Revelation Bible Study Lesson 4 The Throne Room

 

Revelation Bible Study Lesson 4

Podcast Audio

 

The Throne Room in Heaven Revelation 4-5

 

Focus is on John

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

 Observations

Could John himself be a symbol at this point?  Very probably. Of what?  The church being raptured into heaven before the Great Tribulation.

 

Focus is on God

Revelation 4:3  And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald  4  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.  5  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 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.

Observation

What are the descriptive elements around the throne?

One on the throne, like Jasper and Sardine stone, a rainbow about the throne, in sight like an emerald.  Twenty-four seats with twenty-four elders.  Out of the throne lightnings, thunder and voices, seven lamps burning.  Before the throne sea of glass like crystal. in the midst of  the throne four beasts (living creatures) full of eyes before and behind.

What do each of these symbolize?

The one on the throne is God.  Jasper is probably the diamond, Sardine is red, probably the ruby. The diamond represents purity, righteousness and the ruby represents blood and sacrifice. These two stones were the first and last stones on the breastplate (Ephod) of the High Priest see Exodus 28:17-20.  The first represented Reuben whose name means "Behold a son." and the last represents Benjamin whose name means "Son of my right hand."

The rainbow represents grace and mercy as it did when God gave it after the flood.  The emerald color of the rainbow is the color of the tribe of Judah on the ephod, Judah's name means "praise."

Lightning thunder and voices are representative of God's omnipotence and transcendence (his ability to speak through his creation to man)

The seven lamps are the seven aspects of the fullness of the Holy Spirit which show God's omnipresence.

The sea of glass is reminiscent of the bronze laver which was in the tabernacle. see 1Chronicles 18:8.  The laver was used for cleansing and so the sea here represents purity of all those who are now in the presence of God.

 

Focus on The Four Beasts (Living Creatures)

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.

Observations

What is the purpose of the four living creatures?

To give praise, honor and glory to the One who sits on the throne.

 What do they represent?

The full nature of God the Son.

Jesus is the King who is a servant and God who is also man. 

 Read the following verses Matthew 1:1, Mark 10:45, Luke 19:10, John 1:1 The Gospels are actually four views of Jesus as the King  in Matthew 1:2 The Servant in Mark 10:45. As God         in John 1:1 and as a Man Luke 19:10.

 We see the same four-fold picture in Revelation 4:7 where now we see a Lion (King) an Ox (servant) an Eagle (God) and a Man. The same picture is seen in Ezekiel 1:5-10, where Ezekiel the prophet is show the same scene in God's throne room as John. 

                        

Four pictures of Jesus	King	Servant	God	Man
Revelation 4:7	Lion	Ox	Eagle	Man
Ezekeil 1:5-10	Lion	Calf	Eagle	Man
	Matt 1:1	Mark 10:45	John 1:1	Luke 19:10

 

Focus is On The Elders

Rev. 4:9  And when those beasts give glory and honour 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 honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

What is significant about the number 24?

There were 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles. There were 24 courses or rotations of priest serving in the tabernacle

Where else have we seen the term elders?

The nation of Israel had elders as did the church.

What do the 24 elder represent?  All the saved of all time, both OT and NT.

 

Focus On The Book

Revelation 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.  2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 

What is this book?

The sum history of all of God's dealing with Mankind, or the title deed to earth and all the people thereon.  see Jer 32:8

 

Focus On The Lamb

5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.  7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Who is the lamb? Jesus Christ

Describe the lamb.

It had been slain, It had seven horns, It had seven eyes. 

What do these symbols reveal to us about Jesus?

His death and resurrection have made him worthy to claim and open the book. The horns speak of power, while seven is the number of completeness.  Eyes are said to be the seven Spirits of God which is the fullness of the Holy Spirit, especially his omnipresence.

 

Focus on The Songs

Passage	Singers	Number	Sung to?	Song about?
4:8	Beast	4	God	Holiness
4:10-11	Elders	24	God	Power
5:8-10	Beast & Elders	28	Lamb	Redemption
5:11-12	Beast, Elders, & Angels	over 100 million	Lamb	Worthy is the lamb
5:13	All Creatures	All	God and Lamb	Blessing, honor, glory, Power

—1st Song Rev 4:8

—Four Living Creatures Song of God’s Holiness

—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.  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

—2nd Song Rev 4:10-11

—24 Elders Sing of God’s Power

—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, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

—3rd Song Rev 5:8-10 

—28 Living Creatures and Elders Join to Sing to the Lamb of Redemption

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;   And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 

—4th Song Rev 5:11-12

—100 million Living Creature, Elder and Angels sing “Worthy is the Lamb”

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts 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 that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

 

—5th Song Rev 5:13

—All Creatures of Heaven and Earth sing Blessing, Honor, Glory and Power to God and the Lamb.

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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

 

—Conclusion of the Worship Service

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

—The elders fall down, prostrating themselves before God and the Lamb. 

This should be the final act of all true worship.