Revelation Chapter 4

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RevelationChapter 4

• Before the Throne of God

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41 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.

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42 And immediately I was in the spirit and,
behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat
on the throne.

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43 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.

• jasper and a sardine stone

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43 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.

• Jasper is a variety of quartz, of a red, brown,
  yellow, green, or gray color, and opaque. Among
  the ancients the term was of broader meaning. It
  included, according to Pliny, a transparent or
  translucent green variety, and hence denoted a
  kind of chalcedony or agate.1 Sardine (a.k.a.
  sardius) is a variety of chalcedony, which the
  Greeks called sardios and sardion. Two sorts,
  distinguished by their color, were known by the
  name of sardius the transparent red being our
  carnelian and the brownish red being the variety
  of carnelian to which we restrict the name
  sardius.2
• 1 Davis, 1983, s.v. jasper.
• 2 Ibid., s.v. sardine.

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43 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.

• It is very interesting to note that these two
  stones were the first and last of the twelve used
  on the High Priests breastplate (Exodus
  2817-20).
• Rainbow emerald

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43 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.

• The prophet Ezekiel gave a similar description of
  God.
• As the appearance of the bow that is in the
  cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance
  of the brightness round about. This was the
  appearance of the likeness of the glory of the
  Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face,
  and I heard a voice of one that spake (Ezekiel
  128).

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44 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.

• Who are the 24 elders?

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44 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.

• Christ speaking to His apostles said,
• Verily I say unto you, That ye which have
  followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of
  man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also
  shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve
  tribes of Israel (Matthew 928).

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44 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.

• clothed in white raiment
• He made this promise to both the Church in Sardis
  and the Church at Laodicea (Revelation 34-5,
  18).
• on their heads crowns of gold.

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44 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.

• Crown of righteousness (II Timothy 48).
• Crown of life (James 112).
• Crown of glory (I Peter 54).

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45 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.

• Exodus 1916-19
• (16) And it came to pass on the third day in the
  morning, that there were thunders and lightnings,
  and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice
  of the trumpet exceeding loud so that all the
  people that was in the camp trembled.
• (17) And Moses brought forth the people out of
  the camp to meet with God and they stood at the
  nether part of the mount.
• (18) And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke,
  because the Lord descended upon it in fire and
  the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a
  furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
• (19) And when the voice of the trumpet sounded
  long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake,
  and God answered him by a voice.

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45 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.

• Exodus 2018-19
• (18) And all the people saw the thunderings, and
  the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and
  the mountain smoking and when the people saw it,
  they removed, and stood afar off.
• (19)And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with
  us, and we will hear but let not God speak with
  us, lest we die

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45 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.

• seven lamps of fire burning before the throne,
  which are the seven Spirits of God.

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46 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.

• sea of glass
• He made also ten lavers, and put five on the
  right hand, and five on the left, to wash in
  them such things as they offered for the burnt
  offering they washed in them but the sea was for
  the priests to wash in (II Chronicles 46).

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46 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.

• four beasts full of eyes before and behind
• Strongs definition of beast includes a live
  thing, i.e. an animal.
• Strong, 1982, s.v. Greek 2226.

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47 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.

• Lion power, strength and ferocity.
• Calf gentleness and meekness.
• Face of man intelligence and reason.
• A flying eagle swiftness and grace.
• The characteristics of these four creatures, when
  combined, give a very accurate description of God
  himself.

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48 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.

• Three types of creatures
• God
• Man
• Angels

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48 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.

• Isaiah 62-3
• (2) Above it stood the seraphims each one had
  six wings with twain he covered his face, and
  with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he
  did fly.
• (3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy,
  holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts the whole earth
  is full of his glory

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48 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.

• verse 6 said
• in the midst of the throne, and round about the
  throne, were four beasts

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48 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.

• O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest
  between the cherubims, thou art the God, even
  thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth
  thou hast made heaven and earth (Isaiah 3716).

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48 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.

• Ezekiel 11-14
• Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in
  the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month,
  as I was among the captives by the river of
  Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw
  visions of God.
• 2 In the fifth day of the month, which was the
  fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
• 3 The word of the Lord came expressly unto
  Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land
  of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar and the
  hand of the Lord was there upon him.

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48 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.

• 4 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came
  out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire
  infolding itself, and a brightness was about it,
  and out of the midst thereof as the colour of
  amber, out of the midst of the fire.
• 5 Also out of the midst thereof came the
  likeness of four living creatures. And this was
  their appearance they had the likeness of a man.
  
• 6 And every one had four faces, and every one
  had four wings.
• 7 And their feet were straight feet and the
  sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's
  foot and they sparkled like the colour of
  burnished brass.

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48 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.

• 8 And they had the hands of a man under their
  wings on their four sides and they four had
  their faces and their wings.
• 9 Their wings were joined one to another they
  turned not when they went they went every one
  straight forward.
• 10 As for the likeness of their faces, they
  four had the face of a man, and the face of a
  lion, on the right side and they four had the
  face of an ox on the left side they four also
  had the face of an eagle.
• 11 Thus were their faces and their wings were
  stretched upward two wings of every one were
  joined one to another, and two covered their
  bodies.

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48 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.

• 12 And they went every one straight forward
  whither the spirit was to go, they went and they
  turned not when they went.
• 13 As for the likeness of the living
  creatures, their appearance was like burning
  coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps
  it went up and down among the living creatures
  and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went
  forth lightning.
• 14 And the living creatures ran and returned
  as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

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48 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.

• And every one had four faces the first face was
  the face of a cherub, and the second face was the
  face of a man, and the third the face of a lion,
  and the fourth the face of an eagle (Ezekiel
  1014).

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48 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.

• Comparison of the 4 creatures.

Revelation
Ezekiel 1
Ezekiel 10
Lion
Lion
Lion
Eagle
Eagle
Eagle
Man
Man
Man
Calf
Ox
Cherub
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• 49 And when those beasts give glory and honor
  and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who
  liveth for ever and ever,
• 410 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,
• 411 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory
  and honor and power for thou hast created all
  things, and for thy pleasure they are and were
  created.

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RevelationChapter 5

• Preparation for the Seven Seals

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51 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat
on the throne a book written within and on the
backside, sealed with seven seals.

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52 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a
loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and
to loose the seals thereof?
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53 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither
under the earth, was able to open the book,
neither to look thereon.
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54 And I wept much, because no man was found
worthy to open and to read the book, neither to
look thereon.

• Love of the truth! (II Thessalonians 210)

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55 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep
not behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book,
and to loose the seven seals thereof.

• (8) Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall
  praise thy hand shall be in the neck of thine
  enemies thy fathers children shall bow down
  before thee.
• (9) Judah is a lions whelp from the prey, my
  son, thou art gone up he stooped down, he
  couched as a lion, and as an old lion who shall
  rouse him up?
• (10) The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
  nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until
  Shiloh come and unto him shall the gathering of
  the people be. (Genesis 498-10)

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55 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep
not behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book,
and to loose the seven seals thereof.

• root of David
• Christ was descended from David on both sides.
• Joseph through Solomon
• Mary through Nathan

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55 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep
not behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book,
and to loose the seven seals thereof.

• hath prevailed to open the book
• He was in all points tempted like as we are,
  yet without sin (Hebrews 415)

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56 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst
of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the
seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the
earth.

• Horn power
• Seven completeness
• And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All
  power is given unto me in heaven and in earth
  (Matthew 2818)
• seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God

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57 And he came and took the book out of the
right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

• The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave
  unto him (Revelation 11)

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58 And when he had taken the book, the four
beasts and four and twenty elders fell down
before the Lamb, having every one of them harps,
and golden vials full of odors, which are the
prayers of saints.

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59 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and
tongue, and people, and nation

• saying
• Prior to Christ, no one could rightfully sing
  about salvation.

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510 And hast made us unto our God kings and
priests and we shall reign on the earth.
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• 511 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many
  angels round about the throne and the beasts and
  the elders and the number of them was ten
  thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
  thousands
• 512 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.
• Philippians 27-11
• (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took
  upon him the form of a servant, and was made in
  the likeness of men
• (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he
  humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
  even the death of the cross.

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511 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many
angels round about the throne and the beasts and
the elders and the number of them was ten
thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands512 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.

• (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
  and given him a name which is above every name
• (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should
  bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
  and things under the earth
• (11) And that every tongue should confess that
  Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
  Father

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• 513 And every creature which is in heaven, and
  on the earth, and under the earth, and such as
  are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I
  saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and
  power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
  and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
• 514 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the
  four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped
  him that liveth for ever and ever.