Revelation {1:10} I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet {1:11} Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea.
Revelation {4:1} 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.
The voice as if a trumpet told John to write in a book and send what he'd written onto God's people in various areas- a message truly for God's people throughout time.
The voice as if a trumpet afterwards said - 'Come up hither and I will shew thee things which MUST be hereafter.'
Must be- not might be, this isn't any fictional character of a spirit nature with a big scary voice saying he was going to show John things that might come to pass. This big voice (for how else would you catagorize a voice as if a trumpet?) told John he was going to be shown things which MUST be hereafter. So all that would be shown is factual in the nature of having to come to pass at some point in time after the vision. Prophecy.
Revelation {4:2} And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne
When we talk of John being in the spirit it's sufficent to note that He was caught up into heavenly things, yes? All the while he's being shown things, hearing things he's in the spirit- the Holy Spirit is there opening his eyes, his heart, his mind to all that is going on-- he's truly being led by the spirit he's not doing any of this of his own accord and refuses to have anyone even think he is. He was in the spirit as all this took place, this was of God.
The vision given to Him was one of heaven- a throne in heaven with someone upon that throne.
{4:3} 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.
That someone sitting there was amazing to look upon- they weren't like humans, but rather they had an appearance of precious stones, not only precious stones but a rainbow was around the throne and then there is mention of an emerald- again a precious stone. We know for a fact God had Moses use precious stones when creating the Breastplate of Judgment-
Exodus {28:15} And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; [of] gold, [of] blue, and [of] purple, and [of]scarlet, and [of] fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. {28:16} Foursquare it shall be [being] doubled; a span [shall be] the length thereof, and a span [shall be] the breadth thereof. {28:17} And thou shalt set in it settings of
stones, [even] four rows of stones: [the first] row [shall be] a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: [this shall be] the first
row. {28:18} And the second row [shall be] an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. {28:19} And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. {28:20} And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. {28:21} And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, [like] the engravings of a signet; every one
with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes
The breastplate of judgment- modeled after the Ephod.
It's amazing to imagine such a sight isn't it? Such beauty- and with a rainbow round about the throne- yes, it certainly gives the imagination something to work with- something amazing.
{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. {4:5} 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
Such a vivid picture! A throne and around about the the throne 24 seats. In those 24 seats were 24 elders. These 24 elders have to be very important just by the fact they are surrounding the throne of God. You don't get such an important seating unless there is something special about you- as a rule. We can't help but think of the two important 12's in the Bible- the 12 tribes of Israel (the 12 sons of Joseph) of the Old Testament and the 12 Apostles of Jesus of the New Testament (12 being the one that replaced Judas after Jesus' death). The old and the new brought together- yes, this is pure conjecture it doesn't say the 24 elders are such but it's one possibility.
The mention of their clothing is important- white raiment. We just studied about the various churches Jesus gave admonishments and promises to. Remember this-
'Rev. {3:5} He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.'
He that overcomes will be clothed in white raiment- the symbolism of overcoming through Christ. Only the worthy are clothed in white raiment so the 24 elders are obviously worthy of such garments depicting their overcoming.
What about the crowns they wore- 'Rev. {2:10} Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.'
There's the 'crown of life'.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
1 Pet. 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Interesting bit of information here- http://refbible.com/c/crown.htm
One of two Greek words for crown-
(1) Stephanos means a chaplet (wreath) made of leaves or leaf-like gold, used for marriage and festive occasions, and expressing public recognition of victory in races, games and war; also figuratively as a reward for efficient Christian life and service (see GAMES). This symbol was more noticeable and intricate than the plain fillet. Only in the Re of John is stephanos called "golden." The "crown of thorns" which Jesus wore was a stephanos (woven wreath) of thorns; the kind is not known (Matthew 27:29 Mark 15:17 John 19:2, 5). Luke makes no mention of it. Whether intended to represent royalty or victory, it was caricature crown. Stephanos is found in 1 Corinthians 9:25 Philippians 4:1 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 4:8 James 1:12 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:11; Revelation 6:2; Revelation 12:1; Revelation 14:14; plural in Revelation 4:4, 10; Revelation 9:7; "crowned" in 2 Timothy 2:5 Hebrews 2:9; "crownedst" in Hebrews 2:7.
A reward for efficent Christian life and service. These 24 elders wore the raiment of white- the righteousness of Christ and the golden crown of victory in Christ, life in Christ - the elders service, their devotion to Christ is uncontested and rewarded by their positions on thrones, their clothing, their crowns. We might not know exactly who the elders are but we know beyond a doubt they are worthy and overcomers in Christ. Some might say they can't be representatives of the 12 tribes of Israel and have the white raiment of Christ, and they'd be wrong. The hope of the Savior is known throughout the entire Old Testament. That hope is Christ.
Rev. {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. {4:5} 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
Out of throne came lightning, thundering, and voices. Wow! Such noise!
Also amongst all this were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of God, the seven Spirits of God. Seven the number of perfection, of completeness.
This is an amazing heavenly vision to behold, it's powerful and thought provoking.
Rev. {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.
A sea of glass like crystal- we have a saying that something is- crystal clear. This sea of glass like crystal- a clear sea, such an amazing sea. Can you for a moment imagine a sea of glass, a sea of crystal clear glass? It boggles the mind it really does and it invokes such beauty.
Now the next bit- 'round about the thrown were four beasts...' This immediately seems to take away from what we envision to be a perfect, glorious scene- beasts introduced to such beauty. Beasts full of eyes before and behind. Truly the imagination can picture these beasts and they're not very pretty at all. Of course that's because of the translation really- read this--
'Four beasts. Four living creatures, as in the Revised Version. Four beasts, as in the Common Version, is an incorrect idea. The Greek for beasts is different ( thiria ). They are four zoa, living forms.' http://bible.cc/revelation/4-6.htm
Invoking the image of a beast doesn't do justice to this vision at all- changing that word to 'four living creatures' lets the imagination free to see beauty once more- not something hidious at all. Living creatures with the ability to see everything for what else could having eyes everywhere front and back mean? The ability to see the past and the future?
We're not left to imagine just any old living creatures though, we are given examples to implement-
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'And the first beast [was] like a lion
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Like a lion. Lions are majestic creatures aren't they? Powerful to be sure.
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and the second beast like a calf
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Like a calf. What do you think of when you think of a calf? Young and yet powerful, right? A calf with the ability to grow up into an amazing creature.
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and the third beast had a face as a man
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Well we know what men look like so having a beast with a face of a man does what? Tends to let us believe that there is intelligence beyond what is normal in an animalistic living creature.
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and the fourth beast [was] like a flying eagle.
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We imagine eagles and can't help but envision the sheer majesty and power of that bird, it's truly in a class by itself for envoking power and majesty isn't it? The strength of an eagle is something often used as a descriptive term. Strong as an eagle, swift as and eagle. Power.
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{4:8} And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him;]
These four living creatures with attributes of the familiar all had six wings! Wings we know depict swiftness, speed. Two powerful wings can get you far, four double that, six triple the powerful speed behind such wings.
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and [they were] full of eyes within
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Again the mention of eyes- of having that ability to see all and it has to be all. To be full of eyes you are seeing everywhich way. You aren't limited by two eyes looking forward but if you're full of eyes you are seeing everything at once without limits.
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and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
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Amazing! A constant praise of our Lord God almighty! These super amazing living creatures using their voices to praise God, so wondrous.
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{4:9} And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, {4:10} 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, {4:11} 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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Too awe inspiring for words really. True worship, true honor, true praise to our Creator! Our Lord! None deserves such worship but God and God alone by whom ALL things were created! What a privilege for John to be able to see such wonders. How blessed we are to have the vision told to us. Blessed.
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