October 2, 2014 Revelation Chapter 4

Revelation Chapter 4

Originally posted Friday December 12, 2008

Revelation, Chapter 4 The Heavenly Worship Vision

John's first visionary experience had no specific location. He hears a voice and sees the heavenly Christ standing amid the seven lampstands representing the seven churches and holding the seven stars representing the angels of the seven churches. John is not "located" within this vision. In other words, he is an observer - a seer, of the vision and not a participant. In his second vision John stands within the vision's setting, the throne room of God in heaven. From his viewpoint as observer, John "sees" an open door in heaven. He is instructed by a voice "speaking as if it were a trumpet" to "come up here" and to enter heaven through the door. The speaker is the same voice as the one dictating the letters to the seven churches, the self-identified voice of Christ. As previously noted elsewhere the sound of the trumpet is linked  to the eschatological event, the announcement of the Parousia and the resurrection of the dead (see 1 Thess. 4:16f; 1 Cor. 15:51-52).

The voice tells John that he is about to be shown "what must take place." Note here the use of the divine imperative "must," meaning that the events John will see have already been predetermined and are being set in motion. They cannot be altered. He has been called up into heaven to observe and record them, not to debate their merits or plead for mercy on behalf of humankind. "After this" probably refers to John's experience before the throne of God and the events of chapter 6 onward.

As soon as the voice speaks John was "in the Spirit" (trance) and had passed through the open door into heaven and saw a throne with "one" seated upon it (Isa. 6:1-4; Ezek. 1:26-27; Dan. 7:9). He does not describe the one on the throne in human terms lest he lessen the glory he is beholding. Instead he uses a variety of multicolored gems and the presence of a rainbow surrounding the throne (Ezek. 1:28). Taken together, the gems and rainbow have no theological or eschatological significance. They are the stuff of describing the indescribable. The whole of chapters 4 and 5 are meant to establish the absolute majesty of God who deserves to be worshipped and the credentials of the Lamb to initiate the cosmic events that will follow.

Surrounding the throne of God are twenty four other thrones, upon which are seated twenty four elders (overseers) wearing white robes and golden crowns. These elders will appear several times in Revelation. Their function in the vision has been variously understood as representing the saints of the Old Testament or, as two groups of twelve, the old (Judaism) and new Israel (the Church). 1 Chron. 24:4ff describes the selection of 24 rulers (elders) as the heads of the twenty four priestly families. Occasionally one of their number will assist John in interpreting a vision. In the scene before us their purpose seems to be to worship God. The white robes are symbols of holiness and purity in keeping with their closeness to the Throne. The crowns are given in recognition of those who conquer (2:10; 3:11). As further emphasis on the superlative greatness of the throne - and therefore the one who sits upon it, there are flashes of lightening, peals of thunder, flaming torches and something like a sea of glass (Ezek. 37:23, 1:13, 1:5) all meant to create a sense of overwhelming awe.

Also around the throne are the four living creatures full of eyes and each creature with six wings (Isa. 6:2). John sees the four creatures as a lion, ox, man and eagle (see Dan.7:4ff).They also participate in the worship of God, continually singing God's praises (Isa. 6:1-4). Each time they sing the twenty four elders fall down and worship God, "casting their crowns before the throne" as a symbol of their own unworthiness as compared to God's. 

The entire vision - a collection of images taken from several Old Testament texts, is colorful, loud, with flashing lights, an interesting cast of characters, animals, and non-stop worship. A video representation would be quite impressive. It does serve some important functions, not the least of which, that it establishes the cosmic power of God who deserves and receives absolute worship to the extent that cannot be matched by any human ruler. It is to this majesty not Caesar's that humanity is to bow.