Revelation 4 presents us with a great throne room scene and offers one main idea. God is on the throne and is in control. Every time it looked like Domitian was ruling the known world while putting Christians to death amidst great persecution, Christians needed to remember that God is on His throne. He is in control, and we need to trust Him and let Him have His way with us in this life.
From the very beginning, Revelation is filled with imagery, many are very puzzling and difficult to decipher. Yet, with all their difficulties, we can still get the overall meaning.
Beginning with Revelation 4, we now launch out into a great sea of symbols, and we’re now about to get a glimpse of the Omnipotent throne of God Almighty. This throne-room scene surely would have been an encouragement to Christians in the first century so that they would know that the God of Heaven was still in control, Daniel 5:21.
God was talking to Nebuchadnezzar, who was going through some hard things but had learned an important lesson. We’re told that Nebuchadnezzar went through those difficult times ‘until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth.’
That’s the message of Revelation 4. Domitian isn’t in control, the Roman government isn’t in control, and God still rules in the kingdoms of men and sets over them whom He wishes. We need to be encouraged by knowing that God is in Heaven and that He is in control. His will ultimately will be accomplished, so we must be faithful to Him and no one else.
Now that all the information concerning the seven churches has been completed, John looks and sees before him a door standing open to heaven. He hears the same voice, which sounded like a trumpet, as he did back in Revelation 1:10. The voice like a trumpet is a reference to the voice of God, Exodus 19:16.
God invites him to come up and to see what will soon take place, Revelation 1:9. John is having a new vision, and he is going to see inside the throne room of heaven. Note, however, he never actually enters the throne room.
Once again, John once again says he was in the Spirit, Revelation 1:10. In the Spirit simply means he was under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and at this point in time, he is about to have another vision, Ezekiel 37:1.
John sees a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. This is the throne room of Almighty God, Daniel 7:9. The word ‘throne’ is used ten times in the eleven verses of this chapter, and ‘over forty times’ in Revelation.
Notice the one sitting on the throne had the appearance of jasper, Revelation 21:11, and ruby, which is a fiery red stone. He also sees a rainbow shining like an emerald around the throne.
The rainbow is a symbol of mercy, and His covenant relationship with mankind and the earth, Genesis 9:13 / Ezekiel 1:28 / Revelation 10:1. John is using human language to describe something which is indescribable.
All around God’s throne, there are twenty-four other thrones with twenty-four elders sitting on them. There are a lot of differing ideas as to who these twelve elders are.
Some suggest that the number twelve, a number often used to indicate religious completeness, intensified by two. The twenty-four represented all those who were remaining ‘faithful until death’, Revelation 2:10. Others believe the elders represent the church.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The question will then be, ‘Why twenty-four?’ The answer is because the Church is composed of Jews and Gentiles. There were originally twelve tribes, but now it is as if the tribes were doubled.’
McGuiggan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘There are twenty-four of them, which is the number of courses of the priests in the Old Testament, 1 Chronicles 24:7-18. They are priestly in their activity in respect to harping and offering up incense, Revelation 5:8. We have in these the royal priesthood. This is the church of God, 1 Peter 2:5 / 1 Peter 2:9 / Revelation 1:6 / Revelation 5:9-10 / Revelation 20:4 / Revelation 20:6. The twenty-four elders are the royal priesthood.’
Notice they are dressed in white, which signifies their righteous deeds, Revelation 2:4-5. They also had a crown of gold on their heads; this is the victor’s crown. This crown also points us to the priesthood, Zechariah 6:9-15.
The mention of flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder all tell us that God’s throne room is very active. These all speak of God’s justice and wrath, Revelation 8:5.
They all speak of the presence of God, Exodus 19:9-24 / Exodus 20:18-21 / Ezekiel 1:27 / Daniel 7:9-10. John sees seven lamps blazing, which represent the seven spirits of God, that is, the Holy Spirit Himself.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning the word ‘lamps’.
‘Subsequent versions use ‘torches’ here instead of lamps, and perhaps that is better. Carpenter found a suggestion in this of the ‘torch’ that moved between the parted sacrifice in the account of the Abrahamic covenant. Genesis 15:17, indicating that both of God’s covenants with Noah and with Abraham were symbolised in this chapter.’
Notice John is trying his best to describe what he sees, hence why he uses the words ‘looked like’. He sees what looks like a sea of glass as clear as crystal, Revelation 4:6 / Ezekiel 1:22.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘There are three things that this sea, like shining glass, does symbolise.’
1. It symbolises preciousness.
In the ancient world, glass was usually dull and semi-opaque, and glass as clear as crystal was as precious as gold. In Job 28:17, gold and glass are mentioned together as examples of precious things.
2. It symbolises dazzling purity.
The blinding light reflected from the glassy sea would be too much for the eyes to look upon, like the purity of God.
3. It symbolises immense distance.
The throne of God was in the immense distance, as if at the other side of a great sea.
Milligan, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The origin of the symbol of the sea is found in 2 Chronicles 4:2-6. The sea stood between the priest and the holy place where God dwelt.’
John says there were four living creatures, who are covered in eyes, which means nothing is hidden from their sight. Some suggest that the four faces mentioned in Ezekiel 1:10 and Revelation 4:7 represent Jesus in the four Gospels.
Matthew represents the face of the lion, which implies Jesus’ kingship. Jesus is from the line of Judah. Mark represents the face of the ox, which implies the servant, service, and serving Jesus. Luke represents the face of the man, which implies humanity; Jesus is the Son of Man. John represents the face of the eagle, which symbolises Jesus’ deity. Jesus is the Son of God.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following concerning the living creatures.
‘They are always found near the throne and the Lamb, Revelation 4:6 / Revelation 5:6 / Revelation 14:4. They have six wings and they are full of eyes, Revelation 4:6 / Revelation 4:8. They are constantly engaged in praising and in worshipping God, Revelation 4:8 / Revelation 5:9 / Revelation 5:14 / Revelation 7:11 / Revelation 19:4. They have certain functions to perform. They invite the dreadful manifestations of the wrath of God to appear upon the scene, Revelation 6:1 / Revelation 6:7. One of them hands over the vials of the wrath of God, Revelation 15:7.’
Barclay goes on to say in his commentary,
‘Although there are definite differences, there can be little doubt that we find the ancestors of these living creatures in the visions of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel’s vision the four living creatures each have four faces–the faces of a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle; and they uphold the firmament, Ezekiel 1:6 / Ezekiel 1:10 / Ezekiel 1:22 / Ezekiel 1:26; the felloes of the wheels are full of eyes, Ezekiel 1:18. In Ezekiel we have all the details of the picture in the Revelation, although the details are differently allocated and arranged. In spite of the differences, the family resemblance is clear.’
Notice these living creatures continually say, “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ Revelation 4:8 / Isaiah 6:2-3 / Psalm 99:1-9. Notice also they also say, ‘who was, and is, and is to come’, Revelation 4:8, do those words sound familiar? Revelation 1:4 / Revelation 1:8. God is omnipotent, He is eternal, He is Almighty, Isaiah 9:6-7 / Revelation 19:6
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning the words, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come’.
‘This title of God is essentially that of Exodus 3:14, ‘I AM who I AM.’ Christ also used this title of himself in Mark 6:50 / Mark 13:6 / Mark 14:62 / John 6:35 / John 8:12 / John 10:7 / John 11:25 / John 14:6.’
The living creatures constantly give glory and honour and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, Revelation 4:9.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning Revelation 4:9.
‘These are the words that greeted the emperor in triumphal procession; and `our Lord and our God’ was introduced into the cult of emperor worship by Domitian.’
While the living creatures are praising God, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the Father, Revelation 4:10. In other words, the living creatures and the twenty-four elders are continuously worshipping God. Notice also that they lay their crowns before the throne and give Him glory and honour, Revelation 4:11.
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following concerning Revelation 4:11.
‘John uses a picture which the ancient world would know well. The elders cast their crowns before the throne of God. In the ancient world, that was the sign of complete submission. When one king surrendered to another, he cast his crown at the victor’s feet. Sometimes the Romans carried with them an image of their emperor, and when they had reduced a monarch to submission, there was a ceremony in which the vanquished one had to cast his crown before the emperor’s image. The picture looks on God as the conqueror of the souls of men, and on the Church as the body of people who have surrendered to him. There can be no Christianity without submission.’
Kercheville, in his commentary, says the following.
‘God alone is truly worthy of worship. The Lord is superior to all other rulers. He is superior to any Caesar. He is greater than anyone who thinks he has might and authority. The Romans would describe the emperors after their death as a god. Then the emperors took that title to themselves while they were alive. But none of them are worthy of any such title or description.’
God is the creator of all things, Genesis 1:1-2 / Psalm 104:30 / John 1:3 / John 1:10 / Colossians 1:16-20, and because He created all things, they have their being, Revelation 4:11 / Acts 17:28 / 1 Corinthians 8:6.