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Revelation Segment 4
All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. Before beginning this study, I suggest you pray and ask God to guide you through this study. I also suggest that you do you own study of this material in order to ensure its accuracy.
(Rev 3:14)
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;Laodicea was an important city of the Roman Empire. It had a great banking industry. It made black wool garments for export, and it had a medical school that manufactured an eye balm. Its water supply was piped in from five miles away and the water was not cold like it would have been had it come straight from a well or spring; it was rather lukewarm.
Amen is a Hebrew word meaning truth. When you say amen, you are really saying "it is truth", not "the end" as some feel. Jesus Christ is the Truth (the Way, the Truth, and the Life--John 14:6).
(Rev 3:15)
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.There may be nothing worse than an equivocator. A middle of the road approach to Christ is spiritual suicide. Because Jesus said: (Mat 12:30) "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (also in Luke 11:23). You must make up your mind to either accept Him or reject Him. There is no other choice for if you don't accept Him, you reject Him by default. Sitting on the fence is rejecting Him.
This is a reference to the fact that Laodicea's water supply was lukewarm, not cold like a fresh drinking water from a well or spring and not hot like a hot spring of water. Jesus wants us hot or cold and not in between. Either serve Him or get out of the way.
(Rev 3:16)
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.If you take a mouthful of water and are expecting cool drinking water and get lukewarm water instead, your reaction is to spew it out. The same goes for hot. If you take a drink of coffee and are expecting hot coffee and you get lukewarm coffee, your first instinct it to spew it out. Need I say more?
(Rev 3:17)
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:In c. 60 AD, Laodicea was seriously damaged by an earthquake. Because they were so prosperous and self-sufficient, they refused Rome's monetary help and rebuilt their own city. In this verse, Jesus is referencing this fact with the words rich, increased in goods and have need of nothing. They were so self sufficient that they did not even realize they were wretched.
Jesus is making an allusion to the fact that the Loadiceans had successful textile, banking and eye salve industries. In worldly goods they were doing well, but they were failing miserably at spiritual things. Jesus said in Mat 6:19-21, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: {20} But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: {21} For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." This was the mistake of the Loadiceans. They were laying up treasures upon earth, but not in Heaven.
(Rev 3:18)
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.Gold refers to their banking industry; white raiment refers to their textile industry, anointing their eyes refers to their pharmaceutical industry. This verse is targeted toward righteous acts, tried in the fire, and woven into fine linen to be worn by the bride of Christ.
(Rev 3:19)
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.If Jesus does not chastise you when you are wrong, then you better get right with Him. He rebukes and chastises those he loves; are you one of those?
(Rev 3:20)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.When Jesus stands at the door and knocks, who must take action? Jesus does not plead for people to come to Him. He knocks, but we must open the door. If we open the door, we will sup with Him on spiritual food, the Word of God. This is not a license for us to beg people to receive Christ, nor a license to twist arms. We don't need to beg or twist arms; those things push people away from Christ.
(Rev 3:21-22)
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. {22} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.Overcome by remaining faithful to Christ. If your spiritual eyes and ears are open, you will understand.
This is the last letter written to the churches. Some feel that each of these letters applies to a specific historical period of the church. Some say they refer to specific churches or denominations throughout the ages. I believe these letters apply to every age and that in every age, you could find churches fitting these descriptions. The Laodicean church seems to fit many churches around today as I write.
(Rev 4:1) 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 show thee things which must be hereafter.The door that is opened symbolizes the unveiling of John's eyes so that he could see into the spiritual world. Has this ever happened before in the Bible? Yes: (2 Ki 6:15-17) "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? {16} And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. {17} And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." The servant's eyes were opened so that he could see the spiritual world. This is what happened to John.
The voice was that of Yehovah Himself. Some say it is the voice of the archangel. These words are in red in some Bibles and in black in others. Folks can't seem to decide. The voice was in heaven and God the Father is in heaven. This is God's voice. See the next verse.
"Come up hither." These words have gotten substantial mileage in rapture circles. Many say this represents the rapture when all the saints will be asked to "Come up hither." That is really stretching for the truth. In order to see a rapture here, one must twist the scripture to say that when John went "up hither", he went with all the saints. That does not fit the scripture. The only thing happening in this verse is that John is being called into heaven to be shown future events. No one else is involved, only John.
Rapture adherents want the church to be taken off the earth before any of the end time events of Revelation take place. That is so they don't have to explain the things of the Revelation. All they need do is tell people they don't need to worry about the events of Revelation because they will be gone. It is a cop out to good scholarship.
Let me give an alternate translation of the last phrase of the verse: "I will show you what will necessarily happen in the midst of hereafter." That is a very literal rendering. The KJV captures the essence of the phrase. In other words, John is to be shown the future. He is to be right in the midst of it. God transported him to the future in the spirit (next verse) and placed him right in the middle of the Day of the Lord.
(Rev 4:2) And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
John was in the spirit, no one else. Does John say "We were in the spirit?" Does he say "They were in the spirit?" No. He says I was in the spirit. "I" is singular.
Remember that John said in verse 1, " 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". Whose voice was it? John said that he looked. Where did he look? At a throne in heaven with One sitting on it. The voice came from the One sitting on the throne. Who was it? John describes this One:
(Rev 4:3) 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.
Ezekiel had a similar experience. (Ezek 1:26-28) "And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. {27} And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. {28} 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." The one who spoke was Yehovah. LORD in all caps tells us that the Hebrew here is Yehovah. Though Ezekiel gives a more thorough picture, the similarities between John and Ezekiel are striking.
The appearance of the One on the throne in Ezekiel was like a precious stone (sapphire). So was the One on the throne in john's picture. His appearance was like jasper (polished quartz, similar in appearance to the sapphire) and sardine (a ruby), both precious stones. In both pictures a rainbow surrounds the throne. This One is God Almighty. Jasper and sardine are the first and last stones on the breastpiece of the high priest. The first row started with a sardine (sardius) stone (Ex 28:17) and the last stone in the last row was a jasper (Ex 28:20). This symbolizes all twelve tribes of Israel.
The rainbow is the shekinah glory of God. One can see this in many middle age and renaissance paintings as the halo around the heads of Jesus and saints and other venerable people. See verse 6a below for a discussion of the sea of glass and the refraction of light into a rainbow.
(Rev 4:4) 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.
These are the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles. They had received their rewards (crowns) because of their good works (white raiment).
(Rev 4:5) 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.
John described the voice of God as a trumpet in verse 1. The lightnings and thunderings are also indicative of God's voice. When Moses was receiving the ten commandments on Sinai, the voice of God is described: (Exo 20:18) "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." God the Father is speaking.
In the Tabernacle and Temple, there was a lamp stand with seven lamps continually burning. It stood in the Holy Place, in front of the curtain concealing the Most Holy Place. It is known as the Menorah, which means a yoke of lights or lamps (Strong's 4501). Here, the Menorah stands before the Throne of God in Heaven. The lamps represent the sevenfold Spirit of God.
The sevenfold Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit. Being sevenfold means that the Spirit is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent (all powerful, all knowing, and present everywhere). For further study of the seven Spirits of God, read Revelation Segment One.
(Rev 4:6a) And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:
A possible alternative to this rendering is: "And before the throne a transparent sea like unto crystal." The word for glass is hualinos (Strong's 5193) and it means glassy or transparent. A sheet of actual glass would require the word haulos (Strong's 5194) the root of haulinos. Crystal is from the word krustallos (Strong's 2930). Krustallos literally means ice and figuratively means crystal as in crystalline structures such as quartz and salt. This sea in front of the throne was of a transparent substance that could be compared with a solid sheet of clear ice. Ice and crystal refract the light causing one to see the colors of the rainbow and this could be why a rainbow surrounded the throne. Compare this sea of glass to the "laver" of the Tabernacle (Exo 40:7) "molten sea" of the Temple (I Kings 7:23). I would like to quote a text about crystal from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge®:
"crystal: The Hebrew {kerach,} which generally denotes ice, doubtless here signifies crystal, ([krystallos,] from [kryos,] cold, ice, and [stellomai,] to concrete,) as it is rendered by the LXX. And Vulgate. It is a very large class of silicious minerals, hard, pellucid, naturally colourless, of regularly angular figures, and of simple plates; not flexible, nor elastic, but giving fire with steel; not fermenting by acid menstrua, but calcinable in a strong fire. There are three orders of pure crystal: the first is perfect columnar crystals, with double pyramids, of eighteen planes, in an hexangular pyramid at each end; the second is that of perfect crystals, without a column, of twelve or sixteen planes, in two hexangular pyramids: and the third is that of imperfect crystals, with single pyramids, of ten or twelve planes, in an hexangular or pentangular column. Terrible crystal seems to denote that which was well cut and polished, vividly refracting the rays of light."
(This terrible crystal is from Eze 1:22)(Rev 4:6b-8) and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. {7} 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. {8} 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.
Beast is a very poor translation. The word is zoon (dzów-ahn, Strong's 2226) meaning living creature. So there were four living creatures around the throne. The Hebrew equivalent is chay, which is the word used in Genesis account of the creation of animals. This passage parallels the passage in Isaiah about the seraphim: (Isa 6:1-3) "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. {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." Another parallel is in Ezekiel: (Ezek 1:5-11) "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. {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."
In Ezekiel's description, each cherub has four faces, man, ox, eagle, and lion. John's living creatures each have a different face. The difficulty here is solved by recognizing that Ezekiel saw all four cherubim from each angle, and John saw only the face that was facing toward him and away from the throne as the living creatures surrounded the throne. In John's and Isaiah's descriptions, all of the cherubim or seraphim or living creatures were singing "Holy, holy, holy … " All three are describing the same creatures. They surrounded the Throne of God. They were created to do so.
(Rev 4:9-11) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, {10} 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, {11} 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.
They readily cast their crowns before the Lord Jesus, even though they earned those crowns through their righteous works. Our works are only righteous in Christ. Otherwise, "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isa 64:6)
Verse 11 contains the most profound statement in the entire Bible. The question, "Why am I here" comes up often. Many people struggle to find meaning in their lives and to try to discover what they are doing here. This verse answers that question. We are placed here on earth for God's pleasure. Never forget that. We are here at and for His pleasure.
(Rev 5:1) 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.
The Greek word for book is biblion (Strong's975) from the root word biblos (Strong's 976). Biblion literally means roll or scroll and biblos means the cellular pitch from the inside of the tough leaves or bark of the papyrus plant. The cellulose material was made into sheets and scrolls used for writing. The book here in verse one is a scroll. God the Father has the scroll in His right hand. The scroll has writing on both sides.
What is this scroll all about? The first thing we should notice about it is that it is sealed. It is sealed and no one is worthy to open it except the Christ. But we know what is in it; the Revelation tells us. Jesus opened the seals and as each seal was opened the events of the end of the age unfolded. They were seals of revealing. The first four seals reveal the four horsemen: conquering (or victory), war, famine, and death. The fifth seal reveals those slain for their testimony. The sixth seal reveals upheaval on earth. The seventh seal reveals the trumpet and vial judgments. All of these things are contained in the scroll.
This sealed scroll is a testament or covenant or contract. The seals make it so. A covenant must be sealed in order for it to be valid. In earlier times, an actual seal was impressed on a latching material like wax. Later the seal was impressed into the paper. In many jurisdictions, the signature is now the only seal required for validity. Your signature is your seal. A bank check is a type of contract. Your signature is the seal that makes the check valid.
Seven seals make this scroll divine, complete, and perfect. Some say that this seal is the title deed to creation. That is an opinion with which I am inclined to agree. To Christ has been given all things (John 3:35) and this scroll is the testament to that.
(Rev 5:2-3) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? {3} And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Why a strong angel? To show that no one, even the strongest angel, was able to open the seals. The phrase "no man" is a poor translation. The word is oudeis (Strong's 3762), which means not even one. There is only one who is worthy. No angel, no archangel, no cherub, no seraph, no man alive or dead, not even one was worthy.
(Rev 5:4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Why did John weep? This word for weep means to wail rather than to weep silently. Loud wailing is indicative of mourning. John mourned because this sealed document was in the hand of God Almighty. Thus it was a very important scroll. He mourned because such important knowledge was not going to be revealed because no one would be able to open the scroll and reveal the knowledge.
(Rev 5:5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
The Lion of Judah and the Root of David are both Messianic titles from the Old Testament. For the Lion of Judah, see Gen 49:9-10, Num 24:9, and Heb 7:14. For the Root of David, see Isa 11:1&10, Jer 23:5-6, and Rom 1:3 15:12.
Prevailed is synonymous with overcame. The Messiah or Christ had overcome to open the book. In the letters to the churches, we are exhorted to overcome. Christ had overcome death and He alone is worthy. Only Christ is able to unfold the truth to us. A person unsaved cannot really understand God's Word.
(Rev 5:6) 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.
The Lamb of God is on the throne in the midst of the creatures and the twenty-four elders. The Lamb looked as though He had been slaughtered, but He was standing indicating He was alive. The seven horns represent divine strength. The Lamb is King of kings and Lord of lords. The sevenfold Spirit of God is His Holy Spirit, who is present in all the earth.
(Rev 5:7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Jesus is the Living Word. The Living Word took the written Word out of the right hand of God. This is an official transfer of title from God the Father to God the Son. Though both are One, the Son is given dominion over the Kingdom (Rev 12:10).
(Rev 5:8) 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 odours, which are the prayers of saints.
They worshipped the Lamb because He was worthy. A harp is an instrument of worship, and prayers are a part of worship. The vials or bowls were full on incense. In Tabernacle and Temple worship, a censer was filled with coals from the sanctified fire and incense was cast upon the coals filling the Most Holy Place with incense smoke. The smoke symbolized the Glory of the LORD (1 Kings 8:10-11, Rev 15:8). Incense is also referred to as prayer (here and in 8:3-4).
(Rev 5:9) 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;
In the Old Testament, a new song is sung to reflect righteousness (Psa 33:3), praise (Psa 40:3), salvation (Psa 96), victory (Psa 98), dominion (Psa 149), and glory (Isa 42:10). All of those things are in view here.
(Rev 5:10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Over whom shall we reign? The answer lies in Rev 19. In the millennium, there will be nations (Rev 20:3&8). We will reign with Him during the thousand years over the nations.
(Rev 5:11) 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;
The angels get into the act. One cannot define the number of angels by this verse. The word translated ten thousand is actually myriad. There are myriads upon myriads and thousands upon thousands of angels. There is an indefinite number of them.
(Rev 5:12) Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
I said that the angels got into the act--the act of singing the praises of the Lamb. There are seven attributes here. That there are seven is indicative of perfection.
(Rev 5:13) 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 honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Every creature means every soul ever created, dead or alive. Those on the earth are living in the flesh; those under it are dead. Those in the sea are those of the nations. They sing praises to the Father and Son.
(Rev 5:14) And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Amen means "it is truth." The cherubim are saying that all that has happened is truth.
That is a good place to stop. The Word is Truth. All I can say to the scripture we have studied here is Amen.
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