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| Chapter 4 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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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 show thee things which must be hereafter." 2 And immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He that sat thereon was to look upon like a jasper and a sardius stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in appearance like unto an emerald. 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. 5 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; 6 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 living beings full of eyes in front and behind. 7 And the first being was like a lion, and the second being like a calf, and the third being had the face of a man, and the fourth being was like a flying eagle. 8 ¶ And each of the four living beings had six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within; and they rested not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!" 9 And when those living beings give glory and honor 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 sits on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are, and were created." |
This chapter begins a new section of the Book of Revelation, it now starts to speak of future events, "after this" starts the section, the book now considers "the things which shall be hereafter." There are two phases to the return of the Lord. The first stage:- 1 Thess 4:16,17; 1 Cor 15:51,52, those who know and love the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, dead or alive will be called up to be with the Lord. The second stage occurs seven years later at the end of the Tribulation, after the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Christ comes back to the earth with His saints. v1 John hears the voice of Jesus calling him up to a door in heaven to see the "things which must be hereafter." v2 The first thing John sees is a throne, the throne of God, there is no mention of Christ at this point but after this chapter He dominates the scene as the slain Lamb of God. In this chapter John sees God as the omnipotent creator, with complete and absolute control over the universe. v3 How do you describe God, a Spirit which is everywhere? John describes the colours he sees coming from the throne as can come from precious stones. Jasper is green, sardine is red while the word describe as ‘emerald’ is probably a rock crystal which gives a multitude of colour as in a rainbow. The rainbow reminds us of His promise never to destroy man by water, Genesis 9:13. v4 The twenty four elders sitting on the seats, from later reference to them these appear to be angelic beings, servants of God. Some feel that they represent the people of God, 12 Tribes of Jews and 12 Disciples. v5 Seven Spirits of God, see Rev 5:6. Perfection and fullness of the Holy Spirit. v6-8 This is not a sea, but looks like a "sea of glass." The creatures are similar to those of Ezekiel 1:5-22. Nature is represented, included Man, before the throne. They reappear in Rev 6:7; Rev 7:11; Rev 14:3; Rev 15:7; 19:4. v8,9 The ceaseless worship of God by these creatures shows the total subjection of nature to God. This is also the first of twenty "hymns" sung by various groups. v10,11 This second point of worship does not seem to be continual but for special events. The elders recognize that there is only one who is worthy in the universe for the description of being pre-eminence (greater than any other). God created the universe and all that is in it, He has the right to deal with it as He wants. All creation should be subject to Him and give Him the glory, honour and power due to Him. |
Easy English Translation
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