AN EXPOSITION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION
(Installment Six)

The Vision in Heaven (Chapters 4 and 5)

IN THIS STUDY we begin a new section of the Book of Revelation. As we do it, however, it is necessary for us to look at the general outline of the entire book, which, as we have already seen, falls into three natural divisions:

  1. The Things Which Thou Sawest--Introduction and Vision of the Glorified Son of Man (Chapter 1).
  2. The Things Which Are--Letters to the Churches of Asia, Chapters 2 and 3.
  3. The Things Which Shall come to Pass Hereafter, Chapters 4-22.

With this lesson we begin the third division, which falls into the following subheads:

  1. The Vision of Heaven, Chapters 4 and 5.
  2. The Great Tribulation, Chapters 6-19.
  3. The Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment, Chapter 20.
  4. The Eternal Order, Chapters 21 and 22.

The first subdivision, The Vision of Heaven, of this last main general division, divides in turn into two principal sections:

  1. The Vision of the Throne of God, Chapter 4.
  2. The Lamb Slain From the Foundation of the World, Chapter 5.

John Invited to Heaven

"After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter" (4:1). In this verse John informs us that he was invited to ascend into heaven and to observe the situation there. Let us remember that there are three heavens: First, the atmospheric heavens, which are immediately around the earth; second, the sidereal heavens, the great expanse where the stars and the constellations are; and, finally, the immediate presence of God, called in the Hebrew Scriptures "the heavens of the heavens." This is what Paul referred to as Paradise, to which he was caught up (II Cor. 12:4). In the third heaven, or Paradise, is the temple of God, eternal in the heavens (Ps. 11:4; Hab. 2:20; Rev. 11:19).

John was invited, when "a door opened in heaven" to "Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter." This language is to be taken at its face value. Unfortunately, a spiritual application has been made of it, and the language has been interpreted as a prediction of the rapture of the church before the Tribulation. While it is true that the church is caught up out of the world before the Tribulation, as is taught in various passages, this language has no bearing upon that subject whatsoever. The Lord wanted John to come up, in vision, into heaven and to see what was there. Paul was caught up to the third heaven and saw things that were not lawful for him to utter. John was caught up into heaven, and he saw things that he has told us about. When, therefore, the invitation was given to John, he was ready to ascend to heaven, which thing in vision at least he did. Praise God that he was invited there and was shown these things and has revealed them to us.

The Throne of God

"Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne; 3 and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon" (vss. 2,3). When John was caught up into heaven, he saw a throne and the Almighty seated upon it. He does not give a specific, definite word picture of the Almighty as he saw Him; but he spoke of Him in terms of the most precious stones known to man. There was a reason for John's not describing the Almighty. When Israel was at Sinai, God warned Moses to impress upon the minds of the people that they saw no form or shape of the Eternal Being. They therefore should not make any image of Him. God has consistently, throughout His entire revelation, withheld any definite idea of Himself so that man, who is prone to idolatry, might not make any likeness of Him.

There was, encircling the throne, a rainbow. Probably the appearance of the bow at this time was to signify that God is displeased with man in general and will bring the penalty of the broken covenant upon mankind. In order that we may see the significance of this, it becomes necessary for us to study Genesis 9:1-16. God entered into a covenant with all mankind when Noah came out of the ark. This everlasting covenant has four conditions, all of which man in civilized lands is now, as a rule, violating. As the days pass, and more scientific investigations are made, the more man breaks these four conditions. A holy and righteous God can do nothing but punish the race for their violations of the conditions of this covenant. A reference to the breaking of this everlasting covenant is found in a prophecy concerning the Tribulation (Isa. 24:5, 6).

If anyone wishes to see other pictures of the throne of the Almighty, he may view them in Job, chapters 1 and 2, and Psalm 89:5-8.

The Twenty-four Elders

"And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold" (vs. 4). Round about the throne John saw twenty-four smaller, subordinate thrones, upon which were seated twenty-four elders, who were arrayed in white garments. On their heads were crowns of gold. Who are these elders? Some answer that they are twenty-four men, who are saved, who are crowned in heaven, and who represent the saved of the old covenant and of the new. Thus the presence of these are interpreted as evidence that the rapture has occurred before the Tribulation. As stated above, the rapture of the church undoubtedly occurs before the Tribulation begins. About this position there can be no question for the one who has thoroughly studied the prophetic word. But is the interpretation that these are representative of the raptured church correct? There is nothing in the context that indicates that these elders are used representatively. Never should one resort to a figurative, symbolic, or secondary meaning of any passage of scripture unless there is a warrant for the same in the context. One will seek in vain for such justification. There is nothing that suggests the idea of representation. The language simply states that there were twenty-four thrones and twenty-four elders, who were seated upon their thrones, and who had crowns of gold upon their heads. These are heavenly beings. The most rational interpretation of them is that they are celestial beings of an especially high order, who, under God, are assisting in the administration of the universe.


The Lightnings, the Voices, and the Thunders

"5 And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders . . ." (vs. 5). Are we to assume that these lightnings, voices, and thunders are to be understood literally? If we are to evaluate the Word properly, we must say that John knew what he was talking about, because he saw and heard these things. Assuming that the words mean exactly what they say, we immediately ask what is the significance of such a demonstration. The answer is not far to be found. Whenever there are winds and thunders and lightnings, we understand that they are destructive forces in nature that leave havoc and chaos in their wake. Evidently they indicate here that the wrath of God is gathering like a mighty thunderstorm which will burst upon the world soon. This interpretation is confirmed by the study of Revelation, chapters 6-19. These facts then confirm the interpretation.

It is very interesting to study in connection with Revelation 4:5 the following passages; Revelation 8:5; 11:19; and 16:17,18. A person is immediately impressed with the fact that, as the Tribulation advances, the storm of God's wrath increases in intensity, finally bursting in all its fury upon the earth at the end of the Tribulation.

The Seven Lamps Before the Throne

". . . And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; . . ." (vs. 5). John saw, as we see in this verse, seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Here we are given the interpretation of the significance of the seven Lamps. They signify the "seven Spirits of God," but what is the significance of the term, "seven Spirits"? We have already seen in the discussion of Revelation 1:4 that the seven Spirits of God are mentioned in connection with God the Father and God the Son. Their being placed between the first and the second persons of the Holy Trinity and on the same level with them indicates that this expression signifies the Holy Spirit in His sevenfold plenitude. The seven lamps are probably an echo of the marvelous prediction found in Isaiah 11:2, which speaks of the Holy Spirit and His work in and through the Messiah in terms of the seven things which He did in and through the Son of God when He was here upon earth nineteen hundred years ago. Thus in this vision of heaven, chapters 4 and 5, we see God the Father on the throne, God the Holy Spirit symbolized by the seven lamps before the throne, and God the Son appearing as a Lamb standing in the midst of the throne.

The Crystal Sea of Glass

"... 6 and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal; . . ." (vs. 6). I have made voyages across waters. At times, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, I have seen the water when it was perfectly motionless. The bright sun, shining upon it, made it look just like glass. John said that the space in front of the throne reminded him of such a glassy, crystal sea. Why it had this appearance, no one can say dogmatically. It is quite possible that it indicates the calmness that exists in God and about His throne. There is nothing that can disturb Him, or destroy the peace which He controls. It is true that Satan and his emissaries are the cause and occasion of much turmoil in the world. But nothing that he or they can do or say can affect the tranquillity of the throne of God.

The Four Living Creatures

". . . And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come" (vss. 6-8).

Who are these four living creatures? Each has six wings. This feature instantly takes our minds to the prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 6, where we see seraphim round about the throne, singing the same "triple holiness," as these six-winged creatures in Revelation are seen doing. From the two passages we see that they are a high order of celestial beings that engage in divine service of the Almighty. It seems that they are engaged in this worship constantly. Of coarse, it is a most delightful thing for them to do.

They may have other duties to perform, since they assume the forms that are indicated in this passage. One assumes the form of a lion; another, the likeness of a calf; the third, the appearance of a man; and the fourth is seen in the form of a flying eagle. It may be that the first one has some definite connection with the kingdom of wild beasts. The second, who is like a calf, may have some special relation with the domestic animals. The third one may have some special function to perform with reference to the human race, while the fourth and last one may have some special or definite relationship with the fowls of the air.

The song which they sing, in all probability, is a melodious strain of a holy trilogy to the Godhead though in verse 8 it is sung to God the Father who is designated in chapter 1 as the "One who was, who is, and who is to come." But the same words can be addressed to each of the persons of the Holy Trinity.

Worship in Heaven

"9 And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created" (vss. 9-11).

According to this passage when the living creatures offer praise to God, the elders cast their crowns before Him, and they sing the hymn of creation. This hymn acknowledges God as the Creator of the universe, which He brought into existence to reveal His glory to His creatures. God will, throughout all eternity, be revealing to His creatures more and more of His might, power, and glory.