Any initial questions/comments?
Verse 1 – Trumpet
Revelation 1:10 – “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet.”
Of course, we learn later in chapter 1 that this voice is Jesus.
Verse 3 – Appearance
Remember, God the Father is not literally stone, rainbow, and crystal. Rather, He has the appearance of it.
Verse 3 – Stones
The colors of the stones may represent something (clear = purity; red = blood or fire; green = peace).
These stones are included in the breastplate of the high priest, though only three are mentioned in Revelation 4.
Verse 4 – The 24 elders
The white clothes represent righteousness and victory.
The gold crown represents rule and authority.
Who are the 24 elders?
1. A representation of God’s people through the Old Testament and New Testament.
The 12 tribes of Israel represent God’s Old Testament people.
The sons of Jacob (Israel) were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.
The 12 tribes of Israel vary slightly from the 12 sons of Israel. Levi’s line served as priests, and therefore did not receive land. Joseph was double blessed, receiving two allotted land portions for his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.
So, which would sit on the throne if this were the case? Levi and Joseph or Ephraim and Manasseh?
The 12 apostles represent the New Testament people.
The 12 apostles were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew (Nathanael), Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.
However, Judas betrayed Jesus, so he likely does not have a throne.
Who has the twelfth throne for the apostles?
Mathias or Paul?
Acts 1:26 – Matthias
Galatians 1:1 – Paul
Another level of clarity and complication is found in Matthew 19:28 – Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
2. Angels.
The New Testament generally makes a distinction between elders and angels.
3. Another representation of God’s people.
Perhaps they reflect the divisions of the priests in the Old Testament (1 Chronicles 24).
Perhaps they represent raptured Christians.
Verse 5 – Seven Torches
As a reminder, we don’t know what the seven spirits of God are, but they likely represent the fullness or completeness of God’s Holy Spirit.
Verse 6 – Sea of glass
Could represent purity/holiness before the one on the throne.
Could represent calm and control by the one on the throne.
Could represent purification rituals from the Old Testament.
Something like a sea of glass will be mentioned again in Revelation 15. Is it the same sea of glass? We don’t know.
Verses 6-8 – The four living creatures
Similar creatures mentioned in the Old Testament:
Ezekiel 1 – four creatures, but each has four faces and four wings; later called cherubim; described with lots of eyes.
Isaiah 6 – Seraphim with six wings (face,
Theory #1 – Represent creation
Lion represents wild animals.
Ox represents domesticated animals.
Man represents humanity.
Eagle represents birds or heavenly creatures.
Problem: Some of creation is missing in this theory.
Theory #2 – Represent Jesus’ work on the earth
The four creatures represent the four gospels:
Lion represents the Gospel of Matthew, which presents Jesus as king.
Ox represents Gospel of Mark, which presents Jesus as servant.
Man represents Gospel of Luke, which presents Jesus as Son of Man.
Eagle represents Gospel of John, which presents Jesus as divine Son of God.
Remember the word “like” in each of these descriptions.
As with many of these questions, we don’t know the full answer.
As with the seraphim in Isaiah 6:3, these creatures say, “Holy, Holy, Holy” in worship of God.
Verse 10 – Casting crowns
Casting down their crowns before the throne demonstrates that whatever rule and authority they have is nothing to the rule and authority that God the Father deserves and has.
Verse 11 – You have created all things
It’s noteworthy that both the Father and Son are credited with creating.
Of course, they could have done it together, and also the Father could have ordained it while the Son carried it out.
The Father – Acts 17:24 – “The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands.”
The Son – John 1:1–3 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.”
Both – Hebrews 1:2 – “In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.”
Any other questions/comments?
