Revelation 4 – 5
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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