CHAPTER 4

Revelation 4:1 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.

The church (the Body of Christ ) is not in the tribulation period, it has been caught up to meet the Lord in the air. This is not the catching up of the church because only John goes up in the spirit and he gets to see what is going on during the tribulation period. John has already seen the seven churches during this time. He is now about to see all the events during this time. There are two times in the Book of Revelation “come up hither”, here and when the two witnesses go up in Revelation 11:12. Most Bible teachers teach that this is the rapture because the word church is not found again. Most of them also teach that the church is going into the tribulation period.

Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

John was miraculous transformed into the future. He is in the third heaven in the very throne room of God where he gets to see all that is going on there and on the earth. This is also the same event that happen to him in Revelation 1:10. This is the place God has chosen to manifest His presents.

Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

This is the emerald city which is red and green.

Revelation 4: 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.

John gets to see the Lord Jesus Christ sitting on the throne of His Father. The Lord Jesus Christ throne is on the earth where He will rule from His throne when He returns. Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He also sees the 24 elders sitting around about the throne, clothed in white and with crowns on their heads. Remember that the Lord promised 12 apostles that they would set on 12 thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel on earth. Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. There are two crowns the 12 elders on earth could win. The crown of life for enduring the tribulation period. James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. The crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. There are 12 visible governmental structures in the heavens just like there are 12 visible governmental structures on the earth. Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

When the Body of Christ stands at the judgment seat of Christ to receive their rewards and their positions in the heavens, there will be crowns that can be won. The Incorruptible Crown: 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible .Crown of Joy: Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Crown of Righteousness: 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Revelation 4:5 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.

Revelation 4:6 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 beasts full of eyes before and behind.

John is in the throne room and he is describing what he saw. This throne is on a sea of glass, like molten looking glass frozen at absolute zero, above the water on the frozen face of the deep. God is a Spirit but He manifested himself here on this throne in New Jerusalem which is located in the North. Psalms 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. He also gets to see the seven Spirits of God that he writes from in Revelation 1:4. Ezekiel gets to see the same events as John does. Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

Revelation 4:7 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.

Revelation 4:8 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.

The purpose of these four beast was to guard the righteousness of God.

Revelation 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

Revelation 4:10 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,

Revelation 4:11 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.

They give their crowns to the Lord Jesus Christ because He has all authority. John sees the four beast around about the throne. These beast are also described as cherubims. Ezekiel 10:14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. Ezekiel 10:15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. Here in Ezekiel these beast have four wings but the ones John sees around the throne have 6 wings. They are called seraphims. Isaiah 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. In Revelation Chapter 4 there are only four beast or seraphims and they are around the throne. There is one cherubim missing, the one that covered the throne and was anointed. Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

The four beasts around the throne of God represent the same four views that the four gospels tells about Jesus during His earthly ministry. Also they represent the living creatures on the earth in heaven.

1. The first beast was like a lion, which represents all the wild animals on the earth. The Book of Matthew shows Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The King.

2. The second beast was like a calf and represents all the tame animals on the earth. Mark shows Jesus as a servant.

3. The third beast was like a man and represents all mankind on the earth. Luke shows Jesus as a man born of a woman.

4. The fourth beast was like a flying eagle and represents all the birds of the sky. John shows Jesus as God Almighty.

5. The fifth beast at one time covered the throne was like a serpent and represented all other living things on the earth. He has been cast out.