Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3 NIV
Welcome, welcome, I’m so glad you’re here. This is week 4 in our study of Revelation. We’re a fifth of the way through the book now!
I’m still in the AMP but there could be more than that verse above that I find in the NIV so I’ll show you when I do. You can find both at biblegateway.com.
For days I have been trying to get to this and keep getting stopped verse 1, the first sentence. So let’s pray that there is somehow He will let us get past that this week.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, You are the door, the way, the connection between heaven and earth and always with me, so Lord, I’m asking, show me what You want me to see here and lead this lesson so we might all find what You want us to find. In Your holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.
Here we go. Read Revelation 4:1-2
Scene in Heaven
Notice 4 things:
Behold, a door standing open in heaven!
The voice belonging to the first one he heard way back in chapter 1.
The Spirit was how John was able to move.
Behold, a throne stood in heaven with One seated on it.
Back in Acts chapter 8, there is another instance of the Spirit whisking someone away. Here’s the instance: 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord [suddenly] took Philip [and carried him] away [to a different place]; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, (Ashdod) and as he passed through he preached the good news [of salvation] to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea [Maritima].
Never forget the Holy Spirit is one of the Trinity and with Him in You, in Jesus, you have access to everything you need. So even if the Spirit doesn’t whisk you away somewhere, there is every chance He will direct your steps.
Now to the One seated. Please Read Revelation 4:3-4
The Throne is surrounded by 24 other thrones. And encircled by a rainbow. All of these thrones are occupied.
Footnote:
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.
If 12 of them are the apostles, it’s further proof of Ephesians 2:6 And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus.
Please Read Revelation 4:5-6
The Throne and Worship of the Creator
One day we will understand what thunder and lightning say. Yes, I’m sure they talk because there will come a point in this book where John is told not to write what the thunder says.
The sea, something tells me that will be the river of life in the New Kingdom. I don’t know if Jesus said that or if I read it or even if it’s water, but there will be a river of life that comes from His throne and here, there is ‘something like a sea’ before it.
The creatures that are full of eyes remind me of the vision in Ezekiel 1, here is part of it, but really, you should go read it all. Ezekiel 1:15 Now as I looked at the living beings, I saw one wheel on the ground beside the living beings, for each of the four of them. 16 Regarding the appearance of the wheels and their construction: they gleamed like chrysolite (beryl, olivine); and the four were made alike. Their appearance and construction were a wheel [set at a right angle] within a wheel. 17 Whenever they moved, they went in any [one] of their four directions without turning as they moved. 18 Regarding their rims: they were so high that they were awesome and dreadful, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes all around.
It matters not what they look like, what matters is, nothing is hidden, all is apparent, Jesus knows everything.
Before we read verse 7, this is a rather interesting sounding Footnote.
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.
Please Read Revelation 4:7-11
Holy is He. Worthy is He to receive all the glory and all the honor and all the power. He has unlimited power now. He is worthy to receive it all.