0901 HISTORY FROM A HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE

SEPTEMBER 1 = REVELATION 4

HISTORY FROM A HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE

So now Jesus is done with the 7 letters, and he invites John to “come up here” so that he can know what is in the future for the churches. And there, in chapters 4 and 5, John sees history from a heavenly perspective. It is like a dream, but it is real. It is overwhelming and awesome. It is worship and it is history. And it is just the first view of the end of all things. Shall we enter in? Let’s try to view it once again from a literal perspective, explaining the meaning behind the symbolic terms.

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.””

John is invited to come up to see what heaven sees. The book was likely written in A.D. 96 and it is given by Jesus to John for the purpose of showing what must happen soon. 

In heaven, the future is already seen. And, as God often did with the prophets, he chooses to reveal certain things ahead of time, so that believers can be prepared for it.

“At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.”

John sees that God is the ruler over all the universe. He is the only one. He is more valuable than anything. 

“Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 

The twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles represent both old and new covenants, Jews and Christians. God has been acknowledged as worthy by every mature Jew and Christian throughout time. 

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.”

God holds all power in the universe. His Spirit is everywhere, and he sees all with perfect balance and clarity. 

“In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.”

All who see him recognize him as the Great Conqueror, the Strong Almighty One, the Compassionate Brother, and the All-Seeing One. 

“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. 

Those who are in heaven see everything, inside and out. And the closer they are to God, the more they can see.

Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.””

They all proclaim that there is no other like him in perfection, who always was and is and will always be. 

“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.””

All mature believers throughout history know him to be Lord and God, and they would all give him glory and honor and power, because he is the sovereign creator and ruler of all.

The chapter ends here, but the scene goes on in the next chapter with an amazing moment.