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Revelation Chapter 4
Rev 4:1 After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven,
and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me, one
saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass
hereafter.
The key to understanding Revelation is found in chapter 1. I will rewrite what I
wrote as notes to verse 19 of the 1st chapter.
Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are,
and the things which shall be hereafter;
Here is the key to understanding the book of Revelation. We separate it into
three sections. That which was seen in the 1st chapter, that which is present
(the present church age) or time of the Gentiles, and that which is to come
after the age of the church or after chapter 3 in Revelation.
Verse one says, "After these things I saw". The Things John saw were the visions
of Christ and the candlesticks in chapter one. The second section is the
churches that were present in John’s day until now. We are still in the church
age where the churches are upon the earth. In chapter four we see the beginning
of the things that occur after the church age ends. The true church is probably
gone at this point because John sees an open door into heaven and he is invited
to come up upon hearing the voice that is similar to the sound of a trumpet.
The reason I believe that the true church is taken up at this point is for
various reasons one being the verse in Revelation 3: 10 when the Lord was
addressing the Philadelphian church:
Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep
thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try
them that dwell upon the earth.
Jesus also gave a hint to the rapture here:
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before
the Son of man.
Paul hints of it here:
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by
our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the
Lord.
Now it could be that this takes place at the visible second coming when Jesus
returns to set up His kingdom but if that was so, we would be on the earth when
the wrath of God was poured out. I know we are not promised any escape from
persecution or tribulation done by man, but the faithful in Christ Jesus is to
escape the wrath of God that is poured out on the earth.
Paul seems also to hint that the church has to be removed before the anti-christ
is revealed. As long as a true believing church is present on the earth, evil
would be held back.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now
letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The World English bible states it this way:
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one
who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.
There are three hinderers of evil
1. The Holy Spirit
2. The true church
3. Governments
We will probably have some kind of government during the tribulation, The Holy
Spirit does not leave or else no one could be born again or saved during that
time and we know people do come to Christ at least the Jews do, for that is the
purpose of the tribulation. The only other thing that hinders is the true church
or body of believers in Jesus that are found watching and faithful when He
comes. It looks as if the true church is removed. It is possible also that all
the church will be in apostasy at that time and there is no one is found worthy
to escape "all these things" but that seems less likely. The Laodicea church is
the last church mentioned and there is a hint to the church being in apostasy
but God always has a remnant somewhere that stays faithful to Him. On other hand
during the tribulation He sends an angel to preach the gospel so perhaps whoever
is left is in a state of apostasy. I notice the use of the pronoun, he. We do
not call governments by the word, he. We do call the Holy Spirit a He but also
the church is the body of Christ so that could be used as a He. I know many
believe the church is the bride of Christ but that is another discussion. It is
called the body of Christ. We are His body and partakers of His holiness.
I will not in any way stoop to accusing someone that believes in the rapture to
be those who want to escape persecution and have the so-called easy way out. I
was raised believing in the rapture among good holiness people who would have
been willing to die for their faith. Believing in the rapture was not motivated
by trying to have it easy. On other hand I will not accuse those who believe
that the church goes through the tribulation to be false brethren. Jesus said we
do not know the day or the hour so this is not the time of false accusations but
discussion should always be encouraged. This is interesting to study about. The
fear of disagreements should not discourage us from studying bible prophecy.
The last hint I will mention of a previous rapture before the Second Coming is
this one.
1Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love
one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1Th 3:13 To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before
God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his
saints.
The saints of God are with Him when He returns. Saints are not those the
Catholic Church made to be saints but all who believe in Jesus to the point of
giving their lives to Him. The saints are those that keep the commandments of
God as found in Rev 14:12.
According to Jude, Enoch prophesied of this way back before the law of Moses was
even given. It would appear then that the true church will return with Christ
when He returns to set up His kingdom upon the earth.
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these,
saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Rev 4:2 Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne
set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;
I will assume now that at this point John sees what is going to happen at the
beginning of the tribulation period or time of Jacob's trouble a few years
before Jesus comes to set up His literal earthly kingdom.
Rev 4:3 and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius:
and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.
John saw God upon His throne. God is the one who is in control and about to send
forth judgment upon the earth for their rejection of the Holy Son of God who
died and suffered to save mankind from a lost condition. The judgment also is
upon them because they not only rejected His Son but persecuted and put to death
those that tried to tell them about the salvation Jesus paid the price to give
unto us.
The day of mercy and grace is about to close. The day of judgment and wrath is
about to begin.
The Jasper stone is a pure clear transparent white color, the sardine stone is
red and the emerald is green. It must have been a beautiful scene. Remember the
rainbow is a symbol of God’s covenant with the human race that He gave in the
days of Noah promising not to destroy the world with a flood again.
Rev 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon
the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and
on their heads crowns of gold.
The 24 elders are I believe 12 Old Testament saints and the 12 apostles or New
Testament saints. We can guess that Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Israel (Jacob) or
the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel. Another thought that the elders
represent the church who trusted in Christ since elders are connected with the
church. This would indicate a previous rapture of these believers before this
event occurs. In order for the church elders or even the Old Testament saints to
be seen as the 24 elders that would have to have been raptured and seated at the
thrones at this point. White garments represent the righteousness of Christ. We
are to receive crowns and rewards when we go to be with Christ at the rapture so
we see these having been crowned and seated on thrones representing the saints
that are raptured at that time. Angel are not given crowns neither do they sit
on thrones.
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders.
And there was seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven
Spirits of God;
The seven spirits of God is mentioned in chapter one also indicating the number
of completion. It is really all one spirit. A good explanation is to remember
the Jewish menorah that is one candelabra but with seven burning lamps.
Rev 4:6 and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like a crystal;
and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living
creatures full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:7 And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a
calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was
like a flying eagle.
We see here symbols of God’s creation in this creature. Lion a wild beast, the
calf is a gentle beast, the eagle is the fowls of the air and then we have the
human figure. Upon reading the creation story, God created the wild beast, the
beasts of the field, the fouls of the air and then man.
The book of Ezekiel describes these creatures also only it uses ox instead of
the word, calf.
Rev 4:8 and the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings,
are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night,
saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and
who is to come.
God is almighty, who always existed, who exists now and will exist for eternity.
Notice the word holy is expressed in threes. Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Another
hint of the triune God. These creatures seem to have as their main purpose to
proclaim the awesome holiness of God.
Rev 4:9 And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and
thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10 the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on
the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast
their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the
honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will
they were, and were created.
It was the will of God to create all things. We are His creation and it was His
will to create us. It is His will that all of His creation be saved and not
perish. If we perish it is by our own choice.
2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
This is the reason why the Lord delays His coming but surely that day draws
closer and the time is at hand.
2Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
A good sign of readiness is to love His appearing.
2Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that
look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Here we see yet another hint of a rapture. Christ is coming for those
that are looking for him.
In this vision of heaven we see a lot of worship, praise and exaltation of God’s
holiness. Jesus Christ is also worshipped and praised as one who is worthy of
our praise. If we are not comfortable worshipping God now, we are not going to
be comfortable in heaven. God is a holy God and is to be worshipped in spirit
and in truth. We must not take it lightly and be irreverent in our worship.
I remember times when services would become very quiet just before a message in
tongues was given. No one would dare move or make any noise until the will of
God was completed.
We do not always understand how holy and awesome God really is. We need to
recognize this and invite His presence into our midst. If we wonder sometimes
why God seems not to move in our services, if He did come, what would He find?
Would we be paying attention? Would we be reverent?
Revelation 5
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