God posturing Himself as the
confident victor in the inevitable war that follows.
“And the one who sat
there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an
emerald encircled the throne.” The rainbow (literally “iris” and can be
translated “halo”) is the symbol for covenant and promise (see the covenant
given to Noah after the flood).
Surrounding the throne
were 24 other thrones, and seated on them were 24 elders. They were dressed in
white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
This is the only mention of the number 24 (used symbolically
in scripture). Wesley suggests the 24
thrones/elders represent “the whole body of saints.” Possible ideas: the 12
tribes + 12 apostles, the divisions of Aaron’s descendants (and duties),
angelic rank (Colossians 1:16), great and minor prophets, etc…
“From the throne came
flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne,
seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of
the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal” [verses
5 – 6a]. The ancient world worship “gods” that terrorized people with lightning
and thunder. However, the image we have brings joy to those in heaven. The seven lampstands have already been
identified as the seven churches, but they also have a connection to the
lampstands in the temple. The
significance of seven connects with the seven-fold Spirit (Holy Spirit). Notice the nature of the old covenant
(temple), the new covenant (church), and the Holy Spirit are to light up their
surroundings and operate in the light.
“In the center, around
the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in
front and in back” [verse 6b]. The
four living creatures have been a source of speculation. The cherubim on the mercy seat (lid to the
“ark of the covenant”) had two wings. In
Isaiah 6 there are seraphim who have six wings.
The eyes of the living creatures are a picture of ceaseless vigilance
and unending intelligence. They are the
“honor guard” for the one who sits on the throne. Early Christian writers understood the creatures
to represent the four gospels, the four “great” apostles, and/or the church of
both the Old and New Testament (Israel marched under four banners: Reuben =
man, Dan = eagle, Ephraim = ox, Judah = lion).
Wesley suggested that they represent the church, because they “sang a
new song” [verse 5:9ff] only possible for humans. This song’s theme is
redemption, something angels do not know.
They sang, something angels are never mentioned doing.
The first living creature was like a lion, the second was
like an ox, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying
eagle [verse 8]. Wesley gives this opinion: The first living creature was like
a lion to signify undaunted courage. The second, like a calf or ox, was to
signify unwearied patience. The third with the face of a man was to signify
prudence and compassion. The fourth, like an eagle was to signify activity and
vigor.
We now cross the first two praise anthems. These times of praise supplement the awesome
images of God. “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with
eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’ Whenever
the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne
and who lives for ever and ever, 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: ‘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 first praise anthem reflects back to Isaiah’s vision of
God in the temple (Isaiah 6:3). This
threefold “holy” is referred to as the “Trisagion.”
This threefold pattern is then repeated in a reference to time: was, is, and is
to come. We see the threefold nature of God (“trinity”) and His relationship to
time (before, now, and future), indicating God’s presence everywhere (not just
in physical space). This also emphasizes God eternalness. It has been suggested that they also
represent the three stages of God dealing with us: creation, redemption, and
sanctification.
The second praise
anthem represents a response to the truth of the first anthem. The elders lay down their crowns, which is an
act of worship. Their praise is directed
at “our Lord and God.” This is a
significant counterpoint to the Roman emperor worship. We see preparation for the clash of two
kingdoms.
Notice that God is
“worthy.” What God is worthy of is to “receive” (or “take”) is “glory, honor,
and thanks” (another tricolon). In fact,
God is the ONLY being in the universe who is worthy to receive these
things. The reason for this worth is God
is the one who created and sustains all things by his will (again said three
times). The rights of ownership apply to the one who has created the world and
us. It is His to set the laws since He
understands how life is supposed to work.
The creation/creator motif plays a significant role in Revelation (as
well as theology). The reason God is
worthy is that He is THE creator.
John is now
presented with a quandary that seems to stop the progression of the vision: “Then
I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on
both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel
proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the
scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the
scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was
worthy to open the scroll or look inside” [5:1 – 4].
The expression
“saw” or “looked” occurs often in Revelation so often that John is sometimes
nicknamed the “Seer.” What John sees is a scroll written on both sides with
seven seals. Ezekiel was given a scroll written on both sides to eat (Ezekiel
2:10). A Roman will was sealed with the seals of seven witnesses. This may be
considered the “last will” of sinful humanity. A seal could only be broken by
the person for whom the sealed document was intended. Anyone else opening a sealed document risked
death.
Notice nobody in
heaven, or earth, or under the earth could open this scroll. This is connected to supremacy of Jesus found
in Philippines 2:9 – 11: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and
gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Again we see a threefold emphasis. However, the significance is that no angel
(or heavenly creature), no human, and no fallen angel (demon) is worthy to
break the seals. Satan would like to
take God’s place, and humans have tried (and are trying) to take the place of
God; but this worth must be earned.
John’s weeping sets in because he understands the importance
of this scroll and the necessity of it being opened. Is it possible there is no heir to open the
will? Is it possible there is nobody to
rightfully inherit the document and its contents? In this, the only dark moment in heaven,
something remarkable happens.
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,
has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
“Then one of the
elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root
of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’ Then
I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the
throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had
seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent
out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him
who sat on the throne” [5:5 – 7].
John is informed the “the Lion” has triumphed and is
able! However, what John sees is a
Lamb. On an animal scale, these two
animals would be opposites. One is a
powerful predator while the other is about as helpless as it gets. The lamb looks like it has been slain,
referring to Jesus’ death (and by implication resurrection). The image of the “root of David” vaults us
back to the multiple prophecies about Jesus; His rightful place, His death, and
resurrection.
The Lamb is seen having seven horns (symbolizing power) and
seven eyes (symbolizing the sevenfold Spirit of God). All power, knowledge, and wisdom are His.
Revelation 5:8 – 14 gives the next three anthems of praise
in the book of Revelation: “And when he
had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down
before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of
incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song,
saying: ‘You are worthy to take the
scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you
purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will
reign on the earth.’ Then I looked and heard the voice of many
angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten
thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In
a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive
power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ Then
I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the
sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the
Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ The four
living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.”
The third anthem is sung.
The focus of number four is “with
your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and
people and nation.” Two ideas jump
out at this point; Jesus has purchased us with His blood and this is open to
all people everywhere at all times. We
see the basis of our faith in the blood that purchased us. We also see the equality of every human and
God’s desire to bring all to faith.
The fourth anthem is spoken by the angels, and more or less
confers the similar worth to Jesus as to the God (the Father). The fifth anthem
features the first two groups being joined by “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the
sea.” Notice this is very similar to the list of those who were unable to
open the scroll and those who, according to Philippines 2:9 – 11, will “acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Before the mayhem begins we get a good picture of the
magnificent glory of God. We taste the joy of the results of our resurrected Lord
and Savior. This is a prelude to God
unleashing His justice on a world that will constantly refuse salvation despite
the final and dramatic attempts God goes through to offer salvation to all.
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