Keys to Understanding the Book of Revelation
Surveying the Text:
Lesson 5: Throne in Heaven (Chptrs. 4-5)
Dr. Mary Sue Davis
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
Remember there is no transition form Chapter 3 to 4. In Chapter 3 there is an open door, then a voice like a trumpet saying,” Come up here.” When you see the phrase after these things it would behoove us to ask after what? Chapter 4 gives us an eagle’s eye view of what we’ve covered in Chptrs 1-3.
He is saying to all the churches this:
Ephesus- Return to your first love, come up here and commune with me.
Smyrna-Change your minds about suffering and poverty. Christ’s suffering was enough. Come up here and know you are rich in Christ, in Him we live, and move and have our being.
3.Pergamos-This church had a problem with a prophet-for-hire. They needed to change their minds, come up here and feed on Christ. He is inviting them to eat of the “ Bread of Heaven.”
4.Thyatira- Move away from Jezebels’ teachings. He is simply saying, “ My judgment was enough at the Cross and everything you need is in Me.” Come up here for “ I Am your all in all.”
Sardis- Be watchful and guard your garments. This is the garment of righteousness, which is a result of Christ giving you the gift of righteousness. Come up here and partake of My Righteousness.
Philadelphia-You have the key of David and the King living on the inside of you. The Revelation of Jesus Christ and His finished work is the key that brings us into the kingdom. “Come up here and I will show you how to unlock doors, to see what I see.”
Laodicea- Get hungry and thirsty for me and you will move into another dimension. Come up to a new glory for as you behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, you are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18
The visions recorded in these chapters prepare for the opening of the seven seals by declaring the power of God as Creator and the love of God as Redeemer.
*Symbol- door in heaven- access to heavenly places (John 1:51)
A door standing open in heaven is the door of prophetic revelation. The first voice was that of the Lord Jesus Christ (1:10). The Lord summoned John to come in order that he might receive a heavenly perspective of things which must take place on Earth. John did not record the events in chronological order.
The recurrences of the after these things (for example, v. 1; 7:1, 9) and such phrases as “and I saw . . .” (10:1), “Then I was . . .” (11:1), and “Now a great sign . . .” (12:1) refer only to the sequence of John’s receiving them. This is the same as is commonly found among all biblical prophets, who report when they saw a vision (for example, Is. 6:1; Jer. 25:1; Ezek. 20:1). The order in their reporting the prophetic vision is not necessarily intended to suggest a sequential order with the occurrences of fulfillment.
DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION: This chapter division is critical for interpreting the remainder of Rev. John’s hearing a trumpet and being asked to come up to the throne are seen as symbolic of the “catching away” (Rapture) of the church prior to the Great Tribulation. This interpretation views the church’s departure to heaven at this point (4:1) as the reason that the word “church” does not appear again until 22:16. Alternate views of the timing of the Rapture are noted at 6:17 and 19:14.)
Many contemporary scholars tell us that the rapture takes place somewhere between the last verse of chapter 3 and the first verse of chapter 4. Some argue that the reason for that thinking is that the Church is never mentioned after the 4th chapter of Revelation.
Many others believe that the 4th chapter of Revelation is not the end at all. These Scriptures are used to verify that. Rather it is a rapture in His presence everyday.
1 Corinthians 15:21-28 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted.28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Psalm 110:1The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
Spiritual/ Symbolic View:
What Christ shows us is the throne room where the fullness of Christ is offered. The trumpet is inviting us into the Spirit to see the throne room and its function within the kingdom of our heart. The trumpet is the revelation or revealing voice of Christ. The throne room is a symbol of the Kingdom of God and the present reign of Jesus Christ. The Father wants us to come up higher so that we may get a new perspective and see things from His vantage point. Those who have been shaped in the darkness of the secret place need to lift their vision and allow the Spirit to show us what will happen after ‘these things’. The things referred to are in the previous chapters where God addresses the church and details the areas which need attending to and the rewards of those who overcome various tests and trials. In order to be shown what is to occur in the future, it is necessary to ‘come up here’ and enter through the door in heaven. This door is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. Only as we abide in Christ can we arise to a higher place of understanding and revelation of the plans of God. The enemy would love to have us so focused upon the travail and birthing process that we see nothing of what lies ahead of us. An earthly perspective weighs us down. It is understanding of what God has prepared for us that gives us the determination and stamina to keep pressing through to this new place.
Many contend that the Corporate Son of Man, the manifested sons of God will ascend into this place together. It will be where our position meets our condition for we are already seated with Him in heavenly places.
Eph. 5:5-6 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
And He will show us things that are to come for we as His Body have the mind of Christ.
A VOICE AS A TRUMPET
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard (out of the heavenly realm) was as it were a trumpet talking with me…” (Rev. 4:1).
Everywhere in scripture the trumpet symbolizes the voice of the Lord. The beloved John had marched with Christ through all the blessed dealings of God in the candlestick realm, and now at the end of that wondrous experience he heard the voice of Christ in a new way and out of a higher realm. Who among us could deny that it was within himself that John heard the Voice? Every man hears the voice of the Son of God within himself! Only on the rarest of occasions have men heard the voice of God as an external voice falling upon the outer ear. God dwells within us by the Spirit and when we hear that divine Voice as John heard it, it is from within the holy temple of our spirit that the Lord almighty speaks. At times I have heard this voice of God so clearly that indeed I looked around to see the Voice that spoke to me, yet I knew in my deepest heart of hearts that the Voice came not from without, but from within. Each of us must hear that Voice that is within us which opens our ability to walk into the fullness of the Spirit of God.
John said, “I heard something — an unprecedented voice, a trumpet voice.” As you trace God’s voice throughout the ages from Abraham to the present, it’s getting louder and clearer. Whenever you hear the shofar, the ram’s horn, God is saying something to His creation. He intends for His voice to be heard by those in whose presence it sounds. God’s elect is hearing the voice of the Lord in this very hour and the trumpet sound is becoming louder and louder and clearer and clearer from day to day! The marvelous reality of it is seen in the famous words Jesus spoke to the adversary when He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” The word “proceeds or proceedeth KJ” is in the present, continuous tense in the Greek — “is proceeding and continues to proceed.” Man does not live by a word that has proceeded out of the mouth of God in some past era. Praise God for His word that He sent to Noah, but it is not our word for today. I am not buying up lumber to build an ark! We rejoice in that word that God sent to Jacob in the long ago, but it is not a living word for us today. Wonderful were the words of the prophets to Israel, but we cannot live in the national message they preached. The word of the Lord to Martin Luther and John Wesley were mighty words for their time, but they are not sufficient for us in this hour. There is a proceeding word, a right now word, a present truth, and that proceeding word is going back and gathering up every preceding word, swallowing it up, and summing it up, into the fuller revelation for God’s people in this great New Day of the Lord. God is saying something now, and His word for today is greater than any word He has ever sent to His people!
God’s people are at various stages of hearing His voice. In John, chapter twelve, when Jesus declared that a grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die, and said, “Father, glorify Thy name,” suddenly heaven began to speak and the Father uttered His voice, saying, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again” (Jn. 12:28). The crowd of bystanders heard the sound and most of them thought it had thundered. How often people hear the word of the Lord and those who listen with spiritual ears get the message, while to those who hear only with carnal minds and natural understanding it sounds like so much thunder! They hear the message but are unable to decipher its significance. It is meaningless to them — just THUNDER! Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” To them it sounded like an aggelos — a messenger. These are those who enamored by oratory, and moved by the charisma of personality, become fixed on man, on the vessel, on the messenger delivering the message, and when they hear the word of the Lord through one of His angel-messengers they respond to the messenger instead of to the Lord. These are man-followers and man-worshippers who fail to get past the vessel to hear the voice of the Father. But some who had their ears opened and could distinguish between the sounds, said, “No, that was the voice of the Father!” Jesus perceived the deepest intent of the Father, for He had said, “Father, glorify Thy name.” The Father answered, “I have glorified my name, my nature, in my firstborn Son, and once I get me a people to hear what my Son is saying, I will glorify it again in them!”
The voice as of a trumpet is a word, a message of the living Christ! The voice commanded John, “Come up hither, and I will show thee things.” Thoughts, words, pictures, concepts — wondrous truths beyond his understanding blasted with the piercing of a trumpet’s sound into the consciousness of John. Come up hither and I will show you — you can’t see these things where you are! You cannot understand from your present perspective! You must arise, you must come up, you must be translated in consciousness to a new level of communication, to a new plane of reality. If your thinking is on the earth, you will not hear the heavenly Voice! Every man must know within himself what he wants to hear — are you satisfied to feed upon the vain clamor of earthly voices, religious voices, or do you seek to hear the quickening sound of the heavenly Voice?
God is raising up a people in this hour that is seeing things which must be hereafter. They have no desire to just keep doing the religious things they have always done. It is all a weariness to the spirit. They are hearing the sound of a trumpet! Like the camp of Israel in the wilderness, these are hearing the blast of heaven’s ram’s horn, and they know the camp must be broken up, it is time to move on!
God has raised up a trumpet ministry in this hour! Those who hear are likewise lifted up into a new and higher realm and place in God! The trumpet is sounding all across the land and around the world! Something greater is about to take place. This is the word that shows us what must be hereafter!
We want to hear the voice of God. His sheep hear His voice. They also learn to know His voice! To know the voice is greater than to hear the voice. Every apprehended son of God is learning to both hear and know (recognize) the voice of the Lord! Mature sons are not fooled about what voice they are hearing! Sons know the voice of their Father and a strange voice they will not follow regardless of how smooth and appealing it may sound! And we care not one whit what channel the voice comes through. We also recognize the voice of the stranger. There need be no question in the mind of any saint that only those who are able to hear the voice and know the voice are enabled to “come up hither” to the throne realm!
Rev.4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
John did no go anywhere in the physical; he entered the spiritual kingdom of Heaven. Just as Paul was caught up into the 3rd Heaven, John began his journey and we begin our journey into the fullness of Christ with seeing Christ as Glorified Lord and King. Notice what John saw.
I was in the Spirit denotes a state of heightened spiritual sensitivity (1:10). The One who sat on the throne is identified in v. 8 as God, who is described not in form, but in terms of brilliance and glory (see Is. 6:1-4, Ezek. 1:16-28).
First we see a throne room: a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven/God and the present reign of Jesus Christ. Isaiah and Ezekiel saw a similar vision.
Isaiah 6:1-4 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.3 And one cried to another and said: 1 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
In Revelation 4:2, John said that He was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. In the original Greek, “He became Spirit.” In a higher principle, he became new things in the Spirit, for he heard the voice as a trumpet on the Lord’s day, the majesty of a new sound and a new day that was completely the Lord’s doing! No man, fish, bird or beast were magnified on this day, only the Lord high and lifted up, and HIS glory filling the temple.
Rev. 4:3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
*Symbol- jasper-/sardine stone- Glory, brightness of God (Rev. 21:11)
The throne is very symbolic and picturesque. Jasper and sardius stones were both in the High Priest’s breastplate. Jasper is probably a diamond (see 21:11), suggesting purity or holiness. Jasper is a symbol of the glory of God, His brightness and beauty ( Ex. 29:4), The jasper stone which was transparent signifies water and fullness of glory. Inscribed upon the sardius Stone in the High Priest’s breastplate was the name Judah which means Praise of Jehovah and denotes the expression of praise. Sardius is carnelian, deep red, picturing God’s avenging wrath. And the sardius stone also symbolizes blood & man. As the sardius stone, we truly see that we are man and that we were condemned through Adam (Rom. 5:15), but now we are the redeemed of the Lord by the blood of His sacrifice (Rev. 5:9). The sardine or sardius stone is of dark red color. It speaks of the precious blood which provides grace that unlocks His Glory.
*Symbol- the rainbow- covenant of God with earth- (Gen.9:12-17)
The rainbow around the throne, of course, represents God’s covenant with man in Genesis. The rainbow is encompassing the throne and is likened to emerald. The covenant says, “I will never be angry with you again; I will never destroy the earth with water.” We see a bow (arc) rainbow on the earth. It is composed of the seven primary colors. The rainbow on earth again is the sign of a covenant with Noah to not again destroy the earth with a flood.
Ezekiel described a vision of the Throne. Ezekiel 1:26-28 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around.28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
Ezekiel saw the Cherubim appear like the indescribable brilliance of ceaseless flashing flames of fire. Ezekiel saw the rainbow of unspeakable and indescribable magnificence as the likeness of the glory of God. Likeness and glory speak of the character and nature of Christ which the Father imparts into us. Rainbows speak to us of God’s unchanging promises coming to pass. Te rainbow of colors represent the facets of Christ. Simply put, spiritual rainbows occur as light shines through the rain of God’s Word as seen through the clouds. (people of favor).
In the center of this throne room, powerful angelic beings worship God; and before the throne is a sea of glass like crystal and an energy field that looks like a rainbow. This throne room is very real and is located in another dimension beyond time and space in the spiritual world or invisible realm.
Emerald is green, the dominant color in a rainbow, symbolizing mercy (Gen. 9:12-15). The emerald stone represents healing life, birthing, rolling sea (water), turmoil (pangs, pain). Its green color speaks of Resurrection (Life), Restoration (Healing), and Reinstatement (Forgiveness).
Emerald are highly prized stones. Many see that if we seek Jesus as we seek the treasures of this world, we will see His Glory manifested in our lives. The promise of His Glory will come only when He is highly sought after and prized.
There on the throne, can be seen the precious stone so jasper and sardius. Here in Rev. 4:3 centered with the rainbow, we see the picture of the Lord’s priestly government within the Heavenly City. By wearing the 12-stoned breastplate, the Old Testament Levitical priest represents all the tribes as he performed his priestly functions. The jasper stone was the first and the sardius stone was the last of the 12 stones. Jasper/ white represented the tribe of Reuben which has the meaning of “behold the son” and Benjamin sardius, red means “son of my right hand.”
We need to desire Him as if He were as precious. He is more so. I love the words of the song. “I want You more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy.”
Rev. 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
The twenty-four elders are virtually unexplained symbols in the Book of Revelation. Yet twenty-four is 2x 12 and twelve is the Hebrew number for completion. The number twenty-four is a symbol for Priesthood courses and order ( Jos. 4:2-9,20; 1 Kings 19:19, 1 Chrn. 24:3-5.) You see 24 seats or thrones. There are 24 elders sitting in white raiment. They wear crowns of gold, which corresponds with the 24 courses of priesthood that David had established.
*Symbol- crowns of gold royalty, reigning on the throne (Ps. 21:3)
Symbolically/spiritually: Twenty-four elders are the celestial representatives of all the redeemed, glorified and enthroned, who worship continuously. White robes symbolizes purity. The crowns suggest victory and joy, not political authority. Some say that the twenty-four elders represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles.
Rev. 4:5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
*Symbol- lightnings, thunders, voices- judgments of God in earth (Ex. 19:16)
*Symbol- 7 lamps of fire- fullness of the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:2)
Lightnings and thunderings describe the awesome and wondrous power of God, lightning His Glory, thundering His authority (also prophetic voice). Thunderings is God’s voice of authority being heard. It comes with His presence and increases with the number of voices that are speaking in one accord. In Ex. 20:13 the thunder showed that God was on the mountain. It is also a revelatory voice for those who have ears to hear; a revelation of God’s desire. Seven lamps of fire represent the seven Spirits of God, the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 11:1-2
Isa. 11:1-2 depict the SEVEN CHAMBERLAINS who served in the PRESENCE of the KING in the THRONE-ROOM (Rev. 4-5), which point to the SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD (Isa. 11:1-2 with Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6), HOLY SPIRIT, the FULLNESS of the Spirit that rests upon KING Jesus, the Spirit “without measure” (Jn. 3:34) – the seven-lamped Golden CANDLESTICK,
Spirit of the Lord.
Wisdom.
Understanding.
Counsel.
Might.
Knowledge.
Fear / Awe of the Lord.
This is the fullness of Christ. If all the lamps are burning brightly, then we would be in the fullness of Christ ( Eph. 4:12-13). The seven Spirits ( fullness of Holy Spirit) show us the areas of our heart that need work. ( 7 lamps, 7 eyes, 7 Spirits of the Lord) mean the same thing.The fire represents the perfecting work of this revelation (Zech. 4:10)
Matt. 24:27 speaks of His appearing, “ as the lightning comes from the east and shines to the west….”
Matthew 24:27“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
We see a similar picture in Exodus, the Hebrew children were not wiling to hear from God; and when He came close to them, they retreated. Therefore, only Moses obtained the Glory of God.
Exodus 20:18-19 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
Rev. 4:6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
The Sea of Glasslike crystal denotes the unapproachableness and majesty of God (see Ex. 24:10; Ezek. 1:26). This is God’s mirror action. Crystal means without spot. We look into the presence of the one without spots to see our own. Four living creatures are cherubim, the highest ranking celestial beings; they represent all the vital forces of creation whose primary function is worship. Full of eyes symbolizes unceasing watchfulness.
*Symbol- full of eyes- sight, perfection of insight (Eze. 1:18, 2 Chron. 16:19)
Ezekiel saw a similar vision in Ez. 1:
Ezekiel 1:4-25 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.5 Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze.8 The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings.9 Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward.10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.11 Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies.12 And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went.13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces.16 The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.17 When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went.18 As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them.19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.21 When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.22 The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads.23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body.24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings.25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings.
Rev.4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
The four symbols suggest majestic courage, strength, intelligence, and speed in the service of the Creator, all perceiving, mobile and flexible.
*Symbols- Four living beasts- fours standards of Israel (Eze. 1:10)
Lion- king of bests, royalty
Calf- king of domestics, sacrifice
Man- king of creation, intelligence
Eagle- king of birds, heavenliness
These Beasts can also be seen as our growth in Christ:
1st Beast- Lion- symbolizing our surrender to the Lion (Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah).
2nd Beast- Calf- symbolizing our beginning walk with the Lord, immature, a tender shoot or sprout or fresh delicate child.
3rd Beast -Man- mature in Christ yet subject to weakness.
4th Beast- Flying Eagle, Overcomer in Christ. Notice an eagle is a flesh-eating bird. This eagle is soaring.
Eagles are the highest of the three beasts who minister around the Lion. These are the 100 fold overcomers, sold-out believers who operate in the fullness of Christ. They are separated from the world and constantly minister to the Lamb.
EAGLE CHRISTIANS
Jesus always took something in the natural to explain a Spiritual truth as in Mark 4 when teaching about the Parable of the Sower. Throughout the Bible, God likens Himself and His children to an Eagle. God never likened Himself or His Children to a turkey, and this is why we should seek to know and understand the life of the Eagle.
Exodus 19:4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
Ps. 91:4 And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
The word Eagle is mentioned some 32 times in the Bible. The number 32 in God’s arithmetic means Covenant. God desires to reproduce Himself in us while showing us His Covenant through the hidden life of the Eagle.
Eagles are the “King of Birds”. They are ageless and an International symbol of strength, beauty, authority and freedom. Eagles, from the time of their birth, have very unique innate and physical characteristics. They are born with their mouths open and eyes looking into the sun. They have two sets of eyelids. One is used for hunting while the other is used for flying directly into the sun. Eagles have the ability to see a distance of seven miles. We too can fly directly into the Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Father of light and His light blinds the enemy! Another important characteristics is the Eagle’s eyes. They are always wet. As an Eagle Christian, we know that the word of God ensures us in Psalms 126:5-6 that, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with songs of Joy.”
Eagles also have a preening gland. This is especially important in preparing for the day. From the previous day, the Eagle’s feathers have been beaten from the wind. The preening gland is used in an hour process in which the feathers are run through the mouth of the Eagle while breathing out to steam clean the feathers. This process is done in order to reshape and strengthen the feathers. Eagles have an oil secreted in a separate gland as well. This is used to coat the feathers and make them moisture resistant., they definitely need the fresh Anointing of the Holy Spirit to renew them as well.
When an Eagle is around the age of a year old, he begins to care for himself. This is a good lesson for the Eagle Christian. Just as Paul said in First Corinthians 13:11, ” When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
Eagles are totally committed to their mates. They will remain together for life, Eagle Christians, we should do the same. Analogy the Bride of Christ. After marriage, the Eagles begin to build their home. The first step to the building process is to seek a proper location. In doing so they look for a high in accessible location with their backs turned to a rock wall. A comparison to this in the Bible is in Job 39:27-29, “Does the Eagle mount up at your command and make his nest on a high inaccessible place. On a cliff he dwells and remains securely upon the point of the rock and the stronghold. From there he spies out the prey and his eyes see it afar off. ” (Amp. Version) Eagles work together to build their nest and to raise their youth. Eagle Christians are to do the same as well with their Natural and Spiritual families.
Once the Eaglets are born, they have a constant cry for food. They are very unattractive with raccoon looking eyes; however, they will grow into a beautiful species. A good Spiritual parallel to this, is that we as Eagle Christians should never judge baby Eaglet Christians by their outward appearance and behavior.
Once the Eaglets reach a certain age, the mother Eagle knows when it is time for the Eaglets to learn to fly. This process begins with the mother Eagle taking her wing as a broom and sweeping out of the nest all of the soft things the Eaglets have grown accustomed to. In Deut. 32:11 it says, ” As an Eagle stirs up it’s nest, Hoovers over it’s young, Spreading out it’s wings, Taking them up, carrying them on it’s wings.” The mother Eagle then throws the brooding nest down the cliff and takes the Eaglet for a wild ride on her back. While being airborne, she flips over, and the Eaglet begins to try to fly. All awhile the papa Eagle is overseeing the whole operation. If he sees the Eaglet cannot fly, he’ll fly down at speeds up to 200mph to catch the Eaglet before it hits the ground. God will also do the same for us as He begins to stir our Spiritual nest and remove us from our padded pews. As you begin to fly spiritually, you need not fear because Father God is always near! In Deut. 33:26 it says, “He (GOD) descends from the heavens in majestic splendor to help you.” (K.J.Version)
Most Eaglets do not learn how to fly the first time they try; however, they continue the flight process until they have accomplished the goal of flying. Once the Eaglet learns to fly, the papa and mama Eagle flies in a circle in celebration. In Exodus 19:4 we read, “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on Eagle’s wings and brought you to myself.” (K.J.Version) The word “bore” means to lift by Divine form or power to the point of drawing one’s self. The adult Eagle has five primary feathers on each wing. This is so the Eagle can adjust his wings during long training fights to keep the Eaglet from falling to the ground while teaching him to fly. The Eaglet is always under the power of his father during training. Eagle Christians should always trust that they too are always under their Father’s power when they are learning to fly Spiritually. There is no situation that our Father can’t bring us out of !!
Eagles do not eat road kill. They are very wise as to what enters there bodies. If only Eagle Christians would do the same, what great deliverance it would bring to the church. Jesus told us in Matt. 24:28: “For wherever the carcass (or body) is, there the Eagles will be gathered together.” (K.J. Version) If you are searching for meaning in your life, then look to the Eagle Christian who Jesus dwells in. The carcass in Matt. 24:28 is Jesus, and we must feed on him Spiritually! In Psalms 43:8 it says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.” (K.J. Version) The word “taste” here means “to eat, discern, perceive and evaluate more than eating food, to have capacity to choose and delight in good things.” Jesus told us in John 6:57, “As the living father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on me will live because of me.” (K.J. Version)
As Eagle Christians, we know that we will always have to deal with the enemy, who is the serpent. The Eagle’s deal with the serpent by laying hold of him with their talons, removing his head and using their bill to peck the serpent (snake) to death. Eagle’s will also pick the serpent up and drop him on a jagged rock causing him to die. The Eagle Christian, using the Word of God as a Rock, can crush and destroy the devil as well. In Luke 10:19 it says, “Behold, I give thee authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (New K.J. Version)
Partiality through the Eagle’s life, he will go through a molting process that will bring great depression. Calcium deposits will appear on the Eagle’s talons and beak. This is a wilderness time that all Eagles will face. During this time, the Eagle begins to walk like a Turkey. He has no strength to fly. Other Eagles who have already gone through this molting process and survived, will fly above the valley in which the Eagle is in, and drop fresh food to help strengthen him. Unfortunately, some Eagles will not receive the help of other Eagle’s and will die in the valley while others will, and regain their strength. Once they regain their strength, they will climb the mountain in which they were raised on. The Eagle will then fly into the rock and beat the calcium deposits off their beaks and talons. This is a very painful experience; however, it must be done. After this experience, the Eagle will Soar again with greater strength than ever before! As Eagle Christians we too will definitely go through the valley, and without the help from the “Rock of our Salvation” (Jesus Christ) we also will Spiritually die! Receiving help from our “Rock” is the only way that we will regain our strength, leaving behind those things that so easily beset us, making us stronger than ever before in the Lord!
Isa. 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as Eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (New K.J. Version) The word Wait in the original Greek means, “to bind together by twisting”. From the word “wait”, we get our modern word braid.
Renew means exchange. “Renew” is translated meaning change; renewing in the sense of something passing away, and the new taking its place. The eagle is referenced because of the molting, the process of replenishing its feathers ; periodic shedding and renewal of outer feathers. Without this the eagle will die.
God is doing a new thing. The church is in transition. There are times and seasons when God intervenes sovereignly in humanity to bring an end to one thing and the beginning of another. Is. 42:9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Is. 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? (Do you want to see it?) I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.
God is doing a new thing. Eagle Christians will embrace the new thing, and let their youth be renewed and be a part of the end-time harvest.
Psalm 103:4-5 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
4 Living Creatures Continued:
Some say there is no biblical basis for the tradition attributing these symbols to the four Gospels. However, these four faces are symbols of Jesus Christ and His nature. They are pictured in all of the four Gospels. Those four faces, just like the four Gospels, are saying, “ Come and see this Christ who is the King of Glory.”
These four also may symbolize the four banners of the innermost tribes of Israel, when the camp was at rest. The message of the cross ( 4 directions, north, south, east and west), when the message of the cross is preached, you will have a camp at rest.
Rev. 4:.8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Day represents a time of light; night a time of darkness.
The holiness, omnipotence, and eternity of God are praised in this first of 20 chorales, which interpret the meaning of many of the visions throughout Revelation.
The wings, eyes and cries of these beasts link them with the Cherubim over the mercy seat. In Psalms 80 and 99 we learn that the Lord dwells in the midst of the Cherubim.
(Psa 80:1 KJV) Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
(Psa 99:1 KJV) The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
Notice the eyes are focused inward denoting the Lord transforming us from within, spirit, soul, body.
Rev. 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
The twenty-four elders reverentially acknowledge the One from whom all blessings flow, and join in an antiphonal praise to God as Creator.
DISPENSATIONAL INTERPRETATION sees in vv. 4-11 evidence of the church’s exemption from the Great Tribulation in that these elders, who are seen as representative of the faithful overcomers of the church, are already glorified, enthroned, and crowned (see 3:10; John 5:24; 1 Thess. 1:1-10; 5:1-11).
Rev. 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Verses 9 and 10 show that the process of surrendering (elders falling down) brings Glory. Surrendering is defined as giving up our will (casting our crowns to Jesus), which is necessary to giving Glory to God.
God’s Radiant Glory:
Nothing is to be compared with God’s radiant glory. 1 Pet. 1:24 says:“ For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls out,
Worship, here is the Greek word proskuneo (pros-koo-neh-oh); Strong’s #4352: From pros, “toward,” and kuneo, “to kiss.” To prostrate oneself, bow down, do obeisance, show reverence, do homage, worship, adore. In the NT the word especially denotes homage rendered to God and the ascended Christ. All believers have a one-dimensional worship, to the only Lord and Savior. We do not worship angels, saints, shrines, relics, or religious personages.
Rev. 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
This verse confirms the sovereignty of God. He is Creator, The earth was created for His pleasure and so was man.
(Col 1:16 KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The One who is sitting on the throne is Christ Himself. He is called Lord and is the only one worthy to receive all power and Glory. He is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world(Rev 13:8) And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Chapter 4 of Revelation teaches us that we have a choice about the level of our relationship with Christ. For those who chose to press into the fullness, a glorious event occurs. Eagles will be called upon to achieve the things that those who have settled for less will not. There will have to be fullness seen in a body of believers, the Bride, before the lost world can be brought into the fullness of Christ.
Revelation Chapter 5:
Revelation 5:1-And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals,
The right hand is the symbol of power and authority. The scroll is the redemptive plan of God, foreshadowed in the OT, inaugurated in Jesus Christ and now revealed in its victorious consummation (see Ezek. 2:9, 10; Heb. 2:5-10). Written inside and on the back and sealed with seven seals indicates that nothing can be added to God’s Last Will and Testament, although Scripture does not verify exactly what the seven seals were.
Continuing with the theme of this book, the revelation of Jesus Christ, the book has to be unsealed. The King of Kings has it and wants to give it to someone. But who can open it? Daniel 12:4 tells us that the book would be opened at the end times. And we will see how the book is going to be opened.
*Symbol- seven-sealed book- Bible, book of redemption (Jer. 32:6-12)
The book others say is a picture and type of the New Covenant being opened. (John 14:6) Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.
Daniel 12:4“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
Rev.5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
No creature, celestial or earthly, is worthy to reveal or execute God’s plan for “the fullness of the times” (Eph. 1:9, 10).
Ephesians 1:9-10 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
Rev.5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
No man natural or carnal can open the book or even understand it. Only Christ was able to open it. Only Holy Spirit can help us to understand it.
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17“the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
Only those who have eyes to see will be able to look into the Revelation of Christ. Who then can be worthy of such a calling, Jesus said to Nicodemus that you must be born of the Spirit to even see the kingdom.
Rev. 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
Rev.5:5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
The Lion: Christ is the greatest member of the tribe of Judah (see Gen. 49:9, 10). The Root of David: Messianic prophecy spoke of an ideal king of David’s line who would combine power and goodness (see Is. 11:1, 10; Jer. 23:5; Zech. 3:8).
The Angel came to John and said,” John, don’t weep any longer; There is a lion out of the tribe of Judah that has prevailed and He will open the book. Jesus is that Lion. The book or the scroll is the plan of salvation.
Rev. 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
*Symbols- Slain Lamb- sacrifice, atonement, Son of God (John 1:29,36; Ex. 12)
Seven horns- omnipotence, fullness of power (Ps. 92:10)
Seven eyes- omniscience, insight (Zech, 3:9)
Instead of a Lion, the emblem of strength, John saw a Lamb, the symbol of meekness and of sacrificial offering. The fact that the Lamb was slain, but is living, shows that He has overcome. God’s purpose, concealed for ages, can now be revealed and accomplished (see Is. 53; John 1:29, 36). Seven horns denote complete and perfect power. Seven eyes represent complete and perfect knowledge and insight. Seven being the number of perfection, eyes represent perception and wisdom. Seven eyes refer to focusing on God’s perfection. Seven Spirits sent out into all the earth is the fullness of Holy Spirit.
We discussed the seven Spirits of God (Holy Spirit) earlier in this study.
In verse 6 the Greek word for midst is meta, meaning to be amid, in accompaniment or joined together or to occupy. The Lamb is the central figure and He opens the seals of the book and releases the flow of the New Covenant to operate.
Others say the scroll is the last Will and Testament for the earth, God’s final distribution.
Another symbolic interpretation:The centre of reality is the 7 eyed lamb on the throne standing as if slain. From here He wishes to capture the 4 corners of our soul represented by the 4 living creatures which are our emotions. From thence He moves to our relationship with the brethren/family represented by the 24 elders in the 2 circle. From thence He/you moves to the rest of humanity.
Rev. 5:7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
This picture is the fulfillment of Dan. 7:9-14. Compare the description of “the Ancient of Days” in Dan. with the “One like the Son of Man” in Rev. 1:13-16.
Only the Lamb can take the book. The lamb represents Christ in a sacrificially slain vessel. The one that the lamb takes the book from is the lion which again is Christ.
Jesus Christ at the beginning of his earthly ministry opened up the book:
(Luke 4:17-19 KJV) And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Rev. 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
*Symbol- golden bowls/vials- temple vessels, bowls, basins (1 Kings 7:50)
*Symbol- odors, incense- prayers of the Saints (Ps. 141:1-2)
Incense represents (Ps. 141:2) and purifies the prayers of the saints, redeemed sinners, which are presented by the twenty-four elders.
Through praise (harp) and prayerful intercession (prayers of the saints) (bowls) the Saints, the sons of God will be manifested.
Harps also represent the Revelation voices of God given to those who have received the revelation.
Joel 2:11The Lord gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?
Rev. 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (KJV)
*Symbol- new song- song of redemption (Ex. 15:1)
*Symbol- blood atonement – Calvary, redemption (Lev. 17:11-14)
This describes unity. They sang a new song (Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Is. 42:1-13) in response to God’s new redemptive act in history: God in Christ has inaugurated the church age (14:1-5). The same ascription of praise is accorded to the Lamb as to the Creator (4:11).
Some contend that the “new song” is the song of the redeemed, representing “the Christ in us” singing a song of deliverance and victory. Revelation says that only the 144,000 can learn and sing this song.
Other references to the new song are:
Psalm 40:3-4He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.4 Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Psalm 96:1-3Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! 1 Sing to the Lord, all the earth.2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.
Psalm 98:1-2Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.2 The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
A study of every tribe/kindred and tongue and people and nation:
Kindred- (Gk. Phule) Jacob descendents in the Old Testament, today God’s representatives.
Tongue-( Gk.Glossa) Speaking the same thing instead of bound by doctrine. Groups bound by doctrine brings separation and a false sense of being right and part of the right group. Pride brought the judgment of languages at the tower of Babel. It is still represented by the worship of diverse doctrines within the Church. Christ is not the author of division, a house divided.
People (Gk. Laos)- those who gather together like a denomination, denominational separation. Never can we be more devout in loving our local church and its doctrines than loving Christ.
Nation- (Gk. Ethnos), the called out. Ethnos is the root of ethnic which is the pride of one’s heritage.
Here we see every tribe, tongue, people and nation laying down differences and worshipping the true God.
Symbolically/Spiritually: Opening of the Seals:
This process is the progressive and ultimately full disclosure of all that Christ is! Christ Jesus possesses every power that the Father has, for the deity in Jesus is the almighty Father! However, the full glory and authority of Christ has been hidden beneath the veil of our flesh, for we are the body of Christ and the temple of God. The restoration of all men and all things to God requires the full disclosure of Jesus Christ in and through His body on earth. That is the message of the book of Revelation! So, the opening of each seal is connected to the removal of some aspect of our outer life of flesh and a brighter and clearer revelation of all that Christ in us is! As each seal opens less of us is seen, and more of Christ! This is the revelation of Jesus Christ! Can you not see the mystery? A further confirmation that this is precisely the meaning of the seven-sealed book is found in the events that transpire as soon as the book is taken from the hand of the One upon the throne — a paean of praise breaks forth as the four living creatures (kingship) and the twenty-four elders (priesthood) cry in rapturous exaltation, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10). You, precious child of God, are the epistle of Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart (II Cor. 3:1-3). Therefore you are the book held in His mighty right hand, and every day God is writing in your book! He‟s not writing for nothing — for your book is to be opened! And there is only One who is worthy to take the book and loose the seals thereof, and that is the Lamb in the midst of the throne. The Lamb! The opening of the book is the unveiling of the life of the Lamb, the revelation of His life written and engraven in the minds and hearts of those who share His nature. He is the One who is worthy to take each one of us and open us up! And it is only through Jesus Christ our Lord that we can be opened up as the Book of the Life of the Lamb!
Rev. 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
*Symbol- kings and priests- order of Melchizedek/Christ (Heb. 7:1-3)
We are of the kingdom of God. As a royal priesthood the saints reign now with Christ on the earth by their worship, their prayers, and their witness in word and deed. This sense of praise is in progress now and throughout redemptive history (see 1:6).
We are kings and priests now yet futuristically we will be kings and priests in the house of our Father and will rule here on earth. Christ made us kings and priests. Any use of the term “king” in revelation is a reference to the redeemed. These are part of the Melchizedek order, of which we are a part through Christ in us.
(Heb 7:1-3) For this Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. To him Abraham also gave a tenth of all. He was first by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also king of Salem, which is king of peace, without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.
Some Other King/Priest Scriptures:
You will be for Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. – Ex 19:6
Isa. 61:6 And you will be called priests of the Lord; you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
1Pt. 2:5 And you also, like living stones, are being built into a
spiritual house, to be a Holy Priesthood.
Rev.1:6(KJV) And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father.
Rom. 5:17 Says we will reign in life through Jesus, the Greek word for “REIGN” is derived from the word for “KING”. And means to be a king. The Word says that two of the anointings that believers have received are those of Kings, and Priests. Hebrews 6:30 says Jesus “has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek” . The next verse says that Melchizedek was the KING of Salem (Jerusalem) and PRIEST of God Almighty. By the way Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”, and king of Salem means “king of peace”. The word says that this priesthood is an eternal one, “A priest forever, just like Melchizedek” (PS 110:4; HEB 6:30; HEB 7:1-3; HEB 7:15-17; HEB 7:21-25). We are Priests after the order of Melchizedek, just like Jesus, our High Priest.
And we are Kings in the line of David, just like Jesus, the Son of David.
These 2 offices are intertwined under the “Melchizedek” anointing. They are intertwined under Jesus’ anointing, and they are intertwined under YOUR anointing, they are inseparable. You are a Royal Priesthood, a Kingdom of Priests of God, and your calling is an Eternal one just like Melchizedek’s and Jesus’. It is extremely important that we become conscious of these offices that ALL believers are called to stand in. They are the calling of God on all of our lives. We will be Kings and Priests forever, this is why the word says that we will be pillars in the Temple of God (REV 3:12) and will never leave it, if we hold on to what we have (knowledge of the Glorious Word) so that “no one will
take our crown.” (REV 3:11).
Rev. 5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
One interpretation is that the thousands upon thousands include the “ great cloud of witnesses.”
Hebrews 11:39-12:1 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
This “ cloud of witnesses” are pressing in on our behalf. They are praying for us to run the race.
Rev. 5:12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Rev. 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Every created being joins the cosmic chorus, and ascribes to the Lamb every attribute of God. All history is moving toward the predestined goal of the eventual and ultimate universal recognition of the lordship of Jesus Christ (see Phil. 2:10, 11). Amen: “Yes, it is true!”
Creature, ktisma (ktis-mah); Strong’s #2938: The created thing, formation, product, the thing founded. In nonbiblical Greek it described founding a town, building it, and then colonizing it. The word comes from ktizo, “to build.” Ktisma denotes the component parts of creation. The creator called every one of them into existence. In v. 13, heaven as well as Earth’s creatures exist only to glorify God and the Lamb of God.
Rev. 5:14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
The four and twenty elders represent seats or thrones and wisdom and a peace offering to God. This number in the OT always relates to peace. The elders also are a type of our will. It is the sacrifice that we make to Christ for He is the One who sits on the throne. Casting down our crowns and thrones are the elders falling down, giving away their personal authority and self-rule to Christ. They want the world to see Jesus not them. Falling down is a mark of ascending because their (or our) will has been bowed to His.
Four and Twenty & 24,000 in the Old Testament:
Numbers 7:88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, and the lambs in their first year sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar after it was anointed.
Numbers 25:7-12 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand;8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.9 And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.10 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.12 “Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace;
1 Chronicles 27:1-15And the children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers’ houses, the captains of thousands and hundreds and their officers, served the king in every matter of the military divisions. These divisions came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division having twenty-four thousand.2 Over the first division for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand;3 he was of the children of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month.4 Over the division of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand.5 The third captain of the army for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand.6 This was the Benaiah who was mighty among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his division was Ammizabad his son.7 The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand.8 The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.9 The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.10 The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand.11 The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand.12 The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites; in his division were twenty-four thousand.13 The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand.14 The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand.15 The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
The Book of Revelation prophetically describes the depth of penetration the gospel will have on the nations. 1) In Rev. 5: vv. 8-10 John’s vision assures people out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation will be redeemed by the blood of Christ; and 2) that they will learn their role of intercession and authority as believers as they function as kings and priests, reigning “in Christ” while on Earth, in His kingdom authority (vv. 8, 10). Further, Rev. unveils the fact that the spiritual war will continue until “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever” (11:15). The messenger (the evangel) is to go to all who dwell on Earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people (14:6, 7). Rev. 7:9-12 forecasts the ultimate consummation of the Great Commission at work as a countless number from every people gather at God’s eternal throne. Let this profound prophetic vision motivate us as we embrace Jesus. We are destined for triumph! This is the last will and testament for the earth in God’s final distribution.
In the next chapter, chapter 6, the scene moves from Heaven to Earth.