Section 2
- The Rapture of the Church
- The Throne of Majesty
- The Four Living Creatures
- 24 Elders
- The Sealed Book
- The Victor
- The Response to The Victor's Worthiness
The Rapture of the Church
The Rapture of The Church
"Things which must be hereafter"
This chapter begins a new vision, which constitutes the second section of the Revelation. It is related not to things on the earth, but to things in heaven, and to things following the period covered by the seven churches.
The Translation of the Bride has already taken place.
This section begins with the rapture.
He saw a door opened - v. 1 "A door opened in heaven"
He heard a voice -
"Voice which I heard as it were of a trumpet." (I Thessalonians 4:16-18)
Come up hither
I will shew thee things
Which must be hereafter
After the Rapture of the Church.
He was caught up -
v. 2 "I was in the Spirit" Caught up in the Spirit.
"A throne was set in heaven" set/Keimai- to be out stretched.
The Throne of Majesty
The Throne is in heaven -
v. 2 A throne was set in heaven
Psalm 103:19—The LORD hath prepared His Throne in the heavens;and His kingdom ruleth over all.
The Throne is Occupied -
v. 2 "One sat on the throne"
No name mentioned and No figure described. Only His appearance stated.Not in shape - but in color and flashing brilliancy.
v. 3 "Jasper and a sardine stone"
Crystalline and purple in hue. Royal.cBeautifully bright, red, carnation color.Flashing light or Flames like fire.
I John 1:5 -- God is light…
Hebrews 12:29 -- God is a consuming fire.
The Throne is Encircled -
By a rainbow -
v. 3 "There was a rainbow round about the throne"
Token of God's covenant. Genesis 9:11,17
An Emerald Rainbow
"Insight like unto an emerald."
"Emerald" - "light green"
The throne is a throne of judgment but not of destruction.
Judgment mingled with grace and mercy.
Life - Promise - Hope - "Emerald"
Over-spanning the appearance of consuming fire.
By other thrones - v. 4
"Seats" same word as thrones.
By Elders -
"Four and twenty elders sitting"
On the thrones - "round about the throne"
By Living Creatures - vv. 6-9
The Throne is of Judgment
v. 5 And out of the throne proceeded
"Lightnings"
Exodus9:23,28 Exodus19:16
"Thunderings"
I Samuel 7:10
"Voices"
I Samuel 12:17,18
"Lamps of Fire"
It is a flaming indignation.
Isaiah 4:4 Malachi 4:1 I Thessalonians 1:7,8
Lamps of Fire - "Light"
Not of revealing truth,But revealing judgment.
Seven - Completeness - Tribulation"Seven Spirits" - The fullness of the Spirit of God.
The Throne Has A Pavement - v. 6
Exodus 24:10 Revelation21:21
The Four Living Creatures
The Four Living Creatures vv. 6-8
Who They Are Not
They are not angels. (5:8-10; 7:11; Hebrews 2:5)
They are not Israel. Israel in History - Revelation 4:1. Also these are from all nations. Revelation 5:9
They are not the Apostles, but tribes and people of all the earth.
They are not disembodied spirits, but are glorified subjects of grace.
vv. 8,9 Enthroned - Crowned - Robed
Who They Are
Look at their characteristics revealed in the Scriptures
The first creature was like a lion v. 7
The second creature was like a calf
The third creature had a face as a man
The fourth creature was like a flying eagle
Four is representative of a larger number.
The Jewish writers tell us that the standard of each tribe of Israel took the color of the stone which represented it in the high priest's breastplate, and that there was wrought upon each a particular figure.
In the Four Gospels we have Christ portrayed in this same manner"
This is not Christ, but someone like Him - Who do you find in Scripture like Christ?
Christ is the head of the Church. This is His Body. This is His Church
Lion nature - Ox nature - Man's nature - Eagle's nature
This is the Church after it has been perfected in the first 3 -1/2 years of the tribulation.
They have eyes -
v. 6 "Before and behind"
v. 8 "Full of eyes within"
The symbol of intense intelligence
Looking backward into the past.
Forward into the future.
Inward into the present.
Nothing hid - secrets known.
Also symbol of unceasing activity.
A symbol of continued vigilance.
They have wings -v. 8
Isaiah 6: with twain covered his face
with twain covered his feet
with twain they did fly
Humility -
Redemption - uncovered feet cannot Redeem
Freedom -
Six is the number of man.
Revelation 13:18
Six is 4 -man's worldplus 2 -division or difference, and generally enmity.
Genesis 1:1 - Genesis 1:2
First - Perfection
Second - Ruin and desolation
Six is 5 - grace of God
plus 1 - made of none effect by man's addition to it.
Six is 7 - Completeness
minus 1 - man's coming short of perfection.
These are men redeemed - God's perfection.
Man was created on the sixth day. Man has six days to labor. When twelve (the number of governmental perfection) is divided, it indicates imperfection in rule and administration.
I Kings 10:19 Solomon's throne had six steps, and his kingdom was divided.
The twelve loaves were divided into sixes -
Also on the Breastplate of the High Priest -Twelve Tribes were divided tribes.
24 Elders
The Four And Twenty Elders - vv. 4,10,11
Who They Are Not -
They are not the Patriarchs
Revelation 5:9 From every tribe, tongue, people and nation.
They are not the Apostles. The Apostles were all Jews. They have their part in the foundation. Revelation 21:12-14
They are not disembodies spirits. The dead praise not God.
These are praising God. vv. 10,11
Who They Are -
Notice - Where they are located and what they are doing.
They are located in the throne and sitting on thrones.
Revelation 4:2,4 Now turn to the 3rd chapter and vv. 20,21
They are Overcomers
Sitting on thrones Ch. 3:21; 4:4
They have crowns - v. 10 Crowns promised -
Incorruptible crown - I Corinthians 9:25
Crown of Rejoicing - I Thessalonians 2:19
Crown of Righteousness - II Timothy 4:8
Crown of Life - James 1:12; Rev. 2:10
Crown of Glory - I Peter 5:4
Five in number - Grace and Faith
So then this is a company of people that have heard His voice in the church and have overcome "as He overcame" and He has given them the right to sit with Him in His throne.
They occupy the closest position to Christ.
Chpt. 5:6 Reverse the order —
They are Twenty-Four in number
These were the representatives of many others.
The priests and Levites "were set to forward the work of the house of the Lord, was twenty and four thousand." I Chronicles 23:3,4
But they were all arranged in courses of twenty-four.I Chronicles 24:3-5
I Chronicles 25:8-31 There were not more than twenty-four on duty at a time.
They are Elders -
The expression is that of time - "Elders". The "Elder" was the ruling man in the original order. They are "Elders" because of their official place.
"Sitting on thrones." They are the first glorified of all the redeemed - the seniors of that celestial city.
The Sealed Book
The Sealed Book, vs. 1-4
This chapter continues the description of the vision in chapter four. The scene is still the throne, the Elders, the Living creatures.
This prophecy is in connection with the Church, but not of the Church. Also, this prophecy has its description given in Heaven, but its fulfillment on the earth.
The Position of the Book
v. 1 "In the right hand"
The place of power.
v. 1 "Of Him that sat on the throne."
The place of rule of authority.
The Characteristics of the Book
v. 1 "A book written within"
A scroll - about judgment
The book contained a revelation and demonstration of things to come at the consummation of this present age after the Rapture of the Church.
v. 1 "On the backside, sealed with seven seals"
Reserved judgment. This is not a familiar judgment seen. This is an exceptional administration of justice never before witnessed.
Reserved unto the Day of Judgment
The Dignity of the Book
The question by the angel
v. 2 "Who is worthy to open the book"
The answer to the question
v. 3 "No man in heaven, or in earth, neither under the earth,was able to open the book, neither to look therein."
Notice also that this "strong" angel is not able to open the book either. (powerful, forceful, boisterious, mighty)
John's reaction to this fact
v. 4 "And I wept much"
Because of three things -
None found "worthy" to "open the book"
None found worthy to "read the book"
None found worthy to "look thereon"
The Time of the Opening of the Book
After the Rapture, 4:1
The Purpose of the Opening of the Book
To release the judgments of God on the earth
The Victor
The Nature of the Victor, vs. 5-7
The Book's Opener is presented as a Victor!
Revelaton 5:5 - And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
A lion
v. 5 "Lion of the tribe of Judah"
"The Root of David"
Being of the Root of David, his prowess is of no coincidence. It is by PROMISE and therefore Divine appointment.
Revelation 22:16 - I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
He is both ROOT and OFFSPRING of David! By nature, Jesus is the ROOT of David and by divine incarnation he is the offspring of David. David, the greatly revered and legendary king of Israel, received his authority from this same Jesus!
A lamb
v. 6 "Stood a lamb"
A lion in power, but a lamb in nature. Notice:
He is standing
Because He is not dead, but alive.
Because He is accepted.
Because of us, on our behalf.
He is a sacrificial lamb
v. 6 "A lamb as it had been slain"
His has perfect power and strength
v. 6 "Having seven horns"
He has perfect and universal intelligence
"And seven eyes"
"Which are the seven spirits of God"
He has unlimited rights v. 7
The Response to The Victor's Worthiness
The Response to The Victor's Worthiness, vs. 8-14
Of the Four Beasts and of the Twenty-four Elders v. 8
Fell down before the Lamb
Having every one of them harps
And golden vials - stored up prayers
Sing a new song
What Their Song Is About
Worthy by right of being
He is Lord - Jehovah God
Worthy by right of character
I Peter 1:19 A lamb without spot or blemish
Worthy by right of obedience
He earned the right
"For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred" etc.
Luke 23:41 - And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.