An open Door
Notes
Transcript
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.
We begin a new section today in this series from revelation!
As Christ Himself tells John in Revelation 1:19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
And so here we are looking at the things which will take place in the future, which John gets a glimpse of in the past.
“After these things (Plural pronoun), I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven…Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this (Plural pronoun).
In other words, both “these things” and “this” are the same exact Greek pronoun used in the exact same grammatical way.
And so it would be totally acceptable to translate the last part of the verse - “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after these things.
So why the disparity in the translations?
To some extent, the theological position of the translator must be taken into consideration.
Examples:
KJV Translators tended to be a-millennial or post-millennial in their eschatological understandings, thus, they would translate the pronoun “This” in both places.
It is not a mis-translation, but a proper translation fitting the theological perspective of the church at that time.
What many do not understand is that theology factors into translation.
An example would be ELOHIM in the Hebrew. It is a plural word for God - Ye, it would not be appropriate to translate it Gods! (Deut 6:4)
If however “these” or “these things” is translated from the pronoun, we have a stronger sense of time in the events. And in my opinion, this translation would give credence to the pre millennial view point in eschatology. It is also the exact translation.
And so, we can accurately assume that the Lord is here saying that He is about to show John things that will take place after the things already mentioned about the seven churches.
If there is any dualism in chapters two and three, then the letters to the churches are not just about seven literal churches, but could also be referring to an extended time where the church exists experiencing the different problems and blessings laid out in those chapters.
I. The throne of God
I. The throne of God
“His appearance was like a Jasper and a sardius stone.”
Jasper - Green in color
Sardius - Red in color
The Revelation of Jesus Christ The Viewing of God’s Throne (4:2-3)
Significantly, the jasper and the sardine stone are the first and last of these twelve stones (cf. Exodus 28:17–21). The jasper represented Reuben, the first of the tribes, since Reuben was the firstborn of Jacob. The sardine stone represented Benjamin, the youngest of the twelve sons of Jacob. In other words the two stones represented the first and the last and therefore may be regarded as including all the other stones in between, that is, the whole of the covenanted people.
I believe this vision demonstrates the Beauty, Majesty, power, righteousness, and promises of God!
The colors are radiant and transforming, as the natural qualities of the stones give deference to.
As David said in Psalm 27:4 “to behold the beauty of the Lord...”
This is what John would have us see with the mind, that God is altogether Lovely (song of Solomon 5:16).
The rainbow is a sign that was given to Noah after the flood as covenant sign that God would never destroy the earth again with a flood (Genesis 9:13).
But the rainbow that man sees on earth is only an arc!
So man sees just a glimpse of God’s covenant promises, while John says it went all around the throne!
It is there at the throne of God that there is fullness in these covenant promises!
But, there were also thunderings and lightnings.
The fullness of the judgment of God and His righteousness prevailing upon the world.
And His Omniscience in all things, evidenced by the seven Spirits of God.
II. The twenty four thrones
II. The twenty four thrones
These are thrones of judgement and honor.
These thrones encircle the throne of God, much like the way the twelve tribes encamped around the Tabernacle where the Glory of God was present in the Holy Place.
But on these twenty four thrones sat twenty four elders!
Yes, there is widely differing opinions as to who they are, but let’s look at some facts about them.
The identity of the “twenty four elders” is not given in the book. But it should be noted that John does not ask about their identity giving credence to his knowing them.
First of all we should look at the number 24:
According to one book I was reading on Revelation from the Post Millennial position, the author said that the number 24 has no significance in the Bible.
Strange? Because there certainly is something to discover about this number.
Twenty four is the sum of twelve plus twelve - like the sum of the Apostles and Tribes of Israel.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
But this is what I want you to see:
David divided the Aaronic priests into twenty four groups for service. He also did the same with the Levites for the service of worship ( 1 Chron. 24).
The apostle Peter says that we the body of Christ are an holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5).
Chapter five explains other details about them.
These elders are clothed with white robes, symbolic elsewhere of the righteousness of Christ for the redeemed.
They have the victors crown which in most cases means the crown given to believers who have overcome through the blood of the Lamb.
They sing a new song, which is the song of praise for the redemption that they partook of. Not angels, but a gathered, glorified church.
And so from this opening in chapter four, if we take the language literally and not all as some allegory, I think that the Lord is revealing a pre-millennial coming for the church.
Challenge:
1. A door is open to those who will come.
1. A door is open to those who will come.
This door was not just opened for John, but so that we could look in with him.
We have already read that there is a great blessing to those who read and understand this book!
And here we witness this blessing through the eyes of John the beloved.
For every soul that trusts in the Lord Jesus Christ for the washing away of sin and a new life in Him, there is a great blessing to behold in these verses.
And it comes down to this...
2. God in His glory will fulfill His promises and covenants to us.
2. God in His glory will fulfill His promises and covenants to us.
3. We will sit upon thrones and minister as priests of the Most High God.
3. We will sit upon thrones and minister as priests of the Most High God.
6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
When the fullness of time comes, which is known only to the Father, then Christ shall gather His bride and take her home!
We will sit on thrones and Judge the earth!
We will be a gathered priesthood, ministering at the throne of grace!
We will be clothed with White, the righteousness of the saints in Christ!
We will be rewarded, not the least of which will be the victors crown!
And we will sing a new song about our redemption!
So let us look up and lift up our heads, for our redemption draws near ( Luke 21:28).