Revelation 4:1-4 (LHB) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be in the future. [2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne stood in heaven, and one sat on the throne. [3] And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a carnelian stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in appearance like an emerald. [4] And round about the throne were twenty four seats: and upon the seats I saw twenty four elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Keathley on chapters 4-5: “Spiritually speaking chapters 4 and 5 form a prologue to the Tribulation events and give us heaven’s perspective of the terrible judgments that will be poured out on the earth. One cannot understand the nature of the Tribulation judgments without this scene. In these two chapters, John was given “heaven’s perspective of earthly events as he walked through the door that was opened to him in 4:1.” [Note: Charles C. Ryrie, Revelation, Moody Press: Chicago, 1968, p. 33.]”
The church is not mentioned at all from Revelation 4 to Revelation 19:7. This is a hint that the Rapture preceded chapter 4.
V1 “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be in the future.” God, who is in heaven, is the source of all revelation. This is the third section of Revelation. Revelation 1:19 “Write the things which you have seen, the things you see now, and the things you see afterwards.” Chapter 1 is the things which you have seen. Chapters 2-3 are what you seen now. Chapters 4-22 are the things you see afterwards. John is having this vision and sees the door. It is for the purpose of entering into heaven, not a literal door. Compare Ezekiel 1:1, Matthew 3:16, and Isaiah 6:1-3. If we connect this trumpet sounding voice to chapter 1, then we know that this is Jesus speaking (Revelation 1:10-11). This is the invitation and command to receive the next set of revelation.
V2 “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne stood in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” Distance and time are meaningless to God. He can cause instant arrival to a destination.
V3 “And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a carnelian stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in appearance like an emerald.” John describe the scene he sees. The person has colorations similar to jasper and sardius (carnelian). Jasper is mentioned in Exodus 28:20, Ezekiel 28:13, and Revelation 21:11. Other translations have this as a description of the throne not the one on the throne. Wilbur Pickering Phd supporting the reading that this description is of the throne states: “The throne, not the One. 15% of the Greek manuscripts do have the One looking like a stone, but I judge that the 85% are correct.”
Since it is described as clear as glass, some believe it is a diamond. Others note is good be clear with a red or green tint. Sardius is mentioned in Exodus 39:10 and Ezekiel 28:13. The throne had an emerald color, which is understood to be a greenish color. Most understand the rainbow to be around the whole throne, not just a semi-circle. The rainbow is part of God’s glorious throne room. Compare Genesis 9:13 and Ezekiel 1:28.
V4 “And round about the throne were twenty four seats: and upon the seats I saw twenty four elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” There are various opinions about who these 24 elders are from the 12 Patriarchs of Israel and the 12 Apostles to representing the church (Robertson, JFB, etc.). Many believe the 24 elders is a description of the church (Wiersbe, Vincent, Keathley, etc). The other two views are: 1) the 24 elders symbolically represent the 24 orders of priests in the Old Testament, thus offering praise to God and 2) angels. We do know that they were redeemed from humanity—Revelation 5:8-9 and compare Revelation 4:10-11.
Comments:
Warren W. Wiersbe: “Who are these twenty-four elders seated on thrones? It is unlikely that they are angels, because angels are not numbered (Heb 12:22), crowned, or enthroned. Besides, in Rev 7:11, the elders are distinguished from the angels (see also Rev 5:8-11). The crowns they wear are the “victor’s crowns” (the Greek word stephanos; see Rev 2:10); and we have no evidence that angels receive rewards.
These elders probably symbolize the people of God in heaven, enthroned and rewarded. There were twenty-four courses of priests in the Old Testament temple (1Chronicles 24:3-5, 1Chronicles 24:18; see also Luke 1:5-9). God’s people are “kings and priests” (Revelation 1:6), reigning and serving with Christ. Note especially their praise (Revelation 5:9-10). When Daniel (Daniel 7:9) saw the thrones set up (not “cast down” as in the King James Version), they were empty; but when John saw them, they had been filled. Since there were twelve tribes of Israel and twelve Apostles, perhaps the number twenty-four symbolizes the completion of God’s people.”
Vincent (Word Studies),
The list of the word elders in this book: Revelation 4:4, 10, Revelation 5:5-6, 8, 11, 14, Revelation 7:11, 13, Revelation 11:16, Revelation 14:3, and Revelation 19:4. Mark Hitchcock notes that “In Revelation there are 12 references to a group called the “twenty-four elders,” or “elders” (Rev 4:4,10; Rev 5:5,6,8,11,14; Rev 7:11, 13; Rev 11:16; Rev 14:3; Rev 19:4). There are three main views concerning their identities: (1) angelic beings; (2) all of the redeemed, including Israel (the 12 tribes) and the church (12 apostles); and (3) the church (ED: HE FAVORS THIS LATTER GROUP). (See his full discussion in 101 Answers to Questions About the Book of Revelation).”
I lean towards the view that these are 24 believers from creation to the Rapture.
We learn:
- A new chapter in the history of humanity
- Jesus is the center of all authority, for He is supreme
- The beauty and glory of His throne