REvelation 4
Chapter 4
Scene in Heaven
1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
2 Immediately I was ain the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a crainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
The Throne and Worship of the Creator
5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.
7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY (4:1–5:14)
Chapters 4–5 represent the pivot point of the book. They tie the risen Lord’s opening exhortations to the churches (chaps. 2–3) to the judgments and final triumph of the Lamb (chaps. 6–22). Seen in this way the exhortations to the churches are in fact warnings of both the coming afflictions and God’s ultimate triumph, the latter of which may serve as a spur of hope to enable the recipients of the prophecy to endure the former. These chapters also provide the historical and theological basis of the risen Lord’s authority over both the church and the world by depicting His enthronement and empowering to carry out the judging and saving purposes of God.
MILLENNIAL PERSPECTIVES ON REVELATION
POINT OF INTERPRETATION
AMILLENNIAL
HISTORICAL PREMILLENNIAL
DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIAL
POSTMILLENNIAL
Description of View
Viewpoint that the present age of Christ’s rules in the church is the millennium; holds to one resurrection and judgment marking the end of history as we know it and the beginning of life eternal
Viewpoint that Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years following His second coming; saints will be resurrected at the beginning of the millennium, nonbelievers at the end, followed by Judgment
Viewpoint that after the battle of Armageddon, Christ will rule through the Jews for a literal thousand years accompanied by two resurrections and at least three judgments
Viewpoint that Christ will return after a long period of expansion and spiritual prosperity for the church, brought about by the preaching of the gospel; the Spirit’s blessing; and the church’s work toward righteousness, justice, and peace. The period is not a literal thousand years but extended time of spiritual prosperity.
Book of Revelation
Current history written in code to confound enemies and encourage Asian Christians; message applies to all Christians
Immediate application to Asian Christians; applies to all Christians throughout the ages, but the visions also apply to a great future event
“Unveiling” of theme of Christ among churches in present dispensation, also as Judge and King dispensation to come
Written lo encourage Christians of al ages, but the visions also apply to a great future event.
Seven candlesticks (1:13)
Churches
Churches, plus end-time application
Churches
Churches addressed (chaps. 2–3)
Specific historical situations, truths apply to churches throughout the ages; do not represent periods of church history.
Specific historical situations and to all churches throughout the ages; shows progress of churches’ spiritual state until end of church age
Specific historical situations, truths apply to churches throughout the ages; do not necessarily represent periods of church history
Twenty-four elders (4:4, 10; 5:8, 14)
Twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles; together symbolize all the redeemed
Company of angels who help execute God’s rule (or elders represent twenty-four priestly and Levitical orders)
The rewarded church; also represents twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles
Symbolizes all the redeemed
Sealed book (5:1–9)
Scroll of history; shows God carrying out His redemptive purpose in history
Contains prophecy of end events of Chapters 7–22
Title deed to the world
Portrays God carrying out His redemptive purpose in history
144,000 (7:4–8)
Redeemed on earth who will be protected against God’s wrath
Church on threshold of great tribulation
Jewish converts of tribulation period who witness to Gentiles (same as 14:1)
Redeemed people of God
Great tribulation (first reference in 7:14)
Persecution faced by Asian Christians of John’s time; symbolic of tribulation that occurs throughout history
Period at end time of unexplained trouble, before Christ’s return; church will go through it; begins with seventh seal (18:1), which includes trumpets 1–6 (8:2–14:20)
Period at end time of unexplained trouble referred to in 7:14 and described in chapters 11–18; lasts time and a half years, the latter half of seven-year period between rapture and millennium
Symbolic of tribulation that occurs throughout history
Forty-two months (11:2); 1,260 days (11:3)
Indefinite duration of pagan desolation
A symbolic number representing period of evil with reference to last days of age
Half of seven-year tribulation period
A symbolic number representing an indefinite time and evil influence
Woman (12:1–6)
True people of God under old and new covenants (true Israel)
Indicates Israel, not church; key is comparison with Gen 37:9
True people of God under old and new covenants
Great red dragon (12:3)
All views identify as Satan
Manchild (12:4–5)
Christ at His birth, life events, and crucifixion, whom Satan sought to kill
Christ, whose work Satan seeks to destroy
Christ but also the church (head and body); caught up on throne indicates rapture of church
Christ at His birth, life events, and crucifixion, whom Satan sought to destroy
1,260 days (12:6)
Indefinite time
Symbolic number representing period of evil with special reference to last days of age
First half of great tribula-after church is raptured
Indefinite time
Sea beast (13:1)
Emperor Domitian, personification of Roman Empire (same as in chap. 17)
Antichrist, here shown as embodiment of the four beasts in Dan 7
A new Rome, satanic federation of nations that come out of old Roman Empire
Roman Empire
Seven heads (13:1)
Roman emperors
Great power, shows kinship with dragon
Seven stages of Roman Empire; sixth was imperial Rome (John’s day); last with be federation of nations
Roman Emperors
Ten horns (13:1)
Symbolize power
Kings, represent limited crowns (ten) against Christ’s many
Ten powers that will combine to make the federation of nations of new Rome
Symbol of power
666 (13:18)
Imperfection, evil; personified as Domitian
Symbolic of evil, short of 777; if a personage meant, he is unknown but will be known at the proper time
Not known but will be known when time comes
Symbol of evil
144,000 on Mount Zion (14:1)
Total body of redeemed in heaven
Redeemed Jews gathered in earthly Jerusalem during millennial kingdom
Redeemed people of God
River of blood (14:20)
Symbol of infinite punishment for the wicked
Means God’s radical judgment crushes evil thoroughly
Scene of wrath and carnage that wilt occur in Palestine
Symbol of judgment on the wicked
Babylon (woman—17:5)
Historical Rome
Capital city of future Antichrist
Apostate church of the future
Symbol of evil
Seven mountains (17:9)
Pagan Rome, which was built on seven hills
Indicate power, so here means a succession of empires, last of which is end-time Babylon
Rome, revived at end time
Pagan Rome
Seven heads (17:7) and seven kings (17:10)
Roman emperors from Augustus to Titus, excluding three brief rules
Five past godless kingdoms; sixth was Rome; seventh would arise in end time
Five distinct forms of Roman government prior to John; sixth was imperial Rome; seventh will be revived Roman Empire
Roman emperors
Ten horns (17:7) and ten kings (17:12)
Vassal kings who ruled with Rome’s permission
Symbolic of earthly powers trial wilt be subservient to Antichrist
Ten kingdoms arising in future out of revived Roman Empire
Symbolic of earthly powers
Bride, wife (19:7)
Total of all the redeemed
The church; does not include Old Testament saints or tribulation saints
Total of all the redeemed
Marriage supper (19:9)
Climax of the age; symbolizes complete union of Christ with His people
Union of Christ with His people at His Coming
Union of Christ with His church accompanied by by Old Testament saints and tribulation saints
Union of Christ with His people
One on white horse (19:11–16)
Vision of Christ’s victory over pagan Rome; return of Christ occurs in connection with events of 20:7–10
Second coming of Christ
Vision of Christ’s victory
Battle of Armageddon (19:19–21; see 16:16)
Not literally at end of time but symbolizes power of God’s word overcoming evil; principle applies to all ages
Literal event of some kind at end time but not literal battle with military weapons; occurs at Christ’s return at beginning of millennium
Literal bloody battle at Armageddon (valley of Megiddo) at end of great tribulation between kings of the East and federation of nations of new Rome; they are all defeated by blast from Christ’s mouth and then millennium begins
Symbolizes power of God’s word overcoming evil forces
Great supper (19:17)
Stands in contrast to marriage supper
Concludes series of judgments and opens way for kingdom to be established
Stands in contrast to marriage supper
Binding of Satan (20:2)
Symbolic of Christ’s resurrection victory over Satan
Curbing of Satan’s power during the millennium
Symbolic of Christ’s victory over Satan
Millennium (20:2–6)
Symbolic reference to period from Christ’s first coming to His second
A historical event, though length of one thousand years may be symbolic, after Armageddon during which Christ rules with His people
A literal thousand-year period after the church age during which Christ rules with His people but especially through the Jews
A lengthy period of expansion and spiritual prosperity brought about by the preaching of the gospel
Those on thrones (20:4)
Martyrs in heaven; their presence with God is a judgment on those who killed them
Saints and martyrs who rule with Christ in the the millennium
The redeemed ruling with Christ, appearing and disappearing on earth at will to oversee life on earth
Saints and martyrs who rule with Christ
First resurrection (20:5–6)
The spiritual presence with Christ of the redeemed that occurs after physical death
Resurrection of saints at beginning of millennium when Christ returns
Includes three groups: (1) those raptured with church (4:1); (2) Jewish tribulation saints during tribulation (11:11); (3) other Jewish believers at beginning of millennium (20:6)
The spiritual presence of the redeemed with Christ
Second Death (20:6)
Spiritual death, eternal separation from God
New heavens and earth (21:1)
A new order; redeemed earth
New Jerusalem (21:2–5)
God dwelling with His saints in the new age after all other end-time events
Chapter 4 asserts the sovereign authority of the Creator God. Surrounded by the adoring and powerful four creatures and twenty-four elders, the Lord God the Almighty is holy, sovereign, and worthy of all worship. For He has created all things, and all things exist because of His gracious, sovereign will. John’s vision of God upon His throne is reminiscent of Daniel 7 and Ezekiel 1, each of which is calculated to impress the reader with the God of might and glory.
Chapter 5 depicts the delegation of the divine authority to the risen Lord by