Lesson 13Revelation 4: 1-11 |
We have reviewed the seven churches and looked at the rapture. You have answered the questions about the churches and salvation. Which means at this point you know where you stand with God. Also by this time you have asked God to show you which one of these churches you are. As God shows you which church you are, do not think that this interferes with your salvation. If you are a believer in Christ your salvation is secure. What He is showing you are your shortcomings or faults.
In Revelation 4:1-11, not only do we see the scene change, but we also learn that what happens in the spirit can and WILL affect the physical world. We also learn why we need to be real about Matthew 28:18 - 20. Let's examine this scene very closely. In verse 2 we find out that the flesh, as we know it, cannot enter heaven. Why do you think this is important?
Remember that in the flesh is where our sins are carried out. There will be only one source in heaven that will remind God of our past and that will be His Son with the wounds of our sins. Jesus is also our future; so thank God for his willingness to carry those scars for all eternity for us.
In verse 3 we are told that looking at Him is to look at jasper and sardius. Yet there is something else in this verse that has meaning to all of mankind. "…and there was a rainbow round about the throne…" Why is this important at this time?
What does the rainbow stand for? (Read Genesis 9:8-17.)
In verse 4 what do the twenty-four elders represent? Where do they come from? They represent the entire priesthood of the church, which includes the Twelve Patriarchs (families) of the Old Testament and the Twelve Apostles. God had David to divide all the Levites into 24 sections to perform their duties before God and the people twice a year (I Chronicles 24:5 - 19).
What are some of the duties of a priest?
Do you think John recognized himself? (This question cannot be answered as of yet. You will have to make it home to ask John that.)
There are two thoughts about the crowns that are mentioned:
1) They represent authority.
2) They are the rewards for being true to the calling of God in your life.
(I Corinthians 9:25, II Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, I Peter 5:4, Revelation 2:10) Both of these interpretations are true at the same time, because of who these 24 elders are.
In verse 5, the voices coming out of the throne are like lightning and thunder. This brings back to our remembrance Exodus 19:16. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which should bring comfort and peace to all of His children. The seven lamps and Spirits of God are the churches and His sevenfold operation (completion), Light and Life. With the Light and Life, He is able to show the ungodly their errors that send them to hell. He is also able to see all things clearly. So who is better to judge the world?
In verses 6 - 9, there are many things being told to us about this part of heaven in which the throne of God is located. There will be some things in Revelation that God is not ready for us to understand yet. "…before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne…." This sea of glass symbolizes the purity, calmness, and majesty of God's rule and keeps John separate from the throne. We see the first description of other living creatures (beasts) in heaven. John is using words he knows to give us a verbal picture of these creatures. Look at their wings. They have six wings and the wings are "...FULL OF EYES..." This means that they can see in ALL directions at the same time. Think on this. These living creatures have the ability to use their great intelligence, and with these eyes they have both foresight and hindsight.
These living creatures have two symbolical meanings. The first is the representation of Christ as He appears in the gospels of Matthew as the Man, Mark as the Lion, John as the Eagle and Luke as the Calf or Ox. The Man represents birth, the Lion represents sacrifice, the Calf or Ox represents resurrection, and the Eagle represents ascension (Ezekiel 1:10). The second meaning is that the beasts are the attributes of Christ as He sets up His divine government which would require strength, patience, intelligence, and swiftness in judicial judgment. Is this not what we see in this present day? Remember, He is setting up His divine government at this very moment. In verse 8, they are saying "Holy" which means pure and sacred. Also in that verse is the word "Almighty" which means all-ruling and omnipotent.
Examine the last verses 9 - 11. These verses describe true worship before our Lord.
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