We will see some very interesting things as the Apostle John is taken to see Heaven and is witness to all kinds of absolutely incredible things; things which the human mind can barely begin to comprehend. 

As the text unfolds we will begin to see things which are happening on earth the way God sees them. Our Lord Jesus  did addressed this situation in his message to the representative churches existing at that time and had defined for us what he liked and did not like.  As well he had outlined the judgment that he would execute, given his character, his absolutely perfect holiness, his majesty and his might. 

Having warned his people that they must maintain his absolutely right, just and holy standards of life, both in their individual and corporate life, Jesus went on to give God's perspective of the terrible judgments that he will pour out on the earth.  He will set the stage, so that we will understand the ‘Tribulation’ judgments that will be poured out and why they will of necessity be executed. 

All this revelation will lead to the final events when the restraining power of the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn. At that time Satan will rise up in a fruitless effort to protect himself and in an extremely destructive move for the vast majority of men, will bring into existence the ‘man of sin’.  Satan, his cohorts and the evil people that follow him will fail in their attempted rebellion. 

As we are given a glimpse into Glory, let us compare and contrast it with our existence in this world of sin and explore the following questions. Some of these questions will be prompted by our next two lessons.

-Why are some never ever really truly satisfied with our lives, our jobs, or activities?

-What is the meaning of our lives?

-What are we trying to accomplish?

-Why do we always seek for approval and where do we find value for who we are?

- What does it mean to belong, and how can we satisfy the hunger to belong to someone and to find rest and fulfillment?

-What is really impressive in the sight of God, and what are his standards? 

Today’s focus will be on the Throne; next week’s will be on the ‘Lamb’.  We will then be able to better understand what is true worship, what praise really is, what it involves, why when there is praise there is always singing and why in acceptable praise to God, there must be purity of heart with no hypocrisy or pretence. 

Chapter four introduces us to the difficulties in describing the things of Heaven in human terms.  Many try to spiritualize these scenes and come up with all kinds of meaning for the extensive symbolism. 

 The imperatives urged on us by the things of Heaven are overwhelmingly great. We should immediately commit ourselves to setting aside the foolish things of the ‘flesh’, the standards of earth which are against the standards of God and which are counterproductive for our spiritual life. 

Let us simply accept the teachings of Jesus and reject the false innovations and creative things that people introduce into the faith so that they will gain power over others. 

This lesson will underline the importance of teaching absolute obedience to the words and the Commandments of God.  Our God does not change and his words do not change.  Nothing that he has said is trivial and can be brushed aside, treated lightly, or ignored simply because they do not suit us.  We should resist the innovations that appeal and pander to the ‘flesh’, which try to alter the God determined order of things and the God determined standards of behaviour that all believers are to follow, so that they will not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

We will now look at the ‘Supreme Headquarters’, the nature and character of the Father, who lives in the light that no man can approach and to whom all creatures must bow the knee.

We note He is presented as absolutely different from his creatures and his creatures who are around him understand who and what He is.  May we learn now how to treat our God and Father. 

Now we will be introduced to future things, the things that must come. 

THE TEXT

Verse 1.  This is the Apostle John's second vision.  This is the heavenly view, with Heaven looking down on earth.

 Note that the Apostle is invited into heaven. The invitation comes from the one who had been first speaking to him and we know that this one is Jesus. 

We should note from this, that no one can get into Heaven except by the invitation of our Creator.  It is a great privilege.  The door to Heaven has got to be opened for us by a power greater than ourselves.  When Heaven is ready for us, the call is like a trumpet call; powerful, urgent and irresistible.  The call can come at any time and for different purposes.  It can come in a vision, or it can come at our death.  We do not control the call of Heaven. 

It is only God that can open the door between time and eternity.  So John is permitted to look into an unknown dimension.  Let us be mindful we are not looking at things from the viewpoint of time, though we live in a time.  We're looking at things from the standpoint of eternity. 

We should also learn from this verse and succeeding verses, that the things of earth are determined and arranged in heaven.  God is in control of time and future events.  Sometimes he opens the veil, the door, so that we might see what he intends for us, so that we could hear and understand them and be made better servants.   

These things are not revealed to us so that we can show off our knowledge and make the pagan world think that we are somehow better than they.  They are revealed so that we can use them in our witnessing to save souls.

John is told that he will see things that will happen hereafter.

Clearly then the source of prophecy is in Heaven.  Without a doubt all believers must follow the lead of Heaven, for it is from there that we have the Word of God and it is only by dealing with Heaven that we will understand the plan that God has for humanity.  

The plan of the ages is written in Heaven. We must never follow any plan of prophecy that is not clearly and unmistakably revealed in the Word of God.  All the fanciful interpretations, conjectures, positions derived by implications of texts, so-called “new light” and much talk about the future must be rejected.  Anything that does not come plainly from the Word of God is foolishness.  It is good to know everything about prophetic interpretations and live a life that rejects the holy Commandments of God. 

Note the words “which must be hereafter”. The word used for “must” is a word which means what is necessary and binding.  These things arise from the appointment of God which supports His holy purposes. The “must” is emphatic.  The future is determined.  The future events will happen for God’s word will never return to him void. 

The believers then have a teaching that they know gives absolute comfort.  Our struggles should never overwhelm that view of reality.

We must rebuff the fanciful imaginations of men who develop theories that serve their selfish interest and which allow them to captivate those with over active imaginations. The reality is many do not want to accept what God has revealed but want to add great sounding and attractive fancies and embellishments.  These teachings generally promise an escape from suffering for holding onto the word of God. 

Most seem to want to go further than what God has revealed.  The door is closed and only God can open it.  He does so only as he wishes and as it suits his holy appointments.

Verse 2.   The Apostle could not be in Heaven in his body, for the body cannot handle or deal with the things of Heaven.  The corruptible cannot inherit incorruption and would be immediately destroyed at any attempt.  So John is in the spirit and entirely under divine influence, where he is immediately placed in spiritual ecstasy and transported so that he can be given direct revelation. 

Very few have ever being able to enter into this transcendent experience, to see worship in its mind-blowing reality and experience the awesome nature of life with God. 

It is useless to try to re-create this type of scene or worship on earth.  We will have to wait for the coming of Jesus and the resurrection. 

Immediately John is taken to the Throne Room of God.  This is the ultimate place of importance in the universe. The language indicates that this throne has been purposely placed for the events that are to follow. 

The focus is on God the Father and it is clear that he unquestionably is sovereign in Hs rule of the universe.  He sits in the place of honour, authority and judgment.  This is the centerpiece of the vision and John is totally occupied with the One that sits on the throne which he describes in his faltering way. 

One can hardly imagine this.  John is brought into intimate association with God the Father, taken right into his presence and sees the Majesty and authority of the One that sits on the eternal throne.  This One is “sitting”. Sitting describes what rulers actively do.  He is actively exercising the duties of his office, running the affairs of his creation. 

So now we get a glimpse into what Psalm 2 means when the Father tells his Son:

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

Let us break their bands asunder, and past away their cords from us.

He that sitteth in the Heaven's shall as; the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion.

I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my son.” 

So we emphasize that there is a throne, it is occupied and the affairs of the universe are ruled from that throne.  There is active rule and control. The world might seem to be falling apart and falling deeper into a whirlpool but our living God is never out of office. 

The world rages and has rejected God's authority.  Satan is vexed and he makes more and more turmoil. 

It is easy for us to ask whether or not God is still in control.  But note that this throne is the essential theme of the book of Revelation.  It is mentioned forty five times as compared to only fifteen other times in the entire New Testament. 

Sometimes it seems that professing believers do not understand that the sovereign Throne controls all the events of their lives, whether or not things seem to be out of control or evil seems to be reigning. 

Since God is hidden to a certain extent it is difficult for us.  But the sovereignty of God must be understood, for it is what comforts the child of God in trials, tragedy and testing.  Sometimes it is the only the awareness that God is still on His throne that keeps us going. 

Remember that the existence of the Throne of God the Father is contrary in every respect to the thinking and the spirit of the modern age.  Our age does not like the idea that there is the ‘throne of God’ and that the authority of the throne guarantees the Commandments of God, the absolutes which cannot be altered or changed in any degree. 

There are moral absolutes from which society might drift, but which they cannot change or void.  As David tells us, God is not afraid of man's foolishness and he maintains and enforces his absolutes. 

When Israel was falling apart Jeremiah had to rely on this throne and in Jeremiah 17:12-17 he gives this great words of encouragement to Israel and to us:

“A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the Lord?  Let it come now. As for me, I have not hastened from be a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest; that which came out of my lips was right before thee.

Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil”. 

Believers should be comforted knowing that God is the sovereign ruler of the universe and that we can approach the ‘throne of grace’ boldly, when our hearts are right with God. 

Verse 3.  No wonder John looks in amazement at the Father who sits on the Throne.  He sees a kaleidoscope of colors.  This is dazzling beauty which surrounds God and He is at the very center of the rainbow colors and all must focus on him. 

The picture is of exceptional beauty, purity and power.  It is certain that John could not see the features of the Father through the dazzling lights that cascaded and danced about the throne. 

So like Ezekiel he uses the qualities of two precious stones, the most precious things known to man, to describe the glory of the God that lives in ‘unapproachable light’. 

He appears like the Jasper. Some think that this is the diamond, the most beautiful of the gems that have the ability to reflect light and flash light in brilliant colors.  This precious stone is transparent and allows the eyes to see a variety of vivid colors.  It would therefore show the purity and brilliance of God's holiness and that there is no darkness in him. 

Some believe that this stone which John uses to describe the Father would be of special significance to Israel, for the Jasper was the stone used to represent the first tribe, the tribe of Rueben.  The High Priest would wear this stone prominently along with others on his priestly garment when representing each tribe before God at the altar.

Then John says the appearance was of the “sardius”, “carnelian”, or “sardine” gem.  This one is blood red in color glowing beautifully. 

Some believe this speaks of  the Son who was willing to shed his blood to save his people.  Others however believe that this stone reflects the wrath and justice of God, the attribute which pardons but punishes and destroys sinners. 

Then in this cascading white light which reflected God's holiness and the blood red flames of this justice and wrath, was a third color, that of the emerald.  This is described as a rainbow of beautiful emerald green, completely encircling the throne of God.  This was no partial rainbow like what we see on earth.  There is a real rainbow in Heaven. 

It should be noted that the rainbow is used to remind us of God's commitment to his covenant with man.  The color of the rainbow is a reference to the covenant of promise.  This is a pleasant green reflecting the fruitfulness of nature and pointing to the reviving and refreshing nature of the covenant. God did not use the “rainbow” as a sign of his mercy to man without an excellent reason. 

 So John has been exposed to the beauty, holiness, majesty, awesomeness, as well as the covenant keeping nature of God the Father.

Verse 4.    He sees around the throne twenty-four subsidiary thrones and on these thrones he sees twenty four beings sitting and he calls them elders.  Now it is to be noted that they are not clearly described in Scripture, but they are said to be on thrones and they are described as beautiful. They are placed in the very presence of God, clothed in white garments with crowns of gold on their heads. 

Let us be mindful this scene is actually a picture of Judgment, of decisions about to be taken which will affect all the earth and all humanity.  All the imaginable sovereignty, power, authority and glory are right there, along with the promise of the covenant.  There is the King present and in a circle around him are his subordinates who clearly have honour and authority and glory. 

Now there are three main views as to who are these twenty-four elders. 

First, it is felt that they are the redeemed representatives of all ages; saints of both Old and New Testaments.  In this view they would be twelve elders of Israel and twelve apostles.  They are saints, wearing white robes, with victors’ crowns on their heads, since they have overcome evil and had their robes washed in the blood of the lamb. 

They are called elders given the fact that this term can be used as a technical term for officers and leaders. 

Second, there is a view that says that they are the redeemed representatives of the church only.  Their clothing represents that promised to the ‘overcomers’ in Revelation 3. They are officers and leaders in the church of Jesus Christ, the church being narrowly defined and they are wearing the victor’s crowns. The term for crowns being that used in 1 Corinthians 9: 25 and other passages.  They are here shown as sharing in Christ's throne or rule. 

A third view is that these elders are angels.  It is argued that the text in Revelation 5:9-10 can be interpreted as them singing of the redemption of others rather than of their own redemption.  It is also argued that in Colossians 1:16 angels are called “thrones” and have a place in governing the universe.  It is also pointed out that Daniel 4:17 speaks of the powerful “watchers” who seem to be involved in tremendously important decisions about men and that the prophets saw these when they looked into heaven.  These beings are called “watchers” and “holy ones”.  They sit as part of the court when the books are opened.  Daniel 7:9-10 describes a similar scene to this.  Verse 26 also refers to the judgment made by this court in session.  

David also uses the phrase.

“For in the skies can be compared with the Lord?

 Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;

he is more awesome than all who surround him.” (Psalm 89:6-7 NIV) 

Some believe that this body consists of twenty-four powerful angels that have to do with the government of God, with specific reference to redeemed people and fallen angels.  They have been victorious in fighting Satan and so wear crowns.  They are the righteous angels who did not join the rebellion of the devil and so wear white robes.

It would seem peculiar if the twenty-four elders included the apostles, for John would actually then be looking at himself seated before the throne.  That would seem somewhat unlikely and strange. 

In any case we are not looking at the throne of Christ which believers share, but this is the subsidiary thrones around the throne of God the Father.  Jesus does not appear to be sitting on a throne at this stage.

Verse 5.   Here we are told that there is a third kind of being in Heaven.  There is God the Father, the twenty-four elders and now there are four strange looking beings. 

Prior to this we see the awful declaration of power, impressive and fearful sights which include lightnings, thundering, and voices, which sound remarkably like what happened when God came to Mount Sinai, as described in Exodus 19: 16-19 and 20: 18-19.

(See  Revelation 11:19,  15: 8).  This reminds us of what David said in Psalm 29:3-9 as he warns even the mighty to glorify God and worship him in the beauty of holiness. 

When we enter the presence of God the Father, we should expect to be confronted with the kind of power that we can barely imagine.  This God the Father is so powerful and majestic, that all must bow before him and nothing can stay his hand.  

It is a great mystery as to why Satan would have dreamed of being like the Most High.  This kind of thinking cannot be explained, but we know it certainly is evil of the worst kind.  Blasphemy can never be acceptable. When men go along with Satan in any respect, they know that they are doing evil and there is only one sad end for them. 

No wonder God is to be feared in the assembly of the Saints.  It is clear that given His nature of sheer, undiluted, absolute holiness, he requires purity of heart, obedience and not sacrifice.  Ritualism is not acceptable without purity of heart and obedience to his word. 

Then we read that right there in the crashing thunder and explosions there are the seven Spirits of God, the seven graces of the Spirit of God, which is always interpreted to be the Holy Spirit.  This figure of speech is used to refer to the fullness and perfection of the Spirit and His ministries.  Here though, the emphasis is on his particular grace of righteousness and justice in making the perfections of the throne of God shine out.  The Spirit imparts holiness to all those who are allowed to appear before God. That is the only way one can be pleasing to God. Wherever the throne of God is, there is this Spirit of holiness.    

Note that in Isaiah 11: 2, the Holy Spirit is represented in similar fashion of sevens.  However, in Matthew 3: 16 he is represented as a dove, while in Acts 2:3 he is represented as resembling a flame of fire.  Fact is however that the Holy Spirit is not ordinarily visible but he's always there and he is always represented as holy.  Anyone who claims to have the Spirit and does not exhibit a life of holiness is not speaking the truth.

Verse 6.   We are next told that before the throne was a sea of glass.  This seems to parallel the great vessel of brass, also called a sea, which stood filled with water at the temple and which the priests used to cleanse themselves before they went to minister before God.  Exodus 30: 18-21.  It also is like the molten sea in Solomon's Temple. 1 Kings 7:23-37.  This sea was something related to purification and it looked like crystal.  

Some believe that because of this issue of purification, the ‘sea’ like crystal which was before the throne also represents the Spirit of God, since He is responsible for purifying all beings that come before the throne of God. 

This ‘sea’ before the throne can also be viewed as representing something that separates God in his holiness and purity from all of his creation. 

Now appears the four living creatures which are clearly angelic beings.  The prophet Ezekiel also mentions these living creatures, referring to them twelve times in the first ten chapters.  He tells us that they are the cherubim, an exalted order of angelic beings because they surround the throne of God and they appear to stand between the throne and the twenty-four elders. 

They are clearly very important, for in the Tabernacle, which is a model of the throne of God, the cherubim are set in the ‘Most Holy Place’. (Exodus 25: 17-22 and 26:1, 31).

Also, when Ezekiel 1 describes a giant chariot holding up the throne of God, he describes the four creatures with similar kind of faces to what John speaks of in Revelation. Also, in Genesis the cherubim are the ones who are given the responsibility to wield a flaming sword to protect the tree of life, so that sinful man would not eat of it and live forever. 

So please brethren do not describe your chubby little children as cherubs.  These angels, the cherubim are scary, powerful, military servants of God. 

They are first described as having a multitude of eyes and this indicates that they know and understand and have great insight and perception, as to everything that goes on.  They know the ways and the judgments of God and they are well prepared to execute them. 

Incidentally, they seem to be different from the Seraphim, who seem to be living ‘beings of fire’.  These beings, the ‘burning ones’ described in Isaiah six are quick and move about and they are also above the throne of God and they are represented as constantly moving.

Verse 7-8.    John describes the beings he is now concerned about as being like a lion, the second like a calf, the third with a face as a man, and the fourth like a flying eagle.  They all have six wings.  They are full of eyes everywhere around them.  These features are interpreted to mean that they are of incredible intelligence, perception and understanding.  They constantly observe the affairs of the earth, know God's purposes and are in ceaseless service night and day with no weakness or slowdown in their activities. 

Of course there are many interpretations of these four faces and what they represent.  Some have listed at least seven different interpretations. What is more important is what these beings say. 

First, they constantly proclaim that God the Father is to be worshiped as a Holy One.  They constantly repeat that God is holy, holy, holy, obviously stressing the superlative and infinite holiness of God and His exceptional and unique moral purity. 

Clearly for them this is the only one God and they constantly, without ceasing, so declare. They call him the Lord God Almighty; the word used meaning “the one who has His hand on everything”.  He is declared to be sovereign and they emphasize and they stress God's power and ruler-ship. 

They next point to His eternal Being.  This means that he is eternal and he governs past, present and future.  This is the thought behind the meaning of the name of God “Yahweh”. 

Note carefully that these living beings stress that God is utterly removed from evil and corruption. They stress that he is unchangeable.  He's always the same.  He always was, is, and is to come.  No one can restrict him, thwart his intentions, beat or stop him. 

These creatures are really saying that God is the highest, the holiest, the most exalted one and it is he who sits on his throne.  

They are filled with truth.  They know the eternal, everlasting God and they know that it is unlawful to worship any other but this one God.  They teach us how to worship God.   They are engaged in biblical worship, for worship is really telling God the truth about himself, telling Him who he is, namely: that He is the only God, the Lord God, the heavenly King, the Almighty God, the Eternal One, the most perfect in his being, to whom belong honor and glory.   

When we worship God all we are doing is doing what makes sense.  God is not insecure and needs our praises, leading us unnecessarily to telling great things about himself.  He requires our worship simply because he's always honest about himself and he wants us to be honest about him.  He requires truth and so we worship God, worshiping him for who he is. 

We are really helping ourselves when we worship him as Creator, Saviour, Redeemer, the One who keeps and sustains us, the One who is involved in our lives and works in history to save us.

Verse 9.    Here we move toward the first of several hymns of praise used in worship in heaven.  The four living creatures extol God's perfections, adoring him.  They constantly give glory and honour and thanks to the everlasting God who is sovereign and rules from his throne, the God who lives forever and ever. 

Note this scene takes place in eternity.  There is no stopping or letting up these creatures and their sayings.  They give thanks for they know that they owe their existence to God.  They know that God has given many gifts to every single creature that he has made.  Their thanks are given for their own sake, for they know that their praises will not make God more glorious, since no creature can add anything to God's glory.  They are grateful.  Should we not be grateful to God?

They get up from their seats and prostrate themselves before God who sits on the throne.  They recognize that the living creatures are perfectly right and they recognize God's character and being.  They get up prostrate themselves, fall in a position of humiliation and adore God.  They show reverence, humility and godly fear. 

God is considered worthy of praise and worship. First, it was His power that created all things and secondly, it was His purpose or will that brought things into existence and gave meaning to all things he created. 

The elders act to support their declaration that God is worthy.  It is He that deserves their crowns.  He has the right to rule and the right to their victory.  So they throw back all of their achievements to God because he alone is worthy. 

Note that they are all in perfect harmony.  Every single one of them without exception does the same thing. They are all unanimous in glorifying God. They accept that God has a valid claim that everything belongs to him, that his claim over everything is of the type according to the apostle Paul, as that of the potter who has all the rights and claims over the clay (Romans 9: 21). 

The elders tell us that God willed and was pleased to create all things and they were made for his pleasure. They are secure in the purity and righteousness of God. At the same time we should note that God has no delight in the death of sinners but wishes rather that they would turn to him and live. 

The mind of God is amazingly fertile and glorious.  God does everything in abundance and his mind goes far beyond what we can imagine. 

Astronomers tell us that they are probably one hundred billion stars in our own galaxy.  They also say there may be one hundred billion galaxies in the universe. 

The elders knew that and so they recognize that God was worthy.  They worshiped him almost as much as the living creatures, for they followed the prompting of the creatures and prostrated themselves when the living cherubim declared the glory of God.

CONCLUSION

Let us never reject this clear revelation of God.  Let us remember and understand that God's voice is seen in creation and that creation manifests God's divine perfections every day and declares His glory.  We cannot escape it.  There is no excuse for not worshiping the only true God. 

Observe also that the crowns which are symbols of God's reward for faithfulness are to be cast in praise before the throne. 

Everything about God's being and works demands honour, respect and reverence. All the beings in heaven worship God without ceasing.

We should think about that and do likewise.

We should never allow ourselves to be seduced by Satan and accept this rebellious creature as God. 

We should never feel comfortable knowing that the eyes of these mighty cherubim are always looking and seeing and they stand ready to execute the judgment of God. 

God is the Creator.  For in six days he created and then rested on the seventh day.  He told us, told all men at the dawn of time, long before Israel was even established as a nation, that we should set aside one day to worship him and remember that he is our Creator.  So do not accept the lie that the Sabbath was established at the creation of Israel.  It was established in the Garden of Eden, when there was no sin, when there was total perfection and that such it will remain until we move into eternity and the eternal Sabbath.   

God has established his Sabbath as a sign that He is Lord over all our time and activity.  This sign tells us that he has a rightful claim to everything we have, our bodies and our possessions and every moment of our lives.   

The Apostle Paul reminded us in Acts 17:24-28 that it is in Him that we live and move and have our being.  He created and he sustains us and we should worship him. 

It is painful to see the world treating God's Sabbath as something of an inconvenience.  Some ignore the Sabbath completely, some change it around to suit themselves, while some do their own thing on the Sabbath.  In doing so we show that we do not respect God and our actions speak louder than our words. 

So let us like the cherubim and the twenty four-elders worship God properly and recognize that it means something important to accept that God is our Creator.  When we accept God as our Creator it has massive implications for our lives and behavior.