Welcome to The MHB Podcast. This is Michael Baun. And welcome to my 147th episode. In this episode I want to continue our study of the book of Revelation. We are in chapter 4. This chapter is the opening to the prophetical vision which was given to John. Remember how I said Revelation reads like some kind of phantasmagoria or a hallucinogenic nightmare? This chapter begins that kind of display. It can be difficult to make sense of the imagery in Revelation and I think that’s because it was difficult for John to make sense of what he saw. But we will do our best to unpack it. The letters to the seven churches at the beginning of Revelation opened with a vision of Christ. The prophecies we’ll be covering in the next chapters open with a vision of God in His glory seated upon His throne. This opening scene is set in heaven and God is surrounded by His heavenly host. John recorded what he saw and what he heard on that mysterious day. Let’s begin with verses 1-8:
Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Rev 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Rev 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
John seems to indicate that this vision was separate from his previous vision of Christ. His previous vision showed Christ walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, which were symbolic for the seven churches to be addressed in the vision. It’s reasonable to suggest this second vision happened after John had written down Christ’s messages to the seven churches. John began this vision by saying a door was opened in heaven. It’s important to understand everything which unfolds on earth is first designed and settled by God in heaven. There is no part of His work which is hidden from Him, but He only reveals as much as we are fit to know on earth. Undoubtedly those in heaven know a great deal more than we do because in our mortality we see only a partial picture imperfectly as in a clouded mirror. But even the inhabitants of heaven aren’t privy to all of God’s works on earth – only what He reveals to them.. I don’t think our loved ones who have passed on are now omniscient and omnipresent the way God is. They have experienced glorification so compared to us they have the answers to the big questions, but having the answers is not the same thing as being able to see and move in all places at all times as God does.
On earth it’s impossible for us to know anything about the future apart from what God has revealed to us. We can make predictions with varying degrees of accuracy based on the past or based on natural law, but that’s about all we can do. If I’ve learned anything in 2020, it’s that the entire world can change in a moment and for all its technological prowess the whole of the western world was caught flat footed by the coronavirus pandemic. The only parts of our future which we can know with certainty are those parts which God has chosen to uncover from the veil of obscurity. Even though God has given us merely a partial look at His divine plan, it is information which we can rest on as being absolutely true and certain. We should avoid looking beyond God’s revelation and we should be careful to separate fun theorizing from gospel truth. God has chosen to show us what He has shown us for His own reasons and we should trust in Him rather than claiming the wisdom to know better.
A voice called John into heaven and he said this voice sounded like a trumpet. John was brought up in the spirit to the third heavens. This just means the space which is holiest of all. The space which is the holiest of all is the space which is in the very presence of God. We can experience the presence of God now through faith and worship. When the faithful die their spirits are brought into the presence of God. On the last day when God’s redemptive work is complete, we will be able to exist in this space in bodily form as resurrected, glorified children of God. God knows when the time is right for your spirit to be called into the third heavens and to stand in His presence. Until then all of us must reside on earth and refrain from intruding the presence of God by our own will. It’s possible the third heavens are hidden from us because if we experienced it we wouldn’t want to live another day in our fallen condition.
John was taken up in rapture with the Holy Spirit and it’s not clear whether he was in the body or out of the body when he experienced this vision. Something happened to his consciousness where his bodily actions and sensations were suspended. His spirit was possessed by the spirit of prophecy and his senses were captivated by divine influence. The body you have right now functions to obscure your communion with God. That’s why the Bible calls the flesh weak and corrupt. There are forms of meditation one can practice in an effort to separate your consciousness from bodily sensation. So the normal perspective you have of yourself riding around in your own head behind your face can actually be shifted if you pay close enough attention to consciousness. This type of meditation might be helpful to your prayer life. It’s an interesting practice but I wouldn’t obsess over it because like it or not we are bound to our bodies in this life. But it’s no accident that John’s mortal body slipped away from his consciousness when he experienced the rapture of prophetic vision. Letting go of his corporeal self allowed him to become more fit for direct communion with God.
In the vision John saw a throne set in heaven. This was the throne of God – the seat of honor, authority, and judgment. This is where God resides in all His glory and establishes laws for the church and the entire world. Every governmental authority exists under the jurisdiction of God’s throne whether they realize it or not. This is why Paul admonishes Christians to respect earthly authority so long as earthly authority is not commanding you to defy God’s authority. There is not and has never been a single person occupying a position of power whom God hasn’t established Himself – and all of them must answer to Him. When John looked at the throne he saw God seated on it. It’s likely John’s vision was limited to God’s transcendent brightness. God is indescribable by human features and this mystery is intentional. If we knew what God looked like we would immediately create graven images, statues, paintings, and many other items which would encourage idolatry. Worshiping the work of our own hands is part of our corrupt nature as humans.
The only way John could describe God was by reference to things which are most pleasant and precious here on earth. He said His countenance was like a jasper and a sardine-stone. Jasper stones are transparent and contain a variety of vivid colors. It was probably the closest thing John could think of to describe the glorious perfection of God. Sardine stones are red which is used to symbolize the divine justice of God. God is righteous and His justice is perfect. God doesn’t divest Himself of this perfect justice for anyone. The justice of God is made manifest in His governance of the world and particularly in the church through the Lord Jesus Christ. I know what you’re thinking. How can God be governing the world with perfect justice when the world is full of so much injustice? The answer is the world is only full of injustice while you’re looking at the incomplete picture. You can be certain God balances the scales even if we don’t see it happening in this life. Those whose sins are not atoned for by the blood of Christ will have to answer for what they’ve done. God’s justice is gloriously revealed both in salvation as well as in judgment. Christ paid for your sins so that if you repent and trust in Him then you won’t have to.
John saw a rainbow about the throne which he described as like unto an emerald. Back in Genesis God appointed the rainbow as the seal of His covenant with Noah and all generations who come after. He promised to never flood the world again and the rainbow signified this promise. In John’s vision the rainbow is emblematic of the everlasting covenant made with humanity through Jesus Christ as the head of the church. Of all the colors in this rainbow the color which prevailed was green like an emerald. The green color symbolized the reviving and renewing power of God’s new covenant with humanity. It shows us the renewing capacity of our death and resurrection in Christ Jesus – a spiritual process which is physically represented by baptism. When you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord then you become a new creation and the color green represented this reality in the rainbow John saw about God’s throne.
John also saw 24 seats situated around the throne of God. On these seats were 24 elders or presbyters who represented the redeemed among humanity. They were seated in honor and in satisfaction. The elders sat near to God because of their close relationship with Him. It’s likely these elders represented the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. They were clothed in white raiment which suggests the righteousness of Christ had been imputed to them. The crowns on their heads were symbolic of the authority given to them by God and the glory they have with Him. This scene of the 24 elders gathered around God is emblematic of the church on earth as well. The faithful in the church have the righteousness of Christ imputed to them and they gather to worship with God in the midst of them each Sunday. The church will be triumphant in heaven and the faithful will gather in the presence of God while clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
John witnessed God make declarations from the throne and he likened this to lightning, thunder, and voices. These declarations were the same way in which God gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. The gospel is declared by the preachers of God to this day and it is no less authoritative although it’s glory is manifested more spiritually. John described seeing seven lamps of fire burning before the throne and he said these were the seven Spirits of God. Remember this doesn’t mean God’s Spirit is seven in number, rather it signifies the various gifts, graces, and operations of the Spirit of God in the churches of Christ. These gifts are dispensed in accordance with God’s pleasure and His perfect will.
John notes the presence of a sea of glass, like unto crystal, before God’s throne. This was probably a great brass vessel filled with water. In the temple the Levitical priests kept a large vessel filled with water which they called a sea. The priests were instructed to wash themselves using this water before going in to minister before the Lord. We have this same purification principle in the gospel church but now our spirits are cleansed with the blood of Jesus Christ. I’m sure you’ve heard people say they can’t go to church or the building would burn down around them. These are people who haven’t connected with the reality of Christ’s redemptive power. The truth is whoever is forgiven by Jesus Christ cannot be condemned by anyone. Christ’s power to purify far exceeds your own power to defile. But it is only by faith in Jesus that we may be cleansed sufficiently to be admitted into the gracious presence of God on earth or in heaven.
John also saw four animal-like creatures between God’s throne and the circle of elders. It’s likely these creatures were symbolic for the ministers of the gospel. This is indicated both by their position between the representatives of the Christian people and God Himself, as well as by the fact they were fewer in number than the circle of elders. They also had many eyes which symbolizes the vigilance and circumspection which is required of many pastors. The creatures John saw were a lion, a calf, a creature with the face of a human, and also an eagle. The lion represents the courage which is necessary to be a minister of God. The Old Testament prophets were persecuted and Jesus said the world will hate His people because the world hated Him first. So it takes great strength and bravery to last as one of God’s shepherds. The calf describes the work-ethic of the minister. To be a minister of God requires a lifetime of study and care for His people. It’s a calling you live out every day and it’s not something you can leave at the office when you go home. The creature with the face of a human represents the necessity for prudence and discretion as a minister. Being in the business of worldview development has very serious consequences if the pastor takes the responsibility too lightly. The eagle shows us how God is the one who carries ministers through their work and without God they cannot expect to be successful. The minister’s reflections and devotions to God are wind under the wings of an eagle giving flight to all that we do and helping us stay above temptation.
Each creature John saw had six wings full of eyes. The eyes represent the requirement for ministers to remain self-aware in all the work they do. Shepherds should always act with knowledge and should be well-acquainted with the condition of their own souls. Ministers must be mindful of their own duties in the practice of religion and they need to be continuously attentive to the spiritual status of their congregation. This vigilance is maintained by remembering to honor God, by praying without ceasing, and by prioritizing the love of your neighbor. In John’s vision the circle of elders which represented the Christian people were seated and being ministered to by the four creatures. The four creatures ministered without rest night and day by praising God and saying: holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Let’s read verses 9-11:
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
In heaven you will see many things which fill you with a sense of joy and satisfaction. You will also hear songs and sounds that inspire you with awe and wonder. This is because your eyes and your ears will be sanctified. You will be perfectly tuned to experience the indescribably magnificent presence of God. These experiences are foreshadowed on earth inside the walls of your church when you hear a particularly wonderful song or an impactful sermon. The more you become like Christ, the more things which glorify Jesus will bring joy to your heart. So you can imagine the best experience you’ve ever had in church. That experience is not even in the same dimension as what it will be like to walk into the church made perfect in heaven.
John’s vision gave him a glimpse of God’s immaculate church. He heard a song coming from the four creatures. This song references the same vision which came to Isaiah when he saw God seated on his throne in the temple and the seraphim singing holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. In John’s vision, the song of the four creatures describes how they adore one God, and one only, the Lord God Almighty who is unchangeable and everlasting. You might ask why the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision as well as the creatures in John’s vision repeat holy, holy, holy three times. It’s not unreasonable to suggest they are celebrating the three holies in the one God. The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit. These distinct persons of the Trinity coexist to form the eternal, singular Being who sits upon the throne and lives forever and ever. When John gazed into the glory of God he saw Jesus Christ and spoke of Him.
John could hear the adoration of the twenty four elders who represented the body of Christian believers. The four creatures acted as ministers and led the praise, while the twenty four elders followed suit. When we look at the four creatures and the twenty four elders we notice all of them share the same object of worship, namely God on His throne. Every Christian church should be able to unite under common worship. There’s going to be differences among individuals within a congregation but there should never be differences in who they are worshiping. This is the main reason why it’s so important for pastors to teach and for Christians to be willing to learn. A church can suffer deep and irreversible damage if some number of their congregants are worshiping a misapprehended understanding of God. God is not defined entirely by your personal relationship with Him. God defines Himself in His revealed word to us and this is why it’s so critical that Christians cultivate a desire for studying Scripture. Anytime idolatry is detected inside a congregation it should be located with precision and excised immediately because otherwise it will spread like a pathogen.
The twenty four elders fell down before God as He sat on His throne. When you stand in the presence of God you’ll be overcome with profound humility, reverence, and godly fear. The elders took off their crowns and cast them before the throne. This shows how readily they were willing to give up whatever power and authority they might have had on earth. They saw that only God is worthy of glory and that praising Him brought them honor and happiness in heaven. Imagine the most powerful people on earth. These are individuals who can send entire armies marching with a spoken word. But even the most powerful people who have ever lived – should they enter into the presence of God – they would understand that they owe all of their grace and glory to Him. They would see that His crown is infinitely more glorious than their own, and they would count it as a privilege to submit themselves before His eternal throne.
We notice something interesting when we examine their words of adoration. They said God is worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. They did not say that they give glory, honor, and power to God. No person who has ever lived can give these things to God because God has always had them. There’s nothing we can do to add to what God already has. All we can do is merely recognize that He’s always been worthy of our praise. The twenty four elders realized that God is worthy of their honor but they themselves were unworthy to honor Him. They were incapable of praising God enough to do it according to His own infinite excellence. This is the essence of what Paul means in Romans when he says that we have all fallen short of the glory of God. Even the best, most magnanimous people among us are insufficient to reflect the perfect goodness of God. That’s why all of us – from the least to the greatest – are totally lost without Jesus Christ.
The adoration the creatures and the elders are experiencing in the presence of God is based on three truths. First is that He is the Creator of all things. Among the apologists one of the favorite arguments for the existence of God is called the Aristotelian Unmoved Mover. The argument lays itself out by suggesting that every condition or event must be caused by some other event which preceded it. You’re alive right now, but you’re only alive right now because of the energy you took from the plant or animal you ate. That plant or animal was able to provide you energy because it first consumed energy from somewhere else. And you can trace this sort of thing all the way back to a first cause, a self-actualized agent, or an unmoved mover. Logic tells us it has to be something or someone who is eternal and was not caused by any preceding event. The characters in this chapter of Revelation recognized God as the eternal Unmoved Mover and understood such a Creator should be the only object of one’s worship.
The second truth is that God is the one who preserves and sustains all things. This is similar to the unmoved mover proposition except with this one you don’t need to trace events back in time. In every waking moment this divine preservation is happening all around you. You’re ability to sit somewhere depends on the chair’s ability to hold you up. The chair’s ability to hold you up depends on the floor’s ability to hold the chair. The floor is being held by the foundation and the foundation is being held by the earth. The earth is being held by gravity and gravity is determined by the earth’s mass. Mass determining gravity is dependent on the laws of physics operating in a certain and constant way – and it’s not unreasonable to suggest the laws of physics come from a Mind since we use our own minds to understand them. If physical law changed in the next moment everything around you would change as well. It would be like taking the chair out from underneath you. Our eternal and everlasting God is holding all of this together at all times without any lapse or inconsistency. Literally everything you see including yourself depends on Him. This is why idolatry has the capacity to so badly confuse people. Idolatry causes you to worship someone or something whose very existence depends on the God you should be worshiping. It’s like saying you have no need for gravity because you have this wonderful chair you can sit in instead.
The third truth is that God is the final cause of all things. God is the first cause from which all things branch off, God is the independent one upon which all things depend, and God is also the final cause. And this is where you find out why you even exist at all. Everything which exists including yourself has been created for God’s pleasure. It was God’s will to create and so He created. His creation did not depend on the will of another apart from His own. God made you because He loves you and your purpose in life is to glorify Him in this love. You do this by loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and by loving your neighbor as you love yourself. These three truths have been used by apologists of various religions because many mistake them for deistic claims. A deistic claim is the idea that there is some god out there but he may be impersonal and unknown. This would be the predicament for Christians as well had it not been for Jesus Christ. Jesus is God feeding Himself into the system so that we may know Him. Jesus is the prime mover, the independent one, and the final cause. We know this because Scripture says, all things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. John experienced a vision of worship playing out before the throne of the eternal, everlasting God – and on that throne sat Jesus.
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