Revelation 4

The Throne Room

1 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.

This verse begins with the phrase “after this” and

ends with the word, “hereafter.” In Greek, the

phrase, “After this, and the word “Hereafter.” are

exactly the same word, meta tauta, meaning a

transition or change.

“Hereafter” is also referenced in Rev. 1:19.

Something major has happened between the end

of Chapter 3, and the beginning of Chapter 4!!

After this refers to the closing of the church age, the

period of grace. The church as we know it today is no

more! The church, composed of born-again believers,

has been raptured, moving eternally to heaven.

The word Rapture is not found in the Bible.

The word "rapture" comes from the Latin word

“rapturo”, which is a translation of the Greek verb

“harpazo” which literally means “to seize” or to be

“caught up“.

1 Thess. 4:17

Then we which are

alive and remain

shall be caught up

together with them

in the clouds, to

meet the Lord in

the air: and so

shall we ever be

with the Lord.

There are several reasons why the rapture has taken

place between the end of Chapter 3, when John

completes his letters to the Seven Churches of Asia,

and Chapter 4, as John enters the throne room.

1. The outline or structure of what John was commanded

to write according to Revelation 1:19:

• “the things which thou hast seen”, points to the

events of Rev. 1.

• “the things that are” refers to the letters written to

the Seven Churches of Asia found in Rev. 2 and 3.

• “the things which shall be hereafter” refers to future

events that’s will occur after the church age has

ended (Rev. 4 – 22).

2. The church is no longer seen in the world, although

up to Chapter 4, there have been nineteen

references to the church in the world. From Rev. 4

through 22, the church is never mentioned again in

connection with the world.

3. The scene has shifted from earth to heaven

in Rev. 4. Paul gives the answer of how the church

got to heaven in I Corinthians 15: 51-52:

51 Behold, I shew you

a mystery; We shall not

all sleep, but we shall all

be changed.

52 In a moment, in the

twinkling of an eye, at the

last trump: for the

trumpet shall sound, and

the dead shall be raised

incorruptible, and we

shall be changed.

The twinkling of an eye has been defined

as "eleven one-hundredths of a second.”

4. The word church is ekklesia in the

Greek; kaleo means “to call” and ek

means “out of.” Therefore, ekklesia

means: a group of people called out of

the world.”

The Rapture takes place during the

Philadelphia church period when the

Word of God was loved. The Laodicean

church continues as just an organization

on earth, and will go through the Great

Tribulation, an upcoming event.

The Lord Jesus tells the church in

Philadelphia “Behold, I come quickly:

hold that fast which thou hast, that no

man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:11)

5. The spirit of God has moved from earth to

heaven. The Holy Spirit lives within the born-

again believer, and is going with us.

Rev. 4: 5 is a clear reference to the Holy Spirit in

heaven, represented by the seven lamps of fire

which are the sevenfold spirits of God referenced

in Isaiah 11:2.

The Holy Spirit must be removed from the earth

so that the seven year events of the Great

Tribulation and the revealing of the lawless one,

the Antichrist can occur. This is referenced in

II Thessalonians 2: 6-7.

6. Our salvation has delivered us from His wrath.

I Thessalonians 1:10

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he

raised from the dead, even Jesus, which

delivered us from the wrath to come.

I Thessalonians 5:9

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but

to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

7. In verses, Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13. 22,

Jesus uses these words, “He that hath an ear,

let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the

churches.”

Rev. 13:9 says, “If any man have an ear, let

him hear.” Jesus does not mention either the

Spirit or the churches, because they have both

been removed at the Rapture.

• John saw a door standing open in heaven. This is one of

the four open doors found in Revelation.

• In Chapter 3: 8 Jesus set before the church in Philadelphia

an open door, referring to a door of opportunity for giving

out the Word of God.

• The open door of invitation and identification with Christ is

found in Chapter 3:20. This is the door to your heart.

• The open door in verse 1, is the way to God through Christ.

• In Chapter 19: 11, the door to heaven will be opened again

through which Christ will go for His Second Coming.

The open door in

heaven is the Lord

Jesus Christ.

John 10: 9

I am the door: by

me if any man

enter in, he shall be

saved, and shall go

in and out, and find

pasture.”

The door also provides

passage for John to

heaven to be shown the

events recorded

hereafter.

The scene has moved

from the earth with its

troubles, struggles and

sin through the open

door to the perfect peace

and purity of heaven.

The trumpet-like voice calls John to “come up hither” to see

“what must take place after this.” This is the voice of Christ.

I Thessalonians 4:16 -17

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a

shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump

of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up

together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the

air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a

throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

This verse is a type of the Rapture. John represents the

“caught up” believers and is guided by the Holy Spirit into

the “Throne of God” that is used 46 times in Revelation.

John sees God sitting upon the eternal throne denoting

absolute authority and rule over all the universe and the

affairs of heaven and earth.

3a And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a

sardine stone:

Here, John attempts to do the impossible - he attempts to

describe God. The word “like” lets us know that the

description is symbolic of these two precious stones.

Jasper is a crystal clear

transparent stone thought to be

a high grade diamond

representing the glory of God.

It is the last of the twelve

stones in the breastplate of the

high priest representing the

twelve tribes of Israel. Jasper

stood for Benjamin, meaning

“son of the right hand.”

Jasper is also the first stone of

the foundation of the wall of the

New Jerusalem.

Sardine stone/Carnelian is a

precious stone of blood-red color

obtained in ancient times from

Sardis in Asia Minor.

Ancient authorities call it “blood-

colored”, describing the righteous

wrath of God, the color of the fire

of divine anger.

It also was chosen by God as the

first stone in Aaron's high-priest

breastplate and represented

Reuben, meaning “see a Son.”

Sardine stone is also the sixth

stone of the foundation of the wall

of the New Jerusalem.

3b and there was a rainbow round about

the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

The precious stone

emerald is the third

stone in the breastplate

and represented Levi,

meaning “attached.”

It is also the fourth

stone of the foundation

of the wall of the New

Jerusalem.

After the flood in Genesis 9, a rainbow appeared

as a reminder of God’s covenant not to ever

destroy the earth by flood again. The earth will

be judged again, but purged next with fire.

Today, we see only half a bow, unless we are in the air. When

a rainbow appears, we know the storm is over. In heaven, the

entire bow will be visible, and we will have peace.

4 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.

Seated round the throne are 24 seats or thrones with

24 elders. These are representative of all of God’s

redeemed children, both Old Testament and New

Testament saints.

12 tribes of Israel

+ 12 apostles

24 absolute completion

The 24 elders are clothed in white robes representing

the “righteousness of the saints,” provided by Christ’s

atonement and covering for sin on behalf of the saints.

On their heads are crowns of gold. These crowns have

been earned by the saints, and are called “stephanos” in

the Greek text, meaning a victor’s crown. They signify a

victorious consummation for the 24 elders. The crowns

that the saints earned are:

1. The Crown of Life – James 1:12; Rev. 2:10

2. The Crown of Righteousness – 2 Tim. 4:8

3. The Crown of Glory – 1 Pet. 5:4

4. The Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thes. 2:19

5. The Imperishable Crown – 1 Cor. 9:25

5a And out of the throne proceeded lightnings

and thunderings and voices:

This indicates approaching judgment. Heaven

booms with the warning signals that judgment is

on the way.

5b and there were seven lamps of fire burning before

the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

The seven lamps represent the seven spirits of God

in His fullness. The Holy Spirit is no longer a

“comforter”, but an instrument of God’s judgment.

Their continual burning indicates the judgments that

are about to fall upon the earth.

6a And before the throne there was

a sea of glass like unto crystal:

This crystal sea speaks of God’s judgment that is solid

and unmoving representing judgment that is fixed and

cannot be altered.

In the past, there was a“sea of brass” in the Tabernacle

called “the laver,” at which the priests washed to be

cleansed and forgiven of sin. In heaven, this “sea of

brass” becomes a “sea of glass,” and by Christ’s

atonement, there will be no more need for the saints to

wash away sins or uncleanness.

The “sea of glass,” also reflects His light and splendor,

representing the calmness and peace of God’s rule.

6b and in the midst of the throne, and round about the

throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

The Greek word for beast is Zoon (s) or Zoa (p) and

means a living creature. The four beasts are thus

symbolic literally of “a living creature”. These are not

wild beasts as we will see in Chapter 13, but living

creatures.

The “full of eyes” speaks of their alertness and

awareness. They can see all things clearly and

accurately.

These four living creatures will pour out judgment

upon wickedness of the earth during the Great

Tribulation and lead worshipping.

7 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.

Various interpretations have been given for the

significance of these living creatures.

Some Jewish rabbis teach that these are the insignias

of the twelve tribes of Israel after the divisions into four

groups during encampment, according to Numbers.

Other believe the beasts are representatives of Jesus

as he is portrayed in the Gospels.

• Matthew - The Lion – The Lion of the tribe of Judah.

• Mark - Calf – the suffering servant.

• Luke – Man – The Son of Man

• John - Eagle – The Son of God

Others believe the beasts represent God’s creation of

the animal world. These four principalities each has a

kingdom placed under the throne to show that no

creature will exalt itself over God. Each species has a

leader that includes:

• Lion - wild beasts

• Calf - domestic animals

• Eagle - birds

• Man - all creatures

8 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.

They are most likely seraphim – angels of God

created to praise and exalt the Lord as seen in

Isaiah 6: 1-3.

This is the first great worship scene we see in heaven.

The “which was, and is to come” refers to Christ.

The creatures worship the Creator as the triune God:

“Holy, Holy, Holy”, representing the Trinity.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks

to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 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,

The crowned saints lay aside their

rewarded glory to add to His glory.

11 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.

Worship is the

activity of heaven.

Praise and adoration

are the eternal

activity of all God’s

creatures in heaven.

Praise God!

Amen! Amen! Amen!