REVELATION 4 The Throne of God the Father June 24, 2012
Outline Christ s Invitation to come to heaven (1) The Glory of God (2 8a) The Worship of God (8b 11) 1
Time These events occur after Christ s dealings with His churches have been completed Chapter 4 is the 2 nd of the visions, introduced by the phrase After these things First vision is at 1:11-3 After these things is also seen in 7:1, 7:9, 18:1, and 19:1 Revelation 1:19 Write then What you saw What is And what is about to come after these things Revelation 4:1 After these things... This is the FUTURE, after the church age and before the judgment that is about to take place 2
Time These events occur after Christ s dealings with His churches have been completed Revelation 2 3 is over There is no mention of the churches at all for the rest of Revelation until the concluding verses of chapter 22 There are 20 references to the church in chapters 1 3 There are 0 references to the church during the Tribulation chapters of 6 19 Rapture takes place between chapters 3 and 4 3
Christ s Invitation (1) Invitation from Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:10, 12 17) to the Apostle John to enter heaven Who has seen heaven? Paul (II Corinthians 12), but was forbidden to speak about it John (Revelation 4 & 5) Very detailed His 2 nd vision of Revelation Christ invited John to enter through the door to heaven» 1:10; Exodus 19:20, 24-25 4
Christ s Invitation (1) Invitation from Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:10, 12 17) to the Apostle John to enter heaven Wide open door The keys to the kingdom of heaven were given to Peter To bring the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10) To receive a revelation of future events must happen indicates that these future events indeed will happen Luke 2:49, 24:44-46 5
Transferred to Heaven (2) John, in his spirit, in the vision, went to heaven by the Holy Spirit 1:10, 17:3, 21:10; II Corinthians 12:1 4, Ezekiel 3:12, 14; 8:3; 11:1, 24; 43:5 His body stayed on the earth 6
Transferred to Heaven (2) God the Father is seen sitting on the throne (5:7) Sitting is a present tense participle Suggests continued sitting Daniel saw this same sight with the Ancient of Days sitting on His throne (Daniel 7) From here, the outworking of God s wrath proceeds Revelation 6:10, 16 17; 14:7; 15:1; 16:5, 19; 18:20; 19:2, 11 The location is in the heavenly Temple John also saw the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant there (8:3, 11:19) The temple is the throne of God and the Lamb 7
What God the Father looks like (3) Like a jasper A diamond, clear as crystal Revelation 21:11 Like a sardius stone Fiery red stone These gems could symbolize The beauty of God s glory The holiness and justice of God His anger in which He is about to send judgment Jasper is an opaque red, brown, or yellow quartz Sardius Diamond 8
What the throne looks like (3) Surrounded with a rainbow Like an emerald (a green rainbow) A rainbow is a sign of a covenant (Noah in Genesis 9:13) that God will be faithful to His promises 9
Who is around the throne of God the Father (4) 24 elders sitting upon 24 thrones. Who are they? 1. Angels Representatives of the Old Testament priestly order (I Chronicles 24:4 5, 25:7 19) Representatives of the faithful of all ages Special class of angels 2. Men Representatives of Israel, sons of Aaron (I Chronicles 24:4) Representatives of both (12 of Israel and 12 of the church). The 24 elders are only at the throne of heaven. The 12 apostles will someday judge the 12 tribes of Israel during the Millennial kingdom (Matthew 19:28) Representatives of the Church 10
Who is around the throne of God the Father (4) 24 elders sitting upon 24 thrones. Who are they? Best to see them as men from the church age (Hebrews 12:23 24) Elders never refers to angels» Elders are always chosen representatives and leaders of people» There are no elders in the visions of God s thrones in Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 1 10. Prior to the cross, the spirits of all the redeemed were still confined to Hades Angels never wear crowns of any kind nor sit on thrones» Angels are ministering spirits to the saints (Hebrews 1:14) Angels are distinguished from the elders (Revelation 7:11) 11
Who is around the throne of God the Father (4) 24 elders sitting upon 24 thrones. Who are they? Best to see them as men from the church age (Hebrews 12:23 24) 24 elders cannot represent Israel since the 144,000 Jews are on the earth during the Tribulation and the nation as a whole has not yet been redeemed The number 24 represented a completed amount in the Old Testament» 24 divisions of priests, each with a chief priest. 24 chief priest and one high priest. God s people are termed a holy priesthood (I Peter 2:5) and a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9)» 24 divisions of singers 12
Who is around the throne of God the Father (4) 24 elders sitting upon 24 thrones. Who are they? Best to see them as men from the church age (Hebrews 12:23 24) They are redeemed by Christ s blood (5:9 10) who will reign on the earth Their clothing matches what the saints of the overcomers of the 7 churches in Revelation 2 3» Sitting on thrones (3:21)» Clothed in white robes (3:5). White robes suggest that their resurrection has already taken place (in the rapture).» Wearing crowns of gold (2:10) 13
What comes from the Throne (5) Lightenings Thunderings Voices The wrath and judgment of God thrown down to the earth Revelation 8:5, 16:18, Exodus 19:16 14
Seven lamps of fire burning before the throne carry forth the judgment Seven lamps are the seven spirits (angels) (1:4, 8:2) These seven spirits carry out the judgments upon the earth Revelation 8:2; 6 9:21; 11:15 19; 15:1; 16 15
Sea of glass like crystal before the throne (6) It is what separates God in His holiness and purity from His sinful creation Ancient monarchs had something similar in front of their thrones A paved area to indicate separation between the king and His subjects 16
4 Living Creatures (Living Ones) in the midst of the throne and around the throne (4:6 8) Also seen in 4:9; 5:8, 11, 14; 6:2 8; Ezekiel 10:20 Appear similar to the seraphim in Isaiah 6:2 From Ezekiel 1:4 25, they Have human form Each had 4 faces Human hands Full of eyes front and back Cherubim (Ezekiel 10:15) 17
4 Living Creatures (Living Ones) in the midst and around the throne (4:6 8) Views of who they are? 1. Represent the 4 gospels Matthew» lion (strength & royal authority) Mark» ox (service and power) Luke» man (wisdom and character) John» eagle (deity) 2. Attributes of God (majesty, strength, intelligence, sovereignty) 3. Angels Special angels who hold a unique and exalted position at the throne of God Are both around the throne and in the midst of the throne (6)» Other angels are only around the throne (5:11) Worship leaders of heaven John tried to describe the indescribable! 18
The Worship of God (8b 11) The message of the 4 Living Creatures Proclaim the holiness of God day and night in worship Repeating a word adds emphasis Holy, Holy Repeating again calls out to the infinite holiness of God Holy, Holy, Holy May also suggest the triunity of God As As the the Absolute Holy One, He He is is entitled to to initiate judgment on onhis Creation to to return it it to to its its holy state 19
Hymn from the 4 Living Creatures (8b) Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! Only God is holy (3 fold repetition) God is Holy God is completely separated from evil in any and every form God hates sin and pours out His wrath upon it Only God is the Almighty He is the strongest, most powerful being (omnipotent) God is eternal 20
The Worship of God (8b 11) Whenever (at the appropriate times) the 4 Living Creatures (the Worship Leaders) give glory, honor, and thanks to God the Father The 24 elders fall before God the Father To worship Him To cast their crowns before the throne We should desire crowns from the Lord» Not to gain a reward» But to be able to present our life s work of faithful service as a gift to God We will receive crowns, not for being the best, but for our FAITHFULNESS (Revelation 2:10, James 1:12)» We compete against our spiritual enemies, not against other Christians (Ephesians 6:12) 21
Hymn from the 24 Elders (11) You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created. 22
The Worship of God (8b 11) Why we worship God (10 11) He is due our Glory Honor Thanks Because He is eternal He is worthy He is the Creator of all things He planned for our salvation He is the sustainer of all living things 23
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xpztspbymk&feature=related> Conclusion God is perfectly holy, just, gracious, righteous, pure, omnipotent, eternal, sovereign,... He is therefore worthy and entitled to bring judgment upon the earth which He is about to do To Satan, the demons, and sinners Our motivation should be to serve and honor God in all that we do faithfully So that we might one day give Him our rewards as our gift God the Father deserves and desires our praise and worship To To God belongs all all the the glory! 24
Backup
Time γράψον οὖν ἃ εἶδες καὶ ἃ εἰσὶν καὶ ἃ μέλλει γενέσθαι μετὰ ταῦτα. Write then what you saw and what is and what about to become after these things Revelation 1:19 Μετὰ ταῦτα εἶδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ θύρα ἠνεῳγμένη ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ, καὶ ἡφωνὴ After these things I saw and behold door having been opened in the heaven and the sound ἡ πρώτη ἣν ἤκουσα ὡς σάλπιγγος λαλούσης μετ ἐμοῦ λέγων, Ἀνάβα ὧδε, the first which I heard as trumpet speaking with me saying, Come up here καὶ δείξω σοι ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι μετὰ ταῦτα. and I will show to you what is necessary to become after these things. Revelation 4:1 After these things of of Revelation 2 3 is is what is is about to to come: The The future events (Tribulation) of of Revelation 6 --19 19 26
Sea of glass like crystal before the throne (6) It is what separates God in His holiness and purity from His sinful creation Ancient monarchs had something similar in front of their thrones A paved area to indicate separation between the king and His subjects Symbol for the laver (basin) in the tabernacle The priests had to cleanse themselves before they could minister Moving waters Exodus 30:18 21, II Chronicles 4:2 6, Exodus 24:10, Ezekiel 1:22, I Kings 7:23 John saw this Sea of Glass again in 15:2 This time it was mingled with fire Those that are holy stand on the Sea of Glass and have access directly to the throne of God over the solid sea because they are holy Solid waters 27
Characteristics of the 4 Living Creatures Full of eyes in front and in back Immediately aware of whatever is happening Comprehensive knowledge Nothing escapes their observation Constant vigilance Represent 4 classes of created beings: like a Lion = wild beasts Ox = domesticated animals Man = human beings Eagle = flying creatures ox lion lion man eagle 28