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THE GLORY OF GOD

REVELATION 4

This chapter opens with the words "after these things" indicating a chronological sequence of events: what is about to be revealed will take place after "the things which are" (1:19), the seven stages of the period of the Church of Christ, represented by the letters to the seven churches.

The end of the period of the Church, when its dead and alive will be taken to be with Christ, is also called the fullness of the Gentiles (Romans 11:25), putting an end to the interval between the 69th and 70th "weeks" of years prophesied in Daniel 9:26, and therefore starting the 70th "week" of years of the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24).

Chapters 4 and 5 are an introduction to this final period of seven years, also called the Tribulation. From chapter 6 to 18 there is a detailed description of this period, where there is no mention of the Church, since it will be with the Lord Jesus; God releases his wrath upon disobedient mankind, and once again deals with the nation of Israel, fulfilling the ancient prophecies of the Old Testament; appropriately, therefore, we find Old Testament symbols such as the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, the altar, the incense, the elders, the cherubim, the seals, the trumpets, the plagues, and others, in these chapters.

In his vision, John is called by a voice like a trumpet, calling him up to heaven through a door. This reminds us of the rapture of the Church, when a trumpet will sound, and the Church will be instantly taken up through Christ, the door (John 10:7,9).

The supernatural scene which met the eyes of John could only be described in the way of comparison with earthly things, which we can understand:

• the appearance of He who sat on the throne was like a jasper stone and a sardius, or carnelian stone: these are understood to be the diamond and the ruby; even when very small they have great brilliance.

• the rainbow around the throne resembled an emerald: a rainbow is composed of seven colours, so the resemblance is not to the colour of the emerald, but to its consistency of many layers (Ezekiel 1:28).

• from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings and voices: an indication of the supreme authority and power of God, and of his judgment which is about to come.

• the Holy Spirit, in his sevenfold fullness is before the throne: an indication that He is no longer on earth, with the Church.

• the sea of glass, like crystal, before the throne, is better understood when we realise that glass, in those days, was imperfect and opaque; to be like crystal it had to be perfectly smooth and transparent, indicating holiness and purity. In Solomon's temple there was a sea of cast bronze in front of the ark of the covenant (representing God's presence), full of water for the purification of the priests (I Kings 7:23-45).

• the four living creatures are heavenly creatures: cherubim (Ezekiel 1:4-25, 10:15-22, Isaiah 6:1-4). Their function is to serve in God's presence, and to preserve his holiness (Genesis 3:24, Exodus 25:18-22, Ezekiel 28:14,16). They are different from each other, or maybe there are different groups of them. When Israel marched through the desert, the ark of the covenant was kept in the centre, the tribe of Judah (lion) was on the East, Ephraim (calf) was West, Reuben (man) was South and Dan (eagle) was North, no doubt figures of the heavenly creatures surrounding the throne of God.

• The twenty four elders are explained in I Chronicles 24:3-18: as the priests were many in the time of David, he divided them in 24 groups, each taking a turn of two weeks to serve in the temple, thus being a representative of the whole; the elders were leaders, and representatives, of groups within each tribe of the Jews (Ezra 10:8); white robes are a symbol of salvation (Isaiah 61:10, Rev. 3:4,5,18); thrones will be given to the redeemed in Christ (Matthew 19:28, Revelation 3:21, and are foreseen in Daniel 7:9), and they will also received crowns, of which five are mentioned in the Bible:
  - the incorruptible crown (I Corinthians 9:25-27)
  - the crown of life (Revelation 2:10)
  - the crown of glory (I Peter 5:4)
  - the crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8)
  - the crown of rejoicing (I Thessalonians 2:19)
  From all this we can understand that the 24 elders were representatives of the raptured church.

THE GLORY OF THE LAMB
REVELATION 5

The key to a perfect understanding of this chapter is in verse 9. According to the Law, when someone, because he was impoverished, sold his property (called his inheritance), a relative of his (called his redeemer) was entitled to buy it back for the family (Leviticus 25:25). When he paid the price, the redeemer received a deed of purchase, which gave him the right to take possession of the property (Jeremiah 32:7-15).

In the beginning, God gave mankind dominion over all his creation on earth (Genesis 1:28). Because of disobedience Adam and Eve "died": they were banished from the garden of Eden where they enjoyed God's presence, and earth and all thereon were cursed by God (Genesis 3:17-24). In effect, mankind lost its inheritance: life was taken away, and could not be "bought" back by it because of sin - the debt.

In His grace, however, God gave His only begotten Son, to become human - the man Jesus - thereby kin of mankind, who lived a life without sin and therefore was able to pay the price of the ransom, his life, symbolised by His blood when he died on the cross. All those who believe in Him, repenting of their sin and receiving Him as their Lord and Saviour, have reconciliation with God: they are no longer dead but alive, for ever (John 3:16).

The price He paid was sufficient to give eternal life to all those who believe, and also to bring regeneration to all creation, including new glorified bodies for the redeemed: this is the inheritance (Romans 8:19-22): He still holds the title deed, and will claim possession of the inheritance "in the dispensation of the fullness of times" (Ephesians 1:7-14), after God has put an end to present humanity.

The scroll mentioned here is like the parchment scrolls of old, written on both sides, in portions attached end-to-end and rolled up into one document. In this case there were seven parts, each sealed as it was rolled up. It reminds us of the words describing the end of things, closed and sealed till the time of the end in Daniel 12:9.

The opening of this scroll marks the beginning of the "dispensation of the fullness of times", and each of its seals holds a chain of events: it starts with the last period of seven years prophesied by Daniel, then comes the millennium, the rebellion and final judgment, and finally the eternal state with new heavens and new earth, and the new Jerusalem.

Only the "legal owner" was entitled to take the scroll and open it - like the redeemer of old - and at first, to his distress, John saw no-one worthy of this - no-one even dared to look at it. But then he saw the owner, introduced to him by one of the elders as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David : the second person of the Trinity is standing in the midst of the throne in the form of a Lamb as though it had been slain: He has been there since His ascension (I Peter 3:22).

These are the two aspects of His coming: first as a Lamb, who died to pay the price of our sin, and the next time He will come as a Lion ready to pour judgment on His enemies. The phrase as though it had been slain means that, having been killed, yet he is alive, pointing to His resurrection. The seven horns indicate His perfect and complete power, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him, and his seven eyes perfect and complete vision, through the perfect and complete Spirit of God, sent out to all the earth (John 15:26).

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
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."
Rev 4:1-11 (NKJV)

1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Worthy is the Lamb

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Rev 5:1-14 (NKJV)