JOHN IS CALLED UP TO HEAVEN TO SEE A VISION OF THE FUTURE (Rev 4:1-3)

We see John being called up to heaven in the spirit. He was not in his body; it was only his spirit that went into heaven. God is on his throne and is encircled by a rainbow (Ezek 1:25-28). Since God is said to be light, the rainbow may indicate that John is seeing God in all of his fullness, the full spectrum of his being so to speak. It may also symbolize that God is about to completely fulfill his covenant with man, since the rainbow stood as a covenant that God made with man after the flood to not ever destroy the world with water again. There are other covenants that God made with the Jewish people which will not be completely fulfilled until the Second Coming of Jesus.

John also says that the voice speaking to him sounded like a trumpet. A trumpet was a ram’s horn. The ram caught in the thicket in the story of the sacrifice of Isaac resulted in a substitute sacrifice for Isaac. Thus the trumpet speaks to us of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

THE TWENTY FOUR ELDERS SEATED ON TWENTY FOUR THRONES (Rev 4:4)

In Rev 4:4 John sees twenty four elders seated on twenty four thrones. These elders are often interpreted to be the totality of the church which is raptured to heaven. I tend to doubt that for several reasons including;

• it seems to me that the sea of glass that surrounds the throne of God is the raptured church.
• in Rev 5:8 they had a golden bowl full of the prayers of the saints which implies that the 24 elders were not the saints; it is not likely that they would have been bringing their own prayers to God in this way, and
• they were speaking of the saints, including the church, in third person in verses 9-10, also indicating that they were not the saints or church.

I tend to believe that the twenty four elders are a combination of the twelve disciples and the twelve sons of Israel. Rev 21:10-14 says that the new Jerusalem will have twelve gates named for the twelve sons of Israel and it will have twelve foundations named for the twelve apostles. The twelve sons of Israel and the twelve apostles played very key roles in making it possible for believers to one day go to the New Jerusalem for eternity. I suspect that the twenty four elders are the combination of these two groups of twelve. The twenty four elders are seen sitting on twenty four thrones in heaven in Rev 4:4. Matt 19:28 says that the twelve disciples will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel at the renewal of all things. I suspect that the other twelve thrones will be occupied by the twelve sons of Israel. The elders are dressed in white, signifying that they had been washed pure by the blood of the Lamb. They are also seen wearing gold crowns on their heads.

What do these crowns represent? In Zech 6, which describes four chariots pulled by four different colored horses, we see Jews who had been exiled returning to their homeland with precious materials with which a crown could be made. The crown was made and placed upon the head of the high priest, Joshua (Hebrew for the Greek word Jesus). Could this passage mean that those returning to Israel in the end times will be the means through which Jesus is able to return to Israel and be crowned King of Kings forever? It is a beautiful model of what we understand will happen. Zech 6:9-15 describes Joshua being crowned and sitting in majesty on the throne in Jerusalem as both king and priest. Verse 12 tells us very plainly that this represents the one called the Branch, or Jesus (Heb 7:11-8:5). Rev 1:6 and 5:10 say that the redeemed will also be kings and priests and will reign with Christ. Thus they will also have crowns. Crowns represent the rewards for believers in heaven.

THUNDER AND RUMBLINGS COMING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD (Rev 4:5)

Rumblings of thunder are heard coming from the throne of God. We know from John 12:28-29 that when God spoke from heaven and a crowd heard it, many thought it had thundered. We also see the voice of the Lord being described as “thunder” in Psalm 29:3 and in verses 4-9 we see seven characteristics ascribed to the thunder or voice of the Lord. The voice of the Lord is described as majestic, powerful and capable of breaking the strongest of manmade institutions. It sounds as if the thunder that John hears is the voice of God speaking.

SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD (Rev 4:5)

In Rev 1:4-5 we see that the letter to the seven churches is from God the Father, Jesus the Son and from the seven spirits before the throne. If this letter is from the Father and the Son then it must also be from the Holy Spirit. To think otherwise would be contrary to what we know about the triune nature of God. The question then would be, “why is the Holy Spirit referred to as the seven spirits before the throne?” Let’s see what else we can learn about the “seven spirits of God.” In Rev 4:5, we see “seven lamps blazing before the throne of God,” and that they were the “seven spirits of God.”

In Rev 5:6, we see that Jesus had “seven eyes” which were the “seven spirits of God sent out into the world.” In Zech 3:9, we see that there were “seven eyes in the capstone,” which figuratively means that Jesus has “seven eyes,” or from Rev 5:6 “seven spirits of God sent out into the world.” Who did Jesus say he would send to believers all over world in John 14:15-21? The counselor, the Holy Spirit. But why is the Spirit referred to as the “seven spirits of God?” Seven is a number that stands for perfection or completeness in the Bible. That may be the reason, or perhaps it is the fact that there are seven continents on the earth and the Holy Spirit was sent to all of them. We see that the Spirit is Jesus living in us and he is the eyes of Jesus in the world.

Also, there are seven lamps in the golden lampstand and the symbology seems to represent the Spirit being in the church or in the believers. The fact that the Holy Spirit is referred to as the seven spirits of God may reflect the fact that he is in all seven churches. Others have suggested that it refers to the characteristics of the Holy Spirit, perhaps reflecting Isa 11:2. Isa 11:2 is sometimes referred to as describing the sevenfold Spirit of God. They are six channels described through which a person can become a believer and thus receive the Spirit. They are the Spirits of wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge and fear of the Lord. These six describe how the Spirit works while the seventh aspect of the Spirit is who he is; he is the third person in the Godhead. I suspect that this is the best answer. The Spirit is one in person, but works in seven different ways to reach individuals with the truth and salvation provided only by belief in Jesus.

A much more complete discussion of this topic is found in the Symbology Dictionary.

A SEA OF GLASS SURROUNDS THE THRONE OF GOD (Rev 4:6)

A sea of glass, clear as crystal, surrounding the throne of God is mentioned both in Rev 4:6 and 15:2. The throne is right in the middle of what looks like a sea of glass. We are not told that it is glass but that it looks like glass. This may just be describing the scene as John saw it, it may again be symbolic or it may be both. If it is symbolic we may be seeing a great multitude of humanity who had been refined by fire (Rev 15:2) and washed as pure as crystal. The word sea as used in Dan 7:3 and explained in Dan 7:17 referred to the nations of the earth. It might also be said to refer to a great mass of humanity.

Let’s pull a few strings and see if we might get a few additional clues as to what the sea of glass which surrounds the throne of God might be. In Rev 21:2-3 we see that the New Jerusalem is described as being prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. We also see that the dwelling place of God is now with men. In Rev 21:9-11 we see that the new Jerusalem is actually the bride of Christ and that God now lives in that new city, the bride. God now lives within man. In verse 11 we see that the city, the bride, shone with the brilliance of God appearing as a precious jewel, as clear as crystal.

Next we notice in the description of the new city, the bride, that the great street that runs through the city is said to be pure gold,like transparent glass, Rev 21:21. In Rev 22:1-2 we see that the river of the water of life,as clear as crystal,flows from the throne of God down the great street of the city. We also see Jesus, the Tree of Life, standing on both sides of the river. In John 7:39 we see that streams of living water refers to the Holy Spirit. Thus we see that the Holy Spirit runs through the new city, the bride, and that Jesus is there providing whatever is needed for eternal life. This is also described in Ezek 47:1-12 and Zech 14:8. Ezek 1:22 may also be describing the sea of glass. The four living creatures are involved in the description in both Ezek 1 and Rev 4.

If we try to put all of this together we see that several things are described as being as clear as crystal including (1) the sea of glass surrounding the throne of God, (2) the new Jerusalem representing the bride of Christ, and (3) the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God and runs down the street of the new Jerusalem, the bride. We also see several things looking like glass or jewels including, (1) the sea of glass, (2) the new city, the bride, and (3) the street that runs through the city through which the river of the water of life flows. We basically have the same list repeated twice. We also know that a sea represents a mass of humanity and a river represents the Holy Spirit. If we put all of this together it seems that the sea of glass that surrounds the throne of God, the dwelling place of God, is the new Jerusalem or the bride of Christ with the Holy Spirit running through it and being permanently sustained by the tree of life, Jesus. Wow!! So we see that the bride of Christ is already in heaven in chapter 4 before the seven sealed scroll is opened. Thank God for that. The rapture has already taken place.

FOUR LIVING CREATURES ALSO SURROUND THE THRONE (Rev 4:7-11)

We see what are called four living creatures described next in verses 6-11. They seem to be cherubim, and are described in Rev 4:6-11, Ezek 1:4-6, 10:20, in fact all of Ezek 1 and 10. There are scriptures that refer to certain highly regarded angels as cherubim. The fact that they can move in four directions implies to me that they can also may be able to travel in higher dimensions; they can also move into and out of the spiritual realm, seen by Ezekiel as a fourth direction. He made a big deal out of this fact. It may also be that the cherubim only travel in the four directions in which the four faces are pointing.

The cherubim seem to worship and give praise to God day and night. When they praise God the twenty four elders follow suit. They remove their crowns, bow down before God and praise him. They make a worshipful pronouncement that may startle many; all of creation is for God’s purpose, while our purpose is to do his will and give him the glory.

Cherubim are often seen in situations where they are worshipping, praising and serving God. We first see them in Gen 3:24 when God assigned them to the Garden of Eden after man’s fall to keep man from having access to the tree of life in the Garden. He also placed a flaming sword outside the Garden of Eden, and it is described as going back and forth to guard access to the tree of life. The tree of life is Jesus and the sword is the word of God, Eph 6:17. We now must go through the word of God to get to Jesus, to get to the knowledge of him that is required for salvation, Rom 10:1-4. Satan was initially a guardian cherub, Ezek 28:14.

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS INTO THE CHERUBIM OF EZ 1, 10-11, REV 4-6 & ZECH 6

• Ezek 1:20, 1:21 and 10:17 all say that the spirit of the cherubim was within the wheels. This may be speaking of the architecture of the cherubim. Just as human souls are spirits within bodies, the cherubim may be spirits within “wheels.” The wheels could possibly do the same for cherubim that bodies do for human souls, they could allow them to exist, have senses and navigate within the three dimensional world. Saying that the spirit of the cherubim was within the wheels may also be saying that the “life” or “wind” of the cherubim was in the wheels. The wheels may also be the means for cherubim entering and exiting the three dimensional world.
• The wheels are described as a wheel intersecting a wheel, they went everywhere that the cherubim went, they sparkled like chrysolite, they had four high and awesome rims with eyes all around them and they could go in any one of four different directions (one might have been into the heavenly dimensions). In Ezek 1:4 it says that when Ezek first saw the cherubim approaching they appeared in an immense cloud with lightning flashing and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal to Ezekiel and the cherubim were in the middle of the fire. The metal that Ezekiel saw was likely the wheels. When the cherubim moved it sounded like the roar of rushing waters, there was fire like torches moving about and flashes of light that appeared like lightning.
• The wheels certainly sound like very advanced flying craft of some kind with the ability to hover, stop on the ground, and move about in any direction at the beckon and call of the cherubim. The wheels are mentioned in Ezekiel when he sees the vision of the Spirit of God on earth and about to leave the Temple in chapters 10 and 11, but they are not mentioned in Revelation when the cherubim are surrounding the throne of God in heaven. They would not be necessary in heaven since angels can move about in the spiritual realm without them.
• There are four cherubim in heaven surrounding the throne of God in Rev 4 and 5, four cherubim in Ezekiel in his vision of the Holy Spirit leaving the Temple to return to heaven and four cherubim surrounding the throne of God in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem; two small statues of cherubim on each side of the mercy seat and two very large statues of cherubim on either side of the Ark of the Covenant.
• There are also four living creatures in Zech 6:1-8. Here they appear as four chariots. Verse 5 says that they are the four spirits of heaven coming from standing in the presence of God. This obviously seems to be the four cherubim of Rev and Ezek. It may be that the four wheels of Ezek 1 and 10 are the same as the four chariots of Zech 6 and the four horses of Rev 6. They may represent the “body” or vehicle which the angels, as spirits, must use when they enter the three dimensional world.
• The cherubim are said to have four faces. These four faces may be symbolic imagery of God’s four manifestations to mankind as follows:
  • As a man representing the earthly incarnation of Christ,
  • As an ox, or servant, during his first coming to earth,
  • As a lion, or king, during his second coming to earth, and
  • As an eagle, representing the divine nature of God in which he soars above everything, sees everything and is above everything.

Some scholars believe that the sphinx was a representation of the cherubim, being part man, lion, ox and eagle, while others see an explanation for the cherubim in the Jewish Mazzaroth or zodiac.

• Some angels could appear in the form of a man, but that may or may not be true for cherubim.
• Isa 6:1-7 also appears to be a description of the four living creatures. Isaiah is given a vision of the throne room of God in his heavenly temple. He sees what he describes as seraphs, each with six wings, hovering over the throne. They were repeating the same thing that the cherubim are saying in Rev 4:8, “holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” Rev 4:8 says that the cherubim never stop repeating this, through day and night. They were worshipping God in this way over 2800 years ago and they will still be doing so when Jesus returns to earth at some future time. In fact the four living creatures surrounding the throne of God may be seraphim rather than cherubim.

AN INTERPRETATION OF REVELATION CHAPTER 4

INSERTING A PLAIN ENGLISH INTERPRETATION FOR THE SYMBOLS USED

REVELATION 4

 1 After this I looked, and was able to see into and enter heaven. And the voice which I had first heard speaking to me loudly and clearly, reflecting the deep love of one who had been willing to die for me said, "Come up here to heaven, and I will show you what will take place in the distant future when I return to avenge my name and my people, and set up my kingdom on earth." 2 At once my spirit was taken up to God’s throne room in heaven and someone was sitting on the throne. 3 And the one who sat there had a glow about him like precious jewels. Brilliant multi-colored light with a red hue surrounded the throne. 4 There were twenty-four other thrones circling God’s throne, and seated on them were the twelve apostles of Christ and the twelve sons of Jacob. They were dressed in white indicating that they had been redeemed from sin by the blood of Jesus and had crowns of gold on their heads representing their rewards for the things that they had done for God while on earth. 5 The awe inspiring depth, power and brilliance of God’s infinite knowledge and understanding radiated from the throne as he spoke. The Holy Spirit was in front of the throne, visibly exhibiting the perfect and complete way in which he carries out the will of the Father. 6 Also before the throne were all of those who had been redeemed from the earth, those who had been made completely pure and transparent by being washed with the blood of Jesus and raptured to heaven. In the center, around the throne, were four very special angels called cherubim or seraphim, and they had an ability to see things clearly in both the physical and spiritual worlds. 7 The appearance of these four special angels reflected their involvement in serving God in each of his four manifestations to mankind, (1) as a man, (2) as a servant, (3) as king and (4) as the divine, eternal God of the universe. 8 Each of the four cherubim had the ability to navigate in and see in both the physical and spiritual dimensions, including the sub-earthly dimensions encompassing Hades and the Abyss. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9 Whenever the cherubim give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twelve apostles of Christ and the twelve sons of Jacob fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their rewards for good service before the throne, vowing and promising to return their rewards to him, to use them for his service throughout eternity, and say:

11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”