Revelation 4:1-11

Verses 1-5

(NKJV)

(1) 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.” (2) Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) 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.

2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

3And 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. 4Around 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. 5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

4Around 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. 5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

(6) 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. (7) 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. (8) 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!” (9) Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, (10) 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: (11) “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.”

7The 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.

8The 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!”

9Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

10the 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:

11“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.”

(NKJV)

(1) 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.”

Some debate over whether this is a vision John had or the Lord actually brought him to the end days… either way, the Lord gave us this scripture and promised it to be true… vision, physical experience, it does not matter too much.

Like a trumpet… loud and clear, authoritative

After this = after the church age, after this point, we never hear the term church again.

The churches recieved their rebuke, their commendations, they were given a chance to change or continue on… judgement seems satisfied at this point.

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

(2) Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. (3 ) 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. (4) 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. (5 ) 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.

2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

One sat on the throne… John’s attention is instantly moved toward the throne, and honestly, wouldn't we turn our attention there?

The important thing here to notice is that there is a thrown and our Lord and Savior sits upon it! Humanism begs that there is nobody on the throne, that man himself sits upon his own throne.

We are not given a description of the One that sits on the throne, jasper being white, sardius being red, maybe a symbol of the empty tomb, and the sacrifice on the cross. Either way clearly a spectacle to see.

Rainbow signifying God’s promise.

White robes and gold crowns seem to indicate they are humans in their glory.

Verses 6-11

3 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.

1After 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.”

(NKJV)

4 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.

5 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.

(6) 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. (7) 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. (8) 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!”

2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

3And 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.

(7) 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. (8) 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!”

Funny the things we allow ourselves to be divided about… there have been arguments over whether or not the sea is glass or looks like glass… me, I just think it’s awesome either way.

(8) 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!”

4Around 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.

How beautiful when you get that lake that has absolutely no waves… or those ones where the water is so pure you can see to the bottom.

in the midst of the throne… living creatures… These could be cherubim that are mentioned in the Old Testament… But I think what is very important here is where they are located… very close to the throne… Closer to God than any other creation.

eyes around and within… they know and understand, have greater insight and perception than any man.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!… Here on earth non-believers questions the existence of God… and certainly do not respect His power… In heaven, there will be no questioning it!

(9) Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, (10) 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: (11) “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.”

5And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

I have heard a lot of people say “when I get to heaven”… I don’ t think that is going to be in our thoughts

(10) 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:

What will be in our thoughts is thankfulness.

(11) “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.”

No more violence… no more war… no more dieting… heaven will be glorious and we will be eternally thankful!