Revelation 4 - The Throne in Heaven

Revelation 4 - The Throne in Heaven

v1-11

John saw an open door in heaven, and the voice of Jesus asked him to come up, so that He can show him the future. John went up in his Spirit form. He saw someone sitting on a throne. 

The person on the throne had the appearance of jasper and carnelian (ruby in NIV; sardius in NKJ), and a rainbow around the throne that looks like emerald. (v3) 

John couldn't describe God himself as he were not able to see Him clearly, as "no one can see God" (Exodus 33:20). He only described Him in color of jasper (white) and ruby (red). It is interesting that the high priest's breastplate's first gem is ruby and the last gem is jasper! It may mean something, or just a coincidence. 

The rainbow is a reminder of God’s commitment to His covenant with man (Genesis 9:11-17). Spurgeon said: "Thy heavenly Father in his sovereignty, has a right to do with you, his child, as he pleases, but he will never let that sovereignty get out of the limit of the covenant."

Flashes of lightning and thunders comes from the throne, and before the throne were 7 burning torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. There was also what looks like a sea of glass or crystal. (v5)

The lightning, thunder, voices and fire are reminiscent of God’s fearful presence at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-19 and 20:18-19). The "seven spirits" of God is the Holy Spirit. Some scholars interpret that the seven spirits of God are:

• The Spirit of the Lord.
• The Spirit of Wisdom.
• The Spirit of Understanding.
• The Spirit of Counsel.
• The Spirit of Might.
• The Spirit of Knowledge.
• The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord 

This is based on Isaiah 11:1-3, where it said that the Messiah will have these seven spirits, which was confirmed in Rev 3:1 when Jesus said: “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.”

We ordinary can't see the Holy Spirit, that's why the scripture describe him like a dove (Mat 3:16), seven burning lamps (Rev 1:4 and Isaiah 11:2). or tongue of fire (Acts 2:3-4) 

Illustration Only

In front of the throne are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. One looks like a lion, one looks like an ox, one looks like a face of man, the last one looks like an eagle in flight. Each of them have six wings. They constantly say: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (v8)

From comparison with Ezekiel 1:4-14 and 10:20-22, we understand these creatures to be cherubim, the spectacular angelic beings surrounding the throne of God. Note that Satan was once one of these high angelic beings, according to Ezekiel 28:14.

Comparing with Ezekiel 1:6-10, we can see that each of the cherubim have four faces; However, John may have seen only the different faces facing him, and hence describe only one face for each of the creature.  There were also many debates over the four faces of the cherubim, but it is not important for us now and we can find out when we get to heaven. 

Around the throne were twenty-four elders sitting on their own thrones. They were wearing white and golden crowns. (v4)  There are debates on who these 24 elders are. One interpretation suggests that they represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles, thus encompassing the entirety of God’s people from both the Old and New Testaments. If so, John may see himself sitting on one of the throne! We are reminded that we are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), and we will reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).

Whenever the living creatures gives glory and honor to the one seated on the throne, the elders will fall down before Him. They cast their crowns before the throne saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (v11)

The crowns mentioned are the stephanos crowns, the crowns of victory, not royalty. These are the crowns of achievement that a winning athlete would receive at the ancient Olympian Games. The elders credited God for their own work and reward, and they did this as they cast their crowns before the throne. They recognized that the worth, the worthiness belonged to God, not to themselves. 

We owe God and Jesus Christ more than the angels or cherubim owe them.  If the angels and the elders worship God continuously in heaven, we don't have any reason not to worship God more every single day.