Lighting and Thunder
“And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:” (Rev 4:5a KJV)
Lightning and thunder signify judgment. God is about to begin His judgment upon the Earth and unleash His wrath.
“And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Rev 8:5 KJV)
Learn More24 Elders
“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.” (Rev 4:4 KJV)
There are several possible explanations of the identity of the 24 elders. The 24 elders could represent the Church. We see in 5:9 the descriptions that have been given of the Church is also given of the elders. They are redeemed and come out of every nation.
Learn MoreHe That Sat
“And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:” (Rev 4:3a KJV)
John attempts to give us a description of the glorious vision of Jesus siting upon His throne. Words cannot do justice to the awesome presence of God. We can only relate to what we know, can see, touch, etc. John used words that demonstrated how precious God and Heaven is in a way that we can picture the presence of God for ourselves.
Learn MoreOne Throne
“And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” (Rev 4:2 KJV)
We see from Revelation 3:21 there are two types of thrones- literal and metaphoric. The throne Jesus spoke of in 3:21 was metaphoric. The throne in 4:2 is literal. It is a single throne with one single being sitting on that throne. We see the identity of the one on the throne in chapter 21:
Learn MoreDivision Three – The things which shall be hereafter
The Scene in Heaven
Hearafter
“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.” (Rev 4:1 KJV)
The phrases ‘after this’ and ‘things which must be hereafter’ signal the third division of the book of Revelation. This division is still future and comprises the largest portion of the book.
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