Revelation Chapter 4

Today Dr. J discusses Revelation 4.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:20

Welcome to Dr. J in the Bible. Today we're going to be looking at Revelation chapter four. The book of Revelation, a little bit of summarization or recapitulation of the book of Revelation. Wow, that was pretty good. A bunch of rhymes. But uh yeah, so we're uh looking at Revelation chapter four. Uh chapter four begins really looking at things from a heavenly uh perspective, a heavenly view. The Bible has many, many other references to heaven. Isaiah chapter 6, 1 through 8 uh talks about Isaiah being taken to heaven, Ezekiel chapter 1, uh, and and others. And so we look at at this and we really see a transition occur. In John chapter 1, it says, After these things I looked. This is John speaking, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you these things which must take place after this. And so we look at this, and at first glance it's like, Oh, you know, come up here, okay, cool. But when you put this in lieu of other scriptures in context, uh you really see the rapture of the church. And I believe it's very clear that this come up here is talking about the church. Uh, Revelation 2 through 3 spoke to the seven churches, uh, which represent uh churches that were historical and also had perennial um implications to present, and and and so also generational and prophecy of the different periods and generations of the church age. And so after the church of Laodicea in chapter three, you hear this voice, come up here. Um, and so we believe that come up here is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. And then like a trumpet, it says, and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet. And it's interesting because that's exactly what happens in uh Thessalonians when it says that uh the dead in Christ will rise. Uh it says, for the Lord Himself, this is 1 Thessalonians 4, 16 through 17, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And so this is uh declaring victory. Uh, it was like a trumpet that gathered the congregation of Israel together. And in this sense, it's gathering the church together. It's the end of the church age. When you go back to uh the very beginning, you can see raptures, different types of raptures or typology in the Old Testament. We can see it with uh Noah. Um God never judged his own people with his own judgment and wrath. And so God saw Noah found grace, God's eyes, not because he did anything, but because God saw it. And him and his family were really protected, were raptured in to uh the ark. And uh they were protected during the wrath of God. Uh, we also see it with Enoch. Enoch walked with God and kept walking. We see it with Lot and his family, that they were can't God did not judge with his own wrath, his own chosen people, the his own elect, so to speak. And so this come up here is a very profound thing. Um, and so like a trumpet, uh John was right up there. And and it's the same thing, the dead in Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4, 16 through 17, then the dead in Christ will rise first. Many people say that the dead in Christ will rise first because you know, those that are alive have uh a head start, and and so the dead in Christ rise first, so that both the dead and those that are alive meet at the same time in the air. I think that's a pretty good analysis. It could be true. Yeah. And John goes up in the spirit. Uh was he in the body? We don't know for sure. Was he just in the spirit? We know he was in the spirit, uh, but we don't know for sure was he bodily there? You know, 2 Corinthians 12, 1 through 4, we know Paul talks about a similar thing when he was left for dead, and he probably was dead. It says here, it is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man, he's talking about himself, trying to be humble, uh, in Christ, who 14 years ago, whether in the body I do not know, Ephesus, or whether out of the body I do not know. God knows such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And so Paul had a similar experience as John, and really he didn't know. And so uh we'll ask John and Paul. Uh, we may not care about when we get to heaven for sure. And then we see in verse two, and behold, a throne set in heaven, one who sat on the throne. The centerpiece of John's vision was focused on the occupied throne. And everything else in that matter is in relation to this throne. Many people put different things on the throne. Um atheism puts no one on the throne. Of course they really do, they put themselves. Materialism puts their own uh their own prophets, their own power, and humanism puts man on the throne. Some people put leaders on the throne, uh political leaders in the past, uh Adolf Hitler, Stalin, uh, and many others have put themselves on the throne. But in reality, that doesn't remove fact. And the fact of the matter is the throne is not empty. There is one sitting on the throne, his name is the Lord Jesus Christ. And the throne is a very powerful declaration of not merely God's presence, but his sovereignty, his rightful reign, and that he is the ultimate judge of the universe. So people can say, in my opinion, this, my opinion, that. It doesn't matter what our opinion is, it matters what's true, and that Jesus is on the throne. And so in verse 3, and he who sat there was like Jasper, Sardis, stone in appearance. And there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald. And so he sat there was like, so John's describing the person on the throne. Um, and there's no way that we could John could possibly, you know, communicate what he saw unless using the colors and the ideas of what we as humans from an anthropomorphic standpoint can understand and uh really relate to. And so John describes this by using and pointing to dimensions, by pointing to shape, and and so surrounding the glory of God and this person of the Almighty King. And instead of describing a specific form or figure, John describes the glistening light in two colors, white, meaning like diamond or jasper, and red sardius. And many people, commentators believe the two colors really communicate the glory of the empty tomb. Uh, the white represents the sacrificial love of Calvary. The white represents the empty tomb, and the red, the sorry about that, the Sardius represents the sacrificial love of Calvary, the red, indicating blood. Um, and some even go as far as the high priest's breastplate. And and it's quite interesting. We don't really know for sure to be perfectly blunt. But uh, then he says there's a rainbow around the throne. So the throne surrounded by this appearance, like emerald or rainbow. And it's a reminder of God's commitment, his covenant to man. God is not see now. God remembers his promises. Genesis 9, 11 through 17, he talks about the rainbow is that covenant. Every time we see the rainbow, we should recall that God's promises he does not forget. We become impatient, we become forgetful, but God is long suffering that none should perish. And many people say, well, where's Jesus? He's been saying he's coming back for years. But um, the fact of the matter is that God is long-suffering, emphasis. He's waiting for that last baby, that elect baby that's going to be saved, to be born. And the dispensation of the church to end. And that is the rapture. And Jesus talks about that blessed hope. We're not waiting for Antichrist, we're waiting for Jesus Christ. We're not studying revelation to be scared, we're studying revelation to be prepared. And so God's promises are very, very clear, crystal clear. Um, and so basically the throne says, I can do whatever I want because I rule, and I will fulfill my word to you, and I cannot do otherwise. Now that is an amazing thing, because God promised us salvation, that the gates of hell cannot prevail and steal, and that our salvation is secure, and as Christians, that should be a great thing that should give us peace. And then in John chapter four, around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And the thrones were twenty-four elders, twenty-four thrones. Who are these people on these twenty-four thrones? You know, and I believe that the elders represent the people of God. I believe it represents the Old Testament, saints, and it represents the church. You know, the 24 courses of the priesthood represented by all priests in 1 Chronicles 24, and the 12 tribes and 12 apostles represent all the faithful. So, in short, this is us, the believers. This is a prophecy of us. We're surrounded the throne. Yeah, that's pretty cool. Revelation 5, 9 through 10. The 24 elders sang a song of praise to Jesus. They cried out, For you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. In that passage, the 24 elders clearly speak of the representatives of all God's people and the great company of the redeemed. What does this mean? It means that this is clearly us. Yeah, picture being up there with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Isaiah, um, Jeremiah, okay, Habakkuk. I had to throw him in there because some people don't. Yeah, he's in the Bible. You better know him because if you see him in heaven, he may ask if you read his book. How about John? Paul. We're gonna be surrounded. How about our loved ones that were believers that are in heaven? Yeah. Every tribe. God did not pay his blood for angels. This is talking about his people, us. Yeah. Clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their head. Now, angels are sometimes presented in white robes or garments, but saints always have white robes representing purity as a picture of imputed righteousness from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, making our sin as white as snow. How we never see angels crowned, but believers are. So this tells me, once again, it's an affirmation that this is the saints of God. Angels never have crowns, but believers do. We know from 1 Corinthians 9 25, and everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things, and they do it to obtain a per uh a perishable crown, but we for imperishable crown. Uh 2 Timothy 4.8. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also all who have loved his appearing. Yeah. And then uh therefore the redeemed glorified man sits in throne with Jesus. Now it says that we will also have be sitting on thrones, sitting on thrones. We are joint heirs with Christ. Now our thrones are lesser. Romans 8 17 says, uh, and children, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ. If indeed we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified together. Uh it talks about in 2 Timothy 2.12, if we endure, we shall also reign with him. Um, because ultimately we will reign with Christ for the thousand-year period on earth during the thousand years. And it's going to be a mighty thing. It's going to be a spectacular thing. Heaven, folks, is not boring. Verse 5, and from the throne proceedings, lightnings, thunders, and voices, seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. You know, the lightnings, the thunders, the voices is reminiscent of the presence at Mount Sinai of God Almighty. We know that that's exactly there were thunders or lightnings and fire and clouds of glory. And it really articulates the awe communicated with the throne of God. And the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, you know, is represented by the seven burning lamps in the other passages. And so a lot of times the spirit of God is communicated in human or anthropomorphic per language. Like in Matthew 3, 16, we know that the Holy Spirit was came down as a dove like a dove. And we know in Acts 2, 3 that the Spirit came down like a flame of fire. So the lamps of fire are just another way of communicating the Holy Spirit who is not ordinarily visible. Pretty cool, yeah. Verse 6 before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal. And uh the sea of glass, you know, this is quite interesting. It's really materi some people debate, is it material or does it just appear to be material? And the question is, I don't know. I just don't know. But the sea that is by, rep really the body of water before the throne, is really reminiscent of the lever lever of the tabernacle and the washing of the water of the word of God. In Ephesians 5, 26, that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of the water by the word. And six through eight, and in the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, third living creature had a face of a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle, and the fourth living creature each had six wings and full of eyes around within. Now the four living creatures full of eyes really are compared comparison with Ezekiel 1, 4 through 14 and 10, chapter 10, 20 through 22. Uh, we also, which is cherubim, we also know that the cherubim were all prominent in design, particularly in the most holy of places. And scripture shows us that the tabernacle is a model of the throne of God, and they're full of eyes in front and back, full of eyes around within. And these are not blind instruments or dumb animals, these are creatures that are created for worship and they're very intelligent. They were created for the sole purpose of worship. Satan himself was originally created for that reason. Um, so and the don't let us not think that these are just animals. Uh they're like a lion, like a calf, like a man, like an eagle. You know, so what does this mean here? A lot of times people have in the past talked about How each represents one of the gospel writers. Matthew represents the lion. Mark represents the ox. Luke represents man. And John represents an eagle. It could be. Um it's interesting how commentators look at Matthew represents royalty. And the lion has often represented kingship. The ox represented servanthood, which Mark represents being a servant. Man represents basically coming down as a human being. And then John, obviously an eagle, the most sovereign, glorious birds on earth. Verse eight, and they do not rest day or night saying, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. So they do not rest. These cherubim constantly repeat, holy, holy, holy. And they do not rest. It's going to be good to be in heaven. We won't have to sleep. We will have plenty of energy and lots to do. Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come, this is talking about Yahweh. And the same one that is called Yahweh is also called the Lord Jesus Christ. 9 through 11, whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him and sit on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before them, saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor, power, for you create all things, and by your will they exist and were created. These twenty-four elders fall down before him. Yeah, that's us, the church. We fall down before him, and we cast our crowns before him. Now, this is very much an allusion to what was practiced during the Roman Empire. The emperor, who was considered the sovereign and often called king of kings, would rule over many lesser kings. And these kings at the time were commanded, the lesser kings, to come before the emperor and lay the crowns down before him in homage. Then he would give them back as demonstration of that crown and their right to rule. And what we'll be doing. We will cast our crowns. There will be no jealousy. You got more crowns than I did. Or envy or coveting. We will be whatever crown we have, we will throw at the feet of Christ, and we will pay homage for his glory. And the crowns mentioned, this word Stephanos. You know, it's a word for crown. And unlike the crown that Jesus has, which is a diadem, which is a different, total different. This Stephanos represents an achievement after winning an Olympic game. Yeah. For you created all things. We will acknowledge the creator. By your will, they exist. We will acknowledge his providence, his purpose, that even as he is the potter, we are the clay, and we will give him full glory and honor and power will be acknowledged. What a magnificent thing. Yeah. We will confess that Jesus is Lord. We will either do that by force, if you reject Jesus, you still will acknowledge it, or we will do it willfully. I choose, hope you do too, to do it on our own volition, because we love Him, and we love His appearing, which is promised.