Revelation Chapter 4/Commentary

Revelation Chapter 4

4:1 “After these things”: This phrase is used to introduce new and emphatic points in the letter (7:1,9; 15:5; 18:1; 19:1; 20:3). Following the information that Jesus gave to the seven churches in chapters 2-3, John is now given information on another subject.

4:1 “I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven”: This is the third door we encounter in this book. We have seen the door of opportunity (3:8), the door into the human heart (3:20), and now a door opened to admit John via a vision into heaven. Thank God there is a way into heaven, not only for John to record this vision, but also for all Christians to enter one day (Philippians 3:20).

Harkrider notes that chapters 4 and 5 present the sovereignty of God who is on His throne and whose righteous rule is vindicated by what Jesus did on the cross. Through it may sometimes appear that the wicked rule, all things are actually under God’s dominion.

4:1 “And the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me”: This may refer to the same unidentified speaker mentioned in 1:10. “With the clarion ring of a trumpet John was beckoned to come see” (Harkrider p. 63).

4:1 “Come up here”: At this point some Premillinnialists seek to argue that John’s transportation into heaven may be viewed as a type of the rapture of the church, and the mention of a voice like a trumpet here may recall the language of the supposed rapture passages in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Admittedly this is a terrible twisting of the above passage and the passages mentioned in the previous paragraph. Such a view fails to realize that God has used trumpets to announce all sorts of things besides the Second Coming. In addition, we already have seen one use of the trumpet in 1:10 (does this indicate a double-rapture?) And chapters 8-11 record the sounding of no less than seven more trumpets, are there to be nine raptures?

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The Dispensationlist school of interpretation also appeals to the fact that, after the voice has said “come up here”, the word “church” does not again occur in the Revelation letter until 22:16. From this they conclude that the church has been raptured and is absent from the earth, yet this same letter will not mention the name “Jesus” again until chapter 12. Does this mean that these chapters did not tell us anything about Jesus? Actually, the church is mentioned in 5:9-10.

Chilton makes a good point when he notes that seeking to use the above text has a proof for the “pre-tribulation” rapture of the church, could equally be used, based on the same argumentation, for the pre-tribulation annihilation of the church, since they argue that after Revelation chapter 3 the church simply disappears from the text.

4:1 “I will show you what must take place after these things”: Note from chapter 3 to chapter 4 we have not jumped thousands of years into the future.

Some have tried to argue that John is being told about things that will happen after the “church age”, but there is no “church age” in chapters 2-3. Rather, the expression “after these things” refers to the things that must shortly come to pass (1:1,3,19), the things that follow the things that “are”, that is the present condition of the seven churches.

4:2 “Immediately I was in the Spirit”: (1:9). That is under the influence and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Apparently, now in a vision he is lifted up to heaven itself.

4:2 “A behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne”: Here will be revealed a description of God’s glory. Thirty-eight times the throne of God is mentioned in this book, and ultimately all thrones and positions of authority derive their right to rule from this one throne (Romans 13:1ff).

4:3 “He who was sitting was like”: Emphasis on the word “like”. God is not composed of precious stones, but rather precious stones are being used to describe His radiance and glory. God is a Spirit (John 4:24). Compare with vision with Isaiah 6:1-4; Ezekiel 1:26-29 and Daniel 7:9-14. Paul describes God has a blaze of unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16; Psalm 104:2).

4:3 “A jasper stone”: Described in 21:11 as “clear as crystal”, and some believe that the jasper stone in Revelation is the stone that we call a diamond. In antiquity the term “jasper” could refer to any opaque precious stone. This may describe God’s purity.

4:3 “And a sardius in appearance”: This was a fiery red or blood-red stone, which may call to mind God’s avenging wrath (Hebrews 12:29). It was called a “sardius” because it was mainly found near the city of Sardis. See Psalm 89:14 and 97:4.

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4:3 “And there was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald in appearance”: “The green of an emerald is here the principal color of the rainbow, a symbol of God’s mercy or grace (Genesis 9:12-15)” (Gregg p. 85). A figure of the covenant-keeping God, the God who keeps His promises. Ezekiel’s throne scene also includes a rainbow (Ezekiel 1:28).

4:4 “And 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” Different views exist concerning these elders: Henry Morris is alone in suggesting that they are the first 24 ancestors of Jesus Christ (Adam through Pharaz) listed in Genesis 5-11. Some argue that they are an order of angels who serve and order God. Some see this as referring to the totality of the faithful in both Testaments (12 tribes of Israel, plus the 12 apostles).

Note they are arrayed in heavenly garments (2:17) and wear the victor’s crown (2:10). Some see these elders as representing all those who have overcome.

The Old Testament priesthood had been divided up into 24 courses (1 Chronicles 24:7-8), and the church is a priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9-10; 1:5-6; 5:9-10; 20:4,6). Thus Jesus promises those who overcome a position of authority with Him (3:21).

Chilton argues, “We have already been told in this prophecy that Christians are reigning with Christ (1:6), that they wear crowns (2:10;3:11), that they have been granted kingly authority with Him over the nations (2:26-27), and that they are seated with Christ on His throne (3:21). Now, in chapter 4, we see elders seated on thrones; is this not a continuation of the teachings already presented?” (pp.

151-152). He equally notes that the term “elder” is always used of human beings and never of angels.

4:5 “And from the throne proceed flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder”: Compare with Exodus 19:16. This denotes God’s tremendous power and energy. The idea may be that “a storm is brewing and the throne of God was about to direct it into full fury” (Ogden p. 177). “Has thunder and lightning ever been anything else but a fearful exhibition of God’s power to the guilty conscience? To those who trust Him the same exhibition of power is thrilling” (McGuiggan p. 83).

4:5 “And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God”: Probably a reference to the Holy Spirit in the sevenfold fullness of His activity. The word translated “lamp” can mean torch.

“As torches, the Spirit can be sent wherever the throne occupant wills” (Hailey p.

169). Remember in the Tabernacle they kept the seven lamps burning in the holy place before the holy of holies. This may suggest that He who rules has all the wisdom, knowledge, and vision of the omniscient Spirit at His disposal. Hal

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Lindsey, in trying to keep with his rapture theme, tries to argue that the seven lamps of fire are now the seven churches in heaven, but this contradicts what John says about them, “which are the seven Spirits of God”.

4:6 “And before the throne there was, as it were”: That is, it was not a literal sea of glass, but “as it were”. “A sea of glass like crystal”: Ezekiel appears to see this same “sea”, but not from above, but from below (Ezekiel 1:4-5, 22, 26) “Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like a firmament, like the awesome gleam of crystal, extended over their heads”. It appears that this transparent and lucid sea indicates the transcendence of God and marks the huge difference between the Creator and the creature. When the present order passes away and when all the saints are home with God, will sea will be no more (21:1). Remember in the Temple, before the Holy Place, sat Solomon’s brazen sea (1 Kings 7:23-51), in which the priests cleansed themselves prior to entering the Temple. Some see this sea as also depicting the cleansing process that is necessary for one to approach God (Revelation 15:2).

4:6 “And in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind”: They are full of eyes, a symbol of omniscience, or their ceaseless watch over creation. These creatures are very similar to the cherubim described by Ezekiel (1:4-28), and the six-winged cherubim of Isaiah 6:1-4. “Four”: Does this refer to the four-corners of the earth?

4:7 “And the first creature was like a lion, 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” “The cherubs of the Bible are very far from being chubby infants with wings and dimples. They are awesome creatures, visible indications of the presence of God. Perhaps their faces represent His majesty, His strength, His wisdom, and His loftiness” (Chilton pp. 155, 156). “These beings are represented by the king of predators, the lion. The king of the airborne predators, the eagle. The powerful and full of fury bull-calf. The shrewdest of all God’s earthly creation, man. The bestial aspect of these beings speaks of their fury, power, and relentless nature. The human aspect balances the bestial so that we don’t have blind savagery at work when justice is wrought” (McGuiggan p. 84). Lindsey, a Premillennial writer thinks these four creatures represent the four portraits of Christ we have in the four Gospels. So much for being literal! “It is worthy of attention that the characteristics of strength, service, intelligence, and swiftness are everywhere ascribed to angels” (Hendriksen p. 87).

Some argue that these creatures are not actual creatures, but rather that they represent the attributes of God as living entities, yet the creatures worship God (4:8) and are seen as being distinct from the one upon the throne (4:9).

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4:8 “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within”: Compare with Isaiah 6:1-4.

4:8 “And day and night they do not cease to say”: “Man and earthly creatures must have rest to survive” (Hailey p. 171). Yet these creatures never rest, they maintain a constant vigil over all God’s creation, and a constant stream of praise for God comes from them.

4:8 “Holy, holy, holy”: The threefold repetition probably does not refer to the concept of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but rather indicates God’s perfect and absolute holiness.

4:8 “Is the Lord God, Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come”: We find the same type of praise in Isaiah 6:1-3. Please note that this constant praise is not a chore for these beings, rather this is done freely by beings who truly enjoy being in God’s presence.

4:9 “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” 4:10 “The twenty-four elders who 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” “The casting of their crowns before the throne is symbolic of their unworthiness to wear them and of their total dependence upon God” (Ogden p. 180). Twice it is said that He lives forever and ever, which emphasizes God’s eternity (Isaiah 44:6).

Points Concerning Worship: 1. God desires corporate worship, not just worship that is individualistic, quiet, or internal.

2. The worship here is not entertainment or a three-ring circus.

3. All need to participate in worship.

4. Worship must be enthusiastic.

5. Worship is orderly (1 Corinthians 14:40).

6. God demands our best, He is the King, and worship means serving Him. 4:11 “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created” 1. God is the Creator of all things (John 1:1-3).

2. The Creation exists because God willed it to exist. Note that God is separate from the Creation, and that God is self-sufficient. Nothing is said

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about God creating the world or mankind because He needed them, for God does not need anything (Acts 17:25). “The creation exists, not because God needed to create, or is dependent upon His creation in any way, but simply because it was His will to create; it pleased Him to do so” (Chilton p. 162).

3. We need to be careful that we don’t fall into sentimentality and think that God created us because He was lonely and needed to be loved. Long before we came along, God enjoyed perfect love and communion (John 1:1).

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