REVELATION 4:2-7
The Heavenly Scene
"And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne" (Revelation 4:2).
Why was John "in the spirit"? Because flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
"And one sat on the throne." This is the great, beautiful throne of God. As John looked at God, he didn't see any form.
"And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone" (Revelation 4:3). Jasper is a diamond-like, clear, crystal stone with a purple hue. The sardine stone is blood red. The sardine stone was the first stone and the jasper stone
was the last stone that the high priest in the Old Testament wore on his breastplate (Exodus 28:17-20).
"And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald" (Revelation 4:3).
John saw God sitting upon His throne in majesty on high.
What an awesome sight this must have been! He saw the brilliance of God like the brilliance of the jasper and sardine stones - a mixture of clear, crystal, purplish hue with blood
red - and an emerald green rainbow "round about the throne" of God.
"And round about the throne were twenty-four smaller seats"
The word translated seats in the King James is the Greek word for "thrones." "And upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold" (Revelation 4:4).
There are many Bible expositors who believe that the twenty-four elders are actually representative of the church.
They have white robes, as does the church in Revelation 19:8, which is the righteousness of the saints.
The twenty-four elders also have crowns of gold upon their heads. We the church have been promised the crowns of life, the crowns of righteousness by our Lord.
Many Bible expositors see the elders representing the church on its throne, ruling and reigning with Christ in heaven.
This is a very possible interpretation.
It is also possible that these elders represent the saints from the Old and the New Testaments - the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles.
It is also possible that they're created beings of God like angels and cherubs. These elders may be created beings for the specific ministry of sitting on the twenty-four thrones around God's throne.
We cannot know for sure.
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).
Again, I refer you to Isaiah 11:2 for the seven-fold working of the Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ (see Revelation 1:4 commentary).
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 [proper translation is "living creatures"] (Revelation 4:6).
These are not beasts like wild or dumb animals; they are actually highly intelligent created beings of God. As they are described in and compared with Ezekiel 1 and 10, we know that these are cherubim about the throne of God.
These four living creatures were "full of eyes before and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, and the second was like a calf, and the third had a face as a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle" (Revelation 4:6-7).
Some see these creatures as manifestations of Christ in the Gospels.
In the first Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus as the lion of the tribe of Judah. Mark presents Him as a calf, a beast of burden representing a suffering servant. Luke presents Him as the Son of man.
John presents Him as the Son of God, the eagle
representing the Divinity.
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