God Is On The Throne
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.
The phrase “after this” (μετα ταυτα) in Revelation 1:19 is repeated twice in Revelation 4:1. Certainly this is a marking point for beginning the third division of Revelation 1:19.
The Bible has many other important reference to heaven:
Isaiah 6:1-8.
Ezekiel 1.
Also the passages in the OT that describe the Tabernacle, which symbolically describes heaven:
Exodus 25-32.
Exodus 35-40.
When describing heavenly things, John uses symbols. However, not everything is symbolic. As in the parables of Jesus, many details are merely descriptive and they are not necessarily intended to carry a special significance on their own.
The nature of symbolism: the symbol is always less than the reality. The reality of heaven is even greater than the description we have of it.
“It is very little that we can know of the future state, but we may be quite sure that we know as much as is good for us. We ought to be as content with that which is not revealed as with that which is. If God wills us not to know, we ought to be satisfied not to know. Depend on it, he has told us all about heaven that is necessary to bring us there; and if he had revealed more, it would have served rather for the gratification of our curiosity than for the increase of our grace.”—Spurgeon
Different ways to interpret the book:
The Preterist View: This approach believes that Revelation dealt only with the church in John’s day. In the Preterist approach, Revelation doesn’t predict anything. John simple described events of his current day, but he put them in symbolic code so those outside the Christian family couldn’t understand his criticism of the Roman government. In the Preterist view, the Book of Revelation was for then.
The Historicist View: This approach believes that Revelation is a sweeping, disordered panorama of all church history. In this approach, Revelation predicts the future, but the future of the “church age”—not the future of end-times events. This view hold, that Revelation is full of symbols that describe now. And example of this view many of the Reformer s called the Pope the beast of Revelation 13. Believing that Revelation spoke of their time, without necessarily speaking to the end times.
The Poetic View: This approach believes that Revelation is a book full of pictures and symbols intended to encourage and comfort persecuted Christians in John’s day. In the Poetic or allegorical view, this book isn’t literal or historical. Revelation is a book of personal meaning.
The Futurist View: This approach believes that beginning with chapter 4, Revelation deals with the end times, the period directly preceding Jesus’ return. In the Futurist view, Revelation is a book that mainly describes the end times.
From Revelation 4 through 19 we confronted with a section of scripture mainly dealing with God’s judgement upon the world preceding Jesus’ earthly reign, the period know as the Great Tribulation.
God’s judgment are announced by a seven-sealed scroll, seven trumpets, seven signs, and seven bowls that pour out God’s wrath.
Revelation four introduces us to the place judgement comes from: God’s throne in heaven.
vv. 1-2) John is transported to heaven
vv. 1-2) John is transported to heaven
[Cross-References]
2 Corinthians 12:2-4. Heavenly experience
2 Kings 2:11. Elijah taken to heaven.
Genesis 5:24. Enoch taken to heaven.
Hebrews 4:16. Going to the throne of grace.
Chapter 1: dealt with what was.
Chapters 2 and 3: dealt with what is.
Here we begin with what is to come in chapter 4 and on.
[1] the first voice: the first voice that spoke to John was in Revelation 1:10.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
The voice spoke loud and clear to John. It was like the trumpet that gathered the congregation of Israel together, or gathered an army for battle.
People like to correlate what happens to John with the rapture of the church Because of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. 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.
but it is not quite the same. The church anticipates the rapture and the Lord saying come here. But John is still very much in his natural body on the island of Patmos. He is translated into scenes of heaven only temporarily.
Good time to talk about the different rapture views:
Pre-tribulation.
Mid-tribulation.
Post-tribulation.
Amillennialism.
An interesting point: The word church never occurs in the chapters describing the period of judgment on earth, from chapter 4-19.
[2] What was the first thing that caught John’s attention in heaven?
The centerpiece of this vision is the throne. He is fixated on the occupied throne, and everything else described in relation to this throne.
What is the importance of the throne?
Atheism and materialism has no throne to submit to, and humanism put man there.
The throne we are reading of is not empty. The throne is a powerful declaration of not merely God’s presence, but of His sovereign, rightful reign, and His prerogative to judge.
To many believers in our culture have either placed self or something else on the throne of their lives. What is seating on the throne of your life?
vv. 3-7) The heavenly scene
vv. 3-7) The heavenly scene
[3] What is being conveyed with the description of the one who is seated on the throne?
As John described the occupant of the throne, he did not describe a distinct figure.
“There is here no description of the Divine Being, so as to point out any similitude, shape, or dimensions. The description rather aims to point out the surrounding glory and effulgence than the person of the almighty King.”—Clarke
Like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance: John describes two glistening light in two colors: white (jasper may mean “diamond”) and red (sardius).
Perhaps these two colors are meant to communicate the glory of the empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-3) and the sacrificial love of Calvary (red, indicating blood).
Perhaps these two stones are linked with the first and last gems in the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 29:8-13).
And there was a rainbow around the throne: The throne was surrounded by a green-hued rainbow. The rainbow is a reminder of God’s covenant with Noah and mankind in Genesis 19:11-17.
The picture here is of this: All around the throne of God are pictures and types of His sovereign rule, His absolute power and control, along with His splendid glory! God would see fit to surround his through with the promise he made to mankind, to never again destroy the world with water.
Emerald: might mean that the covenant with Noah and mankind is always fresh and green. Alive.
Oh! Child of God! They heavenly Father in His sovereignty, has a right to do with you, his child, as he pleases, but he will never let that sovereignty get out of the limit of the covenant. As a sovereign, he might cast you away, but he has promised that he never will, and never will he. As a sovereign, he might leave you to perish, but he has said, ‘I will not leave thee nor forsake thee.’ As a sovereign, he might suffer you to be tempted beyond your strength, but he has promised that no temptation shall happen to you, but such as is common to man, and he will with the temptation make a way of escape.”—Spurgeon
[4] Around the throne were twenty-four thrones: before the elders caught John’s eye, he notices the throne they sat on. These are lesser thrones around thee throne.
Who are these 24 elders? Commentators debate whether they are glorified human beings or angelic beings. Taking all things into consideration, the elders certainly seem to represent God’s people.
Elders represent the people of God, especially in the OT. The 24 courses of the priesthood represented all the priest ( 1 Chronicles 24). And there is the possibility of 12 tribes and 12 apostles would represent all the faithful saints.
The white robes and crowns of the elders seem to indicate that they are indeed human beings—in glory.
Angels are sometimes presented in white robes or garments, but saints also have white robes as a picture of their imputed righteousness. However, we never see angels crowned but believers will be.
Personal opinion: Redeemed, glorified men sit enthroned with Jesus.
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
vv 8-11) Heavenly praise for the King!
vv 8-11) Heavenly praise for the King!