Revelation Chapter Four

Revelation 4:1-2, “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. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.”

I admit that I have difficulty interpreting this passage of Scripture, the entire chapter of Revelation four. But I will give it a shot. I have heard MANY preachers use verse one above to teach a pretribulation Rapture. I disagree with that interpretation. The apostle John was miraculously taken up in a vision of the heavenly city. This is not the Rapture! I have heard dispensational preachers teach that the church is no longer mentioned after Revelation chapter three, because the Church is removed from the world at the Rapture. As nice as that sounds, I don't see any Biblical basis for assuming that Revelation 4:1 is referring to a future Rapture. Where the Bible is silent we are best to remain silent.

Revelation 4:3-4, “And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 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.”

I think it is safe to conclude that the twenty-four elders are definitely human beings, because in Revelation 5:9-10 we read that they are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Only human beings can make that wonderful claim of God's wondrous redemption! Some theologians believe that the significance of “twenty-four” is adding the twelve tribes of Israel to the twelve apostles. I simply do not know if that is accurate. I think a key word to consider is "elders." These 24 were ELDERS, leaders, whom everyone else looked up to. Please notice Revelation 5:14, “And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.” I personally think these are 24 literal Jewish elders.

Revelation 4:5-6, “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.”

I do not know exactly what the “seven Spirits of God” are. But we know from the preceding passage that the Spirits are the “seven lamps of fire.” Your guess is as good as mine what this means. We must be careful not to apply this to the fundamental doctrine of the Godhead. We know there is only one true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4). That one God exists in three distinct persons of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). I don't think this verse means that the Holy Spirit is divided into seven Spirits. That would be a strange doctrine. I once heard TV evangelist Benny Hinn teach that the Godhead is divided into nine parts! That is absurd and unbiblical. 

Revelation 4:7-11, “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. 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. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 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, 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.”

The four beasts were created for the sole purpose of worshipping God day and night. I have no idea what the four different beasts signify. I told you this was a difficult chapter of the Bible to interpret. Revelation chapter four rivals the best science fiction man has ever written, and I love science fiction! The intriguing thing is that this is truth!