Revelation 4
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In Vision (1-2)
A powerful voice speaks to John like the sound like a trumpet. John is told that the things he will be shown must take place after this. When is “after this?” The things we will read in the future chapters will take place after the events recorded in Revelation 2-3. Revelation 2-3 described the current suffering and the immediate condition of the seven churches of Asia. Now John will be told what will happen next to the Christians and to the world. We must remember the scope of the book was given for us in Revelation 1, that all things would shortly take place. Therefore, this is not going to be speaking about the end of the world events because those things would not shortly take place.
Tim LaHaye teaches that Revelation 4:1-2 describes the rapture. He says that John being caught up in a vision represents the time when all Christians will be caught up to be with the Lord. Again, we must ask what is the basis for such an interpretation? Why does John in the first century parallel all Christians during the end times? This is an assumption made without an scriptural or logical basis. Rather, we should take Revelation 4:1-2 at face value again. John was in the Spirit (1:10), which means he is in a visionary state. John is not really being caught up to heaven. He is only being caught up to heaven in his vision.
The Throne of God (3-6)
Now as we read this, do not become stuck upon all the little details. We want to catch the significance of the symbols, signs, and pictures. What is conveyed to you as you read about a jasper stone and carnelian stone and a rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounding the throne?
Do you see beauty and majesty? We have the colors of precious stones with all their colors and beauty around the throne of God. Rainbows are to hold a special significance to his people. It is a symbol of God’s covenant with man and God’s faithfulness. Remember the rainbow was a sign of God’s covenant with man to not destroy the earth by water in Genesis 9:12-17. The key of this chapter is the word “throneâ€? which appears eleven times in this chapter. All of our focus is to be centered on the throne room of God.
Now we read of 24 elders that are on 24 seats with gold crowns on their heads. So they have authority. Who are they? All sorts of speculations have been given, but that is all we can do is speculate. I think we can rule out some alternatives though.
Some suggest that this is a symbol of the redeemed of God, 12 tribes of Israel representing the redeemed under the old and the 12 apostles representing the redeemed of the New. It sounds good but I do not think it fits with what we are about to see. We will see the redeemed of God later as a different symbol. Notice 5:8 that these carry the prayers of the saints, so they cannot be the redeemed of God.
What we see is that these 24 elders are in service to God and in acts of worship to God. It is very parallel to the priestly designations given in the Old Testament. In fact, we see in 1 Chronicles 25 that the priests were divided into 24 orders who serve and worship God.
The 24 elders are spiritual beings who are the respected servants of God from the old and new covenants. It seems most likely that the elders would include people like Moses, Abraham, Elijah and other great heroes of old. I do not think there is only 24 of these heroes, but the number represents the complete number of servants from both covenants.
Further, we see the power going out from the throne in flashes of lightning, rumblings and thunder, reminding us of Exodus 19:16 where God encompassed Mt. Sinai in a thick cloud and there was thundering and lightnings. These symbols depict the judgments of God. God is shown on the throne and is active while the Christians are suffering from the tribulation and persecution.
The Four Living Creatures (7-11)
This imagery is very similar to the picture that Ezekiel sees when he in vision sees the throne room of God in Ezekiel 1:4-28. But there are some differences in the number of wings and one creature versus four creatures. I do not want to get into the details of the distinctions. Just simply to note that these are referring to the same thing, but described a little differently.
Generally the lion resembles strength, as the Lord roars from Zion. A calf gives the picture of gentleness and service. The face of a man gives us the picture intelligence and wisdom. The eagle symbolizes swiftness and vision. However, we are not exactly told the meaning of what these creatures resemble.
In Ezekiel we are told that these four living creatures are the cherubim (Ezekiel 10:20). So we are looking at more angelic beings performing functions in heaven. Day and night these four living creatures say, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is coming.� When they do this, the 24 elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and cast their crowns before the throne. Therefore the 24 elders are offering worship day and night.
So let us pull ourselves out of the scene for a minute and focus on what is being communicated. What are we looking at? We are seeing God reigning on the throne, who is issuing judgments in majesty and splendor, while He is being worshipped day and night by the spiritual, angelic, and heavenly beings.
