Revelation 4:2 TH
And immediately I was in the spirit…
I don’t know how things are at your house, but at my house there’s a whole lot of flesh at times. Just getting up in the morning and dealing with Jason is a challenge. Physically it sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies, snap, crackle, and pop is the normal morning song. Because of that
I’m really looking forward to being in the spirit, to being immediately changed. Spiritually, I have to constantly keep my natural man in check. He always wants to be in charge. How many of you today found yourself allowing the “man” to be in charge. We all struggle with this battle constantly. We all fail continually. However, there’s coming a day when we will no longer struggle with the flesh because when we see Him, we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2).
Revelation 4:2
… and behold, a throne set in heaven,…
Now that John has been caught up in the spirit to witness the things that shall happen hereafter. He enters into the throne room. There the first thing that captures John’s eye is a throne set, or literally “planted” in heaven. Why, would this be so important. Considering who John was writing to it was vitally important. They were under terrible persecution and seeing a throne set as John saw Would bring them hope as it should us as well. Many of the altars or god’s of the old testament could be picked up and moved from one “grove” to the next. They’re gods were fleeting, had variance, and always changing. The altars of Baal and other gods were portable. The scene of a throne planted, unmovable and unshakeable would give them comfort.
He’s unmovable, unshakable, He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever, yet get’s better and better. As the old timers used to say He gets sweeter as the days go by.
Revelation 4:2
…and one sat on the throne.
Hebrews 10:11-14 – He sat down…
Revelation 4:3 (a)
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper…
The jasper stone was a clear stone—probably a diamond—and speaks of light, holiness and purity. Because God is light (1 John 1:5). His light dispels darkness. Maybe this week a word of disappointment hit your life and brought darkness. Maybe it was a medical report or a friend and a word from the hit your life. It may have surprised you because you weren’t expecting it. You were in the dark so to speak. However, God’s not in the dark about your disappointment. What often happens is we want to know, if God knows about it, why doesn’t He do something about it?
The answer to that is that He has.…
Revelation 4:3
… and a sardius stone in appearance
A sardius stone was most likely what we call a ruby. As soon as we here of that stone the ruby, a color comes to mind. Which of course, is red. It’s the blood of Christ that was shed for us on Calvary, that is the solution to all of life’s problems. The blood flowed from His veins as the nails pierced His hands, as the crown of thorns was clubbed into His skull, as the spear sliced into His side.
And through it all, He would declare, His great love for us, in spite of who we were and who we are. God loves us. ( Romans 5:8). Tell me what else could God possibly do to show you He’s in love with you and wants the best for you? He laid everything on the line and was crucified in your place all the while with you on His mind and on His heart.
Exodus 28, tells us that the high priest wore a breastplate upon which were twelve stones—one for each tribe. The first of the twelve sons of Jacob was Reuben. Reuben’s name means “behold” or “see, a son.” His stone was the sardius stone. The last of the twelve sons was Benjamin, whose name means “son of my right hand.” Benjamin’s stone was a jasper.
Therefore, this One on the throne is, “Behold, the Son of My right hand.” It’s Jesus.
Revelation 4:3 (c)
and there wasa rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
We’ve been conditioned that the throne room of God is a dangerous, scary, and intimidating place. Two verses down it states that there is lightning and thunder coming from the throne. It gives a visual of a massive storm around the throne. So you would have to fight through the storm to get to the Throne of Grace. We have been trained, cautioned, and instructed that when a storm is approaching we should evacuate or take cover. The issue is two-fold. First, we have already been covered. We have been covered by the blood of Jesus and through that we gain access to enter the throne room of God. Not only to enter but enter boldly.
Secondly, it’s the wrong view of the throne. The throne of God is not surrounded by danger signs or warning lights. It’s surrounded by a rainbow which is an sign of grace (Genesis 9:16). That is why we are not instructed to come boldly unto the throne of service, intense worship, or even clean living. We are invited to come boldly unto the throne of grace(Hebrews 4:16).
Revelation 4:4
4 Around the throne weretwenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Here are two different views of the identity of the twenty-four elders.
The Old Testament priesthood was divided into twenty-four groups (1 Chronicles 24), and because the church is called a kingdom of priests (Revelation 1:6), some suggest that the twenty-four elders speaks of the church, with their white garments symbolizing the righteousness given to us in Christ.
Another view, which I am more inclined to agree with, is that the twenty-four elders refer to the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles because on each of the twelve gates into the New Jerusalem is the name of one of the patriarchs; and on each of the foundations is the name of an apostle (Revelation 21).
If this is the case, the twenty-four elders would symbolize God’s people in entirety—the patriarchs representing the Old Testament believers, the apostles representing the New Testament believers.
That’s my opinion regarding the identity of the twenty-four elders.
However, we can be certain of their ministry, for as the Book of Revelation progresses, we’ll see what these twenty four elders do in heaven. It’s a great example of what elders should be doing in the church.
First we see the elders sitting in the presence of God.
In the next chapter, the elders seek out John, saying, “Weep not. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has prevailed.”
Later, we see an elder ask John questions to open a spiritual discussion, they provide information and revelation. You’ll also see the elders singing a new song.
I believe that elders, ministers, and those serving in the church here on earth, must be those who sit in God’s presence, those who seek out people who are hurting and point them to the Lord. We must be those who share truth; and those who sing a new song of something God is doing today, in this hour.
Revelation 4:5
And from the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices…
When you see lightning and hear thunder, you know a storm is coming. Keep in mind that John is addressing people going through terrible times and dark days. Just like you and I when we are going through tough times. We want to know when the enemy of our soul gets what’s coming to him. You might not sense it, feel it or know it. However, there’s a storm of justice coming to your enemy that old serpent the devil. God will repay him for everything that he has done.
Revelation 4:5
…seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
See Isaiah 11:2 this speaks of the seven-fold nature of God’s Spirit.
Revelation 4:6
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal…
When you get to heaven, the throne will catch your eye, seeing Jesus will impact your heart and life, and the crystal sea before the throne will bring you peace. However, this is a lesson for us now. When life is tough and difficult, we should pursue the throne of God. Often we want to go out and rectify the situation. Instead, we should head towards the throne, and while we are on our way, we will encounter the peace of God, even before we get to the throne.
Revelation 4:6
…and in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, werefour living creatures full of eyes in front and in back
The Greek word translated “beasts” which is how It appears in the King James Version, actually means “creatures.” These living creatures are described in greater detail in Ezekiel 1 and 10, where we are told they are cherubim. We come into the Cherubim first in the Garden of Eden. God commissioned cherubim with flaming swords to keep Adam and Even from eating of the tree of life and living forever in their fallen condition (Genesis 3:24).
In the Book of Exodus, cherubim are then seen again on the mercy seat. (Exodus 25:17)
Revelation 4:7
7 The first living creature waslike a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature waslike a flying eagle.
Since the early days of church history, many of stated that the four faces of these cherubim correspond with the four Gospels:
Matthew presents Jesus as King, typified by a lion.
Mark presents Him as a Servant, the ox representing a servant.
Luke presents Jesus in His Humanity, seen in the face of a man.
John presents Jesus as the Son of God, pictured by the eagle who not only soars higher than any other creature, but is the only animal able to look directly into the sun, even as only the Son of God beholds the glory of the Father.
Now when we are talking about a four faced creature, if I were to come in contact with it and not have understanding, I would have fear. Knowledge eliminates the fear and in its place should be peace. Understanding these four faces, having revelation brings peace to our lives. Dig a little deeper and we can get revelation about these four faced creatures.
In chapters 1 and 2 of the Book of Numbers, God declares that His people were to camp in a certain order as they traveled through the wilderness. He told the Levites to surround the tabernacle on the north, south, east, and west sides.
Numbers 2 goes on to say that on each of the four sides were to be three tribes.
Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon, numbering 186,400, were to camp on the east side and were known as the Camp of Judah.
What is the symbol of Judah? The Lion. Why were they on the east side? Because when Jesus comes back, roaring with authority, (I Thessalonians 4:15-18) He’s going to come from the East.
Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, numbering 108,100, were to camp on the west side, and were known as the Camp of Ephraim. Their symbol was an ox.
Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, numbering 151,400, were to camp on the south side and were known as the Camp of Reuben, whose symbol was a man.
Dan, Naphtali, and Asher, numbering 157,600, were to camp on the north side and were known as the Camp of Dan, signified by an eagle.
With the largest number of people camped on the east, the smallest number on the west, and an almost identical number of people on the north and south sides of the tabernacle, the configuration is that of a Cross. which is as applicable practically as it is significant spiritually.…
Balak, king of Moab, hired a prophet named Balaam to pronounce a curse upon the people of Israel. Balaam had to think this was easy money. After all the people of Israel were idolatrous and rebellious, ungrateful and immoral. Surely God will curse them or even destroy them.
Balaam was completely wrong in thinking God was angry with His people. When Balaam attempted to utter a curse over them, all that came out of his mouth was a blessing (Numbers 23–24). Why? Because he was looking over the camp of Israel from a high place of a false god named Baal. The image that Baal was seeing, was the image of the cross. (see images 1-3)
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