Revelation 4 - Palm Sunday

The triumphal entry of Jesus is a key moment in the Gospels, marking the beginning of what Christians call Passion Week. It is found in all four Gospels, but the most detailed accounts are in Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 12. Below is the scriptural context focusing on the King James Version (KJV), especially noting the palms and the symbolic significance of the moment.

🔹 Main Passage: John 12:12–15 (KJV)

12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. 14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, 15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.

🔹 Additional Context: Matthew 21:6–9 (KJV)

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

🔹 Symbolism and Fulfilled Prophecy

Palm branches – A sign of victory, peace, and kingship. The use of palm branches symbolized Jesus being welcomed as a conquering king, though His mission was peace and salvation (see Zechariah 9:9).

The donkey (ass’s colt) – Signifies humility and peace. Kings in ancient times rode horses in war but donkeys in peace. Jesus fulfills Zechariah 9:9:

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion... thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass..."

“Hosanna” – A Hebrew expression meaning “Save now” or “Save, we pray.” It later became an exclamation of praise and deliverance.

🔹 Why This Matters Scripturally

Messianic Revelation: Jesus openly accepts public recognition as the Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.

Public Declaration: The people recognize His authority, but many misunderstood the nature of His kingdom (expecting political deliverance rather than spiritual salvation).

Start of the Passion Week: This moment sets in motion the events that lead to the crucifixion and resurrection.

True spiritual worship is perhaps one of the greatest needs in our individual lives and in our churches. Today, there is a constant emphasis on witnessing for Christ and working for Christ, but not enough is said about worshipping Him. To worship means "to ascribe worth" (see Rev. 4:11; 5:12). It means to use all that we are and have to praise God for all that He is and does.

Heaven is a place of worship, and God's people shall worship Him throughout all eternity. Perhaps it would be good for us to get in practice now! A study of Revelation 4—5 will help us better understand how to worship God and give Him the glory He deserves.

If Revelation 1:19 is God's inspired outline of this book, then Revelation 4 ushers us into the third division: "the things which shall be hereafter." In fact, that is exactly what God said to John when He summoned him to heaven! It would appear that, in this experience, John illustrates what will happen to God's people when the church age has run its course: Heaven will open; there will be a voice and the sound of a trumpet; and the saints will be caught up to heaven (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Then, God's judgment of the earth can begin.

But before God pours out His wrath, He gives us a glimpse into glory and permits us to hear the worshipping creatures in heaven as they praise God.

Two aspects of their worship are presented for our instruction and imitation.

1. THEY WORSHIP THE CREATOR (4)

The key word in this chapter is throne, used fourteen times. In fact, this word appears forty-six times in the entire book. No matter what may happen on earth, God is on His throne and is in complete control. Various teachers interpret Revelation differently, but all agree that John emphasizes God’s glory and sovereignty. What an encouragement that would be to the suffering saints of John's day and of every age in history.

Using the throne as the focal point, we can easily understand the arrangement of this exciting chapter.

On the throne—Almighty God (w. 2-3a). 

This is God the Father, since the Son approaches the throne in Revelation 5:6, and the Spirit is pictured before the throne in Revelation 4:5. There is no possible way for human words to describe what God is like in His essence. John can only use comparisons.

Jasper is a clear gem (sce Rev. 21:11) and the sardine is red. 

According to Palm 104:2 and 1 Timothy 6:16, the Lord is robed in light. The jasper and the sardius (sardine) were found in the high priest’s breastplate (Ex. 28:17-21).

Around the throne—a rainbow (v. 3b). This rainbow was a complete circle, not merely an arc, for in heaven all things are completed. The rainbow reminds us of God's covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:11-17), symbolic of His promise that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. God's covenant, as we shall see, was with Noah and all of His creation.

Judgment is about to fall, but the rainbow reminds us that God is merciful, even when He judges (Hab. 3:2). Usually, a rainbow appears after the storm, but here, we see it before the storm.

Around the throne, elders and living creatures, verse Revelation 4:3–4

“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.”

Revelation 4:6–7 

“6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and amid the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 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.”  

Rainbow was around the throne vertically, while these heavenly beings were around the throne horizontally, they are, as it were, the kings court

Who are these twenty-four elders seated on thrones? It is unlikely that they are angels because angels are not numbered (Heb, 12:22), crowned, or enthroned. Besides, in Revelation 7:11, the elders are distinguished from the angels (see also Rev. 518-11). The crowns they wear are the "victor's crowns" (the Greek word stephanos see Rev 2:10), and we have no evidence that angels receive rewards,

The elders probably symbolize the people of God in heaven, enthroned and rewarded. There were twenty-four of priests in the Old Testament temple (1 Chron. 24:3-5, 18; see also Luke 1:5-9). God's people are "kings and priests” (Rev. 1:0), reigning and serving with Chris. Note especially their praise (Rev, 59-10). When Daniel (Dan. 7:9 NAsn) ww the thrones set up (not "cast down as in the King James Version), they were empty, but when John saw them, they had been filled, Since there were twelve tribes of Israd and twelve apostles. Perhaps the number twenty-four symbolizes the completion of God's people.

The white robes and palm branches speak of victory (see Rev, 7:9).

They are the "overcomers" conquered because of their faith in Christ (1 John 5:4-5).

Also, around the throne, John saw four "living creatures” ("beasts" in the King James) who were nearer to God than the angels and the elders.

They resemble the cherubim that the prophet Ezekiel saw (Brek, 1:4-14. 1020-22), but their praise (Rev. 4:8) reminds us of the seraphim of Isaiah.

I believe these special creatures symbolize God's creation and are related to God’s covenant with Noah (Gen, 9:8-17). The faces of the living creatures parallel God's statement in Genesis 9:10- His covenant is with Noah (the face of the man), the fowl (the face of the cagle), the cattle (the face of the calf), and the beasts of the earth (the face of the lion).

These creatures signify the wisdom of God, full of eyes,  and proclaim the holiness of God. They are heavenly reminders that God has a covenant with His creation and rules His creation from His throne. The presence of the emerald rainbow further enhances this image since the rainbow was given as the sign of the creation covenant. No matter what terrible judgments may fall on God's earth, He will be faithful to keep His Word. Men may curse Him during the judgments (Rev. 16:9, 11, 21), but nature will praise Him and magnify His holiness.

The cherubim described in Ezekiel 1 seems to have a part in God’s providential workings in the world, as pictured by the "wheels within the wheels." God uses the forces of nature to accomplish His will (Psalm 148), and all nature praises and thanks Him.

Some students see in the four faces described (Rev. 4:7) an illustration of the fourfold picture of Christ given in the gospel accounts. 

Matthew is the royal gospel of the King, illustrated by the lion. 

Mark emphasizes the servant aspect of the Lord's ministry (the calf). 

Luke presents Christ as the compassionate Son of Man. 

John magnifies the deity of Christ, the Son of God (the Eagle).

Finally, the name used by these creatures, "Lord God Almighty." emphasizes the power of God. As chapter l mentions, Revelation uses the name Almighty nine times. The only other such usage in the New Testament is 2 Corinthians 6:18, but it is found at least thirty-one

times in Job, a book that magnifies the power of God in nature.

Out of the throne storm signals (Rev 4:5 

"Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder" (NAsB). These are indications of a coming storm and reminders of God's tremendous power (see Ex. 9:23, 28; 19:16). These "storm signals" will be repeated during the time of judgment, always proceeding from the throne and temple of God (Rev. 8:5; 11:19; 16:18).

God has prepared His throne for judgment (Ps. 9:7; note also 77:18).

Our world does not like to think of God as a God of judgment. 

They prefer to look at the rainbow around the throne and ignore the lightning and thunder on the throne. He certainly is a God of grace, but His grace reigns through righteousness (Rom. 5:21). This was made clear at the cross, where God manifested His love for sinners and His wrath against sin.

Before the throne lamps and a sea (v. 5b-6a), the seven lamps connote completeness and symbolize the Holy Spirit of God (Rev. 1:4; note also Ezek. 1:13). John also seems to suggest in Revelation that the "heavenly sanctuary" follows the pattern of the earthly tabernacle and temple (see Heb. 9:23). 

The parallels are as follows:

There is no temple in heaven in a material sense. All of heaven is God's sanctuary for those who serve before His holy throne (Rev. 7:15). However, John indicates in Revelation 15:5-8 that there is a special "sanctuary" of God (note also Rev. 11:19). In the eternal state, there will be no temple (Rev. 21:22).

A pure crystal sea symbolizes God's holiness, and the mingled fire speaks of His holy judgment. The crystal "firmament" in Ezekiel's vision also comes to mind (Ezek. 1:22); it was the foundation for God's throne.

We shall meet this "sea of glass" again in Revelation 15, connected with Israel's victory over Egypt.

Praise to the throne (w. 9-11). 

Whenever the living creatures glorified God, the elders would fall before the throne and praise Him. The book of Revelation is filled with hymns of praise (Rev 4:8, 11: 519-13:7:12-171

11:15-18; 12:10-12; 1513-4; 16:5-7; 1812-81 1912-6), The emphasis on praise is significant when you remember that John wrote this book to encourage people who were going through suffering and persecution!

The theme of this hymn is God the Greater, while in Revelation 5 the elders praise God the Redeemer. The praise in Revelation 4 is given to the Father on the throne, while in Revelation 5, it is directed to the Son (the Lamb), before the throne. The closing hymn (Rev, 5:13) is expressed to both. Another proof of the deity of Jesus Christ.

If the twenty-four elders typify the people of God in heaven, then we must ask, "Why should God's people praise God the Creator?" If the heavens declare God’s glory, why shouldn't God's heavenly people join the chorus? Creation constantly witnesses God’s power, wisdom, and glory (Psalm 19). 

Acknowledging the Creator is the first step toward trusting the Redeemer (sce Acts 16:8-18; 17:22-31). "All things were created by him (Christ) and for him ... and by him all things consist [hold together)" (Col. 1:16-17).

But sinful man worships and serves the creature rather than tie Creator. and this is idolatry (Rom, 1:25). Furthermore, sinful man has polluted and destroyed God's wonderful creation, and he is going to pay for it (sce Rev. 11:18). 

Creation is for God's praise and pleasure, and man has no right to usurp that which rightfully belongs to God. Man plunged creation into sin, so that God's good creation (Gen. 1:31) is today a groaning creation (Rom. 8:22), but because of Christ's work on the cross, it will one day be delivered and become a glorious creation (Rev. 8:18-24).

It is unfortunate that the church today often neglects to worship the God of creation. The real answer to the ecological problem is not financial or legal but spiritual. Only when man acknowledges the Creator and begins to use creation to God's glory will the problems be solved.