UNVISTAZOALTRONODEDIOS

Describing the appearance of God's throne

Revelation 4:6b-11

• We are in chapter 4 of the book of Revelation and it is necessary to emphasize that we have gone through a great
scene change. We cannot lose sight of this: We just finished with the letters to the 7 churches,
churches on earth, now in chapter four we turn our gaze to the throne, to heaven!
• We went from the earth to the sky, what a great change! The glimpse of God's throne is impressive. By the way, it is
It is worth noting that this privilege (vision of the third heaven) has been held by few, in fact, only four people:
Ezekiel, Isaiah, Paul (2 Cor 12:2) and now the apostle John.
• In this regard, and with full intention, Juan writes "the things that he saw and heard"... They are not earthly things.
They are things of heaven, so they are magnificent. Let's summarize a little about these things that John saw.

"Come up here," means that Juan ascends to the third heaven, where God dwells. God is the One who will show him.
the things that will happen after these, that is, the things after the rapture of the church.
The throne that John refers to is that of God the Father. He is sitting there because it is time to judge.
3. (v3) Juan could not perceive any human figure, as no one can see God in all His glory (Ex
33:20). But we know it is a moment of judgment because there is a rainbow there (it symbolizes judgment).
4. (v4) Around the throne are 24 thrones, and they belong to the 12 tribes of Israel (Levi, Simeon, Reuben,
Nathanael, Dan, Judah, Issachar, Asher, Gad, Benjamin, Joseph, and Zebulun) and the twelve apostles (Simon, Andrew,
Jacob, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, Jacob, Simon, Judas, and Matthias) 12+12 = 24.
5. (v5) All these lightning, thunder, and voices are a sign that something serious is about to happen, the G.T.
6. (v6a) Everything above revolves around the throne that rests upon a sea of glass (frozen water that separates
to the second heaven of the third heaven).

• Now, I want you to pay attention to something: to the prepositions of each verse; (v2) a throne, (v3,4)
around the throne, (v5) came out of the throne, (v6a) before the throne and (v7) beside the throne and around it.
Until v11 it is all about the throne, and today we will study four living beings that are next to the
throne.

I. (v6) The Four Living Beings

A. (v6b) Where are they?: "and beside the throne and around the throne"
1. Describing this scene is very simple. The 4 living beings are next to (beside, adjacent, alongside) the
throne) but they are also around (surrounding) the throne. What John indicates is that they have
a particular order, surround the throne and are close to the sides of the throne. Probably N-S-E-W.
In other words, they have an order and it has to do with their function... but before knowing what they do, it is necessary
to know who these four living beings are.
B. (v6c) Who are they? "four living beings"
1. Remember that Ezekiel and Isaiah had visions of heaven and also saw beings similar.
Maybe we have a little more information about these beings in these books. Let's go to Ezekiel 1:4-10.
a) These are the same four living beings from Revelation. Ezekiel gives us help.
very important as it tells us what the beings are called. Look, everything we read in the passage
previously happened in a particular place...
It happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, that I was among the captives.
Beside the river Kebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

b) Remember this: Ezekiel saw the four living beings by the river Chebar. Now we are going to
Ezekiel 10:15

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 And the cherubim rose up; this is the living being that I saw by the river Chebar.
2. The 4 living beings, then, are called cherubim. With this name in mind, we can find
more information about them. That’s why let’s look at the first mention of cherub...
So he drove out the man, and placed at the east of the Garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way.
it revolved everywhere, to guard the path of the tree of life.
a) The cherubim appear for the first time here and are protecting something, the way of the tree of the
life. The second mention is in Exodus 25:18.
Ex 25:18 You shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat.
i. Now, they are on the lid of the ark (the mercy seat). And so on in the Bible through
more than 70 verses are associated with protection. Now we understand why they are together and
around the throne... they protect Him!
3. Aside from that, there is something very interesting about the cherubim. Apparently, there were five. What happened to the
fifth? Ezequiel also gives us the answer in chapter 28 from verse 11 to 19 (read it). If we read this
Verse with Isaiah 14:12-14 makes us realize who this fifth cherub is.
Is 14:12-15
a) The 5th cherub was Lucifer before his fall, before he became Satan. The 4 cherubim are
around the throne in heaven. Lucifer was the protective cherub, which is why he was above the throne.
b) He protected the mere presence of God. He fell into rebellion and the Lord ended his 'coup' with the
universal flood (we saw it last week). Satan was a cherub.
c) Now, a new paragraph: the cherubim have a special physical characteristic, it is in the last part.
of v6.
C. (v6d) Their eyes
1. (6d) The cherubim are covered with eyes in front and behind. Their eyes are a sign of alertness, of attention.
In the Bible, eyes also signify... knowledge.
o t a e uoy nehw t ah t swonk doG r oF

a) Just imagine... these beings are protectors: their eyes help them a lot, they can see in every direction,
In addition to this, they are around the throne (They have a 360-degree field of vision). But also imagine
this: how much knowledge of God can a being who is 100% alert beside Him have?
b) Their eyes are a sign of knowledge and also of alertness... they are excellent 'witnesses' and this of
"witnesses" has to do with the following verse.
II. (v7) The appearance of the cherubim
Their faces
1. Before tying the concept of 'witnesses' with the faces of the cherubim, I want it to be clear that
These beings are the same in Revelation and in Ezekiel. Let's make a quick comparison.
so.

The beings in Apocalypse The Beings in Ezekiel

They have something to do with the throne of God They have something to do with the throne of God

(4:6) Called "four living beings" Called "four living beings"

They are full of eyes in front and behind They are full of eyes

2. There is also a similarity in the faces. Each cherub has the face of a lion, calf, man, and
eagle. Why does it have to be the face of these animals? There are three apparent reasons.

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 a) The Jews explain it by saying that it summarizes the four types of animals on the planet: lion
wild animals
And the fish? Well, there is a small gap there...
b) They also explain that they symbolize: strength (lion), service (calf), reason.
(man) and speed (eagle). In the Talmud, the rabbis write that there are four forms of life in
the creation: man, calf, lion, and eagle.
i. All the tribes could gather in these four groups. With Reuben (image of man), Dan
(image of an eagle), Ephraim (image of a calf) and Judah (image of a lion).
3. In the end, the best symbolism of this has to do with the "witnesses". Remember that we said that because of your
The number of eyes are excellent witnesses. Four excellent witnesses. We also have four.
excellent witnesses of Christ: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
a) Each of the four faces and appearance of the cherubim corresponds in type and form to one of
the four Gospels:
i. Matthew: portrays Christ as the King, the son of David. This gospel corresponds to the appearance
of the lion, because the Lion of the tribe of Judah is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
genealogy, Mt 1:1).
ii. Mark: depicts Christ as the Servant of servants and for this corresponds to the appearance of
calf, the animal that always carries the work yoke. (There is no genealogy. The servant has no
genealogy, Phil 2:7,8.
iii. Lucas: portrays Christ as the perfect man and for this corresponds to his appearance and face.
of man. If you want to learn about the human side of our Savior, Luke is the
book that must be studied. (Check genealogy, Luke 3:38).
iv. Juan: he portrays Christ as God and for this corresponds to the appearance of an eagle. It is the face
completely different and separate from the other three, exactly as Juan is different and
separate from the other three Gospels. (Review genealogy, John 1:1)
4. So that is regarding the faces of the cherubim. Now let's go to verse 8 to see about the wings and
worship.
III. (v8-9) The wings and the worship
The wings
1. Although the descriptions in Revelation and Ezekiel are similar, we must see that there are
some differences between them:
a) Juan says in Revelation that the living beings have six wings, Ezekiel says that they only have
four. Ezekiel mentions the wheels of these creatures, but John does not. In Revelation, we see the
beings next to the throne and around it, but in Ezekiel they are underneath the throne of God.
A possible explanation for these differences is movement:
a) Juan was taken up in the middle of the Tribulation and sees the cherubim around the throne because he does not
they are in motion. Ezekiel had a vision of the second coming of Christ, then he saw the
cherubs moving, coming with Christ.
b) So, one perfectly understands the difference in the number of wings.
Each of the cherubim has six wings: two extended above (Ezekiel 1:11a), covering themselves
body with two others (Ezek 1:11b) and uses the other two to fly.
ii. This is why Ezekiel does not mention the last pair of wings, because he saw the creatures flying.
(Ezeq 1.12), they were using their two wings to fly.

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 iii. Juan sees (and mentions) this third pair of wings because he sees the cherubim standing.
c) This same explanation also serves to clarify the other differences:
i. Ezekiel saw the cherubim moving in the context of the second coming, then he saw them
wheels too. Juan not because he saw them standing in the sky.
ii. When the cherubim come in the second coming, they will not be around the throne (as John
the ve) but underneath the throne (as Ezekiel saw them).
Another characteristic of the cherubim is that in addition to flying, they are also praising.
B. (v8b) The worship
The cherubim worship God as "holy, holy, holy". It is the same worship that other beings give Him.
to God. These other beings are called seraphim.
Is 6:1-3
a) Just like these seraphim, the cherubim, with all their attention and knowledge (their eyes), are
Praising. They praise the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.
b) So, in addition to being there to protect, they are also praising God, and there is a way of
particular in how they worship. Verse 9 is an introduction to the way they worship.
C. (v9) The introduction to worship
1. (v9) Let's paraphrase this verse.And whenever those living beings (referring to the cherubim)
"And glory, honor, and thanksgiving" (praise), "to the one who is seated on the throne, to the one who lives forever
ages of ages (to God)...
a) That is: whenever the cherubim praise God, something happens. What happens, we see in the last
two verses from our passage.
IV. (v10-11) The way to worship
A. (v10) The worship of the 24 elders
1. (v10) The 24 elders worship God as the 'most worthy' to receive glory, honor, and power. Therefore,
they lay their crowns before the throne.
a) As we saw before, they are "kings", so they have crowns (Rev 5:9-10). Their crowns are in
their heads (Rev 4:4)
b) For this they can take them off and cast them before God. They strip away what is most precious to them.
their crowns, and throw them before the throne. Surrendering to God is the greatest act of worship.
2. By the way, these crowns are an indication that the 24 elders are not representatives of us.
(the Christians). Our crowns will not be on our heads.
a) The crowns that a Christian can win or lose are 'crowns of glory'. They are not like a
a crown that a king can wear on his head.
b) They refer to different levels of glory and light: levels that depend on how much reward one
received at the Tribunal of Christ. These crowns of glory will be like the glory that Christ received in
His resurrection.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor,
the cause of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
c) For this reason, Christ has a 'glorious body' (a body that shines and radiates a divine light) and for
this is what we expect one like it.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
who will transform our lowly body, so that it will besimilar to the body of glory
to it, by the power with which it can also subject all things to itself.

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 d) The only difference between one body and another of the Christians will be the level of glory, because according to their
faithfulness, each one will receive "crowns" (levels) of glory.
Christ will reward each of us (Christians) with our 'crowns of glory'.
(our inheritance reward) at the Tribunal of Christ right after our rapture.
Col 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men; Col 3:24 knowing
For you will receive the reward of the inheritance from the Lord, because you serve Christ the Lord.

CONCLUSION
• The first thing we will see after our rapture will be a throne as well: the Judgment Seat.
of Christ. On that day we will see the true reality of our lives and eternity, because here on earth
And in this world, we are like 'pilgrims.'
• So, how should you be living now in this fleeting world to receive reward and
inheritance in the world to come? You must glorify God while you are alive. See what it says in v11:
Revelation 4:11: Lord, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
were created.
1. God is worthy of receiving glory, honor, and power; but I want you to see how important it is the
glorification of God. See how the praise will unfold.
Revelation 4:8The four living creatures each had six wings, and they were covered with eyes all around and inside; and they did not cease
Day and night they never stop saying: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.
First we started with four cherubim adoring.
Ap 4:10losTwenty-four elders fall down before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever.
of the centuries, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

b) Now there are four cherubs, plus twenty-four elders glorifying God. The choir has expanded!
gnivi l ruof eht ,koob eht neka t dah eh nehw dnA

c) Now there are instruments! We have four cherubim + 24 elders. There are 28 beings, all with harps.
It's an orchestra!
And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and of the living creatures, and of the elders; and their number
it was billions of billions,
d) Now we have 28 beings, all with harp and angels, they are millions upon millions. Glory to God!
Ap 5:13
e) Now everything is glorifying God! Incredible... but do you know the saddest thing about this... there are people who do not
go enjoy this... And it can be your friend, neighbor, family member, acquaintance, coworker... don't do it
he will enjoy because he may be in hell... waiting for his judgment for condemnation...
2. If you want to glorify God in your life, right now, it is simple.
I have glorified you on the earth; I have finished the work that you gave me to do.
a) God gave us a work to do, it is called the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18), that is
Spread the gospel, please: do it!
Finally, in chapter 1, John fell because of what he saw and heard (Rev 1:17). He knew he was dirty before
God, and he hoped that God would consume him, would strike him down.

a) Now in this encounter with the throne he does not fall. He has learned his lesson, Juan understood that he was
forgiven... what great mercy! ... We have to rejoice so much that our God is
Holy and at the same time full of grace and loving towards those who have justification through his son
Jesus Christ.

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