THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – What Comes Next – Chapter 4 – Episode 6

 

The Book of The Revelation – What is to Come Next – Chapter 4

EPISODE SIX

(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “SO WHAT?”)

Revelation chapter four marks the third and longest section of the book of the Revelation and is the point at which it considers the future prophecies to be revealed.

The phrase ‘after this’ (meta tauta in ancient Greek) as found in Revelation 1:19 is repeated twice in Revelation 4:1 and is a link telling us that these are the things that are now coming after.

Importantly, these things are also written in the aorist tense, (which God’s view of time from a heavenly perspective, looking down on earth), where the past, present and the future are all occurring simultaneously – a view from above!

This is important because it reveals the reason the Bible primarily uses the present and future tenses in the books of the New Testament – except for the Book of Revelation, which primarily uses the aorist tense, when dealing with future prophetic matters relating to the tribulation periods.

The Apostles Paul, Peter, John, Timothy and Jesus, Himself, refer to the tribulation seals one through five, which Jesus called the ‘birth pains’ stage of the tribulation, as early as A.D. 30 through A.D. 95,

The breaking of the 6^th Tribulation Seal, marks the beginning of the second stage of the tribulation and the beginning of Daniel’s 70^th Week – also known as the Great Tribulation, the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the coming Wrath of the Lamb. This period includes Tribulation seal SIX, through the SEVENTH Bowl of Wrath.

God primarily uses the aorist tense in the Book of the Revelation to reveal those things that ‘have happened, are currently happening and will continue to happen’. (I.e., “That which was, and is, and is yet to come”.)

All of these points back (to around the time of the birth of Jesus) in order to explain the present and to point to the future and to “the things that come after”.

Now to the text of Revelation chapter 4:

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION – The Text – Chapter 4

Scene in Heaven

Revelation 4:1, After this I looked, and behold, [footnote ‘a’], a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a [war] trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Verse 2. At once, I was in [special communication with] the Spirit; and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne. Verse 3. And He who sat there appeared like [the crystalline sparkle of], [footnote ‘b’], a jasper stone and [the fiery redness of] a sardius stone, and encircling the throne there was a rainbow that looked like [the color of an] emerald. Verse 4. Twenty-four [other] thrones surrounded the throne; and seated on these thrones were, [footnote ’c’], twenty-four elders dressed in white clothing, with crowns of gold on their heads.

The Throne and Worship of the Creator

Verse 5. From the throne came flashes of lightning and [rumbling] sounds and peals of thunder. Seven lamps of fire were burning in front of the throne, which are, [footnote ‘d’], the seven Spirits of God; verse 6. And in front of the throne there was something like a sea or large expanse of glass, like [the clearest] crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living,  [footnote ‘e’], creatures who were full of eyes in front and behind [seeing everything and knowing everything that is around them]. Verse 7. [footnote ‘f’]. The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like a calf (ox), the third creature had the face of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. Verse. 8. And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying,

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY [is the] LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all], WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME [the ever present, unchanging, eternal God].” Verse 9. Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, verse 10, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, saying,

Verse 11. “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they exist, and were created and brought into being.”

Revelation, chapter four, is rich with symbolism and the glory of God in His throne. It also introduces us to the place judgment comes from: God’s throne in heaven.

Revelation chapter 4 through chapter 19 is mainly concerned with God’s judgment upon the world, the period known as the “Messianic Woes” or the “Great Tribulation.” God’s judgments are announced by a seven-sealed scroll, seven trumpets, seven signs, and seven bowls.

Please Note: It is obvious from Jesus’ own words that this is a description of the tribulation periods and that they begin with ‘birth pains’ – which are not “the End”, and will progress to the blowing of the Great Tribulation Trumpet Judgments, concluding with the pouring out of the Bowls of God’s Wrath.

Please review the following words of Jesus, taken from the book of Matthew, chapter twenty-four and linked to relevant verses from the Book of The Revelation, which chronologically categorizes the tribulation from the ‘birth pains’ stage, progressing to the Great Tribulation, The Great and Terrible Day of the Lord tribulation stage, concluding with the Wrath of the Lamb Judgments:

See Matthew 24:4, And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Verse 5. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. Verse 6. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

Continuing with Matthew 24, verse 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, (also see Revelation chapter 6, verses one through 4), and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places, (also see Revelation chapter 6, verses 5 through 7).

Continuing with Matthew 24, verse 8. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

Continuing with Matthew 24, verse 9. “Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name, (also see Revelation chapter 6, verses 9 through 11).

Continuing with Matthew 24, verse 21. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will again, (see Revelation 6, verses 12 through 17, Revelation 8, verses 1 through 13, Revelation 9, verses 1 through 21, Revelation 11 verses 15 through 19, and Revelation 16, verses 1 through 20).

These are hotly debated matters by bible teachers and theologians. There are various views on why, when and how these events will take place. The differing views are often at odds and are often contentious, creating divisions within the Body of Christ. Notwithstanding, let there be no doubt that you are dealing with serious and powerful forces at work.

A mistake in your understanding and how you prepare and respond to these events could be catastrophic. You do not want to have to experience or endure the coming Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. Therefore, I would suggest you take each prophetic word seriously, and if you are to err, err on the side of extreme caution and in obedience to the Word of God. (Also please note that there will be some of those who are not raptured prior to the breaking of the SIXTH Tribulation Seal, who can be saved up until the SIXTH Tribulation Trumpet. But what you would suffer is hardly worth the chance of waiting. Accept God’s gift of salvation through faith in Jesus, now.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

NEXT:  The Book of The Revelation – Chapter 5 – The Scroll with Seven Seals – Episode 7.

PREVIOUS: The Book of The Revelation – Chapters 2 & 3 – What is to Come Next – Episode 5.

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