GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONEREVELATION 4:1-11

PATMOS4 miles wide and 6 miles long

REVELATION 1:19

Write, therefore, what you have seen (chp 1) what is now (2-3) and what will take place later (4-22)

CHAPTERS 4 & 5

SHOW US WHAT’S GOING ON IN HEAVEN BEFORE

THE EVENTS OF 6-22 UNFOLD

CHAPTERS 6-22

HOW GOD WILL TAKE BACK THE EARTH FROM SATAN AND MAKE EVERYTHING SUBJECT

TO CHRIST

THEME OF CHAPTER 4• The throne

• On the throne

• Around the throne

• From the throne

• Before the throne

• In and around the throne

• Towards the throne

GOD’S THRONE

1. THE THRONE

Revelation 4:1After 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

REVELATION 22:8I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard

and seen them, I fell down at the feet of the Angel who had been

showing them to me.

ISAIAH 6:1In the year that King Uzziah

died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the

temple.

I KINGS 22:19

Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD : I saw the

LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around

him on his right and on his left.

EZEKIEL 1:26

Above the expanse over their heads was

what looked like a throne of sapphire or lapis lazuli

EXODUS 24:9-10Moses and Aaron, Nadab and

Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of

Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of

sapphire, clear as the sky itself

THRONE SYMBOLIZES

• SOVEREIGNTY

• POWER

• AUTHORITY

• RULE

2. ON THE THRONE (GOD)

REVELATION 4:2-3

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 carnelian

(SARDIUS)

REVELATION 21:10-11And he carried me away in the Spirit to a

mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of

heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

EZEKIEL 1:26-28Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

JOHN 4:24

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in

spirit and in truth

I TIMOTHY 6:15-16

God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in

unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and

might forever. Amen.

JOHN 1:18

No man has seen God at any time

ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE FOR GOD

•Eyes (Prov. 15:3)

•Feet (Nahum 1:3)

•Ears (Num 11:18)

•Hands (Amos 9:2)

3. AROUND THE THRONE

REVELATION 4:3-4A rainbow, resembling 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.

1. EMERALD RAINBOW AROUND THE THRONE

A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the

throne (4:3)

2. TWENTY FOUR OTHER THRONES WITH ELDERS ON THEM

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 (4:4)

THE #24 IS A REPRESENTATIVE NUMBER

• 24 courses of priest in O.T.I Chronicles 24-Luke 1-Zechariah

• 24 divisions of singers in the templeI Chronicles 25

ELDERS

ELDERS WERE SPIRITUAL LEADERS IN THE O.T. AND N.T WHO REPRESENTED

THE PEOPLE

A. THE ELDERS REPRESENT ANGELS

B. THE ELDERS REPRESENT ALL JEWS WHO WILL BE SAVED DURING TRIBULATION PERIOD

C. THE ELDERS REPRESENT ALL OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVERS IN HEAVEN

12 PATRIARCHS FROM O.T.

+

12 APOSTLES FROM N.T.

___________________________

=24

D. THE ELDERS REPRESENT THE CHURCH ALREADY RAPTURED AND REWARDED IN HEAVEN

PROOF #1

THE TERMINOLOGY USED TO DESCRIBE THE 24

ELDERS FITS THE CHURCH IN REV. 2-3

CHURCH IN REVELATION 2-3

• ThronesRev 3:11

• White garments

Rev 3:5

• Crowns (victors)Rev 2:10; 3:11

REVELATION 4:4

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.

PROOF #2

THE CHURCH IS SEEN COMING BACK WITH CHRIST AT HIS SECOND COMING, WHICH

MEANS WE ARE ALREADY IN HEAVEN

REVELATION 19:11-14I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he

judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no

one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and

dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

4. FROM THE THRONE

REVELATION 4:5

From the throne came flashes of lightning,

rumblings and peals of thunder.

REVELATION 16:17-18The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the

air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there

came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on

earth, so tremendous was the quake.

EXODUS 20:18-21When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us

or we will die."

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you

from sinning."

The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

5. BEFORE THE THRONE

1. SEVEN LAMPS BLAZING

Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These

are the seven spirits of God-4:5-6

MATTHEW 3:11

I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the

Holy Spirit and with fire.

JOHN MACARTHUR

“The comforter (Holy Spirit) of those who love Christ will

be the consumer of those who reject him.”

2. SEA OF GLASS Also before the throne there was

what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal (Rev 4:6)

EZEKIEL 1:22 Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was

what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice, and

awesome.

EXODUS 24:9-10

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of

sapphire, clear as the sky itself.

HEBREWS 4:13

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before

the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

6. IN THE CENTER AND AROUND THE THRONE

FOUR LIVING CREATURES

REVELATION 4:6-7In 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 his

wings.

EZEKIEL 1:4-5I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming

out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living

creatures.

EZEKIEL 10:15

Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living

creatures I had seen by the Kebar River.

A. Covered with eyes all around

REVELATION 4:6-8

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were

covered with eyes, in front and in back. Each of the four living creatures had six

wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings

B. They possess wings

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 REV 4:7

C. THEY POSSESSES DIFFERENT FACIAL FEATURES

LION OX MAN EAGLE

SYMBOLISM OF 4 LIVING BEINGS

•LION

•OX

•MAN

•EAGLE

• WILD ANIMALS

• DOMESTICATED ANIMALS

• HUMANITY

• FLYING ANIMALS

7. TOWARDS THE THRONE

PRAISE / WORSHIP

REVELATION 4:8-98 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.”9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and

thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,

REVELATION 4:10-1110 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:11 “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.”

THEY PRAISE

GOD THAT HE IS HOLY

THEY PRAISE GOD AS CREATOR