Max's Weekly Musings
Vol. 9, No. 34, for the week of September 24 -30, 2006
Revelation 4

 

I want to devote my time this week to one of the most exciting portions of Scripture.  It is found in Revelation 4 and 5.  In fact, it is so important that we will take a couple of weeks to work through these verses.  The Apostle John is privileged to witness one of the stirring scenes recorded for us - the throne room of heaven, God upon the throne, the celebration in worship of Him, and the acceptance by Jesus of a sealed book.  These events are the necessary precursor for the Tribulation that is to follow.  Unless we truly understand their importance, we will miss the significance of what follows in the book of Revelation.  Don't be in such a hurry to get to the curses that you forget to take time to praise Him who is the King!

 

Let me outline, with some detail, Revelation 4:

 

I.  Time of this great scene

 

    A.  "After this..." (Revelation 4:1 ) - occurs after the events of chapters 2 and 3 are completed

 

    B.  A probable time is after the Rapture of the Church.  The Church is not referred to after chapter 3 until the closing admonitions given in Revelation 22:16.  It seems strange that the Church would not be mentioned during the events of the Tribulation period if it were on the earth.  The believers present on the earth during the time of the Tribulation are called saints, but they are never referred to as the Church.

 

II.  Place of this great scene

 

    A.  Before the throne set in heaven (Revelation 4:2) - Revelation is known as the "throne book" because the word is used 45 times; in chapters 4 and 5, it is used 17 times.  In the rest of the New Testament it is only found 15 times.  The throne represents the universal sovereignty and rulership of God (Psalm 47:8, Psalm 103:19).

 

    B.  A rainbow encircled the throne (Revelation 4:3).  The rainbow is a reminder of the faithfulness of God (Genesis 9:11-13).  God is about to call the earth's inhabitants for the breaking of His eternal covenant.

 

III.  Participants at this great scene

 

    A.  Twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:4).

 

          1.  Did these represent angels?  The elders are clothed in white raiment which speaks of redemption and righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21, Revelation 19:8, 14).  The Bible never speaks of the angels being clothed in garments of righteousness.  The elders have crowns of gold upon their heads  (crowns mentioned in the Bible include: an incorruptible crown - 1 Corinthians 9:25, a crown of rejoicing - Philippians 4:1, a crown of righteousness for keeping the faith - 2 Timothy 4:8, a crown of life - James 1:12, and a crown of glory - 1 Peter 5:4).  The Bible never describes angels as wearing crowns upon their heads, nor are they ever described as being rewarded.

 

          2.  Did these represent Old Testament Israelites?  Old Testament saints are not resurrected until Christ comes the second time (Daniel 12:1-3).  We do know that the "dead in Christ" will be the first to rise at the time of the Rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).  The  words "in Christ" are characteristic of only the redeemed since Pentecost, when every believer is baptized into the body of Christ at the time of salvation, and thus is spoken as being "in Christ."

 

          3.  These elders then are representatives of the glorified Church.

 

    B.  Four beasts (Revelation 4:6).  Probably these four creatures are cherubim (Ezekiel 1:5, 6, 10 and Ezekiel 10:20-21)

 

          1.  First beast - like a lion.  Represents majesty and omnipotence.  It is representative of Christ as King, as portrayed in the gospel of Matthew.

          2.  Second beast - like a calf.  Represents the animal used for sacrifice.  It is representative of Christ as the Servant who was to be sacrificed, as portrayed in the gospel of Mark.

          3.  Third beast - like a man.  Represents Christ as the perfect man, as portrayed in the gospel of Luke.

          4.  Fourth beast - like a flying eagle.  Represents sovereignty and supremacy.  It is representative of  Christ in all His deity, as portrayed in the gospel of John.

          5.  Function of the beasts (Revelation 4:8).   The four living creatures seem to be constant attendants at the throne of God to protect and to affirm the holiness of God (Isaiah 6:1-3).  Someday, we too, will affirm His holiness and authority (Philippians 2:9-11)

 

    C.  The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb (Revelation 5:5-6)

 

          1.  The Lamb refers to Christ at His first coming.  The Lamb speaks of His meekness.  As a Lamb He is Savior.  As a Lamb He is judged.  The Lamb speaks of the grace of God.

          2.  The Lion refers to Christ at His second coming.  The Lion speaks of His majesty.  As the Lion He is sovereign.  As the Lion He is judge.  The Lion speaks of the government of God.

          3.  He had seven horns and seven eyes (Revelation 5:6).  The horns emphasize His perfect strength, while the eyes emphasize His perfect knowledge.

 

(Next week we will continue with the events that occur at this great scene, as found in the remainder of Revelation 5).

 

Thoughts to Ponder:  For one brief moment John is permitted to see into the very throne room of the Almighty God.  The brilliance of God's glory and the presence of His holiness is almost beyond human description.  And all around are the voices of worship.  God is worshipped because He is holy.  He is praised because He is eternal.  He is celebrated because He is worthy to receive the praise and honor from men.  He is acclaimed as the Creator.  When a person enters into the very presence of God I believe praise should just be a natural response.  Yes, God alone is worthy to receive our praise.

 

    Praise and worship:  this is the attitude of those who surround the throne of God.  They continually ascribe holiness to God Almighty.  We might think we have a concept of worship here on earth, but I am sure that it will pale in comparison with that worship before the Lord.  May we ask God to help us to learn how to worship better here so that we can experience some of that greater worship which is to come.

 

    Two songs are recorded in this chapter, both having as their focus the person of God.  In the first song (verse 8), God's holiness and His eternity are celebrated.  In fact, those two aspects of God are continually praised by the four living creatures.  We do not give much thought today to God's holiness, but it is one of the most proclaimed attributes of God mentioned in the Bible.  In everything He does, God is holy.  The focus of the second song (verse 11) is on the creatorship of God.  He is worthy of praise because He has created all things.  Unlike the songs we tend to sing today where the focus is upon us, there all thoughts will be focused upon Him!  What a great chorus that will indeed be!

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Worship is not a text but a context; it is not an isolated experience in life, but a series of life experiences. (Gary Gulbranson)