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LESSON 09
- CHAPTER 4:1-11
Printed
Version: Pages 89-102
R E V E L A T I O N
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, p. 37-44
A REMINDER
These lessons are
written as an accompanment to
Charles C. Ryrie's [1996] Book
REVELATION
Everyday Bible Commentary
Moody Publishers
Chicago
ISBN: 978-0-8024-1825-8
(You Must Own your own copy)
(Ryrie's book text is not included in these lessons)
THE THRONE IN HEAVEN
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John to the
Seven Churches of Asia was written to challenge and comfort those Christians who
were suffering from apathy and persecution under the Roman Empire previous to
A.D. 70 and Nero’s overtaking and destroying the city of Jerusalem and its
temple. The building structures of the city and temple area were completely
destructed largely to the large content of gold that was used in the covering of
the temple walls and many of the official buildings. The Romans quickly learned
to crack open the support structure with large hammers in order to remove the
gold from all the surfaces.
The central theme in the presentation of the
book is the contradiction brought forth through the constant mentioning of the
seeming military aspects of the letter versus the constant mentioning of “The
Lamb of God covered with blood.” These two images dramatize the need for the
believing Christians to do as Jesus had done. Jesus, the Slain Passover Lamb was
attempting to teach His Church (His followers) that the way to triumph, in the
eyes of God the Father, was to win the battle over His enemies… in the manner
that He sent His Son, Jesus, to win over the enemy of SIN by giving His life and
dying on the Cross for all of mankind.
The mission then became for His people – to Win over the nations of the Beast by bearing witness to God’s Justice and Mercy before them, even if it kills them.
The message to the seven churches will raise 3
important questions:
1.
Will The Churches (Jesus’ People) be able to endure the troubles brought
forth in the chapters 6 through the early verses of chapter 19?
2.
Will they (we) persevere and inherit the “New Heaven and New Earth?”
3.
Will they understand God’s calling to understand why Faithfulness to
Jesus is described as “Conquering?”
Chapters 4 and 5 set before us the scene of
the Holiness of God and those in heaven and earth who adore Him and worship Him.
KEY NUMBER 10: THE GREAT TRIBULATION 4:1-19:21
OUR OUTLINE:
III. “THE THINGS WHICH SHALL TAKE PLACE AFTER THESE THINGS” 4:21-22:21
Three Major Divisions of the rest of the book:
1. The
Tribulation Period 4:1-19:21
2. The Millennium
20:1-15
3. The Eternal
State 21:1-22:21
A. THE PROLOGUE:
4:1-5:14
1.
The Throne in Heaven 4:1—11
a.
The door, and a voice 4:1
The Visualized NASB Text:
“1
After these things
I looked, and behold,
a door standing open in heaven, and
the first voice which I had heard,
like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me,
said,
‘Come up here, and
I will show you what must take place
after these things (hereafter).’”
Ryrie, page 49
Our Comments
John Walvoord refers to Chapter 4 as “The Church in
Heaven,” and the beginning of “The consummation of the age.” “As John begins
this chapter, he tells us that he saw a door opened into the very presence of
God in heaven – not into our atmosphere, but into that place which is beyond the
natural eye or any visual or radio telescope. This is the third heaven, the
immediate presence of God.”
[1]
Again, Walvoord: “It seems that the church as the Body
of Christ is out of the picture until the physical return of Christ’s return in
power and glory. Saints who come to know the Lord in this period are described
as saved Israelites or saved Gentiles, but never in reference to the church or
the Body of Christ.”[2]
b.
The Person on the Throne 4:2—3a
The Visualized Text:
2 Immediately
I was in the Spirit; and behold,
a throne was standing in heaven, and
One sitting on the throne. 3 And
He who was sitting was like
a jasper stone and
a sardius in appearance;
Ryrie pg. 50 mid
Our Comments:
We should notice that this throne was “standing” in
heaven. Considering the meaning of the word we should see a clear difference
between the quality of the throne versus the quality of the “One sitting” on the
throne. The throne is an active place, beholding the “God of the Universe.”
Then, we should understand that the God of the Universe is seated… His work for
the salvation of mankind (those who wish to receive it) has been completed in
Christ God. Now, like the story of Noah – there is one more test to be completed
– but first, the Tribulation.
c.
The Picture
connected with the Throne
4:3b, 5—6a
(1.)
Around the Throne 4:3b
The Visualized Text
and
there was a rainbow
[or halo]
around the throne,
like an emerald in appearance
Ryrie, pg. 50 bot.
Our Comments:
No further comment
(2)
Out of
the Throne, 4:5
The Visualized Text
5 Out
from the throne come
flashes of lightning
and
sounds and
peals of thunder.
Ryrie pg.51 top
Our Comments:
One of the most alarming moments in life, and
especially home ownership, is that moment when lightning strikes a tree, post,
or whatever close to you. Back a long time ago now, when I was about seven years
old, I was standing in our kitchen with my mom when lightning struck the
electrical connection on the top end of our home. The lightning traveled down
the wires and into the house. It found the pipe to our kitchen sink and came
shooting out from the iron faucet across the kitchen (past mom and I) and struck
the electric stove setting the wall behind it on fire. It was definitely a
moment frozen in time! My mom doused the fire, called the fire department, and
sent me off to find my dad, who worked about a mile away. Still today, when I
hear the majesty of a close lighting strike… the vision from so long ago is
immediately restored. Such power, such majesty, such danger. As the person of
God… not someone to be played with! As Ryrie has said, “these seem to be
portents of judgments.”
(3)
Before
the Throne, 4:5—6
The Visualized Text:
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
something like a sea
of glass,
like crystal;
Ryrie pg. 51 mid
Our Comments:
It seems to me Strauss is correct in understanding that
this is like the Brass Laver found between the Altar of Sacrifice and the
Tabernacle in the wilderness. Brass as a symbol of judgment, a place where you
could be washed from the sins that you brought the blood of the Lamb to be slain
for. Now the price paid for forgiveness has been paid by the Blood of Christ and
there is now no need for the waters of the Brass Laver to flow. In Christ, you
are now eternally clean.
d.
The Elders around the Throne, 4:4
1.
Their Identification
The Visualized Text
4 Around
the throne were twenty-four thrones;
Ryrie pg. 51 bot
Our Comments:
Just a reminder: All of the believing members of the
Church are members of God’s royal family. All are also Priests unto God. From
that perspective we are all Royal Priests in the family of God. So I expect that
these 24 elders represent the entire Body of Christ in this vision (see next!).
2.
Their Coronation
The Visualized Text
and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting,
Rryie pg. 52 bot
Our Comments:
No further comment
3.
Their Clothing
The Visualized Text
clothed in
white garments, and
golden crowns on their
heads.
Ryrie pg. 53 top
Our Comments:
Throughout the scriptures being clothed in white
indicates holiness, cleanliness from sin, having a position to be in the
presence of God.
e.
Praise to the Throne 4:6b—11
1.
By the Living
ones 4:6b—9
The Visualized Text:
and
in the center and
around the throne
[Lit. middle of the throne and around],
four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.
7 The
first creature was like a lion, and
the second creature like a calf, and
the third creature had a face like that of a man, and
the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And
the four living creatures,
each one of them
having six wings,
are full of eyes
around and within; and
day and night they do
not cease to say
[Lit. they have no rest, saying],
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
God,
the Almighty,
who was and
who is and
who is
to come.”
9 And
when the living creatures give
glory and
honor and
thanks
to Him who sits on the throne,
to Him who lives forever and ever,
Ryrie pg. 53
Our Comments:
Ryrie’s comments concerning the Gospels and their
representations of Jesus, the Son of God, the focus of the entire Bible as far
as humanity is concerned – the One whom this final story is all about, fits the
four living ones completely. He is the One, once dead, now living. Whether four
living creatures, regardless of who or what they are, or just symbols of the Son
of God who is characterized by the four gospels, it seems that He is the focus
of these Living Ones.
2.
By the Twenty-Four Elders,
4:10—11
The Visualized Text:
10 the twenty-four
elders
will fall down before
Him who sits on the throne, and will worship
Him who lives forever and ever, and
will cast their crowns
before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy
are You, our Lord and our God,
to receive
glory and honor and power;
for
You created all things, and
because of
Your will
they existed [Lit. were], and
were created.”
Ryrie pg. 54 top
Our Comments:
Just a quick note about “They fall down and worship,
casting their crowns before the throne:” All three actions happen at once. They
fall down, worship, and cast their crowns as one action. Tossing their crowns is
an act of contrition – “These crowns are yours, We are not worthy.” Their
attitude of humility is the important point. “We are not worthy,” yet, because
of His grace He has given them. Here John has been our witness to the powers and
structure of God’s presence in His Heaven, and God has commanded him to share
all this with we who believe in His Son. The Revelation is given to us!
The Book of
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