John was called to this scene by a trumpet sound v.1,Revelation 4:1XWaiting for response just as the saints will be awakened from the dead by a trumpet call (1 Corinthians 15:52),1 Corinthians 15:52XWaiting for response with the faithful invited to enter the political heavens to reign with Christ v.1.Revelation 4:1XWaiting for response Immediately John was in spirit v.2,Revelation 4:2XWaiting for response representative of all those who will be changed to Spirit nature. He saw Jesus upon his throne and it is significant that the aura around him was like a jasper and a sardine stone v.3Revelation 4:3XWaiting for response because the first of these is sky blue, or heavenly, while the second is flesh coloured, so that these two together represent the divine and human aspects of Christ. The saints are represented by twenty four elders to show that they will be priests as well as kings Revelation 1:6,Revelation 1:6XWaiting for response for David organised the priesthood into twenty four orders (1 Chronicles 24:1-19),1 Chronicles 24:1-19XWaiting for response and they are dressed in white raiment, representing their righteousness, and crowned with gold, representing their faith v.4.Revelation 4:4XWaiting for response The saints are also the Israel of God which is consistently represented in the scriptures by four living creatures v.6Revelation 4:6XWaiting for response with four faces v.7Revelation 4:7XWaiting for response which are those of the cherubim upon the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant, the four standards of the camp of Israel, and the four aspects of Jesus presented in the Gospels. When Jesus and the saints reign, instead of the nations being in turmoil as “the sea and waves roaring” Luke 21:25,Luke 21:25XWaiting for response they will be at peace and like “a sea of glass” v.6.Revelation 4:6XWaiting for response Jesus will then be a manifestation of God in the earth and all the saints will honour him vs.8-11.Revelation 4:8-11XWaiting for response
The Vision of Chapter 4
‘A door was (i.e. had been) opened in heaven’ (v.1).Revelation 4:1XWaiting for response
A door = The way into somewhere
opened = admission now possible
in heaven = the government
Since John was invited to ‘come up hither’, the vision related to a future time when saints are invited to enter into the place of government. At present the saints are barred from participation in government, but the vision relates to the time when they are invited to participate therein.
one sat on the throne = the king had been crowned
jasper = divine glory
sardine stone = the flesh
The sardine stone, or odem (adam) stone was so called because of its flesh colour. Thus the one sitting on the throne had an appearance which combined flesh and divine glory – Jesus, God (divine glory) manifest in the flesh.
The time to which the invitation refers: ‘Immediately I was in the spirit’ (v2)Revelation 4:2XWaiting for response
In the spirit = made immortal (spirit nature)
That is not to say that John had been actually made immortal when he saw the vision, but rather that IN THE VISION he saw himself in the immortal state. In that state, he was invited to enter the government of the age to come. This is confirmed by the fact that, on entering, he saw a throne there – the seat of power in the government.
“there was a rainbow about the throne”. The rainbow was given to Noah as the sign of God’s covenant that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. The symbol is here re-deployed to again signify the unchangeableness of God’s covenant but this time with respect to the throne over Israel. This was the throne of the Davidic Covenant.
four and twenty elders = the saints in their priestly orders
In the days of David the priests were organised into twenty-four courses for their duties to be undertaken in rota. The saints are similarly represented in this aspect of their future work.
lightnings and thunder = frightening power going forth (i.e the judgements of God)
“out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices”. The awesome and frightening power displayed during a thunderstorm is used appropriately to describe the dramatic and frightening storm when God’s pent up fury is unleashed with awesome power upon the wicked nations. These appropriately describe the unleashing of the judgments of God via the saints.
a sea of glass = the nations placid and calmed
The glassy sea (v.6)Revelation 4:6XWaiting for response depicts the nations, finally subdued after the judgments of God have finished their work. The earth is still and at rest. The work of subduing finished, the four living ones (the saints) cast their crowns before the occupant of the throne in acknowledgement of his supremacy over them. (v.8-11)Revelation 4:8-11XWaiting for response
four beasts (living ones) = the saints in their warlike role
Before the priestly role of the saints can be properly undertaken (v.4),Revelation 4:4XWaiting for response the earth must be subdued. This too will be the role of the saints, the Israel of God, as illustrated in the vision of Ezekiel chapter 1. That their faces should resemble the four standards of the Israelitish encampment is clearly indicative that they are the Israel of God in that warlike role.
In chapters 4 & 5 John describes the vision he had of Jesus and the saints in future glory.