Revelation 4

Lesson #9

Looking into Heaven

We need to see the dramatic change that has taken place. The end of chapter three and the beginning of chapter 4 is almost like putting one book down and starting a new one because the first book either ended or is set aside for something more interesting. Taking the approach that a section overseeing the universal church of Jesus Christ has ended with chapter three is the right approach. Now our God focuses on the rapture of the church, and the beginning of the seven year period called the “Tribulation.”

Revelation 4:1-2

First we need to see that “being caught up” or “Raptured” is more than just an isolated one time event in the history of both the New and Old Testaments. So, beginning with this event.

Revelation 4:1 and 2 Isaiah 6:1-4

2 Corinthians 12:1-6 Hebrews 11:5

Acts 7:55-56 Daniel 6:19-23

There are many more biblical events that proclaim the truth that God is interested in catching up His Saints. He actively participates in the rapture of the church because we are promised by Him to be delivered from His wrath as He judges the world, the Antichrist, and the false prophet. Revelation 3:10; and John 3:36. God's wrath is upon the practice of unrighteousness Romans 1:18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

An Old Testament example of God delivering his people from the wrath of God like that which He poured out on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The rapture will be hurried as God cannot do anything to “evil” when godly people are present. Genesis 19:22 There are ten references to Zoar. This city, in the early days the city was considered the Paradise of God that was located near the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the larger grouping of people bent on immoral conduct Sodom, and Gomorrah, haters of God.

The apostle John is now in the realm of heaven and he is also in the realm of the Spirit world. The words he uses to describe his present location can mean one of two things. He arrives in heaven to see the Throne being set up, or that the place where he is, is the place where the Throne of God is. The Greek words for “a throne set” accommodates both of these thoughts. More likely he is at the place in heaven where the Throne of God is and witnesses the setting up of the 24 elders thrones, in other words; he is at the headquarters of God.

Revelation 20:11-15 and Daniel 7:13-14 describe the Throne room as unapproachable. That the face of God causes heaven and earth, plus those who dwell on earth and the spirit beings in the second heaven to flee from His presence. Earlier we looked at 2 Corinthians 12:1-6 and noted that the apostle Paul was taken up to the third heaven, this is the place where the apostle John is in this chapter. The first heaven is we can observe, stars, the moon, the sun and the milky way galaxy. The second and third heavens are not visible to human beings. Ephesians 6:12 is a description of the second heaven, only Satan and his demons live in the second heaven and from this spot they control the earth and the people on the earth. God delivers His saints from earth to the third heaven.

So far in Revelation we have cover the things past and the things present. Now we have completed the rapture, or catching up of the church. So after a brief description of what is displayed in the third heaven, we will begin to search out the first 3 ½ years of the seven year tribulation.

Revelation 4: 3-4

Sardius = our ruby = perfect in sacrifice = pure red like blood

Jasper = our diamond = perfect in Righteousness and Justice. Clear without blemish

Emerald = our emerald = Pure and perfect in Mercy and Grace = Green

The Throne of God represents the Sovereignty of God throughout time and over the eternal universe. The theme of this chapter is the throne and the word itself is one of the most sober themes in the book of Revelation; Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1 describe a throne room that is precisely the same in description as the one described here in Revelation 4.

There are some differences to point out.

In Isaiah and Ezekiel there is no mention of twenty-four elders or the seven Spirits of God. Isaiah and Ezekiel did not forget to talk about the elders or the seven Spirits, but that at the time of these Old Testament books that these thrones were not present in the throne room. Twelve of these throne represent the twelve tribes of Israel and twelve represent the church of Jesus Christ, note Revelation 21:12-14. The work of Israel and the Church is completed at this point in time. This is represented by the presence of the Seven Spirits of God who is also not mentioned in Ezekiel and Isaiah. This is also additional evidence that these two economies of God have ended. 1 Thess 5:13-18 These raptured “overcomer's” are Resting and worshiping God while they wait for the inauguration of the Tribulation Period to begin.

5. So what is all of this thunder and lighting. In every case of God bringing judgment on a nation or on a universal scale, the judgment is always predicated by the attributes of thunder and lighting. Genesis 6; the world wide flood. Genesis 19: Sodom and Gomorrah and Exodus 19; The giving of the Law at Sinai. Also we must consider that the Tribulation has seven specific judgments, all preceded by thunder and lightning. Revelation 4:5; 6:12; 8:5; 10:3-4; 11:13; 11:19; and 16:18-21.

Lets talk a little about the power displayed here. Man's chief sources of power are (1) Men and animals, (2) water, (3) wind, (4) steam, (5) combustion, (6) electricity and (7) atomic energy. Combine all of these forces together in one massive expression of earthly power and it will not be enough energy to ignite the wick that turns on the sun in the universe. These events of thunder and lightning are so destructive that in the final days the sun will be darkened by these storms. Matthew 24:29; Revelation 16:10

6 - 7 The throne room appears to John to be a sea of glass. Have you ever had the opportunity to walk on a grate above another floor. On some ships, especially in the Engine Room compartments, instead of solid floors there are grates to walk on. It can be a very undoing of the mind experience. By nature we are walkers by sight, we do not like to walk about on flooring that you can see through. Everyone who enters the throne room of God, will be walking by faith. The sea of glass is the evidence of things not seen and the sea of glass is the substance of things hoped for. Our faith in other words has found a resting place in the Throne room with God. Hebrews 11:1-2

8. This cannot be overstated enough. In order to understand the Word of God a person must be a student of the bible. We do not need other so-called sacred writings, all we need is to be tuned into what the Spirit of God through His seven spirit administration is teaching us; John 14:1518 and 16:13-15. As we study we will be gleaning from Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah and Joel. We shall come across them again and again. This lesson concludes now and we will pick it up in Rev. 4:9-11 next Sunday.