Revelation 4:1-7

Chapter 4 of Revelation describes Johns experience of being called into Heaven to prophesy to mankind, once he is there, he then proceeds to describe for us what he saw in Heaven, but there are a few points made in this chapter to which I do comment.

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 shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Two important things to mention on this first verse, one is a voice told John, "Come up hither"  Many dispensationalists claim this to be a showing of the pre tribulation point of view.  John being taken into heaven to show him things which must happen after this has nothing to do with the entire church being taken off the earth before the tribulation.  In fact, this part of Revelations is often interpreted as being the seven year tribulation.  I do not agree with this point of view, look at the time of John.  The most historical event in human history has occurred during his lifetime, He witnessed and walked with the Son of God, He saw the Lamb of God being sacrificed for man's sins, He saw the Lion of the tribe of Judah in person.  This leads me to point two, the hereafter...

The age of the Hebrews has been put on hold for a period of time called, "The time of the gentiles".  Why do we think the four horsemen belong to us?  Do we think that John has been given a viewing of what was to happen hereafter, and skipped the entire gentile age?  No, Jesus appearance on the earth, and the following He would receive by people for the next 2000 years would change the course of history.  Let us always keep in mind, this isn't about us, it is a spiritual war in heaven and being played in part right here on earth.  Satan thought he was defeating Jesus on the Cross, but in reality it was Jesus act of love on the cross that defeated Satan.  Now the devil is mad, and there would be a change or a course of events that would predominate human history and conflict until the time of the end. Why? Because Satan wants revenge, misery loves company.  What John was about to see is the course of events from his own time, after the sacrifice, right up through the time of the gentiles and to the wrath of God.

Several of the verses in this chapter pertain to Johns witness as a description of what he saw in heaven.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
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.
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.

This is another verse which has been used to make a point to the pre tribulation rapture, but this is really a scary interpretation.  The fact that there are 24 seats with 24 elders sitting on them does not say and should not be interpreted to say that the rapture has occurred.  There are plenty of saints from the past, (Old Testament times) or even from heaven itself.  There is no clear cut definition of who these 24 elders are, so we should not assume them to be members of the church being saved before the tribulation, remember the Pharisees assumed their Messiah would come and save them from the Romans, assumption is a dangerous thing.

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.
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: 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.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the only attribute of God that is taken to the third level in the Bible.  For those who don't know, we have words like good, better, best, but in the Hebrew language, they did not have different words of higher levels of that word, they did not have the word Holiest, so they said Holy, (analogous to good), Holy, (better), Holy, (best).  This was also the case when Isaiah goes into Heaven in Isaiah 6.

9 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.