Reflections on Revelation 4

Revelation 04 (Contemporary English Version)
1. After this, I looked and saw a door that opened into heaven. Then the voice that had spoken to me at first and that sounded like a trumpet said, "Come up here! I will show you what must happen next."
   
2. Right then the Spirit took control of me, and there in heaven I saw a throne and someone sitting on it.
   
3. The one who was sitting there sparkled like precious stones of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne.
   
4. Twenty-four other thrones were in a circle around that throne. And on each of these thrones there was an elder dressed in white clothes and wearing a gold crown.
   
5. Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder came out from the throne in the center of the circle. Seven torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne.
   
6. Also in front of the throne was something that looked like a glass sea, clear as crystal. Around the throne in the center were four living creatures covered front and back with eyes.
   
7. The first creature was like a lion, the second one was like a bull, the third one had the face of a human, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.
   
8. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and their bodies were covered with eyes. Day and night they never stopped singing, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, the all-powerful God, who was and is and is coming!"
   
9. The living creatures kept praising, honoring, and thanking the one who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever.
   
10. At the same time the twenty-four elders knelt down before the one sitting on the throne. And as they worshiped the one who lives forever, they placed their crowns in front of the throne and said,
    
11. "Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created."

---

Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation deliver individual messages to seven churches located in Asia. Immediately following those messages John is given a vision of heaven which is described in this chapter. As would be expected, God is the central figure in this scene. While there may be a reference to the Holy Spirit in this scene, Christ was not yet present. Christ's appearance is inevitable, though, since the central truth of the book is His second coming.

Everything from this point in Revelation is future. John was told in 4:1 that he would be shown "what must take place after this." Not only should we note the future tense of this statement, but the empathic nature of it. These things MUST take place. There are many things in Revelation we do not understand as to meaning, detail, sequence, or timing, but we can know that all will occur.

Among the things in Revelation we do not understand are certain details in this scene of heaven John described for us. Beyond the beauty depicted by the two stones, jasper and carnelian or ruby, what is their significance? These were the first and last genstones worn on the high priest's breast. Is there significance in this? We don't know.  What is the identity of the 24 elders? This, also, is not understood, though there are various opinions. 24 is the number of representation in scripture so they undoubtedly are representative of something in particular. A common opinion is that they represent the church that has been raptured prior to this time. Supporting this opinion is the description of them wearing gold crowns such as those worn by victors, suggesting they have been judged and rewarded.

Verse 5 is thought to be a reference to the Holy Spirit in the description of the fiery torches burning before the throne. Then comes a description of four living creatures that are gathered around the throne. We are told what they are like but not what they are. One was like a lion, another like a calf, a third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. All of them had six wings and were covered all around with eyes. These creatures are thought by many to represent the attributes of God. For instance, the lion representing majesty and omnipotence, etc.  Whoever or whatever these living creatures represent, they continually worship God the Almighty who is seated on the throne. Joining them in this worship are the 24 elders who "fall down before the One seated on the throne." (4:10) With their worship they acknowledge God's eternal nature, His worthiness to receive glory and honor and power, and His hand in creating all things. May we join them in this worship of the One who is worthy of all worship!