Revelation 4 – A Scene in Heaven
After carefully giving warning, instruction and encouragement to the body of believers, the LORD transports John to heaven to “see” more. His intent is to show John future events.
I have always been taught and accepted that John’s call to heaven represented the rapture of the church. I no longer believe that to be the case. Though the experience is obviously similar to expectation, I believe this explanation creates unnecessary hindrances to clear understanding of the Revelation as it unfolds, as I will reference in the coming narrative.
The first thing John sees in heaven is a magnificent throne surrounded by a rainbow. Encircling the throne are 24 “elders” seated and wearing white clothing and crowns of gold. I have read much regarding the possible identity of these 24 elders. A couple of personal observations from these verses:
- They are in position when John arrives; he is not one of them.
- They are in position when John arrives. This would exclude the raptured believers. I don’t think we can be certain who they are this side of eternity. I do think that alternate translations for upcoming verses support identifying them as a heavenly council of angels or watchers as described in Daniel 4:17: “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”
Another one of those verses is Revelation 5:10 where some translations are similar to the NIV—“and with your blood You purchased men…You have made them…to serve our God, and they will reign….”
In doing some recent study, I was reminded that both Moses and David patterned the tabernacle and temple respectively from patterns they were given. It made sense to me that when David divided the priests who would serve “at the house of the Lord” into 24 groups, he would have been following the pattern.
Another applicable section of verses is Revelation 11:16-18: “And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
In context, these are words of praise to God. They seem to be speaking in reference to men of faith (the prophets, saints and them that fear thy name) as different from themselves.
John’s attention turns back to the throne from which he hears voices and from which come lightning and thunder. In front of the throne is what appears to be a sea of clear glass. There are also four living creatures “full of eyes” around the throne. (These appear to be the same creatures described in Ezekiel.) The language tells us that John is describing something new that he sees by making comparisons to things that were familiar to him. The creatures are described as having faces like a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle. Many scholars explain that these creatures represent Christ as presented in the gospels—as King, servant, man and God respectively. I see no reason to disagree.
John makes note that the creatures and elders worship the LORD in unity of spirit and action. This should be the hallmark characteristic of God’s servants in the church today, but sadly, it is not. Specific reference is made to God as the Creator who created according to His own will/purpose.
Revelation 5 – Jesus the Victorious Lamb
John begins this chapter with a vision of God the Father on the throne, holding in his right hand a book that is written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. I’ve heard this book called the title deed to planet earth and compared to a Roman will. Future contents of the Revelation record affirm that it represents authority over planet earth and all that impacts it.
Next, John hears an angel asking for a worthy, qualified person to step forward and open the seals. Then point is made that no “man” in the universe was found that qualified. John understood the consequences of that fact and openly wept. Suddenly, one of the elders announces, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals.” (verse 5)
John looks toward the throne and sees “a Lamb as it had been slain” standing in the middle of the elders. He then watches “the Lamb” go and take the book from the hand of the One on the throne. Then the 24 elders and the living creatures fall down in reverence to “the Lamb.” Next thing you know, an innumerable multitude of angels are surrounding the throne and joining in worship of “the Lamb that was slain.” (verse 12)
Obviously, the throne is God’s throne and “the Lamb” is Jesus, the Son of God. It stands out to me that Jesus was not on the scene when John was first taken to heaven. Scripture tells us that when He ascended, He took His place at the right hand of the Father on the throne. It also stands out that He appeared as a Lamb having been slain. I think this is a vision of the LORD Jesus returning to heaven victorious over the grave after having offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sin. At that point, He was qualified to take the book and remove the seals.
One more observation, if the church were already raptured as represented by John, Jesus would have been there with them.
1Th. 4:16-17 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: 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.
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