Revelation Chapter Four (Part 1)

Revelation 4:1–11 ESV

1 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!” 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.”

Revelation Outline

Revelation 1:19 ESV

19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

Revelation 3:8 (ESV)

8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

The Harpazo? 4:1

The Harpazo is a very strange and controversial point of view. It is stated four times in Revelation, “A door was opened.” There is a “voice like a trumpet,” which seems to echo 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (the rapture passage). He is actually called to “Come up hither.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16 ESV

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

The term “Rapture” is used for the Greek word “Harpazo” and is used in the New Testament in many places. The main two scriptures are 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:50. It also occurs three times in the Old Testament

1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 ESV

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:51–54 (ESV)

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

The Last Trumpet (Tikiah Gedolah) Numbers 10:1–2 “1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.”

Camps on the East set out first. East of the Eastern gate is a grave yard

The Feast of Tabernacles Leviticus 23:23–24 “23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.”

Trumpet - 7 fold period - Trumpet \ The rapture begins the week but the 2nd coming ends the week. Hosanna, Hosanna - Crucify him, Crucify him.

Key thought: Jesus had to go so the Holy Spirit could come per scripture. Would the Spirit have to go before Jesus could return for the second coming? We are the body of Christ (HS in us). II Thes 2:2-12

7 Raptures in Scriptures - In the Greek, the term caught up is translated harpazo and means “to be seize” or “snatched forcibly.” In the Latin Vulgate the term is Rapiemur which is the proper tense of rapio and our English words “rapt” and “rapture” comes from the past participle of Latin word rapio.

Seven raptures in the scriptures: • Enoch (Gen 5:42; Heb 11:5) • Elijah (2 Kings 2:1, 11) • Jesus (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11; Rev 12:5 - harpazo term used) • Philip (Acts 8:39- harpazo term used) • Paul (2 Cor 12:2-4- harpazo term used) • Body of Christ (1 Thess 4:17- harpazo term used) • John (Rev 4:1)

The Doctrine of Imminency

The word “Imminent” means the next expectation (not to be confused with “immanent,” that God is not only transcendent, or far above us, but that He is always with us and active on our behalf. Nor should it be confused with “eminent,” which is a title of honor reserved for persons of outstanding distinction). Believers are taught to expect the Savior from heaven at any moment (Phil 3:20; Titus 2:13; Heb 9:28; 1 Thess 1:10; 4:18; 5:6; Rev 22:20).

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

The Jewish Wedding

The Ketubah, Betrothal (Isa 61:10; Judges 14:10-11; Jer 2:32; Isa 49:18; Ps 45:8-15): A payment was made of the purchase price, and they are set apart (sanctified). The Bridegroom departs to hisFather’s House to prepare a room addition; the bride prepares for his imminent return, not knowing when it would be The wedding, Huppah, is a surprise gathering (Jer 7:34; 16:9; 25:10; Ps 45:8-15; Matt 25:1-13). A seven-day marriage supper ensues (Judg 14:12; Matt 9:15; 22:11-14; John 2:1). (Do you see a pattern here? With Jesus as the Bridegroom? The marriage supper of the Lamb?)

The Marriage Fulfilled

Covenant is established (1 Cor 11:25) Purchase price (1 Cor 6:19-20) The Bride is set apart (Eph 5:25-27; 1 Cor 1:2; 6:11; Heb 10:10; 13:12) Reminded of the covenant (1 Cor 11:25-26) Bridegroom left for the Father’s house Escort to accompany Him upon His return to gather His Bride (1 Thess 4:16-17)