Revelation 4, 5, & 6

Larry Kirkpatrick

Revelation- Wednesday night • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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The Scene Changes Drastically

English Standard Version (Chapter 4)

4 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.

3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,who was and is and is to come!”

REVELATION 4: A DRAMATIC CHANGE OF LOCATION

VS. 1 THE DOOR AND THE VOICE OF INVITATION- Some have said this typifies the Trumpet of God and the voice of the archangel of I Thessalonians 4:16-18

Heaven is the location. God is done speaking to the church. The revelation continues with John about to see the things that have to occur at some point in time.

Vs.2 – John was immediately in the Spirit, the only way he can get to heaven. There was God’s throne and He was on it.

Vs.3 – The Lord’s appearance in heaven. Remember, how he looked in the first three chapters.

a. Like jasper (green quartz) and sardine stone, rainbow around the throne, and it looks like an emerald. V.3. Here’s a look at the word carnelian which is also called sardine, but is today known as onyx:

ONYX (Heb. šōham). A form of banded chalcedony, imported in biblical times as a precious stone comparable in value to gold and sapphire (Gen. 2:12; Job 28:16). The variously colored bands of onyx make it an excellent material for carving—a careful engraver can carve the stone so that the engraving is in a completely different color than the background—thus a highly suitable material for signets and seals. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were carved in two pieces of onyx and the stones placed in gold settings on either shoulder of the high priest’s ephod (Exod. 28:9–13; 39:6–7); another onyx was engraved with the name of an Israelite tribe and fastened to the breastplate (39:13; cf. Ezek. 28:13).

b. 24 seated elders, around the throne, clothed in white, with crowns of gold. V.4

c. Lightning’s, thundering, and voices proceeded from the throne.v.5

d. In front were 7 lamps/torches of burning fire, which are the 7 spirits of God.v.5

e. Also in front was a sea of glass like crystal v.6

f. In the middle and round about the throne were four beasts: v.6 - 9

-One like a lion- #1- v.7

- Next like a calf -#2 – v.7

- The third had a man’s face #3- v.7

- The fourth was like a flying eagle. #4- v.7

- Each beast had six wings. V.8

- They were full of eyes inside, and they did not rest. V.8

* The reason was so they could proclaim “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty give glory and honor and thanks to the one on the throne. V. 8, 9

The Book of Revelation (A. Worship of God as Creator (4:1–11))

it seems best to take the twenty-four elders as an exalted angelic order who serve and adore God as the heavenly counterpart to the twenty-four priestly and twenty-four Levitical orders (1 Chron 24:4; 25:9–13). Their function is both royal and sacerdotal, and may be judicial as well (cf. 20:4). Their white garments speak of holiness, and their golden crowns of royalty.

24 Hour Worship 4:9- 11

English Standard Version (Chapter 4)

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,who was and is and is to come!”

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,to receive glory and honor and power,for you created all things,and by your will they existed and were created.”

The praise of His Holiness is directly related to His omnipotence- He is all powerful- He is the Almighty. Nothing is beyond His control. When it seems things get out of control here in Revelation, it has already been stated that nothing is out of the realm of His control because He is all powerful, forever and ever, Amen! The last days scenario here in chapter four does not skip one of the most important aspects of the last days: creation by God is truth. It did not happen any other way.

Last days denial of basic truth is a hallmark of the end times. II Peter 3.

English Standard Version (Chapter 3)

2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,

6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Chapter 5: The Scroll and the Lamb

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Look on the outer lining of your Bible and you will see seven seals or stripes to designate that the book has been opened. The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord has shown Himself to be clearly worthy to do this job, so that heaven weeps no more. No one other than Jesus is up to the task because of the cross, and the empty tomb, and His exalted position in heaven. John wept as perhaps he had never wept before. One of the ruling elders proclaimed,

“ weep no more more:behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Re 5:5.

The Standing Lamb

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

This is a picture of the lamb of God that we have not seen up to this point. It seems to cover the Old Testament and New Testament side of things very nicely. The seven horns, seven eyes, and seven spirits are all numbers of perfection so there is no issue not taken care of. Jesus takes the scroll as the Lamb and the 24 elders fall down. Their arms were full of a harp, golden bowls of incense: which are prayers of the saints. An amazing picture. The elders get ready to sing something new in verses 9 and 10:

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

9 And they sang a new song, saying,“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,and they shall reign on the earth.”

We do not have the musical notes to this, but “Handel’s Messiah” takes all of it’s words from Revelation and puts them to music. It is one of the grandest pieces of music ever written, until we get to heaven.

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

The term “myriad” refers to ten thousand. This is very many creatures and elders worshipping. It is ten thousands of ten thousands and thousands and thousands singing in beautiful worship. Amen, and they fell down.

Revelation 6 – The Seals

English Standard Version (Chapter 6)

6 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

The Trouble of the Tribulation Begins

Of all the bad things that could happen in this life and has happened, cannot be compared with what occurs in the Tribulation. It is also known as the time of Jacob’s Trouble. It will be far worse than any World War, the collapse of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, and multiple tornadoes across our land. God’s wrath is coming. Pity the person who has to witness it from earth’s shores. The One who is worthy steps up to loosen the seals and here is where the action begins.

6:1, 2 – A White Horse and Rider come forth. As the lamb opens the first seal, which means the rider on the white horse is NOT Christ as some have interpreted. This rider has a bow and goes forth to conquer. Jesus opened the seal. The person who is conquering during the tribulation is the antichrist. He appears as an angel of light on a white horse and deceives the nations, conquering them. Nowhere does it mention Christ as the man on the horse.

6:3, 4 – The Second Seal is opened. The Rider on the red horse goes forth to take peace from the earth. The Tribulation judgment begins.

The Third Seal

English Standard Version (Chapter 6)

5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

6:5, 6 – The Black Horse and Rider of the Third Seal. This one stands for the effects of famine. At these prices, wheat would be about $42-43 dollars a bushel and barley would be about $35. The oil and wine are not touched.

What is happening to food prices right now?

6:7, 8 – The Forth Seal of Death. The pale here is corpse, or death- literally a green death. The name of the one on him is Death. Hell followed close behind. This is a gruesome judgment. A fourth part of the world is killed 4 ways.

English Standard Version (Chapter 6)

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

6:9 – 11 – The Fifth Seal brings a different picture. We now see those who were slain because of the Word of God and their testimony (see Rev. 12:11). These are Tribulation Martyrs who are calling upon God to avenge them. They are given white Robes and are told to be quiet (rest).

English Standard Version (Chapter 6)

12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.

14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,

16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

6:12 – 17 – The Sixth Seal unleashed the most gruesome scene yet. There is an earthquake of monstrous proportions. The sun becomes black. The moon becomes blood red. There is a meteor shower in verse 13. As the heaven is rolled away, every mountain and every island are moved from their foundation. People go into hiding and pray that the mountains would fall on them. God’s wrath has started. This point is probably the start of the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation.