John's Second Vision
Before we get into the study of the "Vision" we have two "Songs of Phrase". One
to the "God in Heaven" and one to the "Lamb of God".
In John's first vision, He was in the spirit on the Lord's Day and he saw the Lord
in all His Glory and the Lord told him to write down all that He was about to tell
him and send it to the seven churches.
Here we have an account of the second vision that John had. This time it was
necessary for the door of heaven to open. To prepare John, a trumpet was sounded
and he was then called into the "heavens". Notice there is a way, in the spirit
of prayer, whereby the Sons of God may enter by faith. They may also enter in
their spirits when they die and in their resurrected bodies at the "last day". For
John to do this, he was in the spirit. In talking about this later in the book,
he remarks, "whether in the body or out, I could not tell."
Notice how he was prepared for the vision:
- Strange sights appeared.
- He saw a throne.
- He saw a "Glorious One" upon the throne. This Glorious
One is described by things that are pleasant and
precious. i.e. jasper and carnelian or sardine-stone.
Jasper is a precious transparent stone that offers a
variety of vivid colors. The sardine-stone is red
which signifies the justice of God demonstrated by
His forgiveness and condemnation.
- He saw a rainbow about the throne like an emerald. The
rainbow in the token of God's covenant made first with
Noah concerning never again to destroy the earth by a
flood and again with Christ concerning never again to
destroy those who put their faith in Him. It appeared
like an emerald to John which simply means that the
predominant colors were a pleasant green.
- He saw 24 seats around the throne filled with 24 Elders.
This could have represented the 24 grades of Priests
in the Old Testament Temple, or it could have
represented the "whole church", 12 tribes for the Jews
and the 12 Disciples, for the Gentiles. Notice they were
seated around the throne denoting honor, rest, satisfaction
and nearness to God. These Elders were clothed in "white
garments" which indicate righteousness, the gift of God.
On their heads were "crowns of gold". This signifies honor,
authority given to them by God.
- He saw 7 lamps of fire burning before the throne. These are
the 7 spirits of God, denoting completeness. They are
gifts, talents, grace, understanding, prophecy, faith and
authority. All the gifts of the Spirit, dispensed
according to His will and pleasure.
- Then he saw before the throne a "sea of glass" like crystal.
In the Temple there was a great brass vessel filled with
water which stood before the Alter in which the priests
washed their hands before they went to minister. This
vessel was called a "Sea" its name taken from the Red
Sea, which delivered and cleansed the Israelites. So in
the New Testament Church, Christ is our "Sea" that which
delivers, washes clean and purifies.
The First Song of Phrase
["Click here for Revelation 4:7-11"]
Notice who it is that sings this "Song of Phrase". "Then he saw 4 "living
creatures" or "beasts" between the throne and the circle of Elders. Notice how
they appeared to John:
- One looked like a lion.
- One like an ox.
- One with a face of a man.
- One like a flying eagle.
Who were these creatures?
- Matthew Henry suggests that they represent the ministers
of the Gospel because they are located between the people
and God, because they have "many eyes" denoting sight in
all areas, because of their "lion like" courage, because
they labor like an ox and because of their "manlike"
prudence, affections and emotions by which they "mount up
with wings like eagles towards heaven".
- Wiersbe suggests that they represent God's creation and are
symbolic of God's covenant to Noah that covered 4 groups,
man, fowl, cattle and the beasts of the earth.
- Broadman suggests that they are the 4 "cherubim" in Ezekiel
that resembled a man, a lion, an ox and an eagle. Each
creature was full of eyes and had 6 wings. He believes
they are non-human beings near God's throne whose function
is to phrase Him day and night without ceasing. Their
importance is indicated by the fact that John refers to
them 14 times in this book.
- Some bible scholars see these creatures as the "four faces
of Christ" as presented by the four Gospels. Matthew
presents Christ as the King (lion). Mark presents Christ
as the Servant (ox). Luke presents Christ as the Son of
Man (man). John presents Christ as the Son of God (eagle).
Notice the song that they sung. "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who
was and is and is to come." When the "creatures sang this song, giving honor and
glory to the Lord, 24 Elders fell down before Him and cast their crowns before the
throne. There are at least 5 crowns available to the believer.
- The Crown of Witness Phil. 4:1.
- The Crown of Satisfaction 1st. Thes. 2:19.
- The Crown of Glory 1st. Pet. 5:4.
- The Crown of Life Rev. 2:10.
- The Crown of Righteousness II Tim. 4:8.
Those believers who acquire one or more of these crowns will cast them before the
throne. They do this because, as verse 11 says, "He is worthy." Man is worthy to
give honor to God only because of His gift of "Grace" to us.
Thus we see the first song of phrase, the Adoration Of God in Heaven, sung by the 4
"creatures" and the 24 Elders.
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