Day 361, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Revelation 4–5
The Throne Room of Heaven
What if Secret Service Agents escorted you to a king’s palace for a private tour? You would be astonished by all the riches, architecture, design, and history displayed through out its sacred halls . Finally, you open the heavy ornate doors to the throne room . Marble stairs inlaid with gold lead up to the throne. It is then that you realize this is where all the critical decisions were made.
Taking that tour would be memorable , but in today ’ s Bible reading, we follow someone into the throne room of heaven! What is that like? What happen s there? How could a person gain admittance?
Admittance to the throne room
The Apostle John was invited to heaven and into the throne room
A door was opened in heaven and a loud voice like a trumpet said to John, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. At once I [John] was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it” (Revelation 4:1-2, NIV).Would John be the only one caught up to heaven?
Many e vangelicals believe this is when the whole church is called up into heaven (1Thessalonians 4:16-17).Why do they think this? Here is the logical and reasonable argument. John says it was “after this” that he came . “After this” means after the messages to the churches in Revelation 2-3 (yesterday’s lesson). The churches in these two chapters might represent periods of church history; the description of each church does seem to lend itself to such possibilities. If so, then John’s words “after this” indicate the end of the church age. The apostle was from the church age, so perhaps the invitation was to John and all the true believers at the end of the church age.
If the church is raptured with John, why don' t we see multitudes of Christians standing or kneeling and giving praise in the throne room? Here are two possibilities:
Later, we will see vast crowds of believers surrounding the throne .
- Perhaps, the church-age believers are not visible to John. Maybe, they are a vast but totally silent audience, in unspeakable awe and in fear upon their knees or faces, as the spotlight of the theatre shines on the throne.
- Maybe, for whatever reason, they are not present but duly represented by the twenty-four elders so that there are no distractions from the center of attention, the throne.
- The twenty-four “elders” (a possible reference to church pastors) might represent all the church-age believers.These elders in Revelation 4 had received crowns, indicating a judgment with rewards. They also hold golden bowls of incense, which we are told are the prayers of the saints.
These elders in Revelation 4 have received crowns, indicating a judgment with rewards, and they hold golden bowls of incense, which we are told are the prayers of the saints. Later, we will see great multitudes of believers surrounding the throne (Revelation 7:9; 19:1).
Mission from the throne
In Revelation 1:19
Jesus told John to “Write…what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.”
Jesus wanted John to see firsthand what was going to take place later from the viewpoint of heaven. He told John, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1, NIV).
A view of the throne
John says,
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 carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
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.
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.
Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.
Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back (Revelation 4:2-6, NIV).
These four living creatures appear to be the same cherubim described in Ezekiel 1, with the exception that they have six wings instead of four. Their purpose seems to be to adorn the throne of God with praises for his holiness. They lead the twenty-four elders to worship the LORD with songs of praise.
Behold the Lamb!
In Revelation 5, the attention shifts from the throne to the Lamb of God and then to the scroll and all that is revealed inside. An angel cries out, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" (5:2b, NIV). Only the Lamb of God who has been slain is worthy. This is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29, NIV). This is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is now in his presence before the throne making intercession.
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:8-10, NIV).
Do we wish to be invited to heaven? Then we first need forgiveness for all wrongs because God is perfect and holy. He offers forgiveness, peace, and spiritual life, and all of it is paid for with the blood of his Son. Will we accept that most precious gift? We can start the next year well, knowing that we are right with God and have an inheritance reserved in heaven for us. (more...)
End note: the number twenty-four has been used previously in the Bible as a representative number, for there were twenty-four orders of the priesthood in the Law of Moses (1Chronicles 9; 15:15-26; 23).
Discussion
How can we be invited to heaven like the Apostle John?
What did John see in heaven?
Focus Verses
1Peter 1:3-5 (NASB)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Sample Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we worship you and rejoice that you love us. Thank you for coming back to receive us to yourself. Finally, your kingdom will come, and your plans will be accomplished. Help us share the message of grace and invite people to know you so they, too, can be in your kingdom.
Dear Father, we pray specifically for our needs because you want us to ask. And we pray for faith in you to provide them. Forgive our sins so our prayers will be heeded, and I pray we would forgive others who sin against us. Lead us away from temptations to sin. Warn us against keeping company with those who are a terrible influence. Encourage us to speak kindness, for we are part of your kingdom. We pray these things in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen
Please send your comments to me
Looking Ahead: Jesus opens the seven seals of a scroll in the throne room and they contain judgment. Why is he doing this? These are New Day Preparations. Find out what this means in our Next Lesson.
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