Revelation 4
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.
Revelation 4:1
In this
revelation, John is transported from the first century to the end times—he
becomes a witness to the things that will happen at the end of time (“things
which must be hereafter”)
As John was taken up into Heaven, and shown “things which
must be hereafter,” he beheld the throne of God and the courts of Heaven—he
witnessed ‘heavenly worship’ in the glorious atmosphere of Heaven. He saw
‘partakers of the heavenly counsels’.
In verses 2 and 3 a throne
was set in Heaven and One sat on the throne (God the Father).
In verse 4 are “the 24
elders” (heavenly Sanhedrin).
In verse 5, “the Seven Spirits
of God”.
Verse 6: ‘sea of glass,’
the heavenly courts and the living creatures round-about the throne.
Verses 7 and 8 describes
the Four Living Creatures.
“… and they rest not day
and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and
is to come.”
Verses 9 and 10 reveals:
When the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him
that sits on the throne, the twenty-four elders fall down and cast their crowns
before the throne, and also worship Him.
They say: 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 (v.11)