Vision of Heaven, Revelation 4

Vs 1)   “After these things…,” John will see things which “must take place.”

--John was exiled to an Island of Patmos, 1:9-10, where he saw a vision of Christ and was instructed to write what he saw and send it to the 7 Churches in Asia,  1.11.

--The seven churches are addressed in chapters 2-3.  I believe the 7 church are of a representative significance in apply to all churches.

--This heaven is the third heaven, the dwelling of God.

How much of this is actual appearance or symbolism?  God exists along with heaven and angels, but do they appear as they naturally are, or in a way to reflect how they are?

--He will see things that “must take place.”

God reveals to John what will happen.  There is a sovereignty of God over the affairs of mankind as revealed here.

Augustine:  "God foreknows everything that He causes but does not cause everything that He foreknows.”

God’s sovereignty is manifest in that he  allows and limits evil.   He has determined limits for the exercise of evil. He knows what we will do and what he will do.

Vss 2-3)  John sees the throne of God.

--His appearance is like these 2 stones.  The jasper could be a quartz, “clear as crystal,” 21.11, like the New Jerusalem.  The Sardius is red.  These are the first and last stones in the High Priest’s breastplate that had 12 stones, one for each tribe of Israel, Ex 28.17-21.

--The throne had a green rainbow.  The rainbow is a sign of God’s covenant.  He will keep his covenant.  It is suggested that green ints to God’s mercy.

Vss 4-6) God’s throne is surrounded by thrones and angels.

--There are 24 thrones with 24 elders in white robes with golden crowns. Who are they?   Some believe they represent the church.  But with the number 24, they could represent the redeemed of all humanity.  Or they could be a special order of angels.  The crowns are stephanos in the Greek and not diadem, the former more of a victor’s crown than royalty as the latter.   Belief that this represents the church is reflected in the song “Holy, Holy, Holy.”  

That they could be angels is based on the variant reading of “them” in 5:10 and their participation with the 4 other creatures in speaking of man’s redemption.  I tend to believe the 24 elders are angelic beings—why would the 4 creatures be literal and the 24 elders be symbolic?

--Vs 5

The 7 lamps of fire and 7 Spirits are probably a reference to the Holy Spirit.  We see this 7 Spirits in 1:4-5 as part of the Trinity.  “7” is a reoccurring number, and in connection with the Holy Spirit, His fulness and omniscience, see Zech 4.2,10.

--There was a sea of glass.   Glass as made possibly 4000 years ago.   Glass this clear would have been enormously expensive.  

There is an account in the Koran that when the Queen of Sheba came to the throne of Solomon, she saw the pavement of glass before his throne and thought it was water, and so lifted up her skirt to pass through.

The holiness of God is represented in this and that the approach to him requires holiness.

Vss 7-11, and the 4 creatures) 

--We see 4 creatures similar to those in Ezekiel’s vision.  Yet his had all four faces on each while these each have just one of the faces.  The wing count is different.  And consider all the eyes.

There is a Rabbinic saying at “the mightiest among the birds is the eagle, the mightiest among the domestic animals is the bull, the mightiest among the wild beasts is the lion, and the mightiest among all is man.”

“The 4 forms suggest whatever is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in animate nature.  Nature, including man, is represented before the throne, taking its part in the fulfillment of the Divine will and the worship of the Divine Majesty.” (Swete)

They worship God along with the 24 elders, acknowledging his holiness and him as creator of all things.  This is the primary basis of worship, acknowledging the creator in who he is and what he did.