The Vision of Heaven
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The Throne of God
The Throne of God
Revelation 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.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 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. 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. 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, 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: 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. 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!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 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, “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.”
After this - goes back to Revelation 1:19
Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
Revelation 1:19
Those John has seen revelation 1 the vision of Christ
Those that are Revelation 2-3 The letters to the churches
Those that are to take place after this - same wording we have now come to the prophetic portion of events. Everything after this speaks of the future and I believe the end times.
John sees a vision of heaven where he sees what will come about in the last days.
How does John Describe God
God himself - described by radiant beautiful stones that refract light a rainbow of colors
Flashes of lighting and peals of thunder - describe power
What other characters are present
Four living creatures
lion - strength and power
ox - humble service
man - logical beings
eagle - speed or swiftness
Ezekial 1:4-14
Compare Ezekiel 1:4-14
As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.
The descriptions are much the same with a few variations as is expected from different witnesses. No two people notice the exact same details.
Ezekiel 10:15
And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal.
Ezekiel also calls these creatures Cherubim.
Slightly different view from the pretty baby angels we see represented in statues.
Eyes always watching
primary purpose to declare the glory of God
Revelation 4:8
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!”
24 elders
Representatives of the church
They serve as servants and co rulers to Christ much like Daniel and his fellow advisors to the king were both servants and ruling governors
They too worship God
They realize all their power might comes from God
The Scroll
The Scroll
Revelation 5:1-4
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. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
Angels asks who is worthy to open the scroll?
No one worthy to open the scroll
John weeps
The Worthy One
The Worthy One
Revelation 5:5-7
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.” 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. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
Hope comes
The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered he is worhty
Lamb that was slaiin
Seven horns sign of power
seven eyes seven spirits
He took the scroll from the hand of God
The Worship of Christ
The Worship of Christ
Revelation 5:8-14
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. 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, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 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, 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!” 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!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Why is Christ worthy
He was the sacrifice by which he bought the people of God
He made them a kingdom of priests to God
The Result
myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands - innumberable angels
Every Creature in heaven and on earth under the earth and in the sea
all of them are praising God
The Reward
Revelation 5:12
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!”