Chapter 4 ... The Throne of God

Remember ... to explain what was being seen would be like taking someone from a foreign land and showing him everything here ... for him to explain to his people, he would have to compare it to something ... John was doing just that in his writings.

Rev 4:1-11

The Bible teaches us that there was three heavens:

1. The atmospheric heaven where the "prince of the power of the air" lives and this will one day be destroyed (the earth).

2. Stellar heaven (the sky we see) or the universe.

3. The one into which John was taken - the heaven of God. Could this be the "black hole" that some scientists describe? Maybe!

Job 26:7 He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.

Behind the North Star there is an empty space.
It has been suggested that this is the Third Heaven where God's throne is set.

After the letters to the churches, John is caught up into heaven.

The reasons we believe in the rapture before the Tribulation:

1. John, one of the first true members of the Church of Jesus Christ, is a fitting symbol of the Church being taken out of the world before the tribulation begins.

The location of this event is right for the Rapture. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the successive periods of church history; Chapters 4 and 5 present a vision in heaven and Chapter 6 introduced the tribulation period.

2. The absence of any mention of the Church indicates that the Church is not around during Tribulation. In the first three chapters there are 16 references to the Church and it is not mentioned again until Chapter 19.

3. The use of Old Testament language and symbols in Chapters 4 - 18 indicate Israel ... not the Church.

4. The similarity between the events in Chapter 4 and other teaching on the Rapture ...

1 Thes 4:13-18 (some of my favorite scripture!)

Rapture - caught up - to seize by force.

Christ is coming to rob the world of His redeemed ones to take them to Heaven.

All believers who have voluntarily invited the Lord Jesus Christ into their lives will be raptured.

Most of the symbols in the book of Revelation have a counterpart in the Old Testament.

The throne of God seems to be fixed point and everything else in Heaven is in relation to it.

The throne of God is the place of authority and center of God's rulership for activities in Heaven.

Seven things around the Throne of God:

1. The triune God

studied carefully these verses reveal the three members of the triune God.

When John said he was in the Spirit - he was referring to the Holy Spirit; he was filled with the person of the HOly Spirit; the presence of the throne could be translated to be God.

Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father

v 3 mentions Jesus ... John said, "...and He that sat was to look upon ..."

We know that God cannot be seen or looked upon!

John 1:18
John 6:46
1 Tim 6:16

The one John looked at is non other than the only member of the Trinity that can been and that is Jesus. John was seeing his old friend ... WHAT A REUNION!

Described in two ways ...

Jasper - diamond ... a diamond disperses light into color ... 1 Peter 4:10 talked about the grace being "various" or multicolored!

Jasper emits the colors of grace from the Throne of God.

Carnelian or Sardius - blood red ... the redemptive blood of Christ.

Jasper - grace (multicolored)
Sardius - mercy (blood red)

Grace is getting what we don't deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve.

Also notice the color of the stone according to Exodus 18:17-20

This was the breastpiece of judgment for the priest in the temple.

The stones of the throne of God were the first and last stones in the breastpiece for the tribes of Israel each tribe according to their birth order.

Reuben was the first tribe meaning "behold a son"
Benjamin was the last tribe meaning "son of my right hand"

It is Christ enthroned; the Son about the reign in power Who was before John's vision!

It represents the first time Christ has had His entire priesthood together at one time.

The priesthood of believers began at the day of Pentecost.

Every member of the body of Christ is a member of the priesthood of believers ... 1 Peter 2:9

The Church made up the royal priesthood and is now in the presence of Christ all united at one time.

The sardius and jasper stones are used to depict Christ as our High Priest ... the first and the last Commander in Chief of the tribes of Israel and the priesthood.

CHRIST THE ETERNAL ONE:

another phrase of the description of Christ is ... a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like an emerald."

A perfectly circular rainbow (not just a bow)

In heaven we will see a perfectly circular rainbow which represents the deternal nature of Christ.

These are reminders that we are in heaven not because of anything we have done but because Christ has given us a royal priesthood by His grace.

TWENTY FOUR ELDERS

2 views on this ...
12 representing the tribes of Israel (Old Testament)
12 representing the apostles (New Testament)

Reason ... they are wearing gold victor's crowns (not ones with stones) telling us that they were redeemed men.

Second opinion:

They are not of our race at all ... they may be elders over God's creation.

I believe it is the first!

SIGNS OF JUDGMENT

Lightning and thunder have most always been associated with judgment. Since they come from the throne of God, they are a prelude to the judgment that is about to fall on the earth.

SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD

Sevenfold characteristics of the Holy Spirit
Spirit of the Lord
Spirit of Wisdom
Understanding
Council
Might
Knowledge
Fear of the Lord

NOT SEVEN DIFFERENT SPIRITS BUT SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ONE HOLY SPIRIT.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit and in addition to the fruit of the Spirit, we should have these characteristics.

SEA OF GLASS.

Sea = cleansing of the saings Psalm 24:3-6
Sea - 1 Kings 7:23
2 Chron 4:6
Glass - calm

It represents a sure foundation - the Word of God and our means of cleansing.

FOUR LIVING CREATURES.

Angels

Isaiah 6:1-3

These creatures were there to give constant praise and glory to the Father

They possibly represent the four Gospels:

Lion ... Christ the King (Matthew)
Ox ... Christ the servant (Mark)
Man ... Son of Man (Luke
Flying Eagle ... God Himself (John)


HEAVENLY WORSHIP OF CHRIST

Christ is the object of worship in heaven

Crowns are ones of victor - solid gold.

Everything in this chapter is in relation to its position with the Throne. How about our lives? What is in your life that should be looked at by how it relates to God's Throne?


HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!!!