THE REVELATION OF JESUS

REVELATION 4-5
THE THRONE AND THE BOOK

"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." Revelation 4:1-3.

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.

In his vision, John now sees heaven opened and a great voice tells him to come and see what was there. He sees the great throne room of God in heaven, bright and full of beautiful colors.

In these visions everything has a meaning, so these colors have a meaning also. The Rainbow: this has several meanings, first we know the rainbow first appeared as a sign of God’s promise not to again destroy the earth with a flood. It tells us about God’s mercy mixed with His justice, and the Gospel of salvation mixed with the Law of God. It also is a symbol that Jesus uses; wherever in prophecy we see that rainbow, we know that Jesus is there.

Satan has stolen that symbol, as he steals everything that Jesus gives us, and he uses it for his own purposes. He uses it as a symbol for New Age spiritualism. But we know it belongs to Jesus.

Jasper anciently was red and purple and the ‘sardine’ stone was bright red. Red was a symbol of royalty and red and purple were usually worn by kings. Red also reminds us of the Blood of Jesus shed for our sins, and when put together with blue, which means Gods justice and Law, we see purple, justice and mercy mixed together.

Emerald is a green stone. Green is a symbol of life and faith and the beauty and simplicity of trusting in God. When Jesus comes in the clouds, a great rainbow will be around Him.

 “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.” Revelation 4:4. 

Here we see a wonderful sight, twenty-four ‘elders’ sitting around the throne of God. Who are they? Why are they there? Well we can figure that out as we look at the clues given to us.

First the number; twenty-four is 2X12; there were 12 tribes of Israel and 12 disciples, together that is 24. This represents people from both the Old and New Testament times. It is very clear that these ‘Elders’ are human beings that God has taken to heaven ahead of time to help with the judgment. All proper courts use a jury and it has to be made of ‘peers’. That word means ‘equals’, we could not have a jury of angels, or beings from other worlds, that would not be fair. No, these are a jury of people from earth.

We know this because it says they thank God for redeeming them from earth. (see Rev. 5:9) So who are they? Well, we don’t know their names, but when Jesus rose from the dead, He raised a lot of people at that time, and when He went to heaven to continue His work for us there, He took these ones with Him. (see Matt. 27:52,53)

“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.” Here is a wonderful scene, it shows us how busy Heaven is working for our salvation." Revelation 4:5.

Lightenings: When the angels come and go from the throne of God on their errands to help people on earth, they are like bolts of lightening! Faster than any space ship man can even imagine, faster than light; these powerful messengers come and go bringing power and help to God’s children on earth.

Thunderings and voices: this means messages from God going forth to do their work in the different times of God’s people here on earth.

The Seven Lamps: Where did we just see those? Why in chapter 1, the candlesticks and lamps are the same thing; they are the congregations of God’s dear children through all the ages and the work of the Holy Spirit in them and for them. We are shown them as right before the throne the center of God’s attention. Also the Seven Candlesticks are found in the Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary where, at that time, Jesus was mediating for His people as High Priest before His Father's throne.

When you are tempted to feel all alone or afraid, read these verses and think about that great throne room and those powerful forces all working hard to save you and me!

  “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.” Revelation 4:6, 7

Now we see something very different; four ‘beasts’ or ‘living creatures’ are before God’s throne. Now it may be nice to imagine that God has some wonderful and strange beings in His universe and I am sure that He does, but this is prophecy, and in prophecy everything has a meaning and is shown us for a reason. You read about these ‘creatures’ and then turn over in your Bible to Ezekiel 1 and there you will find a similar description of these four ‘creatures’. Both of these word pictures are telling us the same story and both are symbols with much meaning for us.

They are symbols that represent God’s true people and their work on earth. They are shown as if they are already right there in heaven, in front of God’s throne, because God’s attention is focused on them, but they are really here on earth. It is the same as the lamps or candlesticks, they are shown as if they are in heaven, but they are God’s congregations here on earth.

Let’s look at some of what this word picture shows us. ‘Full of eyes’: eyes in prophecy mean several things; knowledge, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual awareness. Remember that the last church, Laodecia is ‘blind’; it is not ‘full of eyes’.

But the people of God shown by these ‘creatures’ have the Holy Spirit and He has been teaching them knowledge of God’s Word and they are using the ‘eyesalve’, and are spiritually aware of what God is doing in this world.

We’ll look at the faces later, but notice what they are doing; they are saying “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” They are telling others about God and their lives are bringing honor to Him. When we live the way Jesus has taught us to live, our lives are like Jesus’ life on earth was, and we bring honor and glory to Him that sits on the throne. It is just like we were right there before God’s throne, praising Him.

I want to live in such a way that my life is bringing glory and honor to God, don’t you? Then when we read about these wonderful creatures, we can know we are a part of them!

 “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.”   Revelation 4:7.

These four symbols were also around the sanctuary on banners in ancient Israel and represented the four main tribes one one each side, North, South, East and West. Now, in Ezekiel we see that each ‘creature’ had four faces, here they have one each, but the same four faces. The meaning of the faces is the same.

The Lion: this means royalty, God’s children are ‘Kings and Princes’ of the heavenly kingdom; we are ‘children of the Heavenly King’. Also, Jesus is the ‘Lion of the tribe of Judah’, and His children are like Him.

The Calf, or Ox: This stands for sacrifice, as these animals were used for sacrifices. Also it means service, as the ox was a hard working beast of burden. These people of God have sacrificed all for Jesus, and they serve as did Jesus when He was on earth.

The Man: These are real people, doing a real task on earth. The symbol of a man stands for wisdom and knowledge.

The Eagle: The eagle, like the Lion can stand for courage, and with the wings means also speed; but the main thing that Eagle means in prophecy is ‘eyesight’. The eagle can see details at great distances, they have some of the most wonderful eyes in all creation!

What we see here are a people, who have the messages of Prophecy, which gives them the ability to see spiritual things and also to see great distances into the future. They are going forward with speed and courage to carry this message to others.

Each of God’s children is to have what these four faces stand for in their lives! By this they give glory to Jesus.

“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.”  Revelation 4:8

Wings! In prophecy they stand for speed, and the carrying of a message and here we see six of them! Even the fastest prophecy Beast in Daniel 7 only had four wings!

Wings represent many things: In Exodus 19:4, wings “carried” the Israelites out of bondage; Eccl. 10:20 says, “that which hath wings shall tell the matter.” One of the things that wings represent is that they carry something, in the case of God’s last day people, it is the final warning from God. Another thing that wings represent is speed as in Daniel’s vision concerning Alexander the Great. The final work will be rapid and the message of warning shall go out to the world very quickly by simple ways.

Another very common usage of wings in the Bible is as a covering such as this text from Ruth 2:12: “a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” In Ezekiel 1, two of the wings “covered their bodies.” God’s people will be ‘Under His Wings’ of protection and love, as they speed on errands of mercy and carry the message to the entire world.

In this verse we also see a clue about the message they carry, they talk about God ‘which was, and is, and is to come.’ Notice the start of the three angel’s messages in Revelation 14:7, we see that same message; God who was: He is the Creator; He IS: He is our God and is with us right now and the judgment is happening; and He is to Come: Jesus is soon coming back to earth to take His people home.

These are very exciting times to live in, when the most wonderful messages ever given are going out to the world and Jesus is coming very soon!

"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." Revelation 4:9-11.

These heavenly beings are so thrilled as they learn more and more of the GOODNESS and LOVE of our Wonderful Heavenly Father and the  Lamb that they are overcome and fall down on their faces and offer their crowns to Him.

"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?   And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon."  Revelation 5:1-4

The BOOK! Here we see God holding a book, all sealed up with seven seals. And the question is asked “Who is worthy to open this Book?” Nobody is found who can do this and John, who in the vision represents God’s people, begins to weep with sorrow.

What is this book? Well, as the prophecies unfold in Revelation we see it stands for the history of man on earth and the plan of salvation. When man fell into sin and this world was taken captive by Satan, there was no way it could be saved — except one— the Creator Himself, Jesus, had to pay the price, no one else was ‘worthy’, no other being could do it.

"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." Revelation 5:5-7.

So we see one of the elders say to John, don’t cry, there is hope! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered and can open the book! John turns around to see this fierce Lion, and what does he see? Why he sees a lamb! And not just a sweet little gentle lamb, but this lamb is wounded and dying, it is the lamb that has been slain.

But there is something very special about this lamb; it has seven eyes, and seven horns! We have already seen that eyes mean spiritual eyesight, the Holy Spirit, the ability to ‘see’ the future, and also knowledge. Seven means perfect, complete or ‘all’. This ‘Lamb’ has all wisdom, knowledge and ability to know the future.

He also has seven ‘horns’; again seven means perfect, complete, and horns stand for power, rulership, a king. So Jesus, the slain Lamb of God has ALL POWER, in heaven and earth. This is quite a wonderful Lamb!

If we, as humans think, were going to show a mighty power; we would show a roaring Lion, or something savage and fierce; but God shows us the One who has all power in heaven and earth; the slain Lamb of God!

  “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” Revelation 5:8, 9.

The rest of this chapter is like a song of triumph and praise to our precious Redeemer. First the beasts and elders, representing mankind past and present, declare Him worthy. They sing a song, this song tells of how they were lost and hopeless and now Jesus has saved them and they will not only live, but be restored as Kings and Priests before God!

"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts 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 that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Revelation 5:10-12. 

Next we see the thousands and ten thousands of angels and heavenly beings declaring that, yes, indeed Jesus is worthy of praise and honour.

"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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever." Revelation 5:13, 14. 

Finally we see all creatures in the whole universe declaring the same thing, “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”

When the ‘Great Controversy’ between Christ and Satan is all ended, every being in heaven and earth and the whole universe of other worlds, will agree that God is right and He could have done nothing better than what He did, to save mankind. Even Satan and the lost will admit this. How sad that they admit it too late!

Let us be among those who know it now, and admit it now, and tell others about it now, that Jesus is WORTHY! Worthy of our love, our trust, our obedience, our worship and our hearts forever! “And the four beasts said, Amen.”