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Ch 4: A vision of heaven

Artwork by Duncan Long

1. The vision of heaven (4:1)

4:1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

John sees a door standing open in heaven and is invited to come up to heaven to see what must take place after the letters to the seven churches. This introduces a new section that shows the future from heaven's perspective, the previous section concerned the current situation of the churches. Human history is now viewed from the point of view of Him who is the beginning and end of history. It shows history as it affects the church, which is the people of God, and the world. We find God on his throne at the very centre of heaven surrounded by the living creatures and elders giving him his rightful worship as creator, it is fitting that our view of the future should start with a view of God in control. The purpose of this vision is to show that God is in control of human history and in particular the history of the church. Like the prologue to Job Revelation permits us to see into the invisible realm of heaven and we find God seated on his throne, later we find the conquering Lamb on the same throne receiving the adulation of the universe, later we see Satan cast out of heaven to the earth making war on the saints through his henchmen the two beasts. Revelation answers the question most often asked during periods of persecution, 'where is God in all this?', when His enemies appear to be triumphing over the church. Thus at the start of these heavenly visions we see God firmly in control of the universe. Some authors postulate that from now on until chapter 21 the church is not in view (see Walvoord).

For background see Exo 19, 25-27 for the tabernacle and its furnishings and articles, see also Heb 9:1-8

Comparison of earthly temple with heavenly sanctuary:

v1 - After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." - This section opens in a similar way to Ezekiel's visions, '... the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God' Ezek 1:1, he too was in exile. Likewise in 19:11 John saw heaven opened. 'After this' refers to the vision of the risen Christ and the letters to the seven churches. The voice he had first heard speaking like a trumpet, 1:10, was that of Christ or an angel, but clearly he is invited by Christ to come up to heaven to see, from heavens perspective, what must soon take place.

The words 'come up here' have been linked with the rapture of the church and it has been pointed out that the word for church (Gk. ekklesia) does not appear elsewhere in Revelation until 22:16. However only John is told to 'come up here', and the elect of God and his saints are certainly referred to later in Revelation (7:3, 13:7, 10, 14:12) even if the word church is not used. For example the two witnesses are described as two lampstands (11:4) and we have already seen that a lampstand is a symbol of a church, they are also told to 'come up here' (11:12) and is much more likely to refer to the rapture. While the word church does not occur until 22:16 the word saints occurs twelve times between 5:8 and 19:8. Strauss points out that John heard the voice of the Lord speaking to me like a trumpet, and compares this with the last trumpet of 1 Cor 15:52. However John's invitation is to receive revelation but that of the church is to accomplish final salvation (Thomas). Johnson comments that the word 'church' or 'churches' always stands in Revelation for the historic seven churches in Asia and not for the universal body of Christ. Since 4:1-22:15 concerns the believing community as a whole, it would be inappropriate to find the narrower term 'church' in this section (cf. 3 John 6, 9-10).

v1 - "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this - John now sees the future from heavens perspective, which is how the rest of the book is seen. We should note that Jesus (I will show you) will show John the future, it is appropriate that Jesus, who is the First and the Last (1:17), the Beginning and the End (22:13), should show John the future for only He can know it with certainty. We are also reminded that this book comes from Jesus to show His servants what must soon take place as the first verse says (1:1). The previous section, the letters to the seven churches, was written to the church in John's day, 'what is now', this section introduces 'what is to come' (Rev 1:19). This type of introduction is used elsewhere to introduce the opening of the seals (Rev 6:1), introduce the punishment of the great prostitute (Rev 17:1), and the wife of the Lamb (Rev 21:9). Amos says that the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). The book of Revelation is partially a prophecy about the future (Rev 22:6).

v2 - At once I was in the Spirit - He could only be in heaven in the Spirit because heaven is not a material place so he could not be there in the body. He was also in the spirit on the Lord's day when the vision started and the risen Christ appeared to him (1:10) and when he saw the woman sitting on the beast (17:3) and when he saw the new Jerusalem (21:10). Paul also went to the third heaven, he does not know whether it was in the body or out of the body (2 Cor 12:2).

v2 - and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it - The person on the throne is not named but in v11 he is called 'our Lord and God'. God is on his throne in heaven and is therefore in control of the future. This vision of the future starts with God in control, the rest of the book demonstrates this. God's' enemies are finally punished and His people vindicated. God is not described because this is impossible, because he lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, 1 Tim 6:16. The image of God on his throne comes from Isaiah 6:1 and Ezekiel 1:26. There are many psalms that speak of God on His throne. It is no coincidence that both the psalms and Revelation are full of praise to God, because they both see God enthroned in splendour Ps 9:7, 11:4, 45:6, 47:8 etc.

v3 - And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian - There is no description of the one who sat on the throne. Paul reminds us that God 'lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see' (1 Tim 6:16) therefore the description in terms of precious jewels and rainbows is an apt one. The appearance of Jasper which is the glory of God, as in the new Jerusalem which 'shone with the glory of God, .... like Jasper', 21:11.

v3 - A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. - The rainbow is a reminder of God's covenant with Noah and man (Gen 9:11), this shows his mercy. In Ezek 1:28 the rainbow shows the glory of the Lord. Ladd comments that 'The throne with its brilliance was surrounded by a rainbow which, instead of containing the colours of the prism, was emerald green'.

1.1. Twenty four elders and four living creatures (4:4)

Rev 4:4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Rev 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

v4 - Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. - Part of the background is found in Dan 7:9-14 in which there is a heavenly court and thrones were set in place and the Ancient of days took his seat. This verse introduces the twenty four elders, they were dressed in white indicating their purity and they had crowns on their heads indicating their kingly role which is appropriate to their thrones. They reign with Christ as does the church 2 Tim 2:12. These elders could represent the OT and NT church, as indicated by the number twenty four, i.e. twelve tribes + twelve apostles. The following reasons are given:

1. Elder is a church office.
2. They are dressed in white as is the Church (3:5, 7:14).
3. They are described later as having harps (5:8) as does the church (15:2).
4. And as having a new song (5:9) as does the church (14:3).
5. The number twenty four coming from both OT and NT church, see the New Jerusalem Rev 21:12-14.
6. The twelve apostles will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Mat 19:28).
7. See also the twenty four who ministered in the Lord's temple (1 Chr 24:1-19).
8. They have crowns on their heads indicating their kingly role, the saints will also receive a crown 2:10, 3:11, 1 Pet 5:4. The word for crown used here is the victors crown (stephanos), rather than the royal crown (diadema), this is used of the saints in 2:10, 3:11 cf. 12:1 and 1 Cor 9:25.

However the principle thing that goes against this argument is that in Rev 19:1-7 the elders and the saints are found together, although after that we hear nothing more from the elders. It is therefore more likely that they are a heavenly council. Lang gives some of the following reasons why the elders do not represent the church:

1. One of the elders speaks individually to John if the elders symbolise the church this would not make sense.
2. The bride would be enthroned before her marriage.
3. The bride is seen enthroned before the Lamb has taken his throne.
4. The elders appear in visions together with and therefore distinct from: John (5:5, 7:13), The living creatures (4:9, 10 etc.), Angels (5:11, 7:11), the saints (5:8, see also 19:1-7).
5. The elders clearly distinguish between themselves and the redeemed and therefore cannot be redeemed men themselves. Rev 5:10 in which the elders sing a new song uses the term them to describe to describe the redeemed instead of us. Note the KJV is wrong in using us, see also NASB which uses them.
6. The elders are mentioned separately to the firstfruits, 14:1-5.
7. The elders are not those who come out of the great tribulation because these are described by an elder and they are enthroned before the great tribulation (7:13).
8. They are not part of the company who take part in the first resurrection because they speak to God regarding these (11:16-18).
9. In 19:1-10 the elders are distinct from the wife of the Lamb because they worship God before the wedding of the Lamb has been announced.

The elders are therefore more likely to be the council of heaven (Jer 23:18-22, Psa 89:6-7, 107:32) the council being a body of advisers that the king would consult with (Acts 25:12) and whom God would use in his heavenly government. In the bible there are clearly Satanic rulers, powers and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12, 1 Pet 3:22, Col 2:15) and therefore it is likely that there are similar governmental authorities in heaven to carry out God's rule (Eph 3:10). Col 1:16 refers to thrones in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible which were created by and for Christ.

v5 - From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. - These flashes and peals of thunder are associated with God's presence, see for example when the Lord came down onto Mt. Sinai (Exo 19:11-20) and 2 Sam 22:13, they are seen also in Rev 11:19 when God's temple was opened. When the angel hurled the censer filled with fire from the altar there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake (8:5). With the seventh bowl there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake (16:18).

v5 - Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God - In the OT a lampstand with seven lamps was used to illuminate the table in the holy place with the bread of the Presence on it, Exo 26:33-35, 25:37, 40:22-25, Num 4:7, 8:2, 2 Chr 13:11, Heb 9:2. The lamps use oil which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, Num 4:9, 1 Sam 16:13. There is a similar picture in Zec 4:2 ff. which has a lampstand with seven lights on it and there are seven channels which feed the lights, on either side are two olive trees that supply the oil for the lights. In response to the question what are these? The Lord answers 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit'. In verse 10 the seven lamps are said to be "(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)". The seven spirits are also mentioned in Rev 1:4, 3:1, 5:6. Seven is the term for completeness. There is a seven fold description of the Spirit of Christ in Isa 11:1-4. Prov 20:27 states that 'The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being'. The Holy Spirit illuminates the things of God (indicated by the articles on the table, Exo 31:8) and makes them real to us, 'the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you' (John 16:15), and especially he reveals Jesus to us who is the real bread that comes from heaven, John 6:41, 58.

v6 - Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. - This sea separates God from the rest of creation, see also Exo 24:10 when Moses and the leaders saw God, 'under his feet was something like a pavement made of Sapphire, clear as the sky itself'. Ezekiel also saw an expanse sparkling like ice above the heads of the creatures, above which was the throne, Ezek 1:22. A sea of glass occurs in 15:2 but this time mixed with fire. The earthly equivalent in the temple was the bronze basin for washing the hands and feet Exo 30:18, it is also the bronze Sea, in Solomon's temple, used by the priest for washing (2 Chr 4:6). This indicates that nothing unclean is able to approach God but must first be washed. The purity of this washing is indicated by its clarity like crystal, which means that there are no blemishes allowed near the throne. The picture heightens the holiness of God, his purity and separateness from his creation and creatures.

v6 - In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. - These creatures guard the things of God (Gen 3:24), they are Seraphs, Isa 6:1-3, they are a very high order of angels who are close to God and his throne, they see his holiness and therefore glorify him, see Exo 25:18, Ezek 1:5, 13, 18. Some argue that these represent creation generally, this is possible from their name 'living creatures' and their description, also there are four of them indicating the four directions of the compass, the first four trumpets and bowls all affect the earth, sea, rivers and universe.

v7 - The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. - Ezek 1:10 and 10:14 gives a similar description of four living creatures. The description probably refers to their characteristic qualities. They are in strength like a lion, in service like an ox, in intelligence like a man and in swiftness like an eagle (Hendriksen). The Greek word used is zoon while that used for the beast in chapter 13 is therion who resembled a leopard, bear and a lion but it blasphemes God while the living creatures worship God.

v8 - Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." - The six wings refer to swift obedience and eyes refer to vigilance. They are close to the throne and so they see his holiness. They also declare his eternal existence, 'who was, and is, and is to come', which is unique to God alone. All creatures in heaven and earth owe their existence to the fact God created them at some point in time, but God has always existed from eternity past. The Seraphs continually declare the holiness of God, thrice Holy, God's greatest attribute, see Isa 6:2-3. His holiness is his separateness from his creatures, his total purity and perfection of all his attributes. This is the first of many hymns in Revelation. The living creatures appear elsewhere in Revelation.

1. The four living creatures introduce the first four seals, Rev 6:1:
2. One gives the seven angels the seven bowls, Rev 15:7.
3. The living creatures and the elders act together to worship God, Rev 4:9, 5:14, 19:4.

v9 - Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. - The elders always join in worship with the four living creatures (Rev 5:8). They worship God who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, they lay their crowns before him to acknowledge him as supreme ruler. They acknowledge that He is worthy to receive glory, honour and power because he is the Creator. The elders as representatives of the church worship God as Creator, the very thing the inhabitants of the world refuse to do, they prefer idolatry instead, see Rev 9:20-21, 14:7, 16:9. Who we worship is one of the key themes of Revelation see 5:14, 9:20, 14:7, 14:9, 19:10, 22:9, here we see that in heaven it is God who is worshipped because He is the eternal Creator, He should also be worshipped by those on the earth as well 14:6-7. He who made the world is in control of the world, he is on the throne. Jesus is also described as the ruler of God's creation (Rev 3:14). God is referred to as Creator again in Rev 10:6, and in 14:7 where the angel announces the time of God's judgement has come and commands men to fear and worship God because he is the Creator, this is the gospel at its simplest (Acts 14:15, 17:24). Isa 57:15 talks about the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity, and in his eternal plan God chose to create the heavens and the earth and everything in it. Every created thing owes its existence to the free will and pleasure of God. Col 1:16 also emphasises the fact that we were created by him and for him.

Chapter 5