We’ve reached the Throne room, and wow. It’s full of action and sound. Enjoy!
Revelation 4 – Amplified Bible
Please read Revelation 4:1-4
Scene in Heaven
1 After this I looked, and behold, [a]a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a [war] trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 At once I was in [special communication with] the Spirit; and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne. 3 And He who sat there appeared like [the crystalline sparkle of] [b]a jasper stone and [the fiery redness of] a sardius stone, and encircling the throne there was a rainbow that looked like [the color of an] emerald. 4 Twenty-four [other] thrones surrounded the throne; and seated on these thrones were [c]twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing, with crowns of gold on their heads.
We’re setting the scene for what will be the next several chapters story. Can you even picture the colors listed above? Such beauty even if we cannot. But the bracketed text does try to help us here. Still, who do you think sits in the 24 other thrones? Obviously 12 are the apostles, but the other 12? Hmm, I wonder if that will be revealed. Let’s see…
Please read Revelation 4:5-7
The Throne and Worship of the Creator
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and [rumbling] sounds and peals of thunder. Seven lamps of fire were burning in front of the throne, which are [d]the seven Spirits of God; 6 and in front of the throne there was something like a sea or large expanse of glass, like [the clearest] crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living [e]creatures who were full of eyes in front and behind [seeing everything and knowing everything that is around them]. 7 [f]The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf (ox), the third creature had the face of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
Very descriptive, you can see it can’t you? And maybe even hear it? Thunder and lightning, glass and creatures full of eyes.
Please read Revelation 4:8
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying,
“Holy, holy, holy [is the] Lord God, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], who was and who is and who is to come [the unchanging, eternal God].”
And those creatures are singing, or at least chanting. There are eyes all over all of them and on the wheels of His throne too, at least the ‘travel throne’. It doesn’t appear here, but it does in other books. Mostly Daniel or Ezekiel. But also could be elsewhere.
Please read Revelation 4:9-11
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, saying,
11“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.”
And the elders answer the creatures so that there is always singing and noise in the throne room.
Footnotes
[a] Revelation 4:1 1 After this I looked, and behold, [a]a door standing open in heaven! This chapter begins the revelation to John of future events.
[b] Revelation 4:3 – 3 And He who sat there appeared like [the crystalline sparkle of] [b]a jasper stone and [the fiery redness of] a sardius stone, and encircling the throne there was a rainbow that looked like [the color of an] emerald. – In antiquity this name was given to various kinds and colors of precious stones, while the sardius was a reddish stone. The gems are indicative of royalty.
[c] Revelation 4:4 – 4 Twenty-four [other] thrones surrounded the throne; and seated on these thrones were [c]twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing, with crowns of gold on their heads. – The twenty-four elders may indicate the twelve tribes of Israel together with the twelve apostles, representing redeemed humanity. Others say the twenty-four may be an angelic order of worship akin to the Aaronic priests.
[d] Revelation 4:5 – Seven lamps of fire were burning in front of the throne, which are [d]the seven Spirits of God; – See note 1:4.
[e] Revelation 4:6 – In the center and around the throne were four living [e]creatures who were full of eyes in front and behind [seeing everything and knowing everything that is around them]. – Some scholars identify these creatures as cherubim glorifying God and guarding the throne of heaven; others suggest the creatures represent God’s attributes (especially His omniscience and omnipresence).
[f] Revelation 4:7 – 7 [f]The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf (ox), the third creature had the face of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. – Jewish tradition suggests that during the exodus the four standards of the tribal triads depicted these images: the triad led by Judah, the lion; the triad led by Reuben, the man; the triad led by Ephraim, the ox; the triad led by Dan, the eagle.
Menu for the rest of them.
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