A Blast from the Past-Part One

    The last letter in Chapter 3 declares: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (vs. 20).  Chapter 4 opens with John seeing an open door. God’s grace and empowering is available to all. We simply need to knock and the door will be opened to us.
     John sees God’s throne room. Chapter 4 provides the first of several views of God’s throne in the Revelation, so it is important to take note of who is present at the throne in each view. Here John sees:

1. God the Father sitting on the throne, surrounded by an emerald rainbow. The color green symbolizes life.
2. There are also four living beings in the midst of the throne. They are created spiritual beings who serve God.
3. Seven lamps of fire burn before the throne, which are the seven-fold aspects of God’s Spirit as represented in the lampstand (menorah).
4. Around the throne are 24 elders seated, clothed in white robes (symbolizing righteousness), with crowns of gold on their heads. They are the priestly representatives of the Old Testament saints.

    They are present here because of what occurred when Jesus descended into Sheol (the place of the dead) before He ascended to Heaven. He preached to the godly Old Testament people in Abraham’s Bosom, a separate compartment in Sheol.
     They could not yet go to heaven immediately when they died because Jesus had not yet died to atone for mankind’s sin. After the resurrection, Jesus first descended into Abraham’s Bosom for this vital preaching assignment, Jesus was able to take those who believed in Him to Heaven when He ascended. Though they were captive for a time by death, He could then give the gift of His sacrificial life to them (Eph. 4:8).
       No wonder that from the throne proceed lightnings, thunderings, and voices. These are the high praises to God, the declarations of His will and power. Note this unique sound, for we shall hear it again and again in the Revelation.
        END-TIME LESSON: This part of the introduction is bringing us up to speed as to what happened after the crucifixion. Jesus had come out of the grave but had not yet ascended, which is why Mary could not touch Him when she met Him at the tomb. Therefore, Chapter 4 is showing us a past event.
       By showing us this initial view of God’s throne room in the 3rd Heaven, we can see how God’s plan of redemption unfolds over the last Days from Heaven’s perspective. By noting who is present with each view in the Revelation, we can pinpoint what we are seeing in terms of God’s prophetic timetable.
          Hebrews 12:22-24 provides the final framework for identifying the people we see each time we are given a view of the throne room throughout the Revelation. “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”

• Of course we see God, the Judge of all on the throne.
• The innumerable company of angels is represented by the four living beings (spiritual beings) in the midst of the throne.
• We see Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant, the Lamb of God, who willingly laid down His life at the cross, making it possible for fallen mankind to be reconciled back to God.
• The Old Testament saints, the new believers from the Old Covenant, are the “spirits of just men made perfect,” compliments of Jesus preaching the good news of the New Covenant to them.

     Yet we don’t see any mention of the general assembly, the church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven in this first view. At least, not yet. Stay tuned.