The Throne Room of Heaven
Study of Revelation - the Throne Room of Heaven • Sermon • Submitted
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Revelation
Revelation
We are continuing our series in the Book of Revelation. This week we will be looking at a relatively short section of the book in Chapter 4. These eleven verses are, however chocked full of information. They describe the throne room of Heaven. What is so awesome about the Bible is the fact that there many Old Testament references to this topic that we will see throughout this chapter that not only confirm the picture that John gives, but also shows how the throne room lines up with the earthly instructions that God gave to man.
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.
This first verse already supports our opening claims that the throne room of Heaven is something that can be understood by man in our natural state.
Let’s break this down:
After this he looks and sees something
After what?
After he receives the letters
He looks and sees something
He sees a door open in Heaven
He sees a door opened in Heaven
After he receives the letters to the churches, something dramatic happens. He looks and sees a door inside of Heaven open.
We have to go back and look at Chapter 1 to continue the setting of the story.
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
Rev
So John is still in the Heavenly realm at the feet of Jesus.
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.
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.”
So the door is open in Heaven and John is now reminding us about the first voice which he heard in Heaven - a voice like a trumpet, the voice of Jesus.
What is so significant about that?
The trumpet was used as a signal all throughout church history. Trumpets were used for a call to worship, to signal feasts and other significant events. They were also used as a battle cry.
There is also coming a day when we will hear a trumpet sound
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
The Trumpet is an instrument which gets your attention and can pierce through the crowd.
The voice of our Heavenly father should also be as such.
Next he says
“Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Remember he tells John to write down what was, what is, and what will be.
Chapter 4 marks the beginning of the “what will be” in Revelation.
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
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.
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.
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
At the beginning of this study John talks about being in the spirit on the Lord’s day.
At the beginning of this study John talks about being in the spirit on the Lord’s day.
John positions himself in two locations simultaneously - Patmos and in the spirit.
Here is where things begin to get meaty and we begin to see independent confirmation of what previous prophets and visionaries had seen and written.
Notice he says immediately he as
He begins describing the scene saying a throne was set in heaven and one sat on the throne. IT is a sensory over load of creatures and colors, sites and sounds that the mind can not comprehend.
Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing beside him to the right and to the left of him.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
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.
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.
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
The Jasper and sardine stone were the last and first stones on the breastplate of the high priest.
And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
1 kings 22:19 nrsv
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.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
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.
The stones show us and tell us that God is the high priest and lead us to Hebrews.
We see
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.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews
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.
John also mentions the fact that there was a rainbow around the throne, saying insight like unto an emerald.
The emerald was the third stone in the breastplate and was representative of the Tribe of Judah.
The rainbow is representative of the entirety of Israel or the church and the emerald of Judah, therefore solidifying Christ as not only high priest, but that as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah!
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.
Isaiah records Christ being exalted by the Elders
Then the moon will be disgraced And the sun ashamed; For the Lord of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously.
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.
White garments are the garb of the redeemed, another implication that the elders represent the people of God (see note on 3:4). The image of white garments is also found in 3:4–5, 18; 6:11; 7:9, 14; 19:8, 14. The last reference to white garments in the vision (19:14) also introduces the fabric of the garment as linen. Those who follow the Word of God are clothed in “the finest of pure white linen.” In 19:8, the bride of the Lamb (the church) “has been given the finest of pure white linen,” which, John tells us, “represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.” The permission for the bride to wear the finest linen is somewhat unusual since linen was the cloth of kings (1 Chr 15:27) and priests (Exod 39:27–29). But the people of God are God’s kingdom and priests!
The redeemed of God and the elders will wear crowns as we learned about in
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
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.
Throughout the Bible there is a recurring theme of God’s manifestation through the thunder and lightning accompanied by His voice.
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.
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.
Rev 4:5
This is the sevenfold Spirit of God. This continues the priestly imagery because in the sanctuary of the Temple in Jerusalem was the lampstand with seven lamps (Exod 25:31) that stood before the Lord (Lev 24:4). The imagery is repeated in 1:4; 3:1; and 5:6, and represents the fullness of the Spirit of God.
And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Lev 24:4
He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
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.
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.
Rev 4:6
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.
in the vision of the new creation, John explicitly says, “The sea was also gone” (21:1). It is also to be noted that the first of the core of heavenly visions (4:1–5:14) opens with the image of the sea (4:6) and the last of the core heavenly visions (19:11–21:8) closes with the image of the sea (21:1). Furthermore, in the second heavenly vision (11:19–15:4) the beast that exercises Satan’s power comes from the sea (13:1) and, at the close of the vision, the redeemed (defined as “the people who had been victorious over the beast”) are seen with the sea of glass beneath their feet (15:2). In both the Roman and Jewish pool of images, “sea” represented the abode of demonic and evil powers (Caird 1966:65ff; Beale 1999:327). It would seem that John used the image of the sea to represent the realm of evil from which the beast emerges (13:1), over which the saints are victorious (15:2—both introduced with the phrase “like a glass sea”), and which has no place in God’s new creation (21:2). The image of such a sea before the throne is a powerful picture of the sovereignty of God over the realm of evil.
The sea of glass represents God’s sovereignty over evil.
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.
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.
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.
In the midst of the throne - the middle of the throne is where this beastly figure emerges.
All of creation emanates from the throne of God and can not be separate from Him.
This is a vision of what Ezekiel sees as well - the Lion, Ox, Man and Eagle.
The number four is representative of the completion of God’s creation.
The four winds, four seasons, the four corners of the earth, four rivers flowing from the Garden of Eden, the four kingdoms of Daniel are all representative of the creation of God.
Some commentators go farther and read into the different animals and their characteristics. Others simply say that they represent the whole of the animate creation of God.
Thus, every creature originates from the center of God’s throne.
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.
These are not so much “beasts” as they are created beings.
This imagery lines up with Isaiah’s encounter with the seraphim.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
John, however, does not give description of the function of the wings as Isaiah did, assuming his readers - who were familiar with the ancient writings - would understand it.
John, however, does not give description of the function of the wings as Isaiah did.
He does however agree with Isaiah in noting that they are continually worshiping the creator with a triple repetition of the descriptive attribute of Him being, “holy.” This triple repetition further confirms the awesomeness and completeness of our God who is, “Holy, holy, holy!”
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
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.
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Notice the reaction here. When praise is brought by the beasts - these living creatures, the elders fall in worship.
When creation cries out to God, it elicits a heavenly response.
The elders are continually falling, worshiping, and casting their crowns. The Greek has the future tense here since it is describing what the elders will do “whenever” the four living beings praise God. Since the beings do this unceasingly, the elders will continually bow, worship, and cast their crowns.