As we come to Revelation 4, we stand at the beginning of the third division of the book. In Revelation 1:19, we learned from the Lord Himself that this book properly divides into three sections. There He told the apostle John, “Write, therefore, [1] what you have seen, [2] what is now, and [3] what will take place later.” Part 1 compromised Revelation 1, Part 2, Revelation 2 and 3; and Part3 begins with Revelation 4 and continues to the end of the book – the part that Jesus calls “what will take place later.” Revelation 4 is justly considered one of the great chapters of the Bible, alongside John 3, Romans 8, and Hebrews 7. It shows not only the sovereignty of God over all history, but also the worship of God as the central activity of history. This point is depicted in verses 4-6.

In verse 1, notice that this passage begins and ends with two words, “after this.” These words form the hinge of Revelation. In Chapters 2 and 3, Jesus addressed the burning issues of the age of the church. But now we reach a transition. The scene shifts abruptly from the church to events that take place “after this.” These words signal to us that what John is about to see is a vision of events which come after the church has finished its course, after the church has been removed from the world.

John first sees an open door, and through that door he catches his first glimpse of heaven. He isn’t the first biblical prophet to have the privilege of standing on earth and looking into heaven. The Old Testament prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Daniel also did so. But in John’s case, there is and important difference: John, unlike all the other prophets who looked into heaven, is actually summoned into heaven. No prophet in all of Scripture was ever allowed to enter heaven to report what he saw except John.

What is the significance of this fact? Many Bible scholars believe that John the apostle, as he is summoned into heaven, represents the church which will be called out of the world and into heaven at the end of the Laodicean age in which we now live. What John sees during the rest of Revelation is what the church will see from its heavenly vantage point after it is caught away to be with Christ. This means that as we read through the book of Revelation, we no longer see events from the standpoint of time but from the standpoint of eternity. In eternity, there is no set yardstick or sequence of events as there is in time. This fact makes the book of Revelation difficult to interpret in many ways, but it also adds to its fascination.

The first thing John saw, dominating everything else in this scene, was a great throne and someone seated upon the throne (vv. 2-3). The throne is a central theme of the book of Revelation. Out of the 22 chapters in the book, there are only five chapters in which the word “throne” does not appear. This fact impresses us with the truth that the government of God towers over all human events. Everything that we read about and see on our TV screens, however awesome, saddening, or triumphant, takes place in the shadow of the sovereign throne of God.

The next observation John records is that there was someone seated upon the throne. As we read his words our expectations are immediately heightened: At last, we think, we shall learn what God looks like! John is permitted to actually see the Lord of the universe on His throne. And how does the apostle describe what he sees? Colors! Pure, flashing, jewel-like colors, like the blazing radiance cast off by a prism. John records that God manifested Himself in spectacularly colored light. These colors are full of rich significance and meaning. From these colors we learn several important things about the figure upon the throne.

First, we learn that it is not merely God the Father whom John sees upon the throne. There are actually three Persons manifested there. The first is signified by the stone jasper, which is really a diamond, the most beautiful and precious of all gems, highly prized for its ability to capture and refract light into a brilliant display of intense colors. The brilliant crystal John describes here symbolizes the dominant attribute of God the Father; His holy perfection. The second stone is the carnelian or sardius, which is a beautiful glowing, blood-red stone. This stone immediately suggests the Son, who gave His blood for us as atonement for our sins. The third stone is the emerald. John saw a great rainbow encircling the throne, green as an emerald. Green is the color of nature, the color of creation. The rainbow in John’s vision, brilliant in varying shades of emerald green, circling the throne of heaven, symbolizes the Holy Spirit administering the holiness and redemption of God to all creation.

Secondary to the powerful, colorful image of God’s glory, John then noticed that there were others seated in the Supreme Headquarters of heaven (v. 4). There has been much debate over what these twenty-four elders or ancients mean. Many Bible scholars consider them to be redeemed saints, both of the Old and New Testaments: twelve elders of Israel, representing the twelve tribes, and twelve apostles. I used to hold this view myself, but one nagging detail of this view always troubled me: If twelve of these elders are the twelve apostles, then one of them would have been John himself. Does he see himself seated there? Does that make sense? I don’t think so.

Who then are these twenty-four elders in verse 4? I believe they are angels who have been put in charge of this present age. They are a body of twenty-four intelligent, powerful angels associated with the government of God. They wear crowns because they are victors in their battles with Satan. They wear white robes because they are righteous angels who refused to join the rebellion of the devil.

As John continued to look, he saw still more symbols – awesome, powerful symbols, both sights and sounds (vv. 5-6a). Understand that these are symbols which stand for a hidden reality. The real form of the deep things of God is undoubtedly far beyond our ability to comprehend, so He communicates to us through pictures. These pictures are helpful and instructive and tell us all we truly need to understand – but these pictures should not be confused with the deep reality they represent. Note, first of all, that John relates that “flashes of lightning, rumblings, and pearls of thunder” came from the throne. These are sights and sounds associated with the moment God gave the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. These are symbols of the judgment of God.

The symbols of lightning, rumblings, and thunder are repeated several times throughout Revelation. Each time you see these symbols you can be certain that they accompany scenes of God’s final judgment against the world’s evil. The other symbols which appear in verses 5 and 6 represent the Spirit of God, the instrument of God’s judgment. John saw seven burning lamps, blazing with divine vengeance. The lamps represent the Spirit of God.

What we have to understand about the book of Revelation (and what will become abundantly clear the more deeply we explore this book) is that this book describes a time when God’s dealings with mankind enter a new phrase. At the end of human history God at last turns from grace to judgment. All through the Bible God has demonstrated the gracious dimension of His personality. Now however, we see at last what results when people reject God and cling to their self-will and sin. Now we see the just and righteous dimension of His personality. We see God in His role as sovereign judge over all people.

John also saw a crystalline sea before the throne. Again crystal speaks of purity and holiness. The sea is the Spirit of God in His holy perfection. That’s why we call Him the Holy Spirit. Anyone who comes into the presence of God must be holy. As the book of Hebrews tells us, “Make every effort…to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” The Spirit of holiness stands before the throne of God like a brilliant, crystalline reflecting pool, mirroring the holy purity of God.

Next we are introduced to four weird, wonderful symbolic creatures (vv. 6b-8). These are bizarre creatures, unlike anything that has ever existed on the earth. Who are these creatures and what do they represent? Again, if you turn to the Old Testament book of Ezekiel you will find a close parallel to the description in the book of Revelation. In Ezekiel 1, we find very similar creatures, which the prophet calls “cherubim.” In Isaiah 6, we find such creatures again, and Isaiah calls them “seraphim,” which means “burning ones.” Small details of the descriptions vary from account to account. Sometimes they have six wings, sometimes only four.

Ezekiel and John both mention the fourfold faces of these creatures – faces of the lion, the ox, the eagle, and man. Four is always the number which symbolizes government. These creatures, therefore, are somehow associated with God’s government, both of human affairs and of the created universe. Many eyes of John’s description symbolize discernment and knowledge. The wings describe soaring strength and rapidity of movement. The faces symbolize the qualities and forces of life in the created universe. The lion’s face speaks of power; the ox of patience; the eagle of swiftness; the man of intelligence. What is the function of these four wonderful creatures in heaven? In Revelation 6 they will summon the four horsemen to action with the command “Come!” But in this chapter their function is to call all of creation to worship the Creator.

Revelation 4:1-8 Study Questions:

What is meant by the invitation John is given (v. 1)?

“Heaven” and “earth” are not separated by a great gulf in the Bible as they are in much popular imagination. Heaven, God’s sphere of reality, is right here, close beside us, intersecting with our ordinary reality. How might this understanding shape the way we think about the “door in heaven” that John sees?

What difference does it make in our everyday life of faith to embrace the fact that God’s sphere of reality is not so far away at all?

Take a moment to read and reflect on Genesis 9:8-13. Why is it significant that John describes the rainbow (v. 3) as being visible in the throne room – encircling the very place where God is seated and rules over the earth?

Who sits on the thrones gathered around God’s throne and why is there twenty-four of them?

Behind the ambiguous struggles and difficulties of ordinary Christians – there stands the heavenly throne room in which the world’s Creator and Lord remains sovereign. Spend a few moments contemplating John’s vision of this reality. How does it help you to understand better our own present circumstances?