Revelation - Chapters 4-5

In this transcription, the speaker discusses chapters 4 and 5 of the book of Revelation. They explain that Revelation is the revealing of Jesus Christ and that it contains a blessing for those who read and heed its words. The speaker discusses different interpretations of the book, including the idea that the church will be raptured and taken to heaven before the tribulation. They also describe the vision of the one seated on the throne in chapter 4, who is surrounded by glory and worshiped by living creatures and elders. In chapter 5, a scroll with seven seals is introduced, and only the lion of Judah, who is Jesus, is found worthy to open it. The speaker emphasizes the importance of knowing and understanding one's own beliefs based on scripture. I am Julie Callio, your host, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to tune in with me today. If by chance you want to contact me, you can do that at cab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we are covering chapters 4 and 5 of the book of Revelation. Up to this point we have covered in chapter 1 the prologue that this book is the revealing or the unveiling of Jesus Christ. That is why Revelation is singular and not plural. God the Father gave the Son to show his bondservants the things which must soon take place and he sent and communicated it by his angel to his bondservant John. Chapter 1 verse 1, this is John the Apostle whom Jesus loved. This book contains a blessing to the one who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it for the time is near. Keep in mind that John is not just writing up a creative story, God has given him what to write. I have made comment in the first lesson that I struggle with views of Revelation that say it is only for the past or it is only for the future because how can we keep what has been written in this book? This book is for us today as it was at the time when it was written. In the prologue John relays a powerful vision of the ascended Jesus who once was dead and behold is alive forever more. Chapter 1 verse 18, in this vision Jesus was in the midst of the seven lampstands which represented the seven churches and he had seven stars in his right hand and they represented the messengers or angels of the churches. Now in verse 19 of the first chapter Jesus told John therefore write the things which you have seen, the things which are and the things which will take place after these. Now Dr. Alan B. Stringfellow in his book Through the Bible in One Year, a 52 lesson introduction to the 66 books of the Bible interprets that verse as chapter 1 is the things which are. Verses 2 and 3 which are the seven letters to the seven churches are the things which are and then the rest of the book of Revelation covers the things which will take place. Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 4 read 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. Now Stringfellow believes as many people do nowadays that these verses reference the rapture of the church. He says that the quote after these things refers to the church age which we are currently in and when the Lord said come up here that represents the church being raptured and going to heaven. Then he asks the question when do you see the church again in Revelation? He says it absolutely disappears from the earth. It disappears until you get to the 19th chapter when the Lord comes with his saints. The reason it is not seen the church is in heaven that's page 235 of his book. I do not completely buy into that interpretation but many many many people I know do so I wanted to share that with you. Stringfellow believes that from the 4th chapter to the 19th chapter we see the tribulation and the judgment of God upon the earth after the saints are taken away. One of the reasons I struggle with this view is that the people are living in tribulation when John wrote this. I actually believe that we are in the tribulation and it began at Pentecost when Peter preached from Joel chapter 2, in the last days I will pour out my spirit upon all people and both men and women will prophesy. I hold a minority view but I say that to say it is important for you to know what you believe and why you believe it. Can you quote scriptures to back up your view or are you just believing what someone else told you? Then if you know from scripture what you believe hold to it and don't let people sway you to their view until you see in scripture something that changes your mind. Now in chapter 4 the one sitting on the throne looks like, as I have shared before most of the descriptions are like something on earth, but it is not those things. The angel is using symbolism. I would think it is hard to put into words something that is so amazing, which by the way is one of the reasons that John in his gospel said Jesus was the word. Jesus showed us God. I am not going into all the details and try to explain them in this chapter but what can we learn from this passage? The one seated on the throne was radiant. He was seated which shows authority and kingliness. There was glory surrounding the throne and then around that throne were 24 thrones. Some people interpret that as the 12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament and the 12 apostles in the New Testament. Or it could be representing all the saints because on those thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white which shows purity and a gold victor's crown on their heads. Now from the throne came flashes of lightning, rumbling and thunder which is similar to God on the mountain in Exodus chapter 19 verse 16. Before the throne were seven fiery torches and it is explained that these fires are the seven spirits of God which we have seen in chapter 1 verse 4 and then chapter 3 verse 1. The number 7 represents completeness. Before the throne was something like the sea of glass and then there were four living creatures which were covered with eyes in the front and back. What does the person do with their eyes? They see. So these creatures could see both forward and backward. These living creatures look like a lion and a calf, a third like a man and a fourth like a flying eagle. There are similar Old Testament visions with living creatures found in Ezekiel 1 and Isaiah 6. Some people interpret them as the four signs of the zodiac and others as representing wild beasts, domestic animals, humanity and flying animals. Each of these creatures had six wings. I try not to get hung up on the parts of Revelation I do not understand but I try to focus on what I do understand and I do understand that these living creatures, in other words created beings that were alive day and night they never stopped saying holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, who is and who is to come. They continually praise the Lord. Revelation verses 9-11 say whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before the one seated on the throne, worship the one who lives forever and ever casting their crowns before the throne and say our Lord and God you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power because you have created all things and because of your will they exist and are created. Now do you remember when the living creatures give glory and honor to the one? Verse 8 says day and night they never stop so when did the 24 elders fall down and worship? Day and night they never stop worshipping. One thing that is clear is that these are created beings and there is only one creator and he is always, always, always worthy of praise. Their statement reminds us that we are created and we exist and are made because God planned it. God made us. We have a purpose. We are not an accident. Now on to chapter 5. John saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a book which was written inside and on the back. There are various views of the scroll. It could be God's scroll of the future, God's judgment scroll, the scroll of the end times, God's will and testament meaning the fullness of God's message or it could be a reference to the book of woes found in Ezekiel chapter 2 verses 9 and 10. One thing we know is that it is full. It was sealed up with 7 seals. I always had pictured a scroll with 7 seals up and down the start of the scroll but something I read today made the comment that the 7 seals were within the scroll. So the first seal was broken and then they could read some and then the second seal and then they could read more. I am still pondering that one. We have seen sealed books also in Isaiah chapter 29 verse 11 and Daniel chapter 12 verse 4 verses 2 and 3 of chapter 5. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals, but no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even or even to look at it. Ladies, not even the mightiest angel was worthy to open it. All the created beings before the throne were not able to open it or even to look at it. This brought John to tears, verse 4, because no one was found worthy, no one. One of the elders told John, stop crying, look, the lion of the tribe of Judah, which is a reference to Genesis chapter 49 verses 9 through 10 and he is the root of David also found in Isaiah chapter 11 verse 1 and then verse 10. He has been victorious so that he may open the scroll and its seven seals. The elder said, look, and he said, the lion of Judah and the root of David. Yet when John looked, he saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. If he looked slaughtered, then it seems he still had the marks on his body. There was the lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures. What did the sacrifice do and the priest that offered the lamb sacrifice do? They were between God and man, Jesus, who is fully human and fully God. He is our mediator. The lamb had seven horns, which might represent perfection in power or strength or kingdoms. He had seven eyes, which the passage explained was the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. The lamb came, took the book out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. One thing to note is that the Trinity, God, the father, God, the son, and God, the spirit are revealed in chapters four and five. Then verse eight, when he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb. Now who else did they bow down to? The one seated on the throne, their creator. Now who do they bow down to? The lamb that was slain for them, their creator. Now instead of weeping because no one is worthy, there is rejoicing. Now each one has a harp, Psalm 33 verse two, I wrote in my notes, how did they hold it? Plus there were gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. In Luke chapter one, verses eight and nine, Zechariah, John the Baptist's dad was burning incense when the angel appeared to him in the temple. We also learn about the incense in the Old Testament tabernacle in Exodus chapter 37 verses 25 through 29. Then they sang a new song found in verses nine and 10. You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slaughtered and you redeemed, purchased or bought back people for God by your blood. For every people and tribe, every nation and tongue, you made them a kingdom and priest to our God and they will reign on the earth. Revelation chapter one, verse six, Exodus chapter 19, verse six, first Peter chapter two, verse nine and Matthew chapter five, verse five in the Beatitudes. Now when I read this song, which the 24 elders and the four created beings saying, they do not say you made us a kingdom of priests. It says you made them a kingdom of priests. This makes me think that they're not human, but other types of created beings. Chapter five ends with verses 11 through 14. Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number were countless thousands plus thousands of thousands. This has a reference in Daniel chapter seven, verse 11. They said with a loud voice, the lamb who is slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Daniel chapter seven, verses 12 through 14 and every created thing, which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and all things in them. I heard saying to him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. The four living creatures kept saying, amen, amen, amen, and the elders fell down and worshiped. Ladies as a created being, we also are called to give him praise for he alone is worthy for he alone is worthy, for he alone is worthy, for he alone is worthy, Christ the Lord. If you have heard his voice today, please don't harden your heart against your creator. Instead, let us worship and bow down for the wonderful things he has done. Until next time and thanks so much for listening.