Revelation 4-5

Lesson #10

Looking into Heaven, continued

Revelation 4:8-11

Here we see essentially the same vision that Isaiah saw when God allowed him access to the third heaven. Isaiah 6:2. This helps our understanding that eternity is the same in AD 98 as it was in BC 758, that is a span of 856 years. We did note last week that twenty-four thrones were added to accommodate the Old Testament and New Testament Elders, these being the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.

The subjects of this verse is very important and there are two:

1. In addition to the triad of “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” there are other statements that these cherubs are making, but often over looked. It seems we like to focus on the praises rather than the reason of praise. In Revelation 4:8 and in Isaiah 6:3 we see that the angels have much more to talk about then the expression of the three words. We see that the angels have a conversation about God. He is the LORD of armies (hosts) and the earth expresses the full glory of God.

    

2. The cherubim themselves and the task or assignment they have as living creatures in God's Kingdom. While there are other ideas of why the cherubim make this triad statement the one thing that cannot be ignored is the continual adoration of each “Holy” is given for each of the three co-eternal and co-equal persons of the single Godhead. This statement is as identifying as our baptismal formula found in Matthew 28:19. Just as baptism is the formula for identification with the Godhead, so are the words; HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, in the throne room because every time this expression is made the twenty-four elders baptize the LORD in praise, worship and the tossing of the crowns.

We must hold on to the truth: God is a TRI-UNITY, we shorten this identity of God by saying “Trinity” The One sitting on the throne is a Tri-unity of One, the Godhead.

God's Old Testament Plan of redemption found in Isaiah 48:16. Jesus speaking in this Old Testament verse and His claim is that from the beginning, before ever the earth was He was there as a person of the Tri-unity of God.

God's New Testament Plan of redemption is the same and found in John 1:1-14, as the apostle identifies the Godhead as; God, the Word and the Light. The Father the Son and the Spirit are co-equal and ONE

The book of Revelation has three things to say about the Cherubim. First; Their duties have much to do with the world we live in. Second; they take part in the execution of God's purposes for the world, and third; they are instruments of grace used by God.

Here in Revelation as in Isaiah they are used to protect the Throne Room as they protect the things of God, even God's property on earth. Genesis 3:24 Satan is the enemy of God and since the fall of mankind, so are we if we are not redeemed. Revelation is about redemption through the blood of the LAMB and judgment by the LION of Judah.

The curtains of the tabernacle are embroidered with Cherubim, Exodus 26:1, in the third heaven the curtain of sanctification (separqation) are the real Cherubs and this same sanctification is provided to the Mercy Seat where there are two gold Cherubs who continually keep watch over the holiness of the seat where Christ is seated; Exodus 25:18-22 On earth these are hammered gold replicas of the real ones in heaven.

A point to consider is that the four faces of the the cherubs can represent the four characteristics of Jesus Christ as presented in the four gospels: Matthew wrote to the Jews and presents Jesus as the LION of Judah (Rev 5:5). Mark who accompanied Paul to Roman, presents Jesus as the Perfect Servant, the OX, Luke, being Greek, presents Jesus as the Perfect MAN. And John who presents us with the deity of Christ as the FLYING EAGLE.

What types of crowns do we believers have to toss at the pierced feet of Jesus our LORD.

1. A Crown of Life (James 1:12)

2. A Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)

3. A Crown of Glory ( Peter 5:4)

4. A Crown for Soul Winning (1 Thessalonians 2:19)

5. A Crown for Martyrs (Revelation 2:10)

Revelation 5

Verse 1 + Daniel 7:9-10

Verse 2 and 3 + Daniel 12:4 and Psalm 24:3-5

Verse 4 + Isaiah 53-6; Romans 3:23 and Isaiah 63:3

Scripture reveals that God is everywhere, but in order to show us that God's fore ordained plan of this seven year period of judgment is the Father's and to show us that Jesus and the Father are one, we need to see from the Rev. 4:11 that it is Jesus on the Throne receiving praise and it is God the Father on the Throne in Rev. 5:1. It is the Father who states in scripture that “Jesus is His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). The references above show us again that Daniel foresees this event in heaven and other writers of the the Old testament verify this moment with trustworthy statements that prove the suffering Christ is the worthy LAMB.

The apostle John notes that of all of the people in heaven as Daniel 7 reveals that there is no one worthy to accept the sealed scroll that is full of judgment. A scroll that is written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. This causes the apostle to weep, no one including himself.

Verse 5 + Genesis 49:8-12; Isaiah 9:7 and 11:1

Worthy is the LAMB we sing, but like the apostle we are told to look a little deeper. The Lamb is Shiloh in Genesis 49:10 and the scepter shall go to the one to whom it belongs as “Sh-I-oh” the Hebrew break down of the this word is (Sh = whom; I = to; and oh = him).

Verse 6 + John 1:29, 36; Exodus 12:3-13

Verse 7 + Daniel 7:13-14.

John's gaze upon the throne reveals the Lion and the Lamb, what an awesome picture. Revealing Jesus in His first advent as Servant, meek – The LAMB of God sacrificed for the sin of all mankind. Isaiah 53:7-8. Then the transformation of Him to His second advent characteristic of being the Lion of Judah, a strong Lion to judge the ungodly (Rev. 19:11ff)

Also in verses 6 and 7 we see Christ coming as deity, having seven horns representing complete omnipotent power over all the kings of the earth. Seven eyes, having complete omniscient knowledge over the universe, thus in His capacity as Messiah the “Book” He receives from the Father is called by some students of the bible, “The Deed to the Universe.” Only the Father of the Universe could give it and only the Son could receive it. One side note is that Satan had known from the onset of creation that God the Father would give this book to the Messiah. Satan's attempt has always been to steal the book and destroy the Messiah, the devil failed and his doom is sure.