"THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

Chapter Four

The visions of Revelation now begin in earnest. Upon seeing a door

standing open in heaven and hearing a trumpet-like voice promising to

show him of things which must take place, John is transported to the

throne room of God. He describes what he hears and sees with

colorful imagery. The One on the throne radiates like jasper and

sardius stones, surrounded by an emerald rainbow. The colors may

reflect the characteristics of God, such as holiness, righteousness,

justice, and mercy, or they may simply signify His splendor and

majesty. (1-3).

John takes special note of twenty-four elders clothed with white robes

and crowns of gold, sitting on thrones around the throne of God.

From the throne proceeded lightning, thunder, and voices, which may

illustrate divine power and judgments coming from God. Before the

throne are seven lamps of fire, explained as the seven Spirits of God.

This likely symbolizes the Holy Spirit in His work of illumination and

revelation of God's word to man. A sea of glass like crystal

is also before the throne, perhaps symbolizing the quality of God

that presently separates God and His people (5-6a).

There are four living creatures, similar in some respects and yet
different in others, united in their constant praise of God for His

eternal holiness. Though not exactly like the cherubim seen by Ezekiel

(cf. Ezek 1, 10), they appear to serve similar functions. Hailey

suggests they may be a special order of heavenly beings, perhaps the

highest and closest to the throne, who serve God's majestic will

(6b-8). As the four living creatures praise Him who sits on the

throne, the twenty-four elders join in by falling down, casting their

crowns before the throne, and praising God as the Eternal Creator

(9-11).

This scene, along with that in chapter five, appears designed to set

the stage for what follows. At the outset, we are shown the first

guarantee of ultimate victory: God is on His throne! The

praise offered by the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders

reinforce the truth that the One on the throne (and in ultimate

control) is none other than the Lord God Almighty, Eternal and Holy,

the Creator who holds all things together. He is therefore worthy of

glory, honor and power! He is the one to revere, not some man!

POINTS TO PONDER

* The implication of the vision of God on His throne

* How this vision along with the one in chapter five sets the stage for

what follows
OUTLINE

I. THE THRONE SCENE (1-8)

A. JOHN TAKEN TO HEAVEN (1)

1. After seeing the Lord and hearing the letters addressed to the

seven churches

2. Upon seeing a door standing open in heaven, and hearing a

trumpet-like voice

a. Being told "Come up here"

b. In which he will see "things which must take place after this"

B. HE DESCRIBES THE THRONE SCENE (2-8)

1. The One on the throne

a. Like a jasper (sparkling white)

b. And a sardius stone (fiery red) in appearance

c. With an emerald rainbow (various shades of green) around the

throne

2. The twenty-four elders

a. Sitting on twenty-four thrones around the throne

b. Clothed in white robes

c. With crowns of gold on their heads

3. Other elements around the throne

a. Lightnings, thunderings, and voices proceeding from the throne

throne

c. A sea of glass, like crystal, before the throne

d. Four living creatures in the midst and around the throne

4. The four living creatures

a. Unique characteristics

1) The first was like a lion

2) The second was like a calf

3) The third had a face like a man

4) The fourth was like a flying eagle

b. Similar characteristics

1) Each had six wings

2) Full of eyes in front and back, around and within

3) Do not rest day or night, praising the holiness of the

Eternal God

II. GOD PRAISED AS THE CREATOR (9-11)

A. PROMPTED BY THE LIVING CREATURES (9)

1. Whenever they give glory, honor, and thanks

2. To Him who sits on the throne, the Eternal One

B. OFFERED BY THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS (10-11)

1. Who fall down before Him who sits on the throne

2. Who worship Him who lives forever

4. Who proclaim God worthy to receive glory, honor, and power

a. For He created all things

b. And by His will they exist and were created.

This chapter 4 is awesome, and filled with worship.After this, that is after the letters that are written to
the seven churches of Asia, John looked,and what he saw was a door open in heaven. His mind and his
eyes were opened to see right through the portal of heaven itself. He was in the Spirit,seeing beyond
what normally he could see, in these special moments of revelation. And what he sees echoes with the
language of Isaiah (see Isaiah chapter 6), with the emphasis on the holiness of God.

“‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,

who was, and is, and is to come.”

a call to worship God as worthy of all adoration based upon him being the creator and the purpose of all
things:

“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.”

This last verse, verse 11, is worth learning by heart and being able to recite. It roots our adoration of
God in the creation and sustenance of all things. God is worthy to receive all glory and honor and power
because he “created all things” and “by your will they were created and have their being.” The very
nature of all things is by his creation. But also the sustenance of all things is by his constant power and
will.

Who could not bow in awe before such a Supreme Being? The more we learn about the universe, both
its origin and its extent its near infinite scale at the universal and microscopic levels both leave us with
no rational option other than worship.

Let these words of John call you to worship today.

You are worthy, my 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.

htpps://www.executableoutlines.com

Study guide by Mark A.Copeland

2001 David Guzik