Revelation 4

Section 2.  Chapters 4-7.  The Scroll with the Seven Seals.

REVELATION 4

     The remaining six sections of Revelation are a series of visions seen by John while in the spirit, visions from the Lord or his angel.  As previously noted, all seven sections are parallel, each covering the entire last age of the world.  The vision now begun leaves the worldly perspective the eyes of flesh normally see.  In vision, John sees through an open door into the throne room of heaven.  In chapters four and five, he sees symbols of things hidden from the apostles’ eyes by the cloud at the ascension of Jesus into heaven (Acts 1:9), and sees what Steven saw as he was being stoned (Acts 7:55, 56).  Again, John is not describing some fantastic material reality (e.g., a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes), but symbols of an infinitely deeper spiritual reality.  He is seeing into the very center of the throne of the triune God, around which everything that is revolves, and the true source of all that has being.  Is it any wonder that it is seen in symbols, or that the symbols are often mysterious?

     The symbols in chapters 4 and 5 are more fully described in Ezek. 1 & 10.  There are minor variations, as is to be expected with symbols applied to differing situations.  But there is no doubt Ezekiel and John saw the same things.  For example, the four living beings symbolize the same thing whether they are said to have four wings or six.  The symbolic significance of their going from four wings to six with the passage of time I leave for others to ponder. (Cf. Is. 6:2-3, called Seraphim, six wings.)  In Ezek. 10:20, they are identified as cherubim.  They are most mysterious creatures, and what they represent to us is debated.  In my opinion, it is wise not to get bogged down in the details of every symbol, but to grasp the bigger picture. 

     Another key to Rev. 4 and 5 is to remember that the pattern God gave Moses for the tabernacle and the worship for Israel was a copy meant to represent on earth this same heavenly scene.

     4:1.  The voice is that of Jesus (cf. 1:10), and he calls John to come see how the future must play out.

      4:2-3.  In the spirit, John sees the throne of heaven where God himself rules over all things.  He is described in similes as appearing like “jasper” (Hendriksen says diamond is more likely meant; compare the description of it in 21:11), and sardius (or, cornelian?).  The first perhaps representing infinite purity, and the second the administration of perfect justice (the blood red cornelian).  Around the throne is the rainbow of emerald green, the grace and peace of God’s covenant mercy and faithfulness first signified by Noah’s rainbow. 

     4:4.  (Cf. the 24 “chief men”, descendants of Aaron, listed in 1 Chr. 24:4-19.)  Two is the number for witness, since every word in court must be confirmed by two or more witnesses.  Twelve is the number for God’s people, since there were twelve tribes (2 x 12 = 24).  The OT people are fathered by the twelve patriarchs, and the NT people are fathered by the witness of the twelve apostles.  These twenty-four elders thus represent the entire witness of the entire church.  It is evident that often the import of a symbol is much better left intuitively understood and felt than explained.

     4:5.  As Israel trembled before the holy mountain where the Law was given (Ex. 19:16), so all creation trembles before the seat of God’s governance, and before it the sevenfold light of the Holy Spirit radiates (cf. 1:4).

     4:6a.  A sea of glass like crystal; this corresponds to the laver, or “sea” that stood before the tabernacle and temple.  It was for washing and cleansing all manner of things soiled by the world.  This heavenly sea differs from the bronze laver of the temple, in that it is of crystal clear glass.  This is where true washing takes place, not in the restless sea of the nations, where the turmoil of wind and wave reign.   Where God reigns, there is tranquility, hence a sea of glass (see Mt. 8:26 f.; Mark 4:39 ff.).

     4:6b-8.  The four living creatures around the throne; as noted, Ezek. 10:20 identifies these as cherubim.   Whatever a cherub is, it isn’t well rendered as a chubby winged baby.  These are awesome created beings of a high order.  Their three fold never ceasing cry of Holy, Holy, Holy, is both a call to all creation to worship the almighty eternal God and a fierce warning, for they will guard his holiness from all that is unworthy with the terrible sword of his lightning (cf. Gen. 3:24).  They are described in various texts as apparently each being capable of presenting any of the four faces mentioned in v. 7, faces which symbolize the royal power of the lion, the service strength of the young bull, the intelligence of man, and the speed and far vision of the flying eagle.   They face in all four directions, taking in everything in the created universe with “perfect perception of God’s will, and sleepless vigilance, and untiring energy to do it” (Ramsey, p. 247).

     I can’t help mention that when Israel was on the march in the wilderness, led by the cloud and pillar of fire, the twelve tribes lined up in four squadrons of three tribes each.  Leading the squadron on the south was Reuben, whose standard is thought to have carried the face of a man; on the east, the lion of Judah; on the west, Ephraim the young bull; Dan the eagle on the north.  In the midst of the camp, the Ark of the Covenant was carried.  Cast in one piece with the lid of the ark, which was called the mercy seat, were two cherubim, with their wings arching over and touching each other.  They looked down on the mercy seat, sprinkled with the blood of the Atonement sacrifice, covering the Testimony of the Law (the ten commandments) that was inside the ark (cf. Heb. 9:5).

     4:9-11.  But let us not get lost in details.   The best commentary on the main message John’s vision presents is probably Ps. 99.  “The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!…  Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; Holy is He” (Ps. 99:1, 5).  And the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders do exactly that, and call all his creation to do the same, for he is worthy.