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Rev. 4 - The Throne Room of Heaven

After these things, John saw a door standing open in heaven. The first voice which he had heard in Rev. 1:10 (the loud trumpet voice) said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” These things refer to the things of Rev. 2-3 ... in reference to 1:19, the things which are (the present church age).

Immediately, John was in a heightened state of spiritual awareness and he saw a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

  • The One who sits on the throne is depicted as having the brilliance of precious stones of jasper and carnelian
  • An emerald rainbow encircled the throne
  • From the throne came flashes of lightning and peals of thunder
  • Surrounding the throne were 24 other thrones and upon these thrones were 24 elders seated, clothed in white robes and golden crowns on their heads  
  • Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing; these are the seven spirits of God.  
  • Also before the throne was a sea of glass/crystal
  • In the center and around the throne were four living creatures ... like a lion, like an ox, with a face of man, like a flying eagle ... all with six wings covered with eyes
The four living creatures continuously worshipped the One who sits on the throne, saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty,  who was and who is and who is to come.”  
Whenever the four living creatures gave glory to God, the 24 elders joined in ... falling down and laying their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God,  
to receive glory and honor and power;  
for You created all things,  
and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Reflection on Rev. 4

  • Our Lord God is presented as the One who sits on the throne ... meaning He is in control of every event. Every event has a purpose in God's infinite plan and when you look back, you will see that they all make sense. There are no coincidences, no accidents. Your tears, sorrows and sufferings are never for nothing; they always have a purpose, and that purpose is God's glory and your good. Will you trust Him with whatever challenges and problems you are facing now?
  • God is also presented as the Almighty Creator who created all things including you. He created you and He sustains you. Every breath that you take comes from Him. You owe everything to Him. We are created by Him and we exist for Him. Will you acknowledge Him as your Owner and Master and live your life for Him? 

    "... there is but one God, the Father,
    from whom are all things and we exist for Him"
    (1 Cor. 8:6a) 

Rev. 5 - The Scroll and the Lamb

Then John saw the One sitting on the throne had a scroll in his right hand. The scroll had writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. But no one in heaven and on earth was found worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. John was distraught and began to weep (5:1-4).

One of the elders said to John, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.” But instead a a lion, John saw a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes. The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One who sits on the throne (5:5-7).

Rev. 5:7 symbolizes a transfer of authority from the One who sits on the throne to the Lamb to reveal the future and to execute judgment (cf., John 5:22; Rev. 19:11; 22:12). And at the end when He had put all His enemies in subjection, He will hand over the kingdom to the Father (1 Cor. 15:24-28).

Waves of Worship

  1. The four living creatures and 24 elders fell down before the Lamb and worshipped Him, singing a new song (5:8-10),
    Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals;  
    for You were slain, and with Your blood, you purchased men for God  
    from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.  
    You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God;  
    and they will reign upon the earth.  


    Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense which were prayers of the saints. 
  2. Myriads and myriads of angels encircled the throne, the living creatures and the elders to form an even larger circle. They joined in the chorus of praise and adored the Lamb who is worthy of a sevenfold tribute (5:11-12).
  3. Then every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth, on the sea and all that is in them also sang and worshipped both the One who sits on the throne and the Lamb (5:13).

Reflection on Rev. 5

The Father has given all judgment to the Son who will come to judge the secrets of all men ... no one will escape His judgment.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,
so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body,
according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
(2 Cor. 5:10)

Now if any man builds on the foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each man’s work will become evident;
for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire,
and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work
(1 Cor. 3:12-13)

We all are busy with work and activities. Can what you do pass the test of fire? If not, what will you do?

Postscript on the identity of the elders

  1. Case for Angelic Beings

    “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (Rev. 5:9-10, NASB)  

    Note that Rev. 5:9-10 was sung by the elders as a praise to the Lamb and they described the redeemed as "they" and "them" (not themselves) as translated in the NASB. 
  2. Case for Church Saints

    “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:9-10, KJV)
  • In contrast to the NASB, the KJV translated the elders referring to themselves as the redeemed
  • Elders distinguished from the angels in Rev. 7:11 (i.e., elders are not angels)
  • Elders sat on thrones indicating reign. Church saints will rule with Christ (2:26-27; 3:21); angels do not rule.
  • Elders were clothed in white garments. White garments often symbolize Christ’s righteousness imputed to church saints at salvation (3:4-5).
  • Elders had golden crowns on their heads. Crowns are promised to faithful saints (see graphic above), never to angels.
  • Church saints are called a royal priesthood (1:6 cf., 1 Pet. 2:9) 

© Copyright January 2019 Alan S.L. WONG