Revelation Chapter Four
jame...@btinternet.com
Revelation 4:1-5, “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. 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. 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. 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.”
In the next two chapters John records his second vision in which he saw
a scene in heaven with God giving to His Son the very prophecies which
would soon in turn be passed on to the prophet. These verses describe
John’s experience. The Holy Spirit came upon him bringing a vision in
which he seemed to be transported in, not into heaven. This was not an
opening of heaven as experienced by Stephen, Acts 7:56 “And said,
Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the
right hand of God.” This door is frequently misrepresented as
describing the rapture or translation of the church, but I do not agree.
Here John’s gaze was directed first of all to the throne of YHWH. He
likened the glory of God emanating from the throne to the brilliance of
highly polished precious stones. Through the mercy of YHWH he
understood what Paul meant in 1 Timothy 6:14-16, “That thou keep [this]
commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord
Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, [who is] the blessed
and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath
immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom
no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power
everlasting. Amen.”
The description of the One on the throne, “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.” The jasper stone is an opaque variety of quartz, red, yellow
and brown very much like fire, and the sardine stone is probably like
sard which is yellow or orange cornelian. We are reminded of Hebrews
12:29, “For our God [is] a consuming fire.”
Here John saw this glory not as light from which he had to flee, but as
a “rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” The
emerald is a bright green precious stone. It was this rainbow which
permitted John to see this glorious vision. Without the rainbow the
presence of the Holy One of Israel would have been too much for John to
behold, “and [there was] a rainbow round about the throne, in sight
like unto an emerald.”
The rainbow was the appointed sign and promise given to Noah and his
posterity that YHWH, in mercy, would never flood the earth again. So we
can see how our great God veiled the consuming fire for His servant
with a rainbow. It is general knowledge that green is restful to our
eyes, and it abounds in His earth, especially here in Ulster frequently
referred to as the “The Emerald Isle,” where the grass is greener. How
beautifully does such a vision symbolise the mercy of God now extended
to all like John who accept the mediatorial work of Christ on their
behalf.
Surrounding the throne, there were seen twentyfour kings constituting
the government of the Kingdom of heaven. It seems that the millennial
kingdom of Israel will be similarly organised since Christ told His
disciples this “in Matthew 19:28, “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I
say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when
the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit
upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
In Revelation chapter 22, Christ’s government is likened to a city with
twelve foundations named after the apostles, and with twelve gates
named after the twelve tribes of Israel. Hence it has been suggested
that in Christ’s government over Israel and the world there will be
twelve more thrones to be occupied by twelve Parriarchs of Old
Testament Israel, making twenty four all told. We know also that King
David will reign over the combined throne of YHWH over Israel, Ezekiel
37:25 “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my
servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein,
[even] they, and their children, and their children's children for
ever: and my servant David [shall be] their prince for ever.”
We read in verse 5, “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.” John heard and
saw that out of the throne proceeded these lightnings and thunderings
and voices, which symbolised the power of God issuing forth to govern
and direct His creation, He also saw seven lamps of fire. These were
burning before the throne and were the seven Spirits of God. They
represent that Divine life, energy and power which radiates from YHWH,
which is manifested by the Holy Spirit. That mighty power, though
unseen like electricity, upholds the Universe, and such tremendous
energy was fitly symbolised as “lamps of fire burning.” The sevenfold
aspect may denote the Divine perfection of the Holy Spirit, and perhaps
represents the seven attributes of the Spirit in Isaiah 11:2, “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.”
REVELATION CHAPTER FOUR VERSES 6-11.
Revelation 4:6-11, “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, 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.”
These verses describe how that John then saw “four beasts” rule at each
corner supporting the throne of God. The word “beast” is an incorrect
translation, and should be, as in the original Greek “ living
creatures.” They are described in Ezekiel 10:1-22, “Then I looked,
and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims
there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance
of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with
linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, [even] under the cherub, and
fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and
scatter [them] over the city. And he went in in my sight. Now the
cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in;
and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the LORD went
up from the cherub, [and stood] over the threshold of the house; and
the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the
brightness of the LORD’S glory. And the sound of the cherubims’ wings
was heard [even] to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God
when he speaketh. And it came to pass, [that] when he had commanded the
man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from
between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
And [one] cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims
unto the fire that [was] between the cherubims, and took [thereof], and
put [it] into the hands of [him that was] clothed with linen: who took
[it], and went out. And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a
man’s hand under their wings. And when I looked, behold the four wheels
by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another
cherub: and the appearance of the wheels [was] as the colour of a beryl
stone. And [as for] their appearances, they four had one likeness, as
if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went
upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place
whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their
wings, and the wheels, [were] full of eyes round about, [even] the
wheels that they four had. As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in
my hearing, O wheel. And every one had four faces: the first face [was]
the face of a cherub, and the second face [was] the face of a man, and
the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And
the cherubims were lifted up. This [is] the living creature that I saw
by the river of Chebar. And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by
them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the
earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. When they
stood, [these] stood; and when they were lifted up, [these] lifted up
themselves [also]: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in them.
Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the
house, and stood over the cherubims. And the cherubims lifted up their
wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out,
the wheels also [were] beside them, and [every one] stood at the door
of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of
Israel [was] over them above. This [is] the living creature that I saw
under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they
[were] the cherubims. Every one had four faces apiece, and every one
four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man [was] under their
wings. And the likeness of their faces [was] the same faces which I saw
by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went
every one straight forward.”
This is Government which we would often describe as wheels within
wheels. It describes the same living creatures or cherubims most
intimately associated with God in His government of the Universe. Their
mighty power is portrayed to us when the prophets liken them to the
strongest creatures in God’s earth. Their many eyes symbolise their
great wisdom and understanding.
In Revelation 4:8-9, John saw the adoration and worship these the
highest and most
intimate of His created beings give to YHWH. However although they hold
such powerful positions in the government of the Universe under the
direct supervision of the creator, they continually acknowledge that to
God is due all the praise and honour.
REVELATION CHAPTER FOUR
Revelation 4:1-5, “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. 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. 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. 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.”
In the next two chapters John records his second vision in which he saw
a scene in heaven with God giving to His Son the very prophecies which
would soon in turn be passed on to the prophet. These verses describe
John’s experience. The Holy Spirit came upon him bringing a vision in
which he seemed to be transported in, not into heaven. This was not an
opening of heaven as experienced by Stephen, Acts 7:56 “And said,
Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the
right hand of God.” This door is frequently misrepresented as
describing the rapture or translation of the church, but I do not agree.
Here John’s gaze was directed first of all to the throne of YHWH. He
likened the glory of God emanating from the throne to the brilliance of
highly polished precious stones. Through the mercy of YHWH he
understood what Paul meant in 1 Timothy 6:14-16, “That thou keep [this]
commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord
Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, [who is] the blessed
and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath
immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom
no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power
everlasting. Amen.”
The description of the One on the throne, “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.” The jasper stone is an opaque variety of quartz, red, yellow
and brown very much like fire, and the sardine stone is probably like
sard which is yellow or orange cornelian. We are reminded of Hebrews
12:29, “For our God [is] a consuming fire.”
Here John saw this glory not as light from which he had to flee, but as
a “rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” The
emerald is a bright green precious stone. It was this rainbow which
permitted John to see this glorious vision. Without the rainbow the
presence of the Holy One of Israel would have been too much for John to
behold, “and [there was] a rainbow round about the throne, in sight
like unto an emerald.”
The rainbow was the appointed sign and promise given to Noah and his
posterity that YHWH, in mercy, would never flood the earth again. So we
can see how our great God veiled the consuming fire for His servant
with a rainbow. It is general knowledge that green is restful to our
eyes, and it abounds in His earth, especially here in Ulster frequently
referred to as the “The Emerald Isle,” where the grass is greener. How
beautifully does such a vision symbolise the mercy of God now extended
to all like John who accept the mediatorial work of Christ on their
behalf.
Surrounding the throne, there were seen twentyfour kings constituting
the government of the Kingdom of heaven. It seems that the millennial
kingdom of Israel will be similarly organised since Christ told His
disciples this “in Matthew 19:28, “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I
say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when
the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit
upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
In Revelation chapter 22, Christ’s government is likened to a city with
twelve foundations named after the apostles, and with twelve gates
named after the twelve tribes of Israel. Hence it has been suggested
that in Christ’s government over Israel and the world there will be
twelve more thrones to be occupied by twelve Parriarchs of Old
Testament Israel, making twenty four all told. We know also that King
David will reign over the combined throne of YHWH over Israel, Ezekiel
37:25 “And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my
servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein,
[even] they, and their children, and their children's children for
ever: and my servant David [shall be] their prince for ever.”
We read in verse 5, “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.” John heard and
saw that out of the throne proceeded these lightnings and thunderings
and voices, which symbolised the power of God issuing forth to govern
and direct His creation, He also saw seven lamps of fire. These were
burning before the throne and were the seven Spirits of God. They
represent that Divine life, energy and power which radiates from YHWH,
which is manifested by the Holy Spirit. That mighty power, though
unseen like electricity, upholds the Universe, and such tremendous
energy was fitly symbolised as “lamps of fire burning.” The sevenfold
aspect may denote the Divine perfection of the Holy Spirit, and perhaps
represents the seven attributes of the Spirit in Isaiah 11:2, “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.”
REVELATION CHAPTER FOUR VERSES 6-11.
Revelation 4:6-11, “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, 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.”
These verses describe how that John then saw “four beasts” rule at each
corner supporting the throne of God. The word “beast” is an incorrect
translation, and should be, as in the original Greek “ living
creatures.” They are described in Ezekiel 10:1-22, “Then I looked,
and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims
there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance
of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with
linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, [even] under the cherub, and
fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and
scatter [them] over the city. And he went in in my sight. Now the
cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in;
and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the LORD went
up from the cherub, [and stood] over the threshold of the house; and
the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the
brightness of the LORD’S glory. And the sound of the cherubims’ wings
was heard [even] to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God
when he speaketh. And it came to pass, [that] when he had commanded the
man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from
between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
And [one] cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims
unto the fire that [was] between the cherubims, and took [thereof], and
put [it] into the hands of [him that was] clothed with linen: who took
[it], and went out. And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a
man’s hand under their wings. And when I looked, behold the four wheels
by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another
cherub: and the appearance of the wheels [was] as the colour of a beryl
stone. And [as for] their appearances, they four had one likeness, as
if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went
upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place
whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their
wings, and the wheels, [were] full of eyes round about, [even] the
wheels that they four had. As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in
my hearing, O wheel. And every one had four faces: the first face [was]
the face of a cherub, and the second face [was] the face of a man, and
the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And
the cherubims were lifted up. This [is] the living creature that I saw
by the river of Chebar. And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by
them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the
earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. When they
stood, [these] stood; and when they were lifted up, [these] lifted up
themselves [also]: for the spirit of the living creature [was] in them.
Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the
house, and stood over the cherubims. And the cherubims lifted up their
wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out,
the wheels also [were] beside them, and [every one] stood at the door
of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of
Israel [was] over them above. This [is] the living creature that I saw
under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they
[were] the cherubims. Every one had four faces apiece, and every one
four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man [was] under their
wings. And the likeness of their faces [was] the same faces which I saw
by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went
every one straight forward.”
This is Government which we would often describe as wheels within
wheels. It describes the same living creatures or cherubims most
intimately associated with God in His government of the Universe. Their
mighty power is portrayed to us when the prophets liken them to the
strongest creatures in God’s earth. Their many eyes symbolise their
great wisdom and understanding.
In Revelation 4:8-9, John saw the adoration and worship these the
highest and most
intimate of His created beings give to YHWH. However although they hold
such powerful positions in the government of the Universe under the
direct supervision of the creator, they continually acknowledge that to
God is due all the praise and honour. END OF CHAPTER FOUR
Welcome to the HistoricistFuturist, Pre-Millennial, Post-Millennial and
Preterist Prophetic Groups. Great Britain is Ephraim, where Zion and
the throne of David are located. Armies will surround this Prophetic
Jerusalem, Zechariah 12:3, "And in that day I will make Jerusalem
(Westminster) a burdensome stone (i.e., The Stone Kingdom of Prophecy)
for all people: All that burden themselves with it shall be cut in
pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against
it." Share your prophetic views with us and join to post your messages:
http://www.egroups.com/community/historicistfuturist. I would like to
post you a free book I wrote called "Minutes to Midnight." Ask for this
including your questions or urgent messages using this email address:
emeraldisle...@btinternet.com. It shows that all the time
periods of Daniel 12 have been fulfilled. As all prophecy is two-fold
there may well be a Futurist fulfilment. When you reply to messages at
jame...@btinternet.com please retain my signature. Feel free at all
times to ask questions. If you have contacted me with no reply please
try again, as I had a worm virus which is the reason I have not replied
to recent messages. On the egroups.com forum we have been asked to
remove previous messages so use paste and copy for my signature which
enables me to find messages at this email address. (1) To subscribe use
historicistfut...@egroups.com. (2) To unsubscribe use
historicistfutu...@egroups.com. (3) To post messages use
historici...@egroups.com. I will send you another free book
called "The Gates of the Enemy" showing how the prophecies to Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were fulfilled by Pastor Alan Campbell. His web
site is http://www.1335.com. Jerusalem was delivered from Turkish
Edomites who had desolated the land for over 400 year. The year on the
Hegira which was their calendar was 1335. It was Sunday 9th December
1917, which on the Hebrew Calendar was Kislev 24 5678. This was the
anniversary of the second temple in Jerusalem Palestine, Haggai
2:18, "Consider now from this day and upward from the four and
twentieth day of the ninth month, even the day that the foundation of
the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it." The reading in the Book of
Common prayer for that day was Isaiah 31:5, "As birds flying, so will
the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it;
and passing over he will preserve it." Visit our second web site at
http://www.dejanews.com/~openbible%20/[ST_rn=cg]/j.xp?=openbible. If
this does not word use deja.com and search for the Historicist and
Futurist Group. The Covenant People's Fellowship who published my book
now have a web site which is http://www..covenant.btinternet.com.co.uk.
Aso visit these sites, http://www.ensignmessage.com.
http://homepge.idx.comau/fdowsett
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