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 show you things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. Revelation 4:1,2
Chapter 4 begins with an open door and a voice like a trumpet which says: "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this". This is the second time John has heard the voice 'like that of a trumpet'; the first was in Revelation 1:10, when he was in the spirit on the Lord's Day. John was then given a very specific task; to serve as a witness and record future events: Rev 1:19.
Now, the voice as a trumpet speaks again, and John is taken immediately into the heavenly realm, bypassing spiritual dimensions to serve as a witness, recording the events shown to him. He was not given dreams and visions; instead, he becomes spirit, carried into the day of the Lord to see the things which will be.
John Enters Heaven:
John witnesses One who sits upon a throne. Who sits upon thrones? Kings. Who sits upon a heavenly throne? God. Rev 22:3
The focus is upon the throne and he who sits upon it:
3) And he who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
In Revelation 21:2,9,10, John sees the holy city, new Jerusalem descend from heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. New Jerusalem is the bride, the Lamb's wife. Rev 21:11) The city having the glory of God; and her light (brightness) was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
The jasper highlights the brightness of He who occupies the throne. ... for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof: Rev 21:23b. The Sardius stone or, Sardis which is bright red in color, indicates the fiery flame which is the throne: Daniel 7:9b
The throne is surrounded by a rainbow, the color of an emerald which is: the appearance and likeness of the glory of the Lord: Ezekiel 1:26-28. The rainbow was a covenant promise to Noah to never destroy all living creatures by flood again. Genesis 9:11-17
The Elders:
4) Surrounding the throne were twenty four seats: and upon the seats I saw twenty four elders sitting clothed in white raiment: and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Who are these 24 elders? Scripture doesn't specify their identity. They may be elders from the 12 tribes of Israel or, the line of Aaron. They may represent a division of the old testament and the new; the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. They are clothed in white garments, with crowns of gold upon their heads, suggesting they were once mortal and, given eternal life, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
5) Out from the throne come flashes of lightening and sounds and peals of thunder and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
The seven Spirits of God are explained further in Rev 5:6 ... and I beheld, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
Sea of Glass and Four Living Creatures:
6) And before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7) And the first beast was like a lion, and the second was like a calf, and the third had a face of a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8) And each of the four living creatures had six wings. and they were full of eyes, and they rest not day and night saying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
The crystalized sea of glass is before the throne, symbolizing holiness, purity, tranquility and perhaps, spiritual cleansing. The sea of glass is also mentioned in chapter 15 when the saints, having victory over the image of the beast, the mark and the number of his name, stand upon the sea of glass singing the song of Moses and, the song of the Lamb in triumphant victory.
The living creatures that surround the throne, appear to be the mighty Cherubim: Ezekiel 1:4-10;10:1-14 - (Satan was the 'anointed cherub' Ezekiel 28:14-16, in close proximity to the throne) Cherubim do not rest but instead, praise and honor God continually, in reverence and glory.
9) And when the living creatures give glory and honor, and thanks, to him that sat on the throne who lives for ever and ever. 10) The twenty four elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne saying, 11) Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created.
When the living creatures worship Him who sits upon the throne, the 24 elders also fall down before him in worship, casting their crowns before Him. The Cherubim appear to lead the 24 elders in worship. Only the Christ, who has created all things and redeemed the fallen world is worthy of the glory, the honor and power received in worship. Amen!
In memory of Pastor Doug Pickrel - Founder of Book of Revelation FB Group
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