In chapters 4 and 5 we have a prelude to the judgments of God in chapters 6 and following. There will be a battle between God and the forces of evil. This earth will face a great tribulation like it has never seen before. We have advanced technology and large multi-national corporations and all we need is a demonically inspired Antichrist to pull it together to take control of the world. John has a vision of what heaven will be like. He has to describe what cannot be described.

1 – He sees the sovereign on the throne (vs. 2-3)

John sees the glory of the Almighty God and He is sitting on His throne. There has been no greater throne than this throne. God is still upon His throne! There are many people who need to hear this message! Don’t let your earthly experiences eclipse your vision of heaven. John struggles to describe God upon His throne.

• The purity of the Lord – The jasper stone describes his purity – it is translucent. We learn from Revelation 21:11 the qualities of the jasper meant a stone of dazzling brilliance, a mountain of light, clear as crystal.
• The pardon of the Lord – The sardius stone is fiery red and represents the pardon of God. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ!
• The promise of the Lord – There is an emerald rainbow round about the throne. The rainbow was a picture of his promise to never destroy the world by water again. When we see a rainbow we know the storm is over. This rainbow is a complete rainbow. We only see part of a rainbow. We only see part of the picture here but we will get the whole picture in Heaven. We may not have all of the answers for difficulties today but one day we will, when we get to Heaven.

2 – A frantic search (vs. 2-4)

There are 24 lesser thrones upon which the 24 elders sit upon. Who are these elders? One main view is that they are angels. However, the specific number of angels is not given elsewhere in the Bible. We are never told elsewhere of angels having crowns and sitting on thrones. We are never told elsewhere of angels singing to the Lord. We are never told of angels being “redeemed”. These 24 elders are not angels. See Revelation 21:12, 14 – The twelve tribes and the twelve apostles represent the redeemed from all ages. If we are trusting in Jesus as our personal saviour then we represented by these 24 elders. Notice three things about these 24 elders:-

• Their raiment (vs. 4) – They are wearing white raiment. We can wear white because of what Jesus did. Jesus took our dirty raiment and dipped them in his blood. We were wearing dirty, filthy raiment because of our sin. We have white robes because Jesus had no sin. He was made sin for us. God forsook His own Son so that we could on the clean clothes of righteousness. It is not because of anything good that I or you have done.
• Their rewards (vs. 4) – They have crowns of gold upon their heads. We will have the victor crowns like the winner wore in the ancient Olympics. We will get our rewards from God.
• Their rest (vs. 6) – This part of the vision alludes to the sea or large vessel or brass, in which the priests washed themselves in the entrance of the temple. We all have to confess something to the Lord and often in tears. We may fail the Lord but the sea of brass will become a sea of glass. We will be just like Jesus in heaven. We will be without sin.

3 – He hears the songs before the throne (vs. 6-11)

There was no need to weep. Christ has been there all along. He is the only one who is worthy. Here are the reasons why He is worthy.

• The four beasts – These living creatures represent all life upon the earth.

1. Lion = wild life.
2. Calf = domesticated life.
3. Man = intelligent life.
4. Eagle = birds.

All of creation is praising God! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Almost all of life is giving praise to God now. Man, the most intelligent of God’s creation, clenches his fist in the face of God and refuses to thank Him.

• The 24 elders – They give praise to the Lord. When you get around the throne we won’t be praising the theory of evolution! It was not some accident. Heaven will throb with the praise of Jesus. Every time the 24 elders appear in the Revelation, they are falling on their faces and praising). Worship is worth-ship. He alone is worthy to receive our praise! Let’s do two things:-

1. Begin to praise Him now so we will be ready.
2. Earn many crowns to be able to cast them at His feet.

Categories: Revelation