Revelation Chapters 4-5; The Throne, The Root, The Lamb -

Revelation 4-5

The scene in Revelation 4 and 5 is a continuation of what John's vision beginning in chapter 1, where he told us he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day in 1:10. In Chapter 4 we are taken to the throne and John beholds "one sat on the throne", the Father. The throne is described as jasper and sardine stones with a rainbow around the throne. Verse 5 describes thunder and lightening coming out from the throne and it is surrounded by a sea of glass, like crystal.

Around the throne are twenty four seats with elders sitting in them wearing white clothing and they had crowns of gold. In addition to the elders are four creatures that were full of eyes. The first was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face of a man and the fourth was flying like an Eagle. Verse 8 tells us they each had six wings and they don't rest, always saying "holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. The elders then cat their crowns before the throne and say in verse 11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Chapter 5 introduces us to The Son of Man, the Lord Jesus at the right hand of the Father at the throne. Jesus is holding the scroll with seven seals in his hand. John weeps in verse 4 because it seemed nobody was worthy to open the scroll and then one of the elders said to John, "weep not; behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof." John then sees the Lamb in the midst of the elders when he then takes the scroll out of the right hand of the Father in verse 5:7. The four creatures and the twentyfour elders all began to sing a new song in verse 9;

"Thou art worthy to take the book, to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"

In verse 11 the scene widens beyond the Throne and the text tells us John hears the voice of "many angels round about the throne and the beasts and elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands;"

Verse 13 widens us out even further in this worshipful picture; "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 unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the lamb for ever and ever." This scene ends in verse 14 with the creatures and elders falling down and worshipping God.

This is the opposite scene from the Lord Jesus as He was born in Bethlehem in a barn, in a manger. This scene is the Lord Jesus in all His glory and the glory of the Father where God receives all "blessing, honor, glory, and power". Amen! This is one example why all who study Revelation receive a blessing - just considering this very literal scene is a faith booster beyond comprehension

Thank you Lord Jesus, the Lion of Judah, Root of Jessee, the blessed and victorious Second Adam!