.jpg)
Whereas the messages of revelation regarding Christ were mixed with symbolism in their delivery to the seven churches; the coming revelations seem to favor symbolism and representation far more than a strictly literal interpretation alone might allow. There do appear to be literal things and messages described in what would come next, but often a strictly literal interpretation would seem to be lacking to find the deeper meanings Christ was trying to convey to us, regarding the great conflict between good and evil, between love and hate, between free-will and the compulsion of the conscience. Perhaps these revelations were conveyed in this manner in order that people might gain value from their study in any time period of church history or world events. Perhaps they were intended to remind us that we need to be led by Christ to fully understand any scripture, particularly those steeped in symbolism and imagery we just do not understand. But to better understand what would follow, it is important to remember that our salvation is founded within Jesus Christ alone, and that the point of any of these revelations was to help us better understand who we serve, and who loved us enough to save us from ourselves even to the point of giving up His own life that we might have life. In that context we move forward as John sets the stage for what is to come.
There does appear to be a clean break or distinction between chapter 3 and 4 of the book of Revelations. The messages to the church appear to end at the end of chapter 3, and chapter 4 seems to open a new dialog, setting the stage for what is to come. John begins in chapter 4 and verse 1 saying … “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.” John begins by setting the destination of where the coming scene was to take place, in heaven as he would enter through an open door. The messenger sent to guide John through the scene was noted as having a voice like that of a trumpet speaking. And what was to be revealed seems to have more of a future context perhaps not as directly relevant to the people and readers of John’s day. He continues in verse 2 … “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. [verse 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.” John begins by noting that he did not actually travel to heaven through the open door, but was taken there “in the spirit” or in vision.
He then begins to describe where he is and what he sees. He begins by seeing a throne and someone sitting on it. The person sitting on the throne has an appearance of a jasper and a sardine stone. Jasper is noted in scripture as being used in the breastplate of Aaron the high priest as well as in the foundation of the city of New Jerusalem. It was generally thought to be green in color, though it also may come in yellow or brown. It is opaque and able to be brightly polished for a shine. Sardonyx stone is also mentioned as a part of the foundations of the New Jerusalem city and is generally thought to be a mix of red, brown, and white striped colors, opaque and able to be highly polished as well. John was not describing a stone statue of course but he may have wished to convey that the person on the throne was a mix of color and had a shiny appearance to look at. The throne itself was surrounded by a rainbow with a heavy favor of green similar to that of an emerald in appearance. At first glance, we might believe we are gazing upon a view of Christ in heaven, but subsequent texts describe a book that is sealed and must be opened that only the Lamb of God could do, and that Lamb enters this same scene to accomplish this task. This may indicate that instead of another revelation of Christ described here, we are actually getting a revelation of God the Father in His throne room, since Christ will enter later.
John continues to describe the scene as he writes in verse 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.” God is not alone in His throne room. Around the room are 24 seats, and upon them are seated 24 elders. The elders are wearing white raiment, and upon their heads are crowns of gold. John does not describe them as being winged, nor as having a bright or shiny appearance. So it seems less likely they are angels. He does mention how they are dressed, in white raiment. This has special significance in that each of the saved or redeemed are given clothing of white raiment by Christ (in effect taking on His righteousness for our own). He also mentions that they wear crowns of gold, another gift promised to those who are saved and redeemed by Christ. John seems comfortable in their presence and does not feel the need to associate any non-human descriptors with these 24 elders, such as an appearance like a particular stone, or voices as trumpets, etc.. So given these descriptors it is possible to surmise they are 24 elders of human origin.
The number 24 could have symbolism in that there are 12 tribes descending from Abraham, and 12 apostles who worked in the early church of our God. Perhaps these elders represent both the belonging to God by virtue of birth, and by re-birth in the believing in Jesus Christ. Elders, in the historical context of the time in which John wrote, would have had a chief role as providing counsel and insight though the experience of age. Though our God is all wise, and needs no instruction, He may have brought these 24 representatives into His throne room as a gesture of love, and to allow them to join with Him as ambassadors of humanity in His ultimate mission of redemption of all mankind. Regardless of His reasoning, throughout the remainder of the book of Revelations these same 24 elders are referred to periodically, so at the least, this is not a one-time occurrence. These 24 elders appear to have a permanent place in the throne room of God the Father, and a role He has them fulfilling.
As John was the apostle writing this book, obviously he was not one of the 24 elders. Many have speculated as to “who”, by name, they might be? There have been those humans who have found an early place in God’s heaven ahead of the rest of us. Enoch, for example, was translated to heaven without ever tasting death. His journey of dependence upon Christ grew so close, that he was ready for heaven without the need of further reformation or reform. The work of Christ’s perfection in Enoch was completed in his lifetime. Thus even in a world so wicked it almost caused God to be sorry he had made us; Enoch had managed to rely upon Christ and find perfection regardless of his surroundings. Perhaps he served in this group of 24. Elijah, Moses, and perhaps others had either been translated, or resurrected and brought home with Christ at His own death and resurrection to God. These first fruits may have contained those who now occupied the seats John saw. John did not reveal the names they carried, perhaps he never knew them, nor was he personally introduced to them. But their number, proximity to God, and position of elder seemed very clear to him.
John once again turns his attention back to the throne itself as he continues in verse 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.” The throne of God is active. There are visual and auditory events emanating from it. And before it or in front of it, is the seven lamps of fire burning, that represent the Holy Spirit that exists before His throne. Indeed, God is not alone in His throne room. John then begins to describe the surroundings a bit more and something else he sees as he writes in verse 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.” So first, John notes that before the throne was a sea of glass like unto crystal. This same notation is made elsewhere to describe heaven itself. Sometimes the redeemed are noted as standing upon the sea of glass.
Then John proceeds to identify some other life forms that surround the throne of God. These beings are clearly not angels. Had they been angels John would have noted them as such. They are also not men, as with the elders, they could have easily been described as such. This leaves them as being something else entirely. John uses the term “beasts” to describe them, but this may not have been terribly flattering or with our imaginations entirely accurate; it might have been better understood in our day and vernacular as “other” life forms. And these life forms are sentient. They are capable of language and understanding and appear to have a role in the service of our God. So whether they are species of highly evolved animals we have never seen, or whether they are representatives of sentient life created in other parts of the universe remains a matter of opinion. But John sees them as relevant to the scene and what is to take place and tries to describe them as best he can.
He begins to note one feature that is common to the 4 beasts surrounding the throne of God. They all have eyes before and behind, or perhaps they have multiple eyes that encompass their heads in front and behind, perhaps able to see what is coming and has transpired. He continues his description in verse 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.” Notice that each beast bears a resemblance to animals we are familiar with in our world, but none of them is exactly like what we know. The first beast is compared to a lion. The second to a calf (not an adult cow, but a young one). The third has the face as a man (notice no body is described here per se). And the fourth is like a flying eagle. John continues to further ascribe common attributes in the first part of verse 8 as he writes … “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: …” So all 4 of them had 6 wings a piece, and perhaps each of the wings were full of eyes as well. At this point it is clear that the physical description of these four life forms is wholly dissimilar to the animals we see in our world. The multiple wings, and multiple eyes alone take care of that.
However, evidence that these beings are sentient is revealed in the last part of verse 8 going forward he writes “… and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. [verse 9] And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,” The 4 beasts then have language and understanding to praise and worship God the Father. They have gratitude for life and His blessings revealed in their thanks. They understand who God is, and what He does, and they realize that God is eternal. At the instigation of their worship of God, the 24 elders respond in verse 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, [verse 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.” The image of casting crowns before our God is noted elsewhere as a response of the redeemed to the love of God, a further indication the 24 are truly human. In their praise and gratitude the 24 elders reveal again the importance of our God as being the God of creation.
Love ever desires an object to serve and share with. Because of His love, He derives pleasure in bringing into existence new life that He can pour His love out upon. It is this pleasure of sharing love that has caused God to create, and to bring into existence all forms of life. He has made man, but He has also made angels, and here John gives us our first Biblical exposition on other kinds of sentient life that have been created. Perhaps as the 24 elders represent mankind, these 4 beasts represent a host of other unfallen sentient creations that God has made. The important point revealed here is that God is the God of all life, and of all creation. What we have seen is only a small glimmer as to what is out there, and what He has made through the power of His love and will.
At this point the stage has been set. The scene is ready. The players have been credited. What follows seems to have more meaning as messages continue to be revealed to us …
No comments:
Post a Comment