Revelation 4 The Throne Room
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Revelation 4
The Throne Room
1 After this I looked,
and, behold, a
door was opened
in heaven: and the
first voice which I
heard was as it
were of a trumpet
talking with me;
which said,
Come up hither,
and I will shew
thee things which
must be hereafter.
This verse begins with the phrase “after this” and
ends with the word, “hereafter.” In Greek, the
phrase, “After this, and the word “Hereafter.” are
exactly the same word, meta tauta, meaning a
transition or change.
“Hereafter” is also referenced in Rev. 1:19.
Something major has happened between the end
of Chapter 3, and the beginning of Chapter 4!!
After this refers to the closing of the church age, the
period of grace. The church as we know it today is no
more! The church, composed of born-again believers,
has been raptured, moving eternally to heaven.
The word Rapture is not found in the Bible.
The word "rapture" comes from the Latin word
“rapturo”, which is a translation of the Greek verb
“harpazo” which literally means “to seize” or to be
“caught up“.
1 Thess. 4:17
Then we which are
alive and remain
shall be caught up
together with them
in the clouds, to
meet the Lord in
the air: and so
shall we ever be
with the Lord.
There are several reasons why the rapture has taken
place between the end of Chapter 3, when John
completes his letters to the Seven Churches of Asia,
and Chapter 4, as John enters the throne room.
1. The outline or structure of what John was commanded
to write according to Revelation 1:19:
• “the things which thou hast seen”, points to the
events of Rev. 1.
• “the things that are” refers to the letters written to
the Seven Churches of Asia found in Rev. 2 and 3.
• “the things which shall be hereafter” refers to future
events that’s will occur after the church age has
ended (Rev. 4 – 22).
2. The church is no longer seen in the world, although
up to Chapter 4, there have been nineteen
references to the church in the world. From Rev. 4
through 22, the church is never mentioned again in
connection with the world.
3. The scene has shifted from earth to heaven
in Rev. 4. Paul gives the answer of how the church
got to heaven in I Corinthians 15: 51-52:
51 Behold, I shew you
a mystery; We shall not
all sleep, but we shall all
be changed.
52 In a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the
last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and
the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we
shall be changed.
The twinkling of an eye has been defined
as "eleven one-hundredths of a second.”
4. The word church is ekklesia in the
Greek; kaleo means “to call” and ek
means “out of.” Therefore, ekklesia
means: a group of people called out of
the world.”
The Rapture takes place during the
Philadelphia church period when the
Word of God was loved. The Laodicean
church continues as just an organization
on earth, and will go through the Great
Tribulation, an upcoming event.
The Lord Jesus tells the church in
Philadelphia “Behold, I come quickly:
hold that fast which thou hast, that no
man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:11)
5. The spirit of God has moved from earth to
heaven. The Holy Spirit lives within the born-
again believer, and is going with us.
Rev. 4: 5 is a clear reference to the Holy Spirit in
heaven, represented by the seven lamps of fire
which are the sevenfold spirits of God referenced
in Isaiah 11:2.
The Holy Spirit must be removed from the earth
so that the seven year events of the Great
Tribulation and the revealing of the lawless one,
the Antichrist can occur. This is referenced in
II Thessalonians 2: 6-7.
6. Our salvation has delivered us from His wrath.
I Thessalonians 1:10
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he
raised from the dead, even Jesus, which
delivered us from the wrath to come.
I Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
7. In verses, Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13. 22,
Jesus uses these words, “He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.”
Rev. 13:9 says, “If any man have an ear, let
him hear.” Jesus does not mention either the
Spirit or the churches, because they have both
been removed at the Rapture.
• John saw a door standing open in heaven. This is one of
the four open doors found in Revelation.
• In Chapter 3: 8 Jesus set before the church in Philadelphia
an open door, referring to a door of opportunity for giving
out the Word of God.
• The open door of invitation and identification with Christ is
found in Chapter 3:20. This is the door to your heart.
• The open door in verse 1, is the way to God through Christ.
• In Chapter 19: 11, the door to heaven will be opened again
through which Christ will go for His Second Coming.
The open door in
heaven is the Lord
Jesus Christ.
John 10: 9
I am the door: by
me if any man
enter in, he shall be
saved, and shall go
in and out, and find
pasture.”
The door also provides
passage for John to
heaven to be shown the
events recorded
hereafter.
The scene has moved
from the earth with its
troubles, struggles and
sin through the open
door to the perfect peace
and purity of heaven.
The trumpet-like voice calls John to “come up hither” to see
“what must take place after this.” This is the voice of Christ.
I Thessalonians 4:16 -17
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a
throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
This verse is a type of the Rapture. John represents the
“caught up” believers and is guided by the Holy Spirit into
the “Throne of God” that is used 46 times in Revelation.
John sees God sitting upon the eternal throne denoting
absolute authority and rule over all the universe and the
affairs of heaven and earth.
3a And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a
sardine stone:
Here, John attempts to do the impossible - he attempts to
describe God. The word “like” lets us know that the
description is symbolic of these two precious stones.
Jasper is a crystal clear
transparent stone thought to be
a high grade diamond
representing the glory of God.
It is the last of the twelve
stones in the breastplate of the
high priest representing the
twelve tribes of Israel. Jasper
stood for Benjamin, meaning
“son of the right hand.”
Jasper is also the first stone of
the foundation of the wall of the
New Jerusalem.
Sardine stone/Carnelian is a
precious stone of blood-red color
obtained in ancient times from
Sardis in Asia Minor.
Ancient authorities call it “blood-
colored”, describing the righteous
wrath of God, the color of the fire
of divine anger.
It also was chosen by God as the
first stone in Aaron's high-priest
breastplate and represented
Reuben, meaning “see a Son.”
Sardine stone is also the sixth
stone of the foundation of the wall
of the New Jerusalem.
3b and there was a rainbow round about
the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
The precious stone
emerald is the third
stone in the breastplate
and represented Levi,
meaning “attached.”
It is also the fourth
stone of the foundation
of the wall of the New
Jerusalem.
After the flood in Genesis 9, a rainbow appeared
as a reminder of God’s covenant not to ever
destroy the earth by flood again. The earth will
be judged again, but purged next with fire.
Today, we see only half a bow, unless we are in the air. When
a rainbow appears, we know the storm is over. In heaven, the
entire bow will be visible, and we will have peace.
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty
seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty
elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they
had on their heads crowns of gold.
Seated round the throne are 24 seats or thrones with
24 elders. These are representative of all of God’s
redeemed children, both Old Testament and New
Testament saints.
12 tribes of Israel
+ 12 apostles
24 absolute completion
The 24 elders are clothed in white robes representing
the “righteousness of the saints,” provided by Christ’s
atonement and covering for sin on behalf of the saints.
On their heads are crowns of gold. These crowns have
been earned by the saints, and are called “stephanos” in
the Greek text, meaning a victor’s crown. They signify a
victorious consummation for the 24 elders. The crowns
that the saints earned are:
1. The Crown of Life – James 1:12; Rev. 2:10
2. The Crown of Righteousness – 2 Tim. 4:8
3. The Crown of Glory – 1 Pet. 5:4
4. The Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thes. 2:19
5. The Imperishable Crown – 1 Cor. 9:25
5a And out of the throne proceeded lightnings
and thunderings and voices:
This indicates approaching judgment. Heaven
booms with the warning signals that judgment is
on the way.
5b and there were seven lamps of fire burning before
the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
The seven lamps represent the seven spirits of God
in His fullness. The Holy Spirit is no longer a
“comforter”, but an instrument of God’s judgment.
Their continual burning indicates the judgments that
are about to fall upon the earth.
6a And before the throne there was
a sea of glass like unto crystal:
This crystal sea speaks of God’s judgment that is solid
and unmoving representing judgment that is fixed and
cannot be altered.
In the past, there was a“sea of brass” in the Tabernacle
called “the laver,” at which the priests washed to be
cleansed and forgiven of sin. In heaven, this “sea of
brass” becomes a “sea of glass,” and by Christ’s
atonement, there will be no more need for the saints to
wash away sins or uncleanness.
The “sea of glass,” also reflects His light and splendor,
representing the calmness and peace of God’s rule.
6b and in the midst of the throne, and round about the
throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
The Greek word for beast is Zoon (s) or Zoa (p) and
means a living creature. The four beasts are thus
symbolic literally of “a living creature”. These are not
wild beasts as we will see in Chapter 13, but living
creatures.
The “full of eyes” speaks of their alertness and
awareness. They can see all things clearly and
accurately.
These four living creatures will pour out judgment
upon wickedness of the earth during the Great
Tribulation and lead worshipping.
7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second
beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as
a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Various interpretations have been given for the
significance of these living creatures.
Some Jewish rabbis teach that these are the insignias
of the twelve tribes of Israel after the divisions into four
groups during encampment, according to Numbers.
Other believe the beasts are representatives of Jesus
as he is portrayed in the Gospels.
• Matthew - The Lion – The Lion of the tribe of Judah.
• Mark - Calf – the suffering servant.
• Luke – Man – The Son of Man
• John - Eagle – The Son of God
Others believe the beasts represent God’s creation of
the animal world. These four principalities each has a
kingdom placed under the throne to show that no
creature will exalt itself over God. Each species has a
leader that includes:
• Lion - wild beasts
• Calf - domestic animals
• Eagle - birds
• Man - all creatures
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about
him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest
not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
They are most likely seraphim – angels of God
created to praise and exalt the Lord as seen in
Isaiah 6: 1-3.
This is the first great worship scene we see in heaven.
The “which was, and is to come” refers to Christ.
The creatures worship the Creator as the triune God:
“Holy, Holy, Holy”, representing the Trinity.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks
to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat
on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and
ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
The crowned saints lay aside their
rewarded glory to add to His glory.
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honour and power: for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Worship is the
activity of heaven.
Praise and adoration
are the eternal
activity of all God’s
creatures in heaven.
Praise God!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
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