Sermon Tone Analysis
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*“Apocalypse Now”*
Lesson 3 – “*The things which will take place: Rev. 4-6*”
! 1. Throne Room in Heaven (4:1-11)
* *
!
(4:1) After these things I looked, … I will show you what must take place after these things
* These phrases indicates a chronological sequence in the following ways:
* John sees the vision of Ch. 1 which carries over into Chs.
2-3 before this next vision
* meta touto à “after these things” divides visions throughout (4:1; 7:9; 15:5; 18:1; 19:1)
* The events spoken of in Rev 4:1ff take place after the events of described in Rev 1-3.
This is further supported by the instructions Jesus gave John in the first vision (Rev 1:19).
These instructions can be summarized as follows:
* Rev 1 à “the things which you have seen” – John’s impression of the glorified Christ
* Rev 2-3 à “the things which are” – present conditions of the Church
* Rev 4-22 à “the which will take place after these things” – future prophecy given in visions
* The elapsed time between Rev 3 & 4 is not stated.
But the following is reasonable to assume:
* John sees this second vision shortly after the first, probably on the same day (cf.
Rev 1:10)
* The events of the Rev 2&3 were current events of the churches and the events of Rev 4-22 have not begun to happen yet (almost 2000 years – Futurist only)
! and behold, a door standing open in heaven,
* John’s attention was abruptly given (behold) to this open door in heaven
* An open door indicates an _________________
* Since this is a new vision there is no reason to believe that this door is the same as in Rev 3:7,8 or 20.
* Similar to Ezekiel’s experience (Ezek 1:1), but different in that it seems to be a door, which has already been opened, for the purpose of granting John entrance into heaven.
(Contrast Rev 19:11)
! and the first voice which I heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said,
* John gives us clues to who he hears speaking to him:
* “the first voice” refers to Rev 1:10, the only other voice he has heard so far.
* “like the sound of a trumpet” – further supports this voice in 1:10 as the voice he is referring to.
* Therefore the voice of 1:10 is now speaking again.
Who is this voice?
* In 1:12, John turns to see the voice and he sees a vision of the glorified Christ
* From 1:17-3:22, Christ identifies himself, gives instructions to John, and dictates to him His messages to the seven churches.
* In 1:1 Christ promises to “show to His bond-servants” and here “I will show you (John)”
* There is no reason to believe that the voice in 1:10 is different from the one whom he saw and heard in 1:12ff.
* Conclusion: In light of the evidence above and the fact that commentators do not even discuss an alternative view, it seems safe to conclude that Christ is speaking to John
!
“Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
!
(4:2) Immediately I was in the spirit,
* John is now given a special verbal invitation by Christ to visit heaven.
* The purpose of the visit is “revelation”
* The revelation is certain – it “must take place” à “These predictions are not designed to satisfy human curiosity about the future, but to remind mankind of who is in control” (Scott)
* “I was in the spirit” seems to indicate that between 3:22 and 4:1 he was back in the “flesh” for a time.
Therefore, he is now transported, in spirit, to heaven.
Where is his body?
Still on Patmos.
* The most common Pre-Trib view suggests that Jesus is not just calling John, but also his Church (the Rapture).
Various things seen in the vision are used as support for this view.
* Two problems with seeing the church in this way are as follows:
* John is there in spirit.
But ultimately he went back to Patmos and died therafter.
* John is taken to heaven for the purpose of receiving revelation, not to receive the final salvation of the redeemed
! and behold, a throne was standing in heaven,
* The picture of God’s throne and heaven is a common one in the OT and in Revelation
* Heaven as God’s throne (Isa 66:1-2)
* The LORD on His throne in heaven (1Ki 22:19; Ps 11:4; 47:8; Isa 6:1; Ezek 1:26-28)
* The throne in the temple of heaven (Isa 6:1; Hab 2:20; Rev 7:15; 8:3; 11:19; 16:7)
* Throne appears in Revelation 37 times
* The outpouring of God’s wrath proceeds from here (Rev 6:10,16-17; 14:7; 15:1; 16:5,6,19; 18:20; 19:2,11,15)
* “in heaven” à John has arrived.
\\ * *
! and One sitting on the throne.
* The One is distinguished from:
* The Lamb, Lion from the tribe of Judah, Root of David (Rev 5:5,7; 6:16; 7:10)
* The Holy Spirit (Rev 4:5; 5:6 à cf.
Zech 4:1-10)
* The picture in Revelation is consistent with all of the other passages in the OT where God is seated on His throne in Heaven.
* Jesus describes himself as sitting with His Father on His Father’s throne.
Jesus will some day have His own throne where we will reign with Him (Rev 3:21; 20:1-4)
* Conclusion: God the Father is sitting on His throne.
!
(4:3) And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance;
* A Jasper stone is crystal clear, costly as the new Jerusalem is described later in Rev 21:11.
Possibly a diamond.
* A Sardius is a deep red stone also called Carnelian or Ruby.
Sardis was named after this stone
· What is the significance of the colored gems to describe God the Father on His throne?
A few suggestions:
o Judgment by *water* vs. Judgment by *fire*
o *Goodness* of God vs. *Severity* in judgment
o God’s *deity* vs. His *humanity*
o *Holiness* of God vs. *Justice* of God.
God’s holiness is the reason that these judgments *must* take place.
The motif of brightness and redness is a common one in scripture (Ezek 1:4; 8:2; Dan 7:9:10; Rev 1:14; 10:1; Ex 13:21)
! and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.
* The rainbow has a very significant place in the Bible (Gen 9:8-17).
* The rainbow is a sign of the covenant
* The covenant is between God and all living creature on the earth
* God covenanted not to destroy by a flood
* The rainbow was emerald in color (green)
* Some commentators believe that through the color green and the reference to God as the covenant keeping God, display his grace and mercy.
* Overall, the significance of the precious stones certainly represent the kingly nature of the One on the throne and may look ahead to the new creation (Rev 21:10-11, 18-23)
! (4:4) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
* Identification of these twenty-four elders who are sitting on the twenty-four thrones has been a source of much debate.
There are basically six main views, which fall into two main categories.
They are either men or heavenly beings.
Below are some of the arguments for each.
| !
They are Men
| !
They are Heavenly Beings
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| !
Believers are promised to reign with Christ, not Angels
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Believers reigning with Christ happens later (Rev 20:4)
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Angels are not seen in scripture on thrones
| !
Argument from silence.
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