As you have already learned, symbols are important. We are told that the lamps of fire are the “seven Spirits of God”. By this we understand that fire is a symbol of the Spirit of God.
John the Baptist, in answering the Jewish leaders as to whether He was the Messiah replied, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I… he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matthew 3:11.12.
At Pentecost, this prophecy was fulfilled, and the apostles received God’s Spirit in the form of “cloven tongues like as of fire”, and “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:3.4.
As a result of this infilling, the apostles were able to speak other languages, and many nations who were in Jerusalem for Passover understood them. (See 2:7-12)
In the sanctuary, the seven-branched candlestick gave light to the holy place, and as the flame flickered, the gold glittered and reflected all around the holy place.
The light of the candlestick represented Christ as the “light of the world”. John 1:4-9.
It also represented the Christian, filled with the Spirit witnessing to others. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
Although John saw ‘seven Spirits’ before the throne, there is only one Spirit -- the Holy Spirit.
“There is one body, and one Spirit… One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6.
This is also clear from the many terms in Scripture, such as the Spirit, the Spirit of God, His Spirit. (When studying this subject in depth, you will see that the terms, Spirit of God and Spirit of Christ are interchangeable, showing that there is only one Spirit available to both Father and Son)
But why do seven lamps symbolise seven Spirits of God?
This leads us to the second point.
2. Numbers in Scripture have meanings.
This is called Bible Numerics. It is not the same as Numerology, which is occult and Satanic. (There are similarities because the devil has copied truth, but mingled it with error)
The number seven represents completion, the end or fullness and perfect completeness.
You will see this from the first act of God at the conclusion of His creation. The Bible says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished… and on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Genesis 2:1.2.
The creation was finished or complete, and God testified that His work had come to an end. It was perfect and recorded as “very good.” Genesis 1:31. In this case, seven represents conclusion as well as complete perfection.
It is a rule of Scripture that the principle is laid down the first time a symbol is mentioned. As you read on from Genesis, the number seven will in some way relate to the end or fullness of something. It may not be obvious, but it will be there.
Did you notice how many colours in the rainbow?
Why?
The rainbow’s seven colours signified that God’s judgment of the earth was over, completed, finished, and that His promise to never again destroy the earth by a flood was a certainty. It also revealed the faithfulness of His promise to mankind. (The first judgment of this earth was by water; the second will be by fire. We will study this further as we progress)
The book of Revelation has the number seven all the way through it. Each time it is mentioned, it represents perfect completion, the final end, or the perfect fullness of something.
Returning to God’s throne room with “seven lamps of fire”, representing the “seven Spirits of God”.
As we have said, it does not mean there are seven Spirits, but that God’s Spirit is holy, perfect, full, complete, lacking nothing. It is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, having all-power, all-knowledge and all-presence by which God is able to be everywhere in the universe.
Surrounding the throne are “four beasts”. Revelation 4:6.
We do not understand fully the ‘four beasts’, or as they are translated in other Bibles, ‘four living creatures’. This may seem to be a better translation, however, three of the beasts are described as known animals, a lion, calf, and eagle. One appears like a man. Each beast is “full of eyes” and has six wings such as the seraphim, a type of angel. Revelation 4:7.8.
It is quite clear the ‘beasts’ are symbolic, as they are also mentioned in the book of Ezekiel, but differently. There they only have four wings (as cherubim, another type of angel), and each creature has four faces, that of a man, lion, ox and eagle. Ezekiel 1:6-10.
When studying the gospels in depth, we can see that Matthew denotes Christ as a king with a kingdom, taking his genealogy back to king David. (Lion king of beasts) Mark gives no genealogy, and pictures Christ as a beast of burden, the servant of God. Luke sees Jesus as a man and his genealogy goes back to Adam, appropriate for Luke the physician.
In contrast John portrays Jesus as the Son of God, the eagle flying heavenward. He has no genealogy, except to say that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God….” John 1:1.
One thing we do know is that these ‘beasts’ worship God continually, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8.
With the ‘beasts’ are “twenty four elders”. Revelation 4:4.
Who are they?
According to the following chapter, they claim to be have been “redeemed” by the blood of Christ. Revelation 5:9. This means they are human beings, and possibly include Enoch and Elijah, who were taken to heaven without seeing death, and Moses who was resurrected.
Making up the twenty four elders could possibly be the ‘firstfruits’, those who were raised at Christ’s resurrection. Up to this point of time, these are the only other people resurrected in the Scriptures. We are not told their names or how many.
Together with the four ‘beasts’, the twenty four elders worship God. “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne… 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,
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.” Revelation 4:9-11.
Now we will go to Chapter 5.
The Father is still seated upon the throne. Notice what He has in His hand. “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” Revelation 5:1.
This book, as a scroll rolled up, is written on one side and sealed on the other side.
The verse reads as if it is written on both sides, but there should be a comma after ‘within’ -- “…a book written within, and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” (Punctuation was added by the translators, as there is none in the original Hebrew or Greek)
A “strong angel” proclaims with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Revelation 5:2.
“And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” Revelation 5:3.
John says, “I wept much”. Revelation 5:4.
This is an interesting scenario, and we might wonder why God the Father does not open the book. Notice it says “no man” could open it. There is a reason.
Before we continue, this is not the book of Daniel. We know this because Daniel’s book did not have seven seals. In Revelation chapter 6, the seals are opened and revealed, so it is clear we are dealing with another book.
While John was crying, one of the elders said to him, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Revelation 5:5.
And who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David who will open the seals?
It not an angel or another heavenly being.
Before his death, the patriarch Jacob called his twelve sons to his bedside and gave each one a prophetic message about his life. Beginning with Reuben, his firstborn, he continued on to Benjamin, the beloved son of Rachel.
When he came to Judah he called him a “lion’s whelp” who crouches down “as a lion”, and “as an old lion”.
Continuing he said, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” Genesis 49:9.10.
The tribe of Judah was the royal tribe, the one from which the kings would descend. Jacob prophesied that the sceptre would not depart from Judah “until Shiloh” came. This is a Messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ, who was born of the tribe of Judah. (The Jews have always accepted Shiloh as the Messiah)
Christ was a descendant of David, the second king of Israel, and this is why the elder in heaven said the One who could open the book was the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the Root of David.
Then John sees a strange sight in heaven. “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6.
Obviously John is not seeing reality, but a symbol of Jesus, the Lamb of God.
The slain Lamb had seven horns, and you will remember that horns in prophecy represent power, a king, and/or kingdom. The number seven signifies the perfection or fullness of Christ’s kingdom power. The seven eyes signify the fullness of the Spirit of God, a symbol of the omniscient and omnipresent power of Christ throughout His earthly life.
It is because Jesus became a human being to redeem mankind, that He is able to open the book. It is not that the Father could not open it, but because His Son is now the Head of the human race. Everything relating to this earth has been placed in His hands, and He has the authority to open it.
At this point Jesus approaches the Father and takes the book from His hand.
Immediately there is a response in heaven.
“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours (incense), which are the prayers of saints.
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. And hast made us unto our God, kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth’.” Rev 5:8-10.
Christ is elevated before the Father and the inhabitants of heaven. The redeemed elders praise the Son for their own salvation, and, not forgetting their brethren still on earth, they hold in their hands little bottles of sweet incense, symbolising the prayers of the saints mingled with its fragrance.
(The incense represents the righteousness of Christ mingled with our prayers, as further on in Revelation it says, “There was given… much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of the saints…” Revelation 8:3. The text does not say what the incense represents, but in the sanctuary, the incense on the altar of incense, or in the golden censer, always symbolised the righteousness of Christ. As “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”, we need the moist drops of the perfume of Christ’s righteousness mingled with our prayers, praises and worship, to be acceptable to God. Isaiah 64:6)
At this point, heaven’s choir bursts forth into rapturous song.
“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.
Saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever’.
And the four beasts said Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:11-14.
What a wonderful scene!
Did you notice how many angels?
The maths according to the figures is 10,000 x 10,000 = 100,000,000. That is a lot of angels, but there is more. It says ‘and thousands of thousands’. How many is that?
Surely heaven is an amazing place.
Listen to a description written at the end of the 19th century.. “The matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected to human vision the glories of the heavenly temple where Christ our forerunner ministers for us before the throne of God.
The abiding place of the King of kings, where thousand thousands minister unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before Him; that temple, filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration, could find, in the most magnificent structure ever reared by human hands, but a faint reflection of its vastness and glory.” Spirit of Prophecy Book 4. The first sentence was in the 1884 edition, but in 1911 it was expanded to include the rest of the quotation.
The scene described by John of the heavenly throne room is very similar to Daniel 7.
You will remember that the Ancient of days was seated upon a fiery throne and before Him were ten thousand times ten thousand of angels. After thrones were placed in position, the judgment was set and the books were opened. Then the Son of man (Christ) was brought before the Father, and ultimately given dominion and glory and a kingdom. Daniel 7:9.10.13.14.
The difference between this vision and John’s is in the timing and the place.
In Daniel’s scene, the very fact that the judgment is about to begin tells us that the Father is in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, and the Son is brought into the room to take His place in the trial procedure.
But in John’s vision, the judgment is not about to begin, for the whole of heaven is still in the holy place. From the apostle’s day, approximately seventeen hundred and fifty years must pass before the books would be opened. (1844 minus AD96 = 1748 years before judgment begins)
In the book of Revelation, God has many messages to give to His people for two reasons – one to encourage them, and secondly to warn them.
Dramatic events are about to unfold and the promise of Scripture is that “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. This means that God will never allow great events to take place on this earth without first revealing them to His prophets.
Sadly, God’s lament has been, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6. This did not mean God had failed to fulfil His promise, but that Israel had failed to learn from the prophets.
It is a lesson for us, lest we repeat their willing ignorance.
The book in the Father’s hand contains messages for you and me. Like the seven churches, they are a prophetic lineup of events to take place before the return of Christ.
The history of the world is written in this book, and seeing we are living while the judgment is in progress, we must learn all the Saviour wants to teach us.
Did no one know who could open the book with seven seals?
Possibly everyone knew, but remember this is a vision for the benefit of those on earth who read it. (It was John who wept, not the angels, the beasts, or the elders, and certainly not the Father)
One of the elders is given the privilege of announcing that he has found the only One worthy to open the book -- Christ Jesus. He is worthy because of the relationship between Himself and the human family. Jesus is our ‘elder Brother’, and God wants to teach us how important His Son is to us.
If we are faithful, we will bow before the glorious throne in the presence of the angels, there to worship the eternal Father and His beloved Son.
Are you planning to do that?
(Hymn: Words - Johnson Oatman Jnr. Music – John R. Sweeney. First verse and chorus)
“There is singing up in heaven such as we have never known,
Where the angels sing the praises of the Lamb upon the throne;
Their sweet harps ever tuneful and their voices always clear,
O that we might be more like them while we serve the Master here!
Holy, holy, holy, is what the angels sing,
And I expect to help them make the courts of heaven ring….”
Oh I want to be among them – to sing with the angels.
What about you?
Contents Revelation 4,5 Next Study
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No.12.
We are about to enter the throne room of the great God of the universe. Let us tread softly and reverently.
The chapter begins as follows: “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. And immediately, I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” Revelation 4:1.2.
Before we continue, it does appear that John is once again ‘in the Spirit”, meaning that he is taken into vision. Therefore, it is probable he did not receive the whole book of Revelation all at once, but like Daniel, received vision after vision.
When a person is in vision, they are ‘out of this world’ so to speak, and yet they are still present. It is their mind that is completely occupied with revealed scenes. This is very different from New Age or occult ‘out of body’ experiences, such as ‘astral travel’ and the like.
However, it is not something we can fully understand. The apostle Paul said after his vision, “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell, or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth); such an one caught up to the third heaven… How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful (possible) for a man to utter.” 2 Corinthians 12:2.4.
But we do understand the condition in body of a person who is in a God-ordained vision. This is important. Satan can give visions and we do not want to be deceived. The future holds many deceptions and now is the time to learn to recognise them.
When Daniel was taken into vision, he said, “So he (the angel Gabriel) came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face…. Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.” Daniel 8:17.18.
Notice, when Daniel went into vision, he fell to the ground face down. Today Christians are falling backwards when under the influence of the spirit. As there are two sources of the spirit world, we must follow the Bible closely so as not to be influenced by the wrong spirit.
While the prophet Daniel was lying prostrate, he could hear Gabriel speaking to him, but was unable to get up on his own. The angel lifted him to his feet, and the scenes began to pass before him.
Many years earlier, when Baalim went into vision, it is recorded, “He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open.” Numbers 24:4. (The words ‘into a trance’ are supplied by the King James translators. Baalim had been God’s prophet, but he rebelled and died in rebellion)
When a prophet is in vision, there is no natural strength and the eyes are open. They do not see their present surroundings, only what God is revealing.
John would have had the same phenomenon, although we are not given these details.
Let us go back to what he saw in his vision.
“… behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 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.” Revelation 4:2.3.
Earthly rainbows are formed by sunlight passing through droplets of water. The seven colours are with equal hues, whereas the heavenly rainbow has the green shining above the rest.
How beautiful! And emerald green, my favourite colour!
God gave the first rainbow as a sign to Noah that there would never be another worldwide flood. When the rainbow appeared, it was a natural phenomenon, but the rainbow over the throne of God is very different. As Creator and the Source of all things, God is able to make a rainbow to encircle His glorious throne.
You will notice two precious gems mentioned – jasper and sardine stones. Do you know their colours? The jasper is red or yellow and the sardine is a deep reddish brown.
Notice Ezekiel’s description of his vision. “And above the firmament that was over their heads (angels) was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.” Ezekiel 1:26.27.
This prophet sees amber, an orange stone, and mingled with it is the appearance of fire, red, orange, and yellow.
Sapphire is blue. This is an important gemstone, for it is the foundation of God’s throne, representing the holy Law of God. It signifies that the heavenly kingdom is founded on the righteousness of God’s own Law. Psalm 45:6. 89:14. 145:17. (The children of Israel wore a ribbon of blue on their garments to show their allegiance to the Law of God. Numbers 15:38.39)
Moses speaks of the sapphire stone as the foundation in his vision. “And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.” Exodus 24:10
Go back to Ezekiel’s vision. “As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that spake.” Ezekiel 1:28.
Ezekiel sees the same throne as John, with the beautiful heavenly rainbow surrounding it.
(A word about the prophets seeing God. John wrote, “No man hath seen God at any time…” John 1:18.. This is not a contradiction. To the prophets, God appeared before their minds, but it was not reality. It was a representation of God, like in a dream. [Prophets also have God-given dreams] The prophets were privileged to see the glory of God in vision, but not His person)
Let us think about our God. He is seated upon the heavenly throne, and Timothy says He is “dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:16.
This agrees with the psalmist. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment…” Psalm 104:1.2.
One Christian wrote, “We must not attempt to lift with presumptuous hand the curtain which veils God’s majesty… It is proof of His power and mercy that there is the hiding of His power, that He is enshrouded in the awful clouds of mystery and obscurity, for to lift the curtain that conceals the divine presence is death.” Testimonies. Book 5. p301.
Praise God for His majesty.
Some people dismiss the Creator of the universe because they cannot understand Him, but this is evidence of His reality.
Now we will return to John’s vision. “And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal…” Revelation 4:6.
There are two Bible explanations for this ‘sea’. One is that it is the crystal-clear river of life, “a pure river of water of life, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1. (The Greek word for ‘river’ is different from the word for ‘sea’, but both mean water) Daniel wrote, “a fiery stream issued and came forth from before him.” Daniel 7:10. (The Hebrew word for ‘stream’ is the one used for a river of water, but ‘fiery’ is fire)
Another view is that it is a solid glittering expanse before the throne, upon which the redeemed will gather and stand before God. “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.” Revelation 15:2.
Perhaps both are correct, one beside the other.
Again to John’s words. “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.” Revelation 4:5.
Now we have a number of things to discuss.
1. The setting of the throne room is in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.
When John observed the throne of God, he saw seven lamps of fire. These parallel the seven-branched candlestick, known by the Hebrews as the candleabra. It is in the first apartment of the sanctuary, called the holy place.
In an earlier vision, Jesus was seen walking among seven candlesticks, which also parallel the candelabra in the holly place. Later in Revelation you will see a change and we will enlarge on it then.
Do You Want to Know the Future?