Chapter 4

Scene in Heaven

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”

2 Immediately I was ain the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.

3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a crainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

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.

The Throne and Worship of the Creator

5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;

6 and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.

7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.

8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY (4:1–5:14)

Chapters 4–5 represent the pivot point of the book. They tie the risen Lord’s opening exhortations to the churches (chaps. 2–3) to the judgments and final triumph of the Lamb (chaps. 6–22). Seen in this way the exhortations to the churches are in fact warnings of both the coming afflictions and God’s ultimate triumph, the latter of which may serve as a spur of hope to enable the recipients of the prophecy to endure the former. These chapters also provide the historical and theological basis of the risen Lord’s authority over both the church and the world by depicting His enthronement and empowering to carry out the judging and saving purposes of God.

MILLENNIAL PERSPECTIVES ON REVELATION

POINT OF INTERPRETATION

AMILLENNIAL

HISTORICAL PREMILLENNIAL

DISPENSATIONAL PREMILLENNIAL

POSTMILLENNIAL

Description of View

Viewpoint that the present age of Christ’s rules in the church is the millennium; holds to one resurrection and judgment marking the end of history as we know it and the beginning of life eternal

Viewpoint that Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years following His second coming; saints will be resurrected at the beginning of the millennium, nonbelievers at the end, followed by Judgment

Viewpoint that after the battle of Armageddon, Christ will rule through the Jews for a literal thousand years accompanied by two resurrections and at least three judgments

Viewpoint that Christ will return after a long period of expansion and spiritual prosperity for the church, brought about by the preaching of the gospel; the Spirit’s blessing; and the church’s work toward righteousness, justice, and peace. The period is not a literal thousand years but extended time of spiritual prosperity.

Book of Revelation

Current history written in code to confound enemies and encourage Asian Christians; message applies to all Christians

Immediate application to Asian Christians; applies to all Christians throughout the ages, but the visions also apply to a great future event

“Unveiling” of theme of Christ among churches in present dispensation, also as Judge and King dispensation to come

Written lo encourage Christians of al ages, but the visions also apply to a great future event.

Seven candlesticks (1:13)

Churches

Churches, plus end-time application

Churches

Churches addressed (chaps. 2–3)

Specific historical situations, truths apply to churches throughout the ages; do not represent periods of church history.

Specific historical situations and to all churches throughout the ages; shows progress of churches’ spiritual state until end of church age

Specific historical situations, truths apply to churches throughout the ages; do not necessarily represent periods of church history

Twenty-four elders (4:4, 10; 5:8, 14)

Twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles; together symbolize all the redeemed

Company of angels who help execute God’s rule (or elders represent twenty-four priestly and Levitical orders)

The rewarded church; also represents twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles

Symbolizes all the redeemed

Sealed book (5:1–9)

Scroll of history; shows God carrying out His redemptive purpose in history

Contains prophecy of end events of Chapters 7–22

Title deed to the world

Portrays God carrying out His redemptive purpose in history

144,000 (7:4–8)

Redeemed on earth who will be protected against God’s wrath

Church on threshold of great tribulation

Jewish converts of tribulation period who witness to Gentiles (same as 14:1)

Redeemed people of God

Great tribulation (first reference in 7:14)

Persecution faced by Asian Christians of John’s time; symbolic of tribulation that occurs throughout history

Period at end time of unexplained trouble, before Christ’s return; church will go through it; begins with seventh seal (18:1), which includes trumpets 1–6 (8:2–14:20)

Period at end time of unexplained trouble referred to in 7:14 and described in chapters 11–18; lasts time and a half years, the latter half of seven-year period between rapture and millennium

Symbolic of tribulation that occurs throughout history

Forty-two months (11:2); 1,260 days (11:3)

Indefinite duration of pagan desolation

A symbolic number representing period of evil with reference to last days of age

Half of seven-year tribulation period

A symbolic number representing an indefinite time and evil influence

Woman (12:1–6)

True people of God under old and new covenants (true Israel)

Indicates Israel, not church; key is comparison with Gen 37:9

True people of God under old and new covenants

Great red dragon (12:3)

All views identify as Satan

Manchild (12:4–5)

Christ at His birth, life events, and crucifixion, whom Satan sought to kill

Christ, whose work Satan seeks to destroy

Christ but also the church (head and body); caught up on throne indicates rapture of church

Christ at His birth, life events, and crucifixion, whom Satan sought to destroy

1,260 days (12:6)

Indefinite time

Symbolic number representing period of evil with special reference to last days of age

First half of great tribula-after church is raptured

Indefinite time

Sea beast (13:1)

Emperor Domitian, personification of Roman Empire (same as in chap. 17)

Antichrist, here shown as embodiment of the four beasts in Dan 7

A new Rome, satanic federation of nations that come out of old Roman Empire

Roman Empire

Seven heads (13:1)

Roman emperors

Great power, shows kinship with dragon

Seven stages of Roman Empire; sixth was imperial Rome (John’s day); last with be federation of nations

Roman Emperors

Ten horns (13:1)

Symbolize power

Kings, represent limited crowns (ten) against Christ’s many

Ten powers that will combine to make the federation of nations of new Rome

Symbol of power

666 (13:18)

Imperfection, evil; personified as Domitian

Symbolic of evil, short of 777; if a personage meant, he is unknown but will be known at the proper time

Not known but will be known when time comes

Symbol of evil

144,000 on Mount Zion (14:1)

Total body of redeemed in heaven

Redeemed Jews gathered in earthly Jerusalem during millennial kingdom

Redeemed people of God

River of blood (14:20)

Symbol of infinite punishment for the wicked

Means God’s radical judgment crushes evil thoroughly

Scene of wrath and carnage that wilt occur in Palestine

Symbol of judgment on the wicked

Babylon (woman—17:5)

Historical Rome

Capital city of future Antichrist

Apostate church of the future

Symbol of evil

Seven mountains (17:9)

Pagan Rome, which was built on seven hills

Indicate power, so here means a succession of empires, last of which is end-time Babylon

Rome, revived at end time

Pagan Rome

Seven heads (17:7) and seven kings (17:10)

Roman emperors from Augustus to Titus, excluding three brief rules

Five past godless kingdoms; sixth was Rome; seventh would arise in end time

Five distinct forms of Roman government prior to John; sixth was imperial Rome; seventh will be revived Roman Empire

Roman emperors

Ten horns (17:7) and ten kings (17:12)

Vassal kings who ruled with Rome’s permission

Symbolic of earthly powers trial wilt be subservient to Antichrist

Ten kingdoms arising in future out of revived Roman Empire

Symbolic of earthly powers

Bride, wife (19:7)

Total of all the redeemed

The church; does not include Old Testament saints or tribulation saints

Total of all the redeemed

Marriage supper (19:9)

Climax of the age; symbolizes complete union of Christ with His people

Union of Christ with His people at His Coming

Union of Christ with His church accompanied by by Old Testament saints and tribulation saints

Union of Christ with His people

One on white horse (19:11–16)

Vision of Christ’s victory over pagan Rome; return of Christ occurs in connection with events of 20:7–10

Second coming of Christ

Vision of Christ’s victory

Battle of Armageddon (19:19–21; see 16:16)

Not literally at end of time but symbolizes power of God’s word overcoming evil; principle applies to all ages

Literal event of some kind at end time but not literal battle with military weapons; occurs at Christ’s return at beginning of millennium

Literal bloody battle at Armageddon (valley of Megiddo) at end of great tribulation between kings of the East and federation of nations of new Rome; they are all defeated by blast from Christ’s mouth and then millennium begins

Symbolizes power of God’s word overcoming evil forces

Great supper (19:17)

Stands in contrast to marriage supper

Concludes series of judgments and opens way for kingdom to be established

Stands in contrast to marriage supper

Binding of Satan (20:2)

Symbolic of Christ’s resurrection victory over Satan

Curbing of Satan’s power during the millennium

Symbolic of Christ’s victory over Satan

Millennium (20:2–6)

Symbolic reference to period from Christ’s first coming to His second

A historical event, though length of one thousand years may be symbolic, after Armageddon during which Christ rules with His people

A literal thousand-year period after the church age during which Christ rules with His people but especially through the Jews

A lengthy period of expansion and spiritual prosperity brought about by the preaching of the gospel

Those on thrones (20:4)

Martyrs in heaven; their presence with God is a judgment on those who killed them

Saints and martyrs who rule with Christ in the the millennium

The redeemed ruling with Christ, appearing and disappearing on earth at will to oversee life on earth

Saints and martyrs who rule with Christ

First resurrection (20:5–6)

The spiritual presence with Christ of the redeemed that occurs after physical death

Resurrection of saints at beginning of millennium when Christ returns

Includes three groups: (1) those raptured with church (4:1); (2) Jewish tribulation saints during tribulation (11:11); (3) other Jewish believers at beginning of millennium (20:6)

The spiritual presence of the redeemed with Christ

Second Death (20:6)

Spiritual death, eternal separation from God

New heavens and earth (21:1)

A new order; redeemed earth

New Jerusalem (21:2–5)

God dwelling with His saints in the new age after all other end-time events

Chapter 4 asserts the sovereign authority of the Creator God. Surrounded by the adoring and powerful four creatures and twenty-four elders, the Lord God the Almighty is holy, sovereign, and worthy of all worship. For He has created all things, and all things exist because of His gracious, sovereign will. John’s vision of God upon His throne is reminiscent of Daniel 7 and Ezekiel 1, each of which is calculated to impress the reader with the God of might and glory.

Chapter 5 depicts the delegation of the divine authority to the risen Lord by