Today we will study chapter 4, this is not difficult when we read it verse by verse. Nowhere does it say that God is speaking to the church, this is a lie from those that teach the rapture doctrine. It is John that is taken to the Lord’s Day. Revelation 4 and verse 1 reads.
Rev.4:1] 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.
Telling John to come forward and see things that will come to pass in his future, which is in the end times.
Rev.4:2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Taken in the spirit to heaven, he immediately is set before the Father. Remember this is in the future from him while he is at Patmos. Isaiah also went through what John is going through. Isa.6 and verse 1 reads.
Isa.6:1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
His white raiment filled the temple. Remember our works make up our white raiment. Back to Rev.4 and verse 3 reads.
Rev.4:3] 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.
This would be the Shekinah Glory of the LORD. Do not forget this verse when we get to chapter 6, we will be revisiting this verse for an important reason.
Rev.4:4] 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.
These twenty-four are the twelve Apostles and the twelve Patriarchs of the twelve tribes. Think about this for a moment, John would have seen himself. Rev.21:9-14.
Rev.4:5] 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.
These seven Spirits are written in both Rev.5:12 and 7:12.
Rev.7:12] Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
Back to Rev.4 and verse 6 reads.
Rev.4:6] 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.
This word beasts is Zoon in the Greek, G2226 and they are the beasts that guard the mercy seat. These were a creation without their own will, and are also called Zoy in Hebrew. They are called “living creature” in Eze.1:22.
Rev.4:7] 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.
Do not let anyone tell you Revelation is full of monsters. These faces are simple when you understand Israel and how each tribe flies a standard or a flag as we do today. The first was like a lion, this would be the tribe of Judah. The second was like a calf, this would be Ephriam. The third face was like a man, this would be Rueben. And the fourth like an eagle, this would be the tribe of Dan. Check Numbers chapter 2 for a better understanding. These pertained to how they traveled in the wilderness. There is always an order to God’s work.
Rev.4:8] 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.
Giving us the three earth and heaven ages here. Showing their loyalty to the Father.
Rev.4:9] And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Let’s go back to Isa.6 and pick it up where we left off, Isa.6 and verse 2 reads.
Isa.6:2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
[3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Called Seraphims here, these are the four beasts or living creatures. Back to Rev.4 and verse 10 reads.
Rev.4:10] 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,
Remember we are in the future from John on Patmos, and even in the future to us now.
Rev.4:11] 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.
Let us never forget what was just said here. All things were created for his pleasure. The question is do you give him pleasure, the best way to do this is to do his commandments. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible