Chapter Introduction
Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)
Transition
Do you remember doing outlines in school? There are many ways to do them: Roman numerals, capital letters, numbers, and so forth. We probably all remember that one teacher who was a stickler for doing it her way. Outlines help us stay focused and put things in order.
John wrote down the outline of this revelation that was given to him by Jesus. John was on the island of Patmos. He was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and suddenly, he heard a voice like a trumpet. That voice was the voice of Jesus, and He said, I am the Alpha and Omega, what you see, write in a book and send it to the churches.
Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. (Revelation 1:19)
Our outline would begin to look something like this.
- Things which you have seen.
- Chapter 1, John’s vision of Jesus among the lampstands.
- Things which are
- Letter to Ephesian church; loveless.
- Letter to Smyrna church; persecuted.
- Letter to Pergamos church; compromising
- Letter to Thyatira church; corrupt
- Letter to Sardis church; dead
- Letter to Philadelphia church; faithful
- Letter to Laodicean church, lukewarm
- Things which will take place after.
The things which John had seen was the first vision of Jesus among the lampstands. He gave John directions to write down all that he was about to be shown. Then he surveyed the current state of the church, spoke to that church’s situation, and finally gave a lesson of hope and opportunity to all that would hear. All those churches existed at that time, and we should probably see that things haven’t changed that much with churches because the wicked hearts of people haven’t changed.
It may also be a roadmap of the church, where each of these churches represents an era, leaving the lukewarm church as the final prominent nature of the church at the end of days. You don’t have to spend too long looking around the church to see we are more Laodicean than ever before.
This brings us to chapter 4 and the things that will take place after this. Chapter 4 begins, "After these things." The first question is probably what things? The seven churches were the "things" which are. Chapter 4 transitions to a time "after these things". This is a time after the church but before the Lord rules. This transition time is known as the tribulation. This section begins in chapter 4 and extends to chapter 18.
The first two verses of chapter 4 will generate a study that takes us through the entire bible as they appear to show the transition from the church age to the time of God's wrath being poured out on the earth. This is the transition from a world that is ruled by Satan to the rule of Christ on earth. The setting changes as John finds himself looking to heaven and seeing an open door. He suddenly heard the sound of a trumpet that was the voice of God. That voice called him to heaven, "Come up here, and I will show you things that must take place after this."
Is this transition showing us the end of the church age? The change is sudden, with the voice as a trumpet calling John to heaven, “Come up here.” Immediately, John found himself before the throne of God in heaven. Could this be John portraying, or acting out, what will happen to every Christian at the end of the church age? In addition, we see the church discussed in great detail in Revelation 2 and 3 but then it is not mentioned again from chapters 4 through 19 during this time of tribulation. Then, at the beginning of chapter 19, we see the same phrase as the beginning of chapter 4: “meta touta,” meaning after these things. Chapter 19 is another transition, moving the story out of the Tribulation. When we get there, we'll see Christ with His saints, the marriage supper of the lamb.
- Things which you have seen.
- Chapter 1, John’s vision of Jesus among the lampstands.
- Things which are
- Letter to Ephesian church; loveless.
- Letter to Smyrna church; persecuted.
- Letter to Pergamos church; compromising
- Letter to Thyatira church; corrupt
- Letter to Sardis church; dead
- Letter to Philadelphia church; faithful
- Letter to Laodicean church; lukewarm
- Things which will take place after.
- After the church age, the 7-year tribulation, chapters 4-18
- After the tribulation, Chapters 19-22
***
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? (1Thessalonians 2:19)
This says we will be in his presence at his coming. To be in his presence at his coming, we would have to be joined to Him prior to that time. They seem to be absent in the tribulation period but present with the Lord at His coming. This further supports the idea that believers will be snatched away into heaven. This I called the rapture.
There are several different beliefs about the rapture, some believe there is no rapture. That's okay, these are not things we should divide over. End times theology is not a salvation issue. Yet, we want to get it right. There is one truth, and we should seek the Lord for it. We may not all see eye to eye as we make our way through end times prophecy. However, I trust we are all teachable and are willing to look at what the bible says and let the Spirit teach us. We each bring biases to our place of learning, seek the Lord to overcome our biases and pursue truth.
I would love it if the Lord gave us a couple of of chapters in the Bible where He clearly laid out the doctrine of the rapture, how it fits in the end times, and how the tribulation all fits together. However, in His infinite wisdom, He gave us what we could handle and what we needed to know and left the veil over much of the specifics.
Rapture
The promise of Jesus to the faithful church:
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
In that passage Jesus went on to tell them He was coming quickly. That phrase 'coming quickly' doesn't speak so much of the calendar or the clock but how rapidly it would unfold once it starts. When He comes, it is going to happen in the blink of an eye.
(You might also read Luke 21:36 here)
We can also go to 1 Thessalonians 1 and see it's not God's intention to pour his wrath out on his people. Paul is saying to these folks that they are an example of faith being lived out. Paul noted that from the beginning, when they heard the gospel:
“…how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9b-10)
Paul taught that we should wait for Jesus and that He would deliver us from the coming wrath. We see that hope in chapter five.
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
Several passages agree that wrath is coming to the earth. We won’t be around during the wrath, so where are we going?
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)
He will receive us to Him so we can go where He is! During that day, a Jew would recognize these words as the phrase used by the groom at a wedding. A groom would say those words to his bride and then leave to build an addition to his father’s house before returning for his bride. Once that room was complete to the father's satisfaction, the father would send the groom to go get his bride. As far as the bride was concerned, she didn't know when he would return, not the day or the hour. She could be waiting up to a year! He may come as a thief in the middle of the night, at an hour she might not think, with a loud cry, and a procession of trumpet blasts and his friends saying, “Behold! The Bridegroom Comes!”
In the Bible, the church is referred to as the bride of Christ. Jesus is the bridegroom. In Acts 1, Jesus went away to heaven. He went to prepare that place for His bride, the church. He is coming soon, at an hour we don't know, and with the blast of a trumpet, the bridegroom comes. We will then enter our heavenly mansion. After which comes the bridal week and the marriage supper of the lamb.
The rapture is the bridegroom returning for His bride. This rapture is a mysterious thing. You won't find the word rapture in your bible. Yet, the picture of the rapture is present in several places and in several ways. The first picture we should look at is the passage we just read. John was about his business. He looked up and saw a door open to heaven. Then he heard the sound of a trumpet, and the voice said, Come up here. Immediately he was in the spirit and before the throne of God.
Elijah was walking with Elisha and talking one day, and suddenly, a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. One minute, Elijah and Elisha were about their business in life; the next, he was ushered out of this world. Elisha saw the man of God carried away, and it says, "Elisha saw him no more." Elijah passed from earth to heaven without death.
Enoch walked with God for 300 years after he had kids. Then, one day, Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. Enoch passed from life on earth to heaven without death.
We also see pictures of the rapture when God removed his people from his judgment. We see this when the righteous Noah is closed in the ark before the flood. We can look to the story of righteous Lot as a picture of God removing His people from judgment. Lot was brought out of Sodom before God rained down fire and brimstone on it.
With those pictures and types in mind we can look at scriptures that support it. Let's start with 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. There were false teachers telling the Thessalonians that the resurrection had already happened. These folks thought they had missed it. They were concerned that they wouldn't see their loved ones that had passed away. Some of these false teachers were saying that Paul was teaching this idea. Paul wrote to them to give them assurance and set things straight.
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. (There's that trumpet again) And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)
While the word ‘rapture’ isn’t found in your bible, another word is. The word for 'caught up' is a harpazo. It means to be snatched away or snatched out of a situation or setting. The word harpazo is used in the bible 14 times. The Latin vulgate translated the word harpazo to rapturo; this is where the word rapture comes from.
Note: the word ‘harpazo’ is used many times in the New Testament: 2 Corinthians 12:4; Joh10:28-29; Jude 1:23; John 10:10; Matthew 12:29; John 6:15; Matthew 11:12; Revelation 12:5; Matthew 13:19; Acts 8:39; Acts 23:10. One of the uses is 2 Corinthians 12:2 – Paul tells of a man (himself) being “caught up” to the 3rd heaven and "caught up" to paradise.
Paul also spoke of the rapture to the church of Corinth. This church had lots of questions. Among them, they wondered how this resurrection could happen to those who had died and those who lived, all of whom were wretched sinners. Do we get new bodies? Will they be better? You know they were wondering if they would be young and fit. Would they have hair? Etc.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
(1 Corinthians 15:51)
Sleep is an idiom for death. Not everyone will die, but every Christian will be changed.
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:52-54)
The word Paul uses for “changed” is defined this way: to cause one thing to cease and another to take its place, or to exchange one thing for another. Paul used it to give us this picture of taking off this corruptible earthly body and putting on a new one that is incorruptible and eternal.
Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)
Paul was telling them they didn't miss the day of the Lord. There has to be a great apostasy first, and then the man of sin, the anti-Christ, is revealed. They hadn't seen any of that happening. If they had, then they would have something to worry about.
Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (2 Thessalonians 2:5-8)
Paul wrote this to answer their questions again. Look at verse 1 again. This pertains to "Our gathering together to Him". The Greek word for “gathering” in verse 1 is espisynagoge. Use in only 1 other place as “meeting together”. In both cases, it means the gathering together of the saints of God into one place.
Many see this restraining force as the Holy Spirit present in the church. As the church is removed from the earth, so is the overwhelming presence of the Spirit. Now, the Holy Spirit isn't completely removed from the earth, but He will no longer be a restraining force. God's wrath will be unleashed on the earth. We'll see that as we continue through the book of Revelation.
This is a song of salivation that will be sung on a day that is coming soon.
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:19-21)
Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’s anger. (Zephaniah 2:3)
On the day of Pentecost, Peter is speaking to the crowd:
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’[f]
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:29-36)
Peter was quoting Psalm 110 and applying it to the Father speaking to Jesus. During the church age; during the age of grace, Jesus has been seated at the right hand of the Father. UNTIL, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.
As John was snatched away in the spirit, he found himself standing before the throne. I believe John was getting a preview of what the believers will experience, and he wrote it down for us. When we are raptured, we will be instantly ushered to heaven as John was. But in our case, it will be the real thing. That rapture event is then the beginning of that 'until' the Father was referring to; the "until" that Peter quoted. At the rapture, God will begin moving to make the enemies of the Lord His footstool.
In Revelation 3:21, Jesus promised to the Lukewarm church of Laodicea:
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Jesus overcame sin and death and is seated at the right hand of the Father. In doing this, the wrath we deserve was put on Jesus. We are saved from wrath. When we are in Christ and we overcome this world by His power, once the church is snatched away into heaven, we will be ushered before the throne of grace as Jesus is seated there. Then, the process of God pouring His wrath out will begin.
(Read also Matthew 25:1-8 and Revelation 19:7-8)
Revelation 4:1-11
What a treat to get this glimpse into heaven. These visions are strange to us. Imagine yourself standing in John’s shoes. It was as though a window in heaven was standing open. The voice John heard was the same trumpet-like voice he heard in 1:10 when he was in the spirit and heard a loud voice as a trumpet. John was summoned to heaven by the voice of God! The Lord would show him what was to happen after the church age.
John said he was immediately in the Spirit. The things he would see were a preview of the coming days. They were real enough to John, but John’s body was somewhere on Patmos. His Spirit would get a preview of these coming days. In his trip to heaven Paul said he didn’t know if he was in the body or out of the body. All he knew was he was present in some way. John gives us an account of all his spirit saw without attempting to give any explanation of the things we don’t comprehend. We should probably be cautious trying to explain things John didn’t or assign meaning where John didn’t or where the rest of the Bible doesn’t.
Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.” ( Exodus 19:13)
Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. (Exodus 19:16)
And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. (Exodus 19:19)
18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. (Exodus 20:18)
The Throne before which every knee would bow.
The first thing John saw in heaven was a throne. It was the prominent feature, the center of attention. Everything else is secondary. This wasn't just a throne before John, but it was a throne occupied by God. That's something we can't forget. No matter how bad things get, and I believe they will go from bad to worse before we stand before that throne, we can’t forget that God is on the throne. The throne suggests sovereignty, power, authority, and might.
John didn’t really describe seeing a person or likeness of a person on the throne. John looked at this throne and saw the glory of God. There was no mistaking that the Father was on the throne. What he saw looked like Jasper and Sardius stone. If John were to describe some definite shape, size, or sight of any kind, man would be tempted to make an idol. The word from which Jasper is translated is a cut stone for jewelry, thought to be Jasper, which is red, yellow, amber, and can even be greenish. This word shows up later in Revelation in the construction of the New Jerusalem. It shows up on the 12 different foundations, one of which was also Jasper. In the Old Testament, Jasper is found in Ezekiel to describe the stones found in Eden that were the covering of Satan. They also show up in Exodus in the ephod of the priest.
Jasper and sardius are cut to give them many facets, to display the swirls and blend of the many colors of light they reflect. Such is man’s best attempt to describe the infinite. God is on the throne. It is a throne of perfect beauty. It is a throne of matchless power and authority. Any end-times study will include a study of kingdoms and empires. That can carry us back to the beginning of time. It’s a power struggle of ruling the world, of dominion over man. The rebellion of man was about not accepting God’s way. It was men saying, “I think I know what's best for me. I will sit on the throne that rules my life.” This mindset is more prominent than ever in our culture, is it not? Our world, in general, says there is no throne. Or, they place another on the throne, as in politics, presidents, philosophers, and philosophies. In every case, these thrones fail miserably. In the end, we will all find out that God is on the throne. In the end, every man will bow before this throne.
John knows it is God who sits on the throne. John no doubt wondered about the day he would stand before the throne. He had prayed to God many times, wondered about Him in many ways, and even wondered in those dark seasons if He was there. What a breathtaking sight and what a moment for John to experience. He calmly writes to us of colors, sights, and light as best as he knows how.
Completely encircling that throne is an emerald rainbow. The word for rainbow is Iris. It's used one other place, later in Revelation, when a mighty angel also has this rainbow around him. The understanding seems to be that God is surrounded by the emerald aura of light. The plain understanding of the word rainbow, though, is just like we think of it, a multicolored reminder of God's promise; even though He is "all-powerful" and can do anything He wants, He is faithful to His word.
The Elders
The center of all things is God's throne. Around that throne are 24 small thrones. On these thrones, John saw 24 elders sitting clothed in their white robes, with crowns of gold on their heads.
Some see these 24 as the 24 orders of the priesthood or the 12 apostles with representatives from the 12 tribes. We don’t know the specific identity of these thrones. They represent God’s people, wearing white robes that speak of those washed clean of their sins. Surely, they represent the church.
In the dead church, there were a few to whom the Lord promised would walk with Him in white.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments. (Revelation 3:5)
It's interesting to note that Daniel and Ezekiel describe the details of the throne in much the same way, yet there are no 24 elders or small thrones present. The church was still a mystery not yet revealed in Daniel and Ezekiel's time.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. (2 Timothy 2:11-12)
In Ephesians, Paul spoke of God’s great love and mercy toward us. Even though we were once dead, He made us alive and:
…raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6)
To the lukewarm church of Laodicea, the Lord said:
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21)
These 24 elders had crowns on their heads. These are not crowns of authority but crowns of victory. The word is “Stephanos” (1 Peter 5:9). It's the crown earned by overcoming. Jesus mockingly wore a Stephanos of thorns. Now, that stephanos is the most universally recognized crown in the world. Paul said in 1 Corinthians we all run a race. Those of the world run their race for a perishable crown, one that will fade, tarnish, and will someday burn away. It's a crown of temporary exaltation, false power, or momentary authority. The Christian runs their race for an imperishable crown. It's a crown of victory. It's from dying to self, identifying with the victory over sin and death. It's an everlasting crown awarded to us.
To the persecuted church, the Lord promised:
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
I imagine John could scarcely take it all in.
Seven lamps of fire
From the throne proceeded lightning, thundering, and voices. These same sights and sounds were heard on Mt. Sinai when the children of Israel were gathered before God. The earth quaked and fire descended on the mountain to strike fear in them.
Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. If we look back at the Tabernacle, we see that its elements are patterned after the throne room of heaven. Moses was given that pattern in Exodus 24. The writer of Hebrews confirmed that these things are a pattern of heavenly things.
.......there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.(Hebrews 8:4b-5)
The writer of Hebrews made the point that the priests in the Tabernacle were a type and a shadow of the Great High Priest Jesus, who serves in the heavens. The seven lamps of fire are found in the Tabernacle and temple, just outside the Holy of Holies (Ex 37:23). John saw something very similar before God’s throne. John also taught us that Jesus is the light of the world. All through scripture, God’s word is likened to a lamp and light. His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Jesus is the Word of God.
In the temple, the lamps never went out, the priests kept the oil flowing to the lamp. The oil points toward the Holy Spirit who gives abundantly, without limit. To shine eternal light on the Almighty. The seven lamps of holy fire are the seven Spirits of God, a likeness of His perfection and completeness.
There was a sea of glass before the throne—this is the only place this word for glass is used. We know that at the tabernacle or temple, there was a bronze laver for ceremonial washing. We liken that washing to the washing spoken of in Ephesians.
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
John leaves us wondering if there was an actual sea of glass or a crystal-like approach to the throne. The sea was often associated with the forces of chaos. Below the surface of the sea was the darkness, evil, and death. It brings to mind the panicked disciples tossed in the waves and wind until Jesus calms the sea. The glassy sea may be a contrast to the sea of the earth. We’ll see later. This sea before the throne is tranquil, quiet, controlled, and free from chaos.
The approach of the throne is by pure and tranquil living water.
Around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes.
The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
We know these living creatures are cherubim that tend to God's throne. We tend to think of them as angels because they are heavenly beings, but the Bible doesn’t really call them angels. In Ezekiel’s vision of the throne, he said he saw the heavens open and visions of God whose hand was upon him.
I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. All four of them had faces and wings, and the wings of one touched the wings of another.
This is an interesting detail. The first place these Cherubim show up is guarding the Garden of Eden. But the most prominent place we see them is in the detailed design of the temple. Two cherubim were made of Gold and placed over the mercy seat in the temple. Their wings extended from each other and touched. These same beings were sewn into the fabric of the curtains, one after another, with their wings touching.
Ezekiel went on.....
Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.
Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. 11 Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. 12 Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. 13 The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. 14 The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
Why in the world do these beings have four faces? John saw four different creatures, full of eyes front and back. Each creature had a different face. They had six wings. Ezekiel saw four faces in each being and said they had six wings. Isaiah saw Seraphim and said they had six wings among other attributes..
Some see hese four faces as representing the whole of created order.
- The lion represents power.
- The ox represents faithfulness and service.
- The man represents intelligence.
- The eagle shows God’s sovereignty.
These are likened by some to:
- Earth
- Fire
- Water
- Air.
Some say they are the cardinal virtues:
- Prudence
- Justice
- Fortitude
- Temperance
They could be the patriarchal churches, the great apostles, the orders of churchmen, the principal angels, or representatives of the 4 gospels. Some see them as the ensigns when the tribes were placed around the Tabernacle. Others see them as reflecting God’s nature. Maybe all of these are right, at least in part. More likely, none are right.
John goes on in verse to further describe these creatures as being full of eyes around and within. We can see vigilance in this description. These are amazing creations of God to guard the throne. To overanalyse and make them too symbolic might detract from their reality. These angels tend to the throne. They are super intelligent beings possessing consciousness, insight, and purpose. They were created to worship God and to glorify Him.
John said they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
They do not rest, but there is no restlessness in them. They never said, ”Are we almost done?” They worship without ceasing.
There was one Cherub who wasn’t content with his designed purpose. His name is Lucifer. He was the anointed cherub that covers. (Ezekiel 28:14-15)
When these creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to God, the twenty-four elders fall prostrate before Him and worship. They cast their crowns before the throne.
“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
The angels of God lead the people of God in worship. The Elders fall down before God, assuming a position of humility before their creator. And they cast their crowns of victory before the throne. To keep the crown may provoke some sense of pride as if I accomplished some victory. To cast it before the throne is to declare that He alone is worthy. Victory came to us by Jesus Christ. To fall down before the king, to cast your crown before Him, was to pay homage to Him. It was saying, my victory is your victory. My life is your life. I am nothing, you are everything.
This is just the beginning of the third part of the revelation. Jesus gave this to John to encourage those believers who were struggling with life and culture, with pain, sorrow, and discouragement. The overriding message of the book of Revelation is the THRONE OF GOD! He is still on the THRONE in spite of all that has happened, will happen, or is currently going on.
The really important part of the message today is that we aren’t much different from those folks in John’s time. We don’t deal with as much persecution, but the flood of dissipation is alive and well. The pull of our world, our culture, is powerful. It’s hard to be “set apart” and seek to live a pious life, seeking the holiness of God.
In spite of our successes or even failures, in spite of fiscal cliffs and economic disasters, in spite of Obamacare, unemployment, gun laws, or anything else, GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. We long to persevere to the end, so someday we are awarded that crown, and we might fall down before that throne and cast our crown before Him.
Must Jesus bear the cross alone,
And all the world go free?
No, there’s a cross for everyone,
And there’s a cross for me.
How happy are the saints above,
Who once went sorr’wing here!
But now they taste unmingled love,
And joy without a tear.
The consecrated cross I’ll bear
Till death shall set me free;
And then go home my crown to wear,
For there’s a crown for me.
Upon the crystal pavement down
At Jesus’ pierced feet,
Joyful I’ll cast my golden crown
And His dear Name repeat.
O precious cross! O glorious crown!
O resurrection day!
When Christ the Lord from heav’n comes down
And bears my soul away.
Thomas Shepherd (1665-1739)
©2021 Doug Ford; revised and updated 2024
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