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Back to the Bible. Let it be our plea. God's Word alone, our authority, every word, every step, in the name of Christ. Back to the Bible for the way of life. Welcome to this period of Bible study. We are thankful, as we always are, for this time, that we have to share in a consideration of God's Word. And it is our aim, it is our hope, it is our prayer that the efforts that we make in this program and in the other efforts that we are making, that we communicate God's Word in a clear and primarily in a faithful way. We've called this program Back to the Bible. It's our desire to hear God's Word, to understand it, to do it, to apply it to our own lives, and to try to communicate that in a way that is beneficial for you so that you can apply it after having heard and understood it. The website backtothebiblepodcast.com is the best place to find information about the program and to find other resources that we're trying to make available. You can also reach out to us there, and whether it's about this program or the workbooks or the lessons that we're trying to make available there, we would love to hear from you. We've just updated the website, we're trying to update it, we're trying to provide notes and resources. You'll be able to find links to Google Documents where we have made available the notes and questions on the text. And of course, all of those are still in development. And so we trust you'll be patient with us as we're working through those. And if you see errors or you have comments to make about that, we would be happy to hear from you about those as well. So Visit us at backtothebiblepodcast.com and see if there are resources there that are a benefit to you. Well, on this program, we are engaged in a study of the Book of Revelation. And there are challenges that come with studying a book like Revelation. There is this apocalyptic language. We are getting the veil pulled back on realities that we are just not able to see and touch and hear or with a firsthand awareness. And so what we've been seeing in the Book of Revelation is in chapter one, we have that image of Jesus who is displayed in honor and glory and holiness and even pictured with power and justice. And then we go into chapters two and three with the letters to those congregations, those specific letters to those specific churches about issues that they're dealing with and ways in which they're failing and ways in which they are accomplishing great things. And what Jesus call is to all of them to maintain faithfulness or to make correction and the promises that he makes to them. When we come to chapter four, we are kind of setting the stage for the revelation that's going to be made in the rest of the book. In fact, it feels somewhat in tone with more connected to chapter one. But I think what we have in chapter one is we have the revelation of who Jesus is. Chapters two and three, we're getting a picture of who the church is, that this is being applied to the audience that's receiving this message first, who's receiving that. And then from chapter four and into chapter five, we're getting a picture of the setting of the throne room of heaven and how things are in heaven, even as those churches face difficulty, are being successful in their spiritual growth, are lacking in those areas. What is it like in heaven after we've seen what it's like on earth, what we've seen on the ground? And when we come to heaven's throne room, we are going to see how God's purpose is, is going to be accomplished. But first it's essential to see God sitting on the throne with the status of the throne room and its condition. And we're going to see previews, pictures of both the wrath and the victory of God. And we're going to see that applied from chapter six all the way to the end. And I think these two chapters show us that we can expect just that. So we're going to begin now with chapter four, beginning at verse one. And after these things I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, come up here and I will show you what must take place after these things. Immediately I was in the spirit. And behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and one sitting on the throne. And he who was sitting was like a Jasper stone and a sardius in appearance. And there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. Around the throne were 24 thrones. And upon those thrones I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white garments and golden crowns on their head. And out from the throne came flashings of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had the face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. So we come to this throne room, and I want you, if you can, and I'll try to do it with you, to just picture what you are seeing in the throne room. Now, we come into the throne room, and there is a throne standing in heaven and one sitting on the throne. Now, we don't get a clear description of what he looks like, except in these stone images. There was a Jasper stone and Sardius in appearance. That is. It's almost as if it's impossible to communicate the beauty of this. It was like a Jasper stone in a sardius in appearance. And then there's a rainbow around it, but the rainbow is like an emerald. And so there's this throne and there's one sitting on the throne. And. And I think that it is perfectly right to conclude that the one that's sitting on the throne is, in this appearance, is the one that is God. This is the Father. This is God. And we're going to see, if you'll notice in verse five, that from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And I wonder if this is not a preview of the judgment. We're going to see lightning and thunder connected with God pouring out wrath and sending warnings of judgment and then bringing that judgment. All right, so you have the one who's sitting on the throne, but then around that, there are 24 thrones, and on those 24 thrones, there are 24 elders. And those 24 elders have white garments and gold crowns on their head. Now, there's perhaps a lot of questions about who these people represent, who they symbolize, but I think that we could say that these represent the people of God. I don't think they are literally the 12 tribes representatives, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, and those. And I don't think they're literally the apostles like Peter and Andrew and James, because John is the one writing this, and he doesn't seem to be one of the ones sitting on the throne. But I do think that the number 12 certainly does convey a sense of the people of God. And so perhaps what you've got here is God pictured on the throne, that's for sure. And then pictured around him are his people. What are they dressed in? They're dressed in honor. They're dressed as representing purity and holiness and maybe even status. And then notice that you have the description that there is the seven Spirits of God. There are seven lamps of fire before the throne and the seven spirits of God. I think that the seven spirits of God referenced here is probably a reference to the Holy Spirit. The seven torches representing the seven spirits of God. I realize there's not seven holy spirits, there's just one. But I think that number seven represents perfection. And what you have here is the spirit of God being communicated to us as this fire, these torches that are in front of God, and he is the seven spirits of God. Depending on your translation, it may have spirits of God capitalized. And I think that's because they recognize this is an apocalyptic reference to the Holy Spirit. And then beyond that, there are four living creatures. Now, one looks like a lion, one looks like an ox, one looks like a human, one, one looks like an eagle. And if you'll notice in verse eight, we didn't read that far, but we'll come to it in just a moment. They each have six wings, are full of eyes around and within. Now, I want you to picture this throne with Jasper and carnelian or Sardis stone looking one sitting on it, a rainbow like emerald surrounding it. And then thrones all around that with 24 elders sitting on it in white garments and gold crowns. Are you picturing this? And then seven torches in front of that, and then these four living creatures. And here's the thing. It's like. It's hard to imagine these creatures because it says they look like an ox, a human, a lion and an eagle, but they have eyes on the outside and on the inside, and they have six wings. So these monstrous, almost but glorious, magnified creatures are there. And then we're going to see more in just a moment. But this is what the throne room of heaven looks like. Now, I want you to notice that around the throne there is a sea. But what's the sea like? It's not tumultuous. It's not, you know, got lots of waves and storms. It is calm. It is a sea that is like glass. Now, it seems to be that in Israel and in Jewish literature that the sea is always pictured as foreboding. It is always pictured as a danger, as kind of a no man's land, if you will. And of course, that comes from the storms and from the danger that lies out there and beyond that, the unknown. But notice how it is in heaven's throne room. There's difficulties going on in all of these churches. There's suffering, there's persecution, there's tribulation, there's false doctrine being proclaimed. There's immorality. But what's it like in heaven? The sea is like glass. It's like crystal. Everything's still there. God is in control, things are settled. Then we have this description in verse 8. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within and day and night. They do not cease to say, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and is and is to come. And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders will fall down before him who sits on the throne and will worship him who lives forever and ever and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, worthy are you, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created. Now, I don't know exactly what these four living creatures represent, but just think that you think about mighty animals, strength like an ox, fierce like a lion, wise like a human, the fact that an eagle can soar. And these are not normal. They have six wings, which would show incredible power. And maybe the eyes showing wisdom and knowledge. And here, these four living creatures, maybe they are the pinnacle of all of these different categories. And how do they approach God? They can't stop saying day and night that God is holy, holy, holy, almighty and eternal. God's holiness is his separation, his distinction, his exaltation, his transcendence. Beyond, above and away from us. He is holy, holy, holy. Now here's the thing. That's a quote kind of from Isaiah, chapter six. And perhaps there's a connection there. Because when Isaiah is in the throne room of heaven, this is what the seraphim are singing, that God is holy, holy, holy. And in Hebrew, they didn't have a holy, more holy, most holy. If you wanted to emphasize something, you just repeated the word. So when we think about the temple, we have the holy place and the most holy place, but it wasn't holy and most holy. It was called the holy and the holy holy place in Hebrew. So what we have with God is it's not just that he's holy, it's not that he's holier, it's that he's the holiest. He is, to the third degree, holy, holy, holy. And it's not just that he's separate and distinct, but he's almighty. He has all power. He can do whatever his will decrees. And then it's not just that he is present and it's those for a moment, he was and is and is to come. And I think that connects us to the divine name of God revealed in the Old Testament, the One, the I am that I am as he revealed himself to Moses. And so these living creatures, who I think are a picture of, at least in some way, exalted power and strength and wisdom and ferocity, what we have here is they approach the One on the throne and say, there's no comparison. Holy, holy, holy, Almighty, eternal. And then when they approach the one on the throne like that, what do the elders do? Now, if these represent the people of God, it makes perfect sense why they would do this. But notice here they are on thrones with. With crowns. So they have some kind of authority, they have some kind of power. But when they come into the presence of the One who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, what do they do? They come before him and they throw down their crowns in front of the throne, and they say, worthy are you, O Lord our God. You see that they come in these positions of power, it looks like. And when they come before the throne, it's as if we don't deserve to wear these crowns on our head. They throw them down before the throne. They are casting these crowns down before the throne, and they are making sure that everyone understands that the One who deserves this, the One who is worthy of praise and honor and glory and power, that is the Lord God. And it says, you created all things by your will. They existed, and you created and were created. There is nothing that exists outside of the power and the glory and the honor of God that He made it all. And so the living creatures and the 24 elders fall before God in worship, and rightfully so. So when we look at heaven's throne room, what do we see? We see God right at the center in his holiness, his power, his eternal glory. And we see the most magnificent of creatures and the highest of status of individuals falling before him and giving him honor. What a powerful image. What a powerful scene. Now just think about the fact that if you're a congregation and you're struggling, but you're trying to do right, how inspiring and comforting and empowering that image is. Then think about being a congregation, where you know that this God is in control and you're not what you ought to be. Think about that. So we come into chapter five, and in chapter five, John sees. And I want you to picture this in the right hand of him who sits on the throne, a scroll written on the inside and on the Back sealed up with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals? And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Then I was crying greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And. And one of the elders said to me, stop crying. Behold the lion that is of the tribe of Judah. The root of David has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals. All right, picture this image. John sees the one sitting on the throne, and in his hand he has a scroll. Now, I think the idea here of it being sealed with seven seals is that you would be able to unroll it some and then break a seal and unroll it and break a seal, and unroll it and break a seal. And the seal would be probably like a wax imprint, right? So you would seal it. Sometimes people do envelopes like that. Now they actually have wax and they can impress a ring or a stamp into it that seals that closed. And you would be able to see if that had been broken. And here what you have is this scroll, and it's sealed with seven seals. Now, of course, seven is an emblematic number of perfection and completion and totality. And we don't know precisely what the scroll says, but really, from chapter six on, we. We're going to see this scroll being opened and we're going to see what happens. And I think what we will learn is that this scroll is going to be the revelation of God's will for his people who are suffering at the hands of evil and ungodly men. This is God's plan and purpose for caring, for bringing justice and rescuing his people. So think about John seeing this, this scroll that is going to be God's plan for rescuing and saving and avenging his people. And him learning that there is nobody in heaven or on earth who is worthy to open the scroll or to even look into it. And so he's crying greatly because who would be capable of carrying out God's purpose? And if nobody is, what's going to happen? Well, one of the elders, I take it to be One of those 24 elders is there and says to John, stop crying. What do you mean, stop crying? Nobody can open the scroll. Behold the lion that is from the tribe of Judah. The root of David has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals. I love this. If we're not reading our Old Testaments, we Don't see this imagery. We've got to understand what's happening here. I think the elder is saying, the king has come. The king has won the victory, and so he has the power to carry out God's plans and purposes for his people. In Genesis, chapter 49 and verse 9 and 10, Jacob was pronouncing the blessings, and they were prophetic blessings on his sons, the twelve sons. And in chapter 49 and verse 9 of Genesis, he speaks to Judah and says, judah is a lion's whelp from the prey. My son, you have gone. Up, he crouches, he lies down as a lion and as a lioness who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes. And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. That's that line. The lion of the tribe of Judah, Jacob, promised to Judah that the ruling line would come through Judah. And depending on your translation, it will render it something like until Shiloh comes, or until the one to whom it belongs. The idea here is that there would be this long line of rulers from the tribe of Judah, but eventually there would be one that. That would be part of Judah, but would be the end of that line. And he would receive the obedience not just of the children of Israel, not just of the other tribes, but to him would be the obedience of all of the people, and the ruler staff would not depart from his feet. The lion of the tribe of Judah has come. Then he mentions the root of David. Now, that's an interesting way of phrasing it, because if you look in the book of Isaiah, particularly Isaiah, chapter 11, there's the reference not to the root of David, but to the root of Jesse. It says, then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, a branch from his roots will bear fruit. And when you read In Isaiah, chapter 11, he describes a king who is going to rule in. In righteousness and justice and truth, and will bring peace and ultimately will bring victory, and will serve as the rallying point not just for the Jewish nation, but for all the nations who will rally to him. And so the root of Jesse, of course, Jesse was David's father. So if it's the root of Jesse, then it's the root of David as well. And maybe the Revelation is. Is giving us the root of David to give us an even more familiar name to see who this is. He is the lion of Judah. He is the root of David. Here is the king, and he has overcome so that he has the capacity, he has the power to open up this scroll. Wow. Look at verse six. Then I saw in. In the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the midst of the elders, a lamb standing as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sits on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. And each one having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain and purchased for God with your blood. People from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God. And they will reign upon the earth. Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing and every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and all the things in them. I heard saying to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever. And the four living creatures kept saying, amen. And the elders fell down and worshiped. So John turns to see the lion, and what does he see? He sees a lamb. A lamb standing as though slain. Isn't that interesting? If a lamb's slain, it's not standing. But this one looked like it had been slain, but it was standing as having been slain. It had seven horns which would represent authority. And it had seven eyes which would represent wisdom. It said, which are the seven spirits of God? The Holy Spirit here being represented. And he comes and takes the scroll. Think about this picture. This lamb is the lion of Judah. This lamb is the root of David. He is the Lamb like lion and the lion like lamb. Here the lion is pictured as a lamb that has been slain but is standing. And it is that kind of king, the atoning, sacrificing, slain, but risen king, that has the authority and the power to carry out God's plan, to open the scroll, to break the seals and to carry out God's purposes. There's a lot more to say about that. One thing that we can note is that through the book of Revelation, Jesus is not called the lion again, but he's called the Lamb several times. And in many of those cases he is a lamb who is doing what we might think of as more lion like things. And so what we see is Jesus character is that of a king who is life giving but is worthy to carry out God's plan. And that's what the beings in heaven celebrate. He is worthy because of what he has done, because he has given his blood to reconcile people, to make them to be a kingdom and priests. He has become the king, the high priest and has called his people to be citizens and priests under him. And they will reign upon the earth. And then you have that chorus in heaven breaking out that he is worthy. And notice he's worthy of power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. The seven things is not an accident. And the same glory that they were given to the one who sits on the throne, they are giving to the Lamb. What do we see in heaven? We see a God who is in control and and we see a lamb who is worthy. And that sets the stage for the rest of the book. But it'll have to wait until next time. Until then, we bid you a pleasant good day. Back to the Bible. Let it be our plea. God's word alone, our authority, every word, every step in the name of Christ. Back to the Bible for the way of life.