Chapter 4:4-11 Session 2

1Mastering “…the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

LTS

CHAPTER 4:4-11SESSION 2

June 20, 2009

The Throne Room of Heaven


Let’s

ReviewREVELATION 4:1-3


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 show thee

things which must be hereafter.”

Revelation 4:1

Meta tauta, after these things


Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Revelation 19:7-8

The Marriage Supper


Real Experiences• “I will show thee” Rev 4:1; 21:10

• “I looked” 70 times in Revelation• “I saw” 35 times • “I beheld” 7 times• “I heard” 23 times


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

Revelation 4:2


Sightings 1 and 2 – Thrones1. Recall: John immediately became aware of the

presence of God– Not Grandma and Grandpa, nor

anything/anyone else– God is the center and focus of Glory!

2. Those seated here were called Elders– Clothed in white garments– Golden crowns on their heads


Thrones• Messiah will sit

– on His Father’s Throne Psa 110:1; Rev 3:21– on the “Throne of His Mercy” Heb 4:16 – on the “Throne of David” Isa 9:7 Luke 1:32

• The 12 apostles will – sit on 12 thrones and – judge the 12 tribes and angels Matt 19:28; 1 Cor 6:3

• 24 Elders sit on thrones Rev 4:4 • Unbelievers will be judged

– at a “Great White Throne” Rev 20:12


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.

Revelation 4:3

Rainbow == Halo


Stones

1st

12th

stones of the breastplateof the High Priest

&

1st ) Sardius Reuben: “Behold a Son”12th) Jasper Benjamin: “Son of my right hand”


Let’s

GoREVELATION 4:4-11


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.

Revelation 4:4

Thronos == seats assigned to kings and judges



Revelation 4:4



24 Elders• 24 is a representative number

– It is used to represent a host of others like them• David’s 24 courses 1 Chron 24:1-19

• 24 divisions of singers in the temple 1 Chron 25

• There were also Non-Levitical Priesthood Orders:– Jethro Exo 3:1 – Jacob’s tithes? Gen 28:22

–Melchizedek Gen 14:18-20• Messianic Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5,6,7


The 24 Elders?• Presbutoroi == Leader == Elder• Represent completed group 1 Chron 24

• Cannot be– Israel: Israel is about to undergo the Great Tribulation

Rev 6 - 19– Twelve apostles and twelve sons of Israel– Martyred tribulation saints Rev 7:13-14


And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:13,14

Tribulation Saints?


The 24 Elders?• Presbutoroi == Leader == Elder• Represent completed group 1 Chron 24

• Cannot be– Israel: Israel is about to undergo the Great Tribulation

Rev 6 - 19– Twelve apostles and twelve sons of Israel– Martyred tribulation saints Rev 7:13-14– Angels


And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,

Revelation 7:11

Angels?


The 24 Elders• Distinguishing Characteristics:

– Thrones Rev 3:21– White Raiment Rev 3:25– Crowns of gold Rev 2:10; 3:11– Song of Redeemed Rev 5:9,10– Called “Elders,” “Kings & Priests” Rev 5:10



Revelation 4:4



Crowns Promised• Crown of Life Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10

for those who have suffered for His sake

• Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim 4:8 for those who loved His appearing

• Crown of Glory 1 Pet 5:4for those who fed the flock

• Crown Incorruptible 1 Cor 9:25for those who press on steadfastly

• Crown of Rejoicing 1 Thes 2:19for those who win souls


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 4:5


Sighting 3 – Lightning, Thunder, Voices• “…out of the throne…”

– Literally means coming from God• This represents His holy terror• In this book, thunder attends moments of great

significance and impending judgment (Rev. 8:5; 10:3; 11:19; 16:17-18; 19:6 cf. Ex. 9:23-34; 1Sam. 2:10; 7:10; 1Sam. 12:17-18; 2S. 22:14; Ps. 18:13; 104:7)

• In the midst, the saints are not cowering• They are singing!


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 4:5

• Their continual burning is an indication of judgment (Matt 3:11) and zeal (Acts 2:3), for nothing escapes the penetrating witness of the Holy Spirit (Gen 15:17; Rev 3:1; 5:6)


Sighting 4 – The Holy Spirit• “…seven lamps of fire burning before the throne,

which are the seven Spirits of God.”– Revelation 1:4– Seven representing perfection/completion– Isaiah’s vision of the seven-fold ministry of the

Holy Spirit

1. Wisdom2. Understanding3. Counsel4. Strength

Isaiah 11:2

5. Knowledge6. Reverence7. Deity


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.

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 4:6,7


Sighting 5 – The Sea of Glass• Again, John has no words to describe what he

saw– Sea of glass: In the Tabernacle, the sea was the

laver—now it is crystal: no washing needed


Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

Exodus 24:9-10

• Moses, Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel saw something similar when they met with God on Mount Sinai:


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.

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 4:6,7


Sighting 6 – The Four Beasts• “Four beasts...”: Zoa, living creatures (our word

for “zoo”) vs. therion: a wild animal, wild ferocious beast– Used to denote beings that are not human and yet not

really animals of the usual kind . . . Of the four peculiar beings at God’s throne, whose description Rev. 4:6-9 reminds us of the zōa in Eze. 1:5ff, the cherubim


The Four Beasts• Ezekiel’s vision in chapter 1 is similar (Cherubim)

– They attend the throne– They are winged– Aspects of their character represent a lion, an ox (or calf), a

man, and an eagle• But there are also significant differences:

– Ezekiel’s creatures had four wings whereas these have six. – Ezekiel’s creatures each had all four faces of a man, a lion, an

ox, and an eagle whereas these each have one of the characteristics

– No mention is made of Ezekiel’s creatures themselves having eyes—although the wheels they attend are full of eyes. These creatures themselves are full of eyes


The Four Beasts• Isaiah’s vision in chapter 6 is similar (Seraphim)

– Had 6 wings…closer to what we see here• There are the highest order of angelic beings

– Impossible to fully describe– Stood with swords of fire outside the garden– Forms sculpted out of solid gold stretching over the

ark of the covenant– Pictured with golden thread in the veil separating the

Holy of Holies– Engraved into the wall of Solomon’s temple


The Four Beasts• These are exalted, angelic creations of God

– Lucifer once held the highest position among them allIsaiah 14

• They are distinguished from other angels• They are involved with announcing the judgments

of the tribulation (will call forth the four horsemen – chapter 6:1, 3, 5, 7)


ISAIAH 6THE FOUR GOSPELS

NUMBERS 2EZEKIEL 1, 10

The Four

FacesBefore the Throne of

God


The Four Faces• What do they represent?

– Animate creation?• Lion == wild creatures• Ox == domestic animals• Man == the pinnacle of God’s creation• Eagle == creatures of the air

– God’s attributes?• Nobility and majesty of the lion• Servant strength of the ox• Reason and will of mankind• Soaring swiftness of the eagle


In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

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.

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:1-3


And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

Ezekiel 1:4-6


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 10:14


The Design of the GospelsMatthew Mark Luke John

Presents as: Messiah Servant Son of Man Son of GodGenealogy: Abraham -- Adam Eternal

(Legal) (Blood line) (Preexistence)

What Jesus Said Did Felt Was

To the: Jew Roman Greek Church1st Miracle: Leper cleansed Demon Demon Water to

(Jew = sin) expelled expelled Wine

Ends with Resurrection Ascension Promise of Promise ofSpirit: Return:

Acts Revelation

Ensign: Judah Ephraim Reuben DanCamp Side: East West South North

Face: Lion Ox Man Eagle


The Camp of IsraelNumbers 2

• Every Detail by Design?• What might be hidden behind the details of

the Camp of Israel?• “The volume of the Book is written of Me”

Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10:7



Judah 74,600Issachar 54,400Zebullun 57,400

Reuben 46,500Simeon 59,300Gad 45,650

Ephraim 40,500Manasseh 32,200Benjamin 35,400

Dan 62,700Asher 41,500Naphtali 53,400



Judah 74,600Issachar 54,400Zebullun 57,400

186,400

Reuben 46,500Simeon 59,300Gad 45,650

151,450

Ephraim 40,500Manasseh 32,200Benjamin 35,400

108,100

Dan 62,700Asher 41,500Naphtali 53,400

157,600


Rabbinical Precision• The Camp of Judah: East of Levites• The Camp of Reuben: South of Levites

– Strict obedience denies area Southeast• Thus, only cardinal directions ordained • Only width of Levite’s camp allowed• Length proportional to population


S

W ELevites

Kohathites8,600

Merarites6,200

Gershonites 7,500

22,300Moses & Priests

N


Judah

Levites

Kohathites8,600

Merarites6,200

Gershonites 7,500


Reub

en

Lion

Man

SE?


Judah

Levites

Kohathites8,600

Merarites6,200

Gershonites 7,500


DanRe

uben

Ephraim

Lion

EagleMan

OxSW NW

SE NE151,450

186,100

108,100

157,600


108,100

151,450 157,600

186,400


Man

Lion

Ox

Eagle


6 Sightings…6 Conclusions1. There is no sacrifice too great to offer Him2. There is no decision we should make without

Him3. Nothing but our best should be given to Him4. No commitment is ever wasted on Him5. No service is forgotten by Him…you will be

rewarded6. No act of worship is ever lost on Him


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.”

Revelation 4:8


Holy, Holy, Holy• Isaiah’s seraphim made a similar pronouncement

concerning God’s uniqueness (Isa. 6:3)• Praises of God’s holiness are said to “enthrone”

Him (Ps. 22:3)• “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who

is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex. 15:11)


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.”

Revelation 4:8


…was, and is, and is to come.• the same phrase as is found in Revelation 1:4, 8,

but with the 1st and 2nd titles reversed• Literally translated:

“The he was and the who is and the coming one”


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

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,

“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.”

Revelation 4:9-11


ConclusionWe sing of His worthiness because of who He is and

because of what He has done. The glory of God is indescribable, the throne room is unimaginable, and the security and joy of the believer is forever unchangeable.


?

Chapter 4:4-11 Session 2

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