The Apostle John describes a
Parts of this description sound spectacular and others just sound bizarre. But there are great
Revelation 4: After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “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.”
Revelation 5: Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign[ on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
This language is highly symbolic and stylized in apocalyptic fashion.
The images are crammed full of spiritual reality and truth, fascinating us and stretching our imaginations beyond our material limitations.
We are transported with John into the realm of the cosmic apocalypse – a revealing of the goings-on in the throne room of God and what the future will hold.
Revelation unfolds in sequences of 7’s
• 7 Churches
• 7 Seals to be opened
• 7 Trumpets to be blown
• 7 Bowls to be poured out
The course of history is not finally determined by evil political powers but by God, enthroned and active.
“…the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the
.” —Revelation 3:4
Jasper – translucent like God’s holiness.
Ruby – fiery red like God’s righteous wrath.
Emerald rainbow – a reminder of God’s covenant promise to never again destroy the earth with water.
“Surrounding the throne were
other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders” —Revelation 4:4
24 - the combination of 12 the tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles.
Twelve is a number of completion, symbolizing the completion of God’s people - redeemed from time and ruling with Him in eternity.
“In front of the throne, seven
were blazing. These were the seven Spirits of God.” —Revelation 4:5
Seven is the symbolic number of perfection.
“… what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.” —Revelation 4:6
Before the eyes of God nothing is hidden - all is revealed.
“In the center, there were four living creatures…like a lion…an ox…the face of a man…a flying eagle…each…had six wings and was covered with eyes all around…” —Revelation 4:6-8
The four animals symbolize all of creation. Their wings and eyes portray the omnipresence and omniscience of God and they lead the worship of God.
“Holy, holy, holy is the
God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” —Revelation 4:8 “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.” —Revelation 5:1
What’s in that scroll?
- God’s
- A
“Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” —Revelation 5:2
The mystery is hidden and no one from above, below or on the earth can open the seal.
“The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes…” —Revelation 5:6
The horn means power, the eyes mean sight. This Lamb is perfect in power and perception.
When Jesus takes the scroll, a cascade of worship and praise explodes.
“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor and glory and power…” —Revelation 5:13
Secular culture struggles in the contradiction between actability and don’t judge me.
On one hand we hear cries for justice and holding people responsible for violations. But at the same time we hear people saying, who are you to judge me?
Our human judgments are limited, flawed, skewed and incomplete.
Who can be trusted to judge accurately? The Lion who is the Lamb….the Messiah.
“We all, like
, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” —Isaiah 53:6 “Look! The
of God who takes away the sin of the world!” —John 1:29
The scroll is Jesus’ to unroll. His death and resurrection for the redemption of the world qualifies Him to roll out the judgment to come. The whole of human history finds it’s meaning in the convergence point of the slain and risen Jesus Christ.
At His first coming, Jesus was full of saving grace and truth. In His second coming, He will be full of justice and righteousness.
The processes in motion before He comes will roll out of the seven seals, grow louder in the seven trumpets and finally peek in the seven bowls poured out.
The last days are going to be hard but victory is secure in Christ.
Are you trusting Christ to forgive your sin and be the center of your life?
His Spirit can live in you bringing peace and power for the days ahead.
Resources:
The Lion and the Lamb, Dr. John Newport
https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Lamb-John-P-Newport/dp/0805418687
Life Application Bible Studies:NLT
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1414326467/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_G8SY8NYGBP0Y14RAV268
Revelation for Everyone
https://www.amazon.com/dp/066422797X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_SCRHHES5M7MS3J8PA0HF
Be Victorious (Revelation) In Christ You are an Overcomer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434767825/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_GXNTATBCKK1SR4WFF3B8