Book of Revelation of John
Compiled by WD Kemner January 2024
Chapter 4 – Open Door to Heaven
This is John’s vision of the Throne of God and the heavenly creatures around the throne. What can be said about John’s description beyond what a Glorious Day to see!
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Revelation 4:1 |
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After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
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A study into the word “Door” seems to be a tedious task to come up with any other meaning than this: “Through an Entrance” - “the opening or the closure of” -7 Literally a door! John was literally “called” to “come up here”. Would you jump at such a beckoning?
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Revelation 4:2-3 |
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And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
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Description of the One on the Throne. Rainbow around the throne like emerald.
Compare this with Revelations 1 and Daniel 10.
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Revelation 4:4 |
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And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
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Twenty-four seats with elders. Seats refer to thrones. The word “Elders” is the same Greek word used in New Testament. Clothed in white like the saints and wearing crowns.
Not heavenly beings, but redeemed men. One of these will speak to John throughout the book.
The term “angel” is used in chapters 19 and 22 for one of these individuals.
However, the individual makes the statement about himself that he was one of the brethren and a fellow servant. Therefore he is a human.
These elders are present before the arrival of both the tribulation saints and the 144,000 Jews. That leaves two groups of individuals for these elders to come from. The saints from church age or Old Testament saints.
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Revelation 4:5 |
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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.
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Seven lamps of fire are seven Spirits of God. The word “Spirits” is the same Greek word used throughout New Testament
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SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD The Seven Characteristics or ministries of the Holy Spirit
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD…”
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John returns to describing the scene in Heaven.
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Revelation 4:6-9 |
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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 full of eyes before and behind.
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
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Four Beasts described as full of eyes before and behind.
Each had six wings also full of eyes. These Beasts that we read about now in chapter 4 will be seen through chapter 6.
The word “Beast” is used throughout the book of Revelation but has two totally different meanings. The four beasts mentioned here uses the word “zoon”. Better translation for the word could be “living creatures”. The word used in later chapters is the word “therion”. Which means a “dangerous animal”.
The four beasts described as: 1) a lion 2) a calf 3) having face as a man 4) a flying eagle
These creatures each had six wings. In Isaiah chapter 6; Isaiah describes in his vision of the throne, seraphims with six wings crying Holy is the Lord.
It has been suggested that if the characteristics of what each of the four beasts represented is taken into account; they could represent leaders of the four kingdoms:
Lion: representing the kingdom of wild animals
Calf: representing the kingdom of Domestic animals
Face of man: the angelic hosts who have responsibility over man
Eagle: representing the kingdom of the air which includes all fowls and birds
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Revelation 4:10-11 |
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The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
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In response the twenty-four elders fall down and worship casting their crowns before the throne.