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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment