Book of REVELATION

Part II Chapters 4-11 Book of REVELATIO PART I Chapter 1 “things you have seen …” N Christ in Glory

Chapters 2-3 “the things that are …” Church in the world Book of REVELATIO PART II “on earth as it is in heaven” NChapter Four Looking Through Heaven’s Door On a day set apart as a festival for worshipping God.

There had been a miracle in the ranks of the community, which was an occasion for this special worship time. The congregational leader had planned everything carefully.

People rose early, offered sacrifices, and then joined together for a fellowship meal. Everyone took part. People got so caught up in the worship music they began to dance before God. It was a very special time Exodus 32:10 (ESV) “10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” Book of REVELATION 4: 1- 11 The scene switches from earth (Chapters 1-3) to heaven (Chapter 4 )

Revelation 4:1 (ESV) 4 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice . . . said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Expectations of the Believer - heaven will open GOD - a voice will be heard the and then - the sound of a trumpet CREATOR

CHAPTER FOUR: A GLIMPSE INTO GLORY OVERHEAD VIEW HEAVEN’S THRONE ROOM

ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS EMERALD RAINBOW ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS CRYSTAL GLASS FLOOR

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS THRONE ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

12 ELDERS WEARING CROWNS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS CRYSTAL GLASS FLOOR ANGELS ANGELS 7 TORCHES ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS THE LAMB ANGELS ANGELS CRYSTAL GLASS FLOOR ANGELS CRYSTAL GLASS FLOOR ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS

ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS CRYSTAL GLASS FLOOR ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS

ANGELS 12 ELDERS WEARING CROWNS

ANGELS

ANGELS

ANGELS ______FOUR LIVING CREATURES ______ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS

ANGELS ANGELS ANGELS CRYSTAL GLASS FLOOR CRYSTAL GLASS FLOOR a glimpse into heaven

HORIZONTAL VIEW 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. a glimpse of glory Rainbow 3 (emerald) And he A complete circle. who sat there Here is a covenant sign. Judgment is about to fall. had the appearance of jasper carnelian and carnelian, and around (red) the throne was a rainbow Jasper that had the appearance (clear gem) Also on the breastplate of an emerald. of the High Priest (Exodus 28:17-21) Ezekiel 1:26–28 (ESV) 26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.

27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around.

Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking. First

Last

The Breastplate of Righteousness a glimpse into heaven Lightning Torches Revelation 4:5 (ESV) 5 (flashes) (seven lamps) From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, Revelation 8:5 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and Revelation 4:5 (ESV) threw it on the earth, and there were 5 From the throne peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. came . . .

Revelation 11:19 rumblings 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, and rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. peals Revelation 16:18 18 And there were flashes of lightning, of rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, thunder so great was that earthquake.

angels Revelation 4:6 (ESV) 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

Sea of Glass Sea of Glass (crystal) Four Living Creatures (crystal) Revelation 4:7–8 (ESV) 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” FOUR LIVING CREATURES Special Order of Created Beings associated with the throne of God

CHERUBIN governmental glory of God SERAPHIM holiness of God

Genesis 3:24 (ESV) Isaiah 6:1–7 (ESV) 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden 6 . . . I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne . . . 2 Above him stood he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his every way to guard the way to the tree of life. face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Exodus 25:17–20 (ESV) LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 17 “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes 19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a 20 cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” the faces of the cherubim be. FOUR LIVING CREATURES Special Order of Created Beings associated with the throne of God

“ . . . full of eyes in front and behind . . .” re: intelligence and insight into God’s plan for the earth

“7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.” re: the character of God’s judicial governing of the earth (Note: Here in Revelation it is all about visiting the earth with judgment) FOUR LIVING CREATURES Special Order of Created Beings associated with the throne of God

“ . . . full of eyes in front and behind . . .” intelligence and insight into God’s plan for the earth

“7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.” Indicates the character of God’s judicial governing of the earth (Note: Here is Revelation it is all about to be visited with judgment)

representative heads of a 24 ELDERS nation, tribe, city, family

OT Saints --- 12 tribes of Israel (12 gates of 12 tribes)

Revelation 21:10–14 (ESV) 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.

NT Saints --- 12 Apostles of the Lamb (12 foundational stones of 12 Apostles)

Rev 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb representative heads of a 24 ELDERS nation, tribe, city, family

When David formed the priests into groupings, he founded 24 heads of priestly families and made them representatives of the entire priesthood :1–10 (ESV) 24 The divisions of the sons of were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, , and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests. 3 With the help of of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. 4 Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers’ houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar. [16 + 8 = 24] 5 They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar. 6 And the scribe Shemaiah, the son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king and the princes and Zadok the priest and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the priests and of the Levites, one father’s house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar. 7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, 8 the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim, 9 the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin, 10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah, Revelation 4:6 (ESV) 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. . . He is not giving an exact description but speaking in symbols. (?as it were) To estimate their significance we must bear in mind that modern ideas about glass did not apply in the first century. Then glass was usually very dark, even opaque. Glass as clear as crystal would be enormously expensive.

The Koran says that when the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon, she thought that a pavement of clear glass which he had set before his throne was water, and she lifted her skirt to pass through it.

The legend shows that clear glass was thought of as splendidly magnificent, and suitable paving for a royal court. This is part of the symbolism.

Morris, L. (1987). Revelation: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, pp. 90–91). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. angels Elders (12 of 24)

Elders (12 of 24)

Sea of Glass Sea of Glass (crystal) Four Living Creatures (crystal) Revelation 4:10–11 (ESV) 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

8 “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

CHAPTER FOUR ENDS with all beings Angels 4 Living Beings 24 Elders

in the WORSHIP of GOD the CREATOR THEN

SETTLING FOR GOLDEN BULLS

NOW Book of REVELATIO Chapter Four Looking Through N Heaven’s Door Ander, Max Holman New Testament Commentary Nashville,TN: Holman Publishing 1998

Bailey, Mark L. & Thomas L Constable The New Testament Explorers Nashville, TN: Word Publish 1999

Bratcher, Robert G & Howard Hatton A Handbook on the Revelation by John New York, NY: United Bible Societies 1994

Boice, James Montgomery Seven Churches, Four Horsemen, One God: Lessons from the Apocalypse

Constable, Thomas L. Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible

Stern, David The Jewish New Testament Commentary Clarksville, MD 1997, 1996 Morris, Leon Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary Vol 20 Downers Grove, IL: IVP 1997

Unger, Merrill Frederick The New Unger’s Bible Handbook Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers 1966, 1984, 1998, 2005

Vincent, Marvin R. Word Studies in the New Testament New York, NY: Union Theological Seminary Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing

Walvoord, John F. & Roy B. Zook The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Dallas Theological Seminary Dallas, TX: Victor Books 1983