Revelation 4:1-11

(Revelation 4:1-11)

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.  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 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.  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.  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.  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.  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. 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 when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 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,  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

The sky is not just a space in which heavenly bodies are floating, but a place where God's throne is located, and it represents a place where governance according to God's will takes place. 『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. The apostle John sees a vision of the heavenly temple through the door opened to heaven. And about that fantasy, 『immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 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. 』

Only in Chapter 4, the word "throne" is repeated 14 times. Here, the throne symbolizes the power and rule of God. Also, the grandeur of God's rule cannot be compared to the glory of any ruler in this world. In other words, the glory of the Roman emperor in the first century where John lived cannot be compared to the glory of God's reign. And, it is said that there is a rainbow and is surrounded by the throne. The rainbow was a sign of the covenant that God would never again judge the world with water after Noah's Flood. However, the rainbow is also a warning sign of judgment. This represents God who is justice and judge.

『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. 』. Here, the number of twenty-four elders was taken from the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of the New Testament, so the twenty-four elders represent God's people and church community. And, the Bible says they wore white clothes and a gold crown on their heads. The white robe represents holiness, and holiness means self-denial and dead with Christ. The gold crown symbolizes participation in governance with the word of God.

By the way, 『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, 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. 』. The twenty-four elders sing the praise that God is the eternal One and the Creator, so he is extremely worthy to receive worship.

The apostle John said that he saw four living creatures in the middle and around the throne, with eyes full of eyes before and after. Of those four creatures, the Bible said that the first creature was like a lion, the second creature was like a calf, the third creature was like a human face, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle, and the four creatures were like lions, calf, humans, and eagles respectively. These four creatures represent all creatures. And these four living creatures, like the twenty-four elders, worshiped and praised God.

『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 when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, It is said that the four living creatures, which represent all the creatures of the world, praise the holy God day and night without ceasing for an hour and give glory, honor and thanksgiving.

In 1 Corinthians 15:38-44, ``But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 』Jesus Christ is above all things and is full of all things. All things began with him, and all things are singing for him. That is why all living things are resurrected.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Revelation 3:7-13

(Revelation 3:7-13) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;   I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.   Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.   Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.   Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will wri...
Read more

Revelation 2:12-17

(Revelation 2:12-17) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;   I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.   But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.   So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.   Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone...
Read more

Revelation 2:1-7

(Revelation 2:1-7) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;   I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.   He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, ...
Read more