Revelation 4:6-11:

One of the greatest problems we encounter when studying the book of Revelation, even the word of Jesus is trying to visualize a spiritual message from a natural perspective.  Bible students will do well to remember when Jesus said, "Let the dead bury the dead", or when he said to Nicodemus, "You must be born again."   We must be applied the lessons learn here throughout out Bible Study.  The term "Beast" is used in the Old and New Testament, Do this refer to some grotesque being straight out of a horror movie?  The term beast references the spiritual attributes of a person; they can be either good or bad.  From a natural perspective when we think of a beast, we think of something strong and overpowering.

In the fourth chapter of Revelation John is attempting to describe the indescribable.  Revelation is filled with symbols; these symbols are John's attempt to use the natural elements to describe the supernatural.  To see the supernatural one must invoke the mind's eye.  To describe the supernatural one must draw upon the description of the natural element.  How would you describe a ghost?  Would you use the word colorless?  I doubt if you would.  John was tasked to give us a peep into the supernatural world of God.  The heavenly Kingdom of God.  Throughout John's narrative, he used the words "like unto, or as if" to indicate that he was using a type of signification was suppose to force you to use your mind's eye to see the beauty of God.

Another commonly made error is the attempt to insert the church in the group that is assembled around the throne of God.  Since John did not mention the church in this setting we should be comfortable with the thought that the church is not in this setting.  The Church which we shall later see is with Christ being rewarded for their works and transformed into his Holy Angels, in preparation for their presentation before the throne and the performance of their duties to return with Christ and Judge the world.   

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Revelation 4:6-8:

6. And before the throne, there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

7. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 

The voices, lightning, and thunder coming from the throne denote the power of God's judgment.  He is about to judge the world. But notice there is a sea of glass “like unto crystal” . . . clear and calm. The sea of glass seen here does not look like the sea as we know it on earth today - driven by wind, storms, tempests - never calm. (The Old Testament writer tells us that the wicked are like the troubled sea.) But John witnessed a crystal sea - calm and peaceful, symbolizing an eternity of perfect peace. In connection with the sea of glass, read I Kings 7:23- 45. It is a glorious passage and will shed light on the subject.

Also, John saw in the midst of the throne and round about the throne, four beasts - or, “four living creatures.” These living creatures were full of eyes before and behind, and John describes them as resembling a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle. The lion denotes majesty and power among the animal kingdom - he is king of all the beasts (Genesis 49:9, Daniel 7:4, Amos 3:8). This is a living creature with supernatural powers.

The second beast John saw was like a calf or an ox. The cow, whether a calf or an ox, denotes humility and patience, and is a beast of labor (read I Corinthians 9:9,10; Proverbs 14:4).  The third beast John saw had the face of a man - and man is the highest of God’s creation, denoting wisdom, reason and intelligence (Isaiah 1:18, Job 9:24, Ezra 9:6, I Corinthians 2:11). These are living creatures with supernatural powers.

The fourth beast was a flying eagle. The eagle is the wisest of all birds. He flies the highest, is keenest of sight and is swift of action (Deuteronomy 28:49, Job 9:26, Hebrews 1:8, Job 39:27- 30). These characteristics combined to express the character of God’s throne in relation to the earth. Jesus is the all-powerful One, yet He is the most humble One who ever lived in a body like ours. He is perfect in wisdom - and certainly, nothing misses His all-seeing eye. Yes, Jesus, with whom we have to do, is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent.  

These four living creatures are not the same as the four and twenty elders. These are creatures especially created by God for a specific and singular ministry - they never cease to praise God day and night. They are continually crying out, “Holy, holy, holy!”  These four creatures know that He to whom they sing praises night and day has been, is, and always will be. And not only is He the past, present, and future, but He is “The Almighty!”  These are living beings with supernatural powers.  These living beings would put our fictitious concept of Superman and Spiderman to shame.

Revelation 4:9-11:

9. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure, they are and were created.

In these verses, the four beasts and the four and twenty elders worship Him who sits upon the throne. They give Him praise, honor, and adoration because He is worthy. At last, after many centuries of groaning and travailing in pain, the thing is about to happen that all creation has waited for: “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:20-23). 

Jesus came into the world more than nineteen centuries ago, took a body, and in that body was tempted in all points as we are, yet was without sin. He took the sinner’s place. What the Law could not do, He did; and He paid the sin-debt that was made by Adam, which moved upon all men “through the disobedience of one man” (the first Adam). Jesus (the second Adam) purchased redemption for the sinner when He died on the cross; but God’s plan of redemption does not only include the soul, but also the whole creation. 

When Adam sinned, the whole creation was cursed (read Genesis 3), and God promised deliverance. What God promises, God does. So - one day the whole creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption that came with the curse more than six thousand years ago! God created the earth and all that is therein. Then God created Adam and gave him dominion over all other creatures. Adam was the ruler of everything on earth, in the sea, and in the air. But Adam sub-leased the earth to the devil. By that I mean, what belongs to God cannot be given away by one of the Lord’s creatures. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof” (Psalm 24:1).

God gave Adam dominion over the earth - but the earth still belongs to God. God created it for the meek (“The meek shall inherit the earth, and delight themselves in the abundance of peace”). So when Adam sinned, he actually sub-leased the earth to the devil until Adam’s lease runs out, and then God will take over. And when God takes over He will boot the devil of the earth. The devil will be placed in the bottomless pit and all creation will be delivered - the vegetable kingdom, the animal kingdom, the solar system - all creation - will be set free in that glad and glorious hour. Jesus (the second Adam) will redeem everything the first Adam lost. The earth and all creation will be redeemed and delivered from the curse. The four living creatures and the four and twenty elders know that this redemption is about to occur. Therefore, they are exceedingly glad, and they praise Him who is about to judge in righteousness.

The terms of redemption concerning the earth and the animal kingdom are contained in the little book seen in Revelation five. This book has caused confusion among some bible teachers. However, when we compare spiritual things with spiritual, we will clearly see that this little book contains redemption terms which must be met before the earth can be delivered from the curse, and the god of this age (the devil) is dealt with in Final Judgment. It is an absolute necessity to understand "The Five JUdgments" and chapter five if we hope to understand the rest of Revelation.

Revelation 4: , The Book Is Open

In this discussion, we revert back to a discussion of the church because there is so much taking place in the world that involves the church and the messengers of God.  As we know the first three chapters of Revelation was a message to the messengers of the church and to the church, on the surface it seems as if these messages have not been heeded.

Two events took place within the past weeks within the shadows of and under the auspice of the church.  The media used these events to polarize and divide certain members of the household of faith, and many of the leaders were in full compliance.   It was akin to some years ago when the church accepted the redefinition of marriage and supported the then president's policy of inclusion.   What transpired was a debate over what was an acceptable message to be broadcast from the pulpit and whether males could use female's bathrooms.  Today another senseless debate emerges as to the meaning of a eulogy.

It is a well-known fact that people of different ethnic backgrounds eulogize the dead in different manners.   Some preachers use that moment to excite the crowd that ends in a moment of praise, others are more subdued and reflective, the same as with church service.  When a family selects a minister to speak, they are very much aware of his preaching style.   Because of these debates, the church has emerged as an intuition of criticism.  There is an old-school Christianity and preaching, and there is a new school Christianity and preaching, and that in itself creates a division.  

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Is there such a thing as old school preaching or is this a phrase conjured up by the detractors and the media to create a path of division?  The Bible speaks of a God who changes not.

Growing up in the "old School" ideology, our parent taught us to believe.  Our leaders taught us to shun those who did not believe or lived an unbelieving lifestyle.  My parent did not teach me to believe in a white God or a black God, rather they taught us to believe in a supernatural God, colorless like the wind, capable of taking any shape.  Throughout the Bible God appeared in many forms, to Moses he appeared as a burning bush.  We even believed in spirits, ghost and a place called Heaven.  Heaven was that place we long to go not because we wanted to live forever, but a place where our spirit would not suffer punishment in the afterlife. 

In the new school ideology, Heaven has changed.  Old school taught us that Heaven was a prepared place for prepared people.  There were certain rules and restrictions put in place to control admission to this blissful state.  A new school study confirmed that the Blood of Christ removed the barriers and all were free to walk the streets of gold or sing in the Heavenly choir.  Is all of this scriptural or is this a form of sectional and shaped interpretation?

As numerous gospels sprung forth, the message has changed from "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand" to a message that focuses on the love of God.   

   

1^st Thessalonians 4:14-18 is a point of contention for many Bible scholars, the reason is unclear to me.  It falls in the same category of a preacher standing in the pulpit on a Sunday teaching tithe while wearing a black suit with a special collar.  Overlooking Ecclesiastes 9:8 that says "Let thy garments be always white, and let thy head lack no ointment."  Sectional interpretation is a form of shaping the truth. Who is talking, who is he talking to and in what dispensation is important when seeking to understand the Word of God. 

   

The Bible is the greatest book and it delivers a message that flows smoothly from Geneses 1:1 to the final chapter and verse of Revelation.  There are no holes in the scripture, nor does the Bible and science disagree. A deeper understanding of God Word as it has existed for thousands of years would provide all of the answers if we asked the author to help us and lay aside our preconceived notion to shape the word into a saleable or even an ethnic sound bite.  

Sectional and shaped interpretation according to denominational guidelines is not the best way to understand the word of God. Sectional interpretation of the Holy Scripture allows for all types of works to be performed in Jesus name, from paying money to receive prayer and blessings, drinking deadly poison and picking up snakes.

New interpretations of the scripture are flooding the marketplace daily and many people are buying into the new interpretation of the ancient book.  Points are being made against the use of certain words such as the rapture.  One Bible scholar objection to the use of the word was, it could not be found in the Bible.  A point of common sense but as Shakespeare said, "A Rose by any other name would still as sweet."  Reinterpretation of the scripture to fit modern day ideology is not in the best interest of the kingdom.  There are complications that arise when we try to make the Bible fit our denominational mold. 

Now let us follow John's view of Heaven and his view from Heaven with regard for denominational guidelines.  To study the Bible in this manner often places us in the position of contradicting ourselves.  As knowledge increase, it is necessary to contradict ourselves in order to grow in knowledge.   Some of us still remember the turbulent sixties when man began to explore outer space and set his sight on the moon and other planets.  Many expected men to crash the gates of Heaven and explore its entire splendor the same as John did in Revelation 4.   Failing to do so many lost their faith in God. 

The failure to separate the spiritual from the natural or the attempt to mix the natural and supernatural has caused many to stumble.  The prosperity gospel mixes the natural and the spiritual and its focus is on the now, whereas the gospel of the bible was always on the hereafter.  One processes the excitement of a football game while the other is dull in compression, but we are here to take a trip to Heaven.

In our present Scripture, Revelation 4, the history of the Church on earth has been written.  It has been translated to meet the Lord in the air.  The guilty multitudes of the earth have been left behind and those that are born afterward are born into the tribulation. The stage is set for the devil to take over and this he will do, as we will see in Chapter 6.  For now, let us savor the sights in Heaven as John does his best to describe that which indescribable. 

Verse 1: “After this (after the Church has run its course and all things concerning the Church have been fulfilled) John said he looked and behold, a door was opened in heaven.” (John 10:9) tells us that Jesus is that door. After His resurrection, He ascended to Heaven and called John (in the spirit) up to where He is. He opened the door - and John in the spirit stepped into Heaven to witness the events that were to follow.  

John experienced in the spirit what we will literally experience when the events in (1^st Thessalonians 4:14-18) occur.  When the Rapture occurs, the trumpet will sound, and the voice of the archangel will call up the saints.  Jesus will not come to this earth at this time,  the saints will be caught up to meet Him in the air; but when He comes in judgment, He will come to the earth with his saints, and will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).  If we accept the five judgments then both of these events can take place without Sectional interpretation. 

“And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me.” The signification and symbology of a trumpet is the sharp, clear and arresting sound made by a trumpet.  This statement does not mean that John heard this voice for the first time after he was caught up into Heaven, it means the first voice he heard (Revelation 1:10). He heard that voice here on earth, and now the same voice is speaking in Heaven. It is the voice of none other than the Lord Jesus Himself, as the trumpet summons John to come up from the earth to Heaven.  The voice was clear, well pronounced and there was no mistake as to who was speaking.

Verses 2 and 3: “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and one sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.”   We need to re-read those verses slowly because there is a wealth of information that will be lost if we do not read the verses word for word.   The voice of Jesus said, “Come up hither,” . . . and "immediately I was in the spirit.” There was no delay - not one split second. John was not actually caught up into Heaven in his natural body, for all this was part of John’s vision.  The expression “in the spirit” indicates that John’s spirit for the moment left his body, and his spirit alone was caught away into Heaven to behold his glorified Lord. John is undergoing an out-of-body experience.  John’s body was not yet glorified, and no man can behold the beauty and majesty of our glorified Lord in an unredeemed and mortal body. 

The next statement reads, “A throne was set in Heaven,” definitely and precisely fixes the seat of royal rule and authority.  The throne was actually the first vision after John Was translated in the spirit from earth to Heaven. The throne is the center of the heavenly scene and is a symbol of the Lord’s universal government. He who sits upon the throne is not named, but is described significantly in the stones that are used to symbolize His appearance: “And He that sat was to look upon like a Jasper, and a Sardine.” 

If we read this, too fast we will have "Him" looking like a Jasper and a Sardine stone instead of like looking upon a Jasper and Sardine stone.  Imagine being in a room with the worlds most beautiful and most expensive Gems.  The two precious stones named here symbolize the glory and the majesty of God.  His glory cannot be communicated, even to the most exalted of all creatures.  John uses symbology to describe what he saw. The Lord God is light unapproachable. 

Paul describes it  in 1^st Timothy 6:15-16  Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.  The Jasper and the Sardine (or Sardius) stones are mentioned in the list of precious stones set in the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:17 -20). These same stones also are mentioned among those describing the glory of the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:13). We find them mentioned again in the description of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19, 20).  

The Holy Spirit uses these two stones to symbolize the brilliant glory and the unsurpassed splendor of the Lord God insofar as His glory can be displayed and symbolized to mortal man. The brilliance of the Jasper stone symbolizes the pure holiness of God, and the deep red of the Sardius symbolizes the Blood atonement demanded by God for the remission of sins. John tells us “The light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a Jasper stone, CLEAR AS CRYSTAL” (Revelation 21:11). Clear as crystal. God’s holiness is untouched, unmarred, unscarred- perfect holiness! Without a doubt, God was the One whom John saw sitting upon the throne.  

The operative word in the above narrative is, "like unto".  In our mind's eye, a beautiful setting should begin to appear.  

  to be continued

The Book is Open, Revelation 4:1

At this juncture of this study, it should be clear that the church spoken of in Revelation is not some fancy building set aside and named a church of some type of denomination.   The church is a spiritual entity, it is the bride of Christ and it is without denomination.    It is not to be lorded over by a power-seeking group.   The church should be a body of believers acting as a support group for each other.

Some of us have been taught that the Church will go through the first half of the Tribulation. This belief is necessary to foster the concept of the church being the conduit to salvation, solidifying the foundation of a billion dollar empire.  However, according to the Scriptures, the true church will not go through any part of the Tribulation. I make this statement because:  

1. In the first three chapters of Revelation, the word church or churches occur about twenty times. However, beginning with chapter four, up to the seventeenth verse of chapter twenty-two, the Church is not mentioned one time.  The Church has no part in the prophetic visions given to John after chapter three. Therefore, if we compare spiritual things with spiritual, and if we “come now and reason together,” we must conclude that the Church is not on earth from chapter four through chapter twenty-two, verse five. The Church is in the air with Jesus, looking down upon the horrible judgments here on earth.

2. The second reason I emphatically state that the Church will not be here during any part of the Tribulation period is the statement in Revelation 1:19 - the key that unlocks the book. John was commanded to write: First, “The things which thou hast seen”; secondly, “The things which are”; and third, “The things which shall be after these things.” These three divisions do not run concurrently. They do not occur at the same time. John saw the vision of the glorified Lord, and that was the end of it. Then he saw the churches in Asia Minor, he wrote the messages delivered to the churches, and that ends that division.

“Revelation 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. John was, "Caught up".  Therefore we conclude, according to the Word of God - comparing spiritual things with spiritual, Scripture with Scripture - that chapter four and the following chapters record the things after the Church is raptured or "caught up" and seated around the throne. 

3. The whole picture changes after chapter three. We do not see the Lord in the midst of the candlesticks (churches) anymore. We do not see the Lord or the Holy Spirit on earth anymore; but we see a throne set in Heaven, (Visualize a King's throne room or the President's office, now explain what you see) and there is an indescribable person sitting upon a throne. There is a rainbow round about the throne, and we see the (cabinet) the four and twenty elders in Heaven, where they remain until chapter nineteen, at which time they come with the Lord out of Heaven, riding on white horses in judgment against this earth. When you forget your religious ideas,  what you have heard, what you have been taught by preachers, religions, and denominations - and let the Word of God speak; when you look and listen instead of interpreting, you will have no trouble understanding Revelation.

The best way to understand Revelation is to let it speaks, while you keep silent and let the Spirit teach you, because this book contains the deep things of God and there is a special promise to those who read it and hear it - not to those who read and interpret it, nor to those who read it and say what they think about it. If you read the book, hear what the book has to say, and keep the things written therein, you are blessed, but whosoever adds to or takes from this book has the curse of God upon him.  

4. According to Revelation 3:10, the Church will not enter nor go through any part of the Great Tribulation period: “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” This verse could have been in the message to Ephesus. It could have been in the message to Pergamos. It could have been in the message to Sardis . . . but it is not. It is in the message to the church at Philadelphia - the church of brotherly love . . . the True Church. The Bride of Christ is not to be tried upon the earth. The Bride of Christ will not be tried! We will be rewarded for our stewardship, and we will either gain or lose, as far as rewards are concerned.  However, the Church, the Bride, will not be tried upon the earth nor any place else. The great “hour of temptation” that is coming upon the earth to try them, that dwell upon the earth is the Great Tribulation, the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” That is the time when the Antichrist will reign and this earth will be hell on earth. The Church will not be here, oh yes, there will be people saved during the tribulation, but the organized church the Laodiceans will have lost its saving power.  The church will have already been judged and is in Heaven looking down, preparing to come back with Christ as Holy Angels and judge the world.

5. According to the testimony of the Apostle Paul (who wrote inspired of God), the Church will not enter nor go through any part of the Great Tribulation: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1^st Thessalonians 5:9). According to this Scripture, the Church is not appointed to wrath, the Church is not appointed to judgment. The Church will not face either the wrath of God or the judgment of God but will be caught up, only the save will meet Jesus in the clouds in the air. Then the judgment of Almighty God will fall upon this earth as described in Revelation 6 and follow. The stage is set in Revelation 4 and 5, and the judgments break out at the beginning of Chapter 6.

If the Tribulation is upon us, then we must prepare ourselves to be a part of that great number John saw.  Revelation 7:9-14  After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels were standing round about the throne, and about the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they? And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

THE THRONE OF JESUS IN HEAVEN

Revelation 4:1-3:

1. After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

2. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was Set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

The entire situation changes here. Up to this point, John is seen here on earth, and events recorded in chapters two and three took place right here on this earth. But the command of the Voice now is, “Come up hither.” Therefore, John leaves the earth and is caught up in Heaven to witness and record the visions that remain in the book of Revelation. Chapters four and five describe scenes and events that are beyond man’s imagination.   We can easily see John's feeble attempt to communicate what he is seeing.

The visions open (Re 4:1-11) with a Theophany, or a representation of God. John is permitted to look into heaven and to have a view of the throne of God, and of the worship celebrated there. A door (qura or opening is made into heaven, so that he, as it were, looks through the concave above, and sees what is beyond, He sees the throne of God and him who sits on the throne.  For clarification, we must state that there are numerous thrones mention in the Holy Scripture, this is the throne of God. Around the throne John sees the worshippers there; he sees the lightning play around the throne, and hears the thunder's roar; he sees the rainbow that encompasses the throne, and hears the songs of the worshippers.  The worshiper at this moment is the heavenly host, not those who are to come out of the great tribulation.

to be continued