Revelation 4-5
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After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
When we last
John sees a door open into heaven.
He hears a voice like a trumpet.
He is told to go in so he will see what must take place.
John is going to be showed what MUST take place.
Not what might take place, or what could take place, but what MUST take place.
What John is shown he is later told to write down so we could know about it.
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
John was in the Spirit
Remember (NKJV)
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
John was in the Spirit when he went into heaven.
I believe this means he did not physically go into heaven, but spiritually.
John sees a throne.
Who is this “One” who sat on it?
It is God the Father!
He is described with the appearance like jewels.
He is surrounded by 24 thrones
(NKJV)
Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.
(NKJV)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
(NKJV)
And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.
On the thrones around God sit 24 elders
The number isn’t explained, but it reminds me of the 12 children of Israel and the 12 apostles.
They have crowns on their heads, more about this later.
The seven lamps, the seven spirits of God are here, just as John saw them earlier.
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
Sea of glass.
This sea is like crystal.
I can only imagine it is smooth and reflective like crystal.
Four living creatures.
Like a loin, like a calf, Like a man and like an eagle.
Not these animals, but John describes them the best he can.
If they actually these animals, mankind would be tempted to worship them.
Eyes all around.
They see what is going on
Six wings
We find out later how they use these wings.
Praising God all the time.
hagios = Most holy thing
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Picture this, whenever the creatures honor God, the 24 Elders bow down and worship Him.
They cast their crowns before the throne.
(NKJV)
And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
(NKJV)
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
The crowns we receive are to worship God.
They praise God, calling HIm worth to receive glory, honor and power.
Because He has created all things
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
Now John sees a scroll in God’s hand.
In ancient times, wills were
What is this scroll?
I’ve heard some describe it as the “title deed” to the Father’s promises.
As we’ll see, this scroll is the judgement against the fallen world.
What about the seals?
This scroll was sealed in such a way that each of the seven seals would have to be broken one at a time.
Who is worthy to open the scroll?
No one in heaven or earth is worthy to open the scroll.
No one had earned the authority to open the scroll of God’s judgement.
So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
John is sad that no one was worthy to open the scroll.
John doesn’t know what is in the scroll, but if God has this scroll it must be important.
John wants someone to read the scroll.
One of the elders points out something.
The Lion of Judah, the Root of David has prevailed.
Who is the Lion of Judah and the Root of David?
Jesus.
He has prevailed to open the scroll.
Jesus going to the cross as a sinless man, raised from the dead means He is worthy to open the scroll.
And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
In the middle of all this, John sees a lamb that had been slain.
Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Root of Jesse, is the Lamb of God
Seven horns and seven eyes, representing the seven Spirits of God.
Jesus, who is worthy, takes the scroll from God the Father
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
As soon as Jesus takes the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fall down to worship Him.
They each have a harp, I believe to sing praises to Him
And they each have a bowl of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Then they start to sing.
Jesus is worth, because he was slain
He has redeemed us to God by His blood
He has made us kings and priests
We shall reign
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
What a scene in Heaven
Angels, creatures and elders beyond number praising God.
Stand In The Gap - The sound of a million men singing and Amen echoing off the buildings.
The Lamb is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessings.
Every creature in heaven and earth praising Jesus
Stand In The Gap - The sound of a million men singing and Amen echoing off the buildings.
What do we see here?
John go a glimpse into heaven
All peoples and creatures praising God
John sees the scroll, which we will soon see begin God’s judgement against the earth
No one but Jesus is worth to open the scroll
Through His sacrifice, not only does Jesus redeem us, but shows Himself worthy to open the scroll.
After all of this, what do you see?