notes
The Apocalypse of John
Revelation Ch. 4
Additional Reading:
Lowery, Robert A. Revelation’s Rhapsody: Listening to the Lyrics of the Lamb. Joplin, Missouri: College Press Publishing Company, 2006
Setting the Scene for John’s Vision • v1. This is the beginning of John’s section of visions. • Typically, when the book is studied, people treat this section of text differently than that which has come before it. • It is important for us to treat this section of text in much the same manner as we have the introduction and the letters to the churches. • John is getting a glimpse of the things that will happen “after these things.” Some have interpreted this to mean that the first section had to do with the 7 churches, but the rest is about how the end of the world will unravel. I think that this is an unnecessary conclusion. • Note that John is called “up” into heaven. Is heaven up, or is it something else? I firmly believe that this is just symbolic imagery and the true throne room of God, heaven, exists on some other level of existence, not simply up. • John is being shown what must take place “after these things.” Notice that the passage starts with the same grammatical arrangement, leading us to believe this is not a prophesy of the future, but a transition. • v2. John, “in the Spirit,” is then taken into heaven, he sees: • A throne: Note who is sitting on the throne. What does this mean to you if you are experiencing persecution? • Who is God contrasting himself with? Caesar? • v3. Notice how God is characterized. • Exodus 24:10ish • Ezekiel 1 • Daniel 7:9 • Rainbow there, what possible OT connection do we see here? • v4. 24 Elders? • Isaiah 24:23
The Apocalypse of John: Ch 4
Αποκαλυψις Ιησου Χπιστου
• I’ve heard different things, representative of the Jewish 12 and the Christian 12. Representative of the chosen people of God under both old and new covenants. This is not to imply that God still favors the Jews, or that they will be saved (as in the Left Behind Series mentality). Discuss some aspects of the relationships with the Jews (if you are reading this and i skip over it remind me.). • v5-6. Look at all of this imagery that is straight out of Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1ff, and Daniel 7. Seriously, John is trying to link to these Old Testament images of God delivering his people in the midst of their persecution and captivity. • What do you think this means to a person living under Domitian’s reign. • Also note the 4 living creatures. We see these guys popping up quite a few times in the OT imagery associated with God. They are seraphim and cherubim type creatures that are almost always associated with the throne of God. • v6-8. Let’s notice some things about these creatures... • They are full of eyes both in front and in back. Does this mean they are literally covered in eyes? Or does this simply talk about their ability to notice a good number of things, and let nothing escape their attention? We’ll discuss why this is significant later. • Three creatures: • face like a lion • face like a calf • face like a man • face like a flying eagle Each one has six wings... • They do not cease to praise God. • Their entire purpose is to admire God and glorify him forever... That is why they are always in his presence, admiring their creator. I believe that many • of the aspects we see here defining them do not have a particular meaning other than to draw upon the imagery that is already in their minds about these creatures in the book of Ezekiel. • Day and night these creatures declare this about God: • Holy Holy Holy • In this culture, they lacked punctuation, so in order to emphasize something in particular, they would repeat it. So these creatures are crying out HOLY! is the Lord God. • What do you think about this statement of God’s Holiness? The Almighty. He is over all, there is no one other than him. • He is the all powerful, ruler over all. • He is the ever present being. The one who was and is and is to come. • This is a very important statement of God’s quality of eternality. • He has no beginning outside of himself • He has no end. • He simply IS. • • v9-11. Everyone worships the Lord. He alone is worthy of honor. He is set in contrast with Caesar and shown to be superior to him. • Notice verse 11. • Why is God considered worthy?