Now it is time for the churches to see the future events that are coming upon the earth, it is time for the churches to know that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth and rapture the saints of God.
He is going to end the world the way we know it and establish the kingdom of God.
What did John see when he arrived in heaven?
Revelation 4: 1–2 John is given the vision where five things revealed to him.
1. He saw the door open in heaven.
• What he was about to see was coming from heaven, from God Himself?
• The future events were not of his own imagination.
2. He heard a commanding voice.
The very same voice he heard in Revelation 4:1 is also the same voice in Revelation 1:10 where we read I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet
3. He was called to come up here into heaven
Why!! The reason is clearly stated: to see future events things that must take place.
Some ask out of curiosity if John is a representative of the church when we are raptured will we be able to see these events on earth taking place.
There is no scripture to indicate that. But most likely we will not be able to see the events on earth.
When the rapture take place and we received our glorified bodies all human ties will be cut off from those who are on earth.
However, John is a representative of the rapture of the church. In other words what happened to John will one day happen to the church when the trumpet of God speaks to us telling us to “Come Up Hither.”
4. He was immediately in the spirit.
He was having a deep, intense spiritual experience with God.
5. He saw the most astounding sight imaginable.
He saw God and the throne of God.
God’s throne is the throne above all thrones. It is the supreme seat of honor and majesty, of sovereignty and power.
It is important for John to see God on His throne because what he is going to see during the tribulation period only God almighty can do what is going to be done.
Revelation 4:2-3 Described God:
There is the sight of God sitting upon the great throne of God.
An astounding thing. The appearance of the One on the throne is so glorious and majestic that He is indescribable. No human can describe Him.
God is described in terms of light, the dazzling light of the most precious gems and jewels of that day. He is seen in all of His brilliance and dazzling splendor.
• The jewels chosen to describe God proclaim a marvelous message to the hearer. They were considered the most brilliant and the most valued, precious, and desired gems on earth.
Thus God is seen and described as the most brilliant and valued, precious, and desired Being-a Being of indescribable glory and splendor
• The countenance of God shone like a jasper stone.
Illus: The stone referred to was different from the jasper stone of today. The idea is that the stone was some sort of translucent crystal through which light was shining. It was shining so brightly that it was apparently like the concentrated light of a laser. This represents the penetrating perfection and purity of God.
• The sardine stone was a fiery red stone and it represents the justice of God.
• The rainbow that surrounded the throne looked like emerald green. This represents the mercy of God and the new covenant of grace given to man by God.
When we come to Revelation 4:4 we are introduced to the twenty-four elders.
Before we get into all of this let me take a few minutes to talk of two important things that will take place when we arrived in heaven:
(1) THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
What is the judgement seat of Christ?
The judgment seat of Christ does not determine salvation. The fact that a person is there it has already been determine they are saved. We know two things about this judgment:
• This is where Christians will judge for what kind of reward they will receive.
• Also, it believe because God will have to wipe a way tears from their eyes evidently it will not be a happy time for some as they stand before the Lord and give account of un-confessed sins.
Also, I want to mention to you about…
(2) THE MARRIAGE FEAST OF THE LORD
What is the Marriage Feast of the Lord?
The raptured church is the Bride of Christ and now in heaven the Lord Jesus and his bride is united forever and He throws a feast for his Bride.
This will be a time of great celebration in heaven like no one has ever experienced before.
These two events will be taking place in HEAVEN while the devil will doing his thing on earth known as the tribulation period.
Now we want to look at Revelation 4: 4-11, And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And there was seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like a crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. and the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come. And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.
In this passage of scripture we want to look at:
(1) The four and twenty elders.
(2) The four creatures.
Look at Revelation 4:4 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.
John sees two things we want to consider, such as:
1) The twenty four elders
2) The four creatures
Let’s look first at the…
(1)Twenty four elders.
We know that the twenty-four elders are not redeemed human beings because no man except Jesus Christ has entered heaven. When John arrived in heaven he saw the twenty four elders already there before the rapture of the church.
Look at John 3:13 And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.
• All saved human beings—those who are Christ's true servants—will be given immortality at Christ's coming—when He returns to the earth to rule and reign.
• The twenty-four elders, then, are a part of the created heavenly host, that is, angels of high rank and honor. They are created spirit beings and have been given positions of responsibility in the government of God, through which He rules the universe.
Revelation 5:8 says the elders each have a harp and golden bowls full of incense, symbolic of the prayers of the saints.
From these symbols we can perhaps see a little of their function of the twenty four elders before God.
The harp is a musical instrument. The twenty-four elders are responsible for praising God in song, possibly in conducting vast choirs of angels.
We see that in Revelation 5:11-12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
WHAT DOES THE GOLDEN BOWLS REPRESENT?
The golden bowls full of incense represents the prayers of God's people.
It is the responsibility of these elders carrying out God's answers to prayer. That is, perhaps, once God determines how a situation should be handled, He leaves its accomplishment in the hands of these trusted servants.
Paul speaks of them in Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Though this function is speculative, it is not inconsistent with the function of angels elsewhere in the Bible (see Daniel 9:20-23; 10:10-21).
Look what is said about the elders
1. They are seated upon thrones that surround’ God’s throne. This shows that they are near God, being honored with His presence
2. They are clothed in white. This means that they are clothed in the purity and holiness of God and of Christ. There is no imperfection in them at all
3. They have crowns of gold on their heads. This means that they hold positions of authority; that they are given some duty and responsibility to oversee for God; that they serve God by overseeing some rule and domain; and that others serve under them.
Simply stated, they rule and reign for God, serving Him by managing some vast rule and domain of the universe.
Notice, these elders day and night worship Him!
Revelation 4:10-11 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.
Perhaps someone is thinking, worshipping God twenty four hours a day, day after day…couldn’t that become boring!!!
Here is why someone could think that, we see things that we get excited about and in a short time the excitement wears off. There is not anything on this earth that we mortals come into contact where the excitemenat cannot wear off.
But when we see God in all his glory and greatness the excitement will never wear off…NEVER!
When it comes to the greatness of God we are talking about a greatness that no mortal has ever experience!!!
Illus: Let me illustrate this way! Have you ever seen a couple that was madly in love with each other but after a few years of marriage they do not seem to have that excitment they once had after a few years.
When we arrive in heaven as the Bride of Christ God’s greatness is so great we will never get tired of worshipping Him! NEVER! NEVER!
Notice, the twenty-four elders worshipped Him day and night. THE EXCITEMENT NEVER WEARS OFF!!!
The Lord does not get all the praise He is worthy of, but one day He will!!!
• In some worship service there are people when it comes time to praise the Lord in song, they will not open their mouths, but when they stand before the throne of God and see Him in all His glory they will cry out saying, “Lord, thou art worthy”.
• In some worship service when it comes time to worship him in giving they have never come to recognize the greatness of God so they keep their money.
These twenty four elders have already seen Him in His greatness and they are crying out, “Thou art Worthy!”
Look at Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
We have looked at THE TWENTY FOUR ELDERS but now let us look at…
(2) THE FOUR CREATURES
Revelation 4:6-9 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,
There are the four living creatures who surround the throne of God.
Remember, the book of revelation teaches us by using symbolism.
Just like the Lord used symbolism of precious stones to describe the Lord Jesus , now God use symbolism to describe these four creatures.
Note their description.
• They are always found near the throne of God (Rev.4: 6; 5:6; 14:3).
• They have six wings and are full of eyes (Rev.4: 6, 8).
• Their function has to do with the holiness and wrath of God (Rev.6: 1, 7; 15:7).
• They declare the holiness of God day and night and never cease to declare His holiness (Rev.4:8).
Note that John chooses certain animals on earth that we are familiar with to describe certain characteristics that he notices
• One being was like a lion: this symbolizes supremacy
• One being was like an ox (calf): this symbolizes strength.
• One being was like a man: this symbolizes intelligence.
• One being was like an eagle: this symbolizes swiftness.
Note their function: Again, to glorify and honor God day and night.
The living creatures they picture all the beings of nature standing before God and praising Him. All the world are represented in the four living beings as they worship God day and night, crying out to Him, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
What a lesson for us! How we must learn how great God is-that He dwells in such glory and majesty, dominion, and power that we owe Him our lives and our all.
They vocally declare His worthiness, and they praise Him as the Lord God of the universe and of creation.
The Greek actually reads "Thou art worthy, our Lord and our God" (ho kurios kai ho Theos hemon).
Now let us look at Revelation 4:6 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.
In the old days it was almost impossible to make pure glass. Pure glass that was as clear as crystal was considered to be as valuable and precious as gold. (Job 28:17).
The glassy sea shows us how clearly God is able to see everything that is out before His throne. It stands for His omniscience and penetrating vision into all things. Nothing is hid from Him who is upon the throne of heaven.
Before I close I want to deal with two questions that some ask, such as:
(1)Some would ask how can we enjoy heaven knowing our loved one are going to be cast into eternal hell.
When the rapture takes place we will be changed into our glorified bodies. In our glorified bodies we will not think the way we mortals think now, we will think the way God thinks.
When God cast the lost into a burning hell He is not doing something evil. He is a holy God who has never done anything evil.
Hell is prepared for the devil and his angels the Bible tells us. God has never sent anyone to hell, He has died on the cross to keep mankind from going there. God does not send people to hell, THEY SEND THEMSELVES!
That is, when God cast our loved ones and friends into an eternal hell, we are not going to be angry with God. We will saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.”
Illus: This will be one reason when we get to heaven in our glorified bodies there will be no marriages. Why? Because if there was marriages in heaven we would be showing favoritism to our spouses. In heaven we will become the family of God and we will all have an equal love for each other.
I have heard people say, “When I get to heaven I can not wait to see my Mom!” Listen, in your glorified body when you get to heaven you will have the same love for the family of God as you do for your Mom.
In heaven in our glorified bodies we will be not many families, but one family, the family of God.
So heaven is not going to be sad for us when loved ones and friends are cast into hell. In our glorified bodies we will think the way Christ thinks.
Another question that some ask…
(2)During the tribulation period will there be people getting saved.
There are going to be MANY saved during the tribulation. This is when the jews will come to know that Christ is truly the Son of God.
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
If the dispensation of grace has ceased to exist how can they be saved.
Look again Rev. 7:14 “…and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”
Everyone who enters heaven is by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB. That’s old testament saints, New testament and tribulation saints.
All people of all time have always and forever been saved in the same way, “by grace, through faith.”
• All those living before Christ simply looked forward and believe,
• While those since Christ look back and believe?
These will be saved by the blood of the Lamb but those who saved are going to face sufferings like the world has ever experienced before.
God is going to reach the lost during this horrific time of trouble through 2 basic avenues. They are as follows:
1. The 2 Witnesses
2. 144,000 Jewish Witnesses
All of the above avenues will be extreme measures being taken by God to reach as many people as He possibly can with His Church having already been taken out of the big picture by way of the Rapture.
Conclusion:
In Revelation 4b we have looked at:
I. THE TWENTY FOUR ELDERS
II. THE FOUR CREATURES
