heavenly throne room and the four glorious cherubim.

Revelation

Part 19

Chapter 4

Throne Room

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 show thee things which must be hereafter. -- Rev 4:1 (KJV)

And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. -- Rev 4:2 (KJV)

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. -- Rev 4:3 (KJV)

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. -- Rev 4:4 (KJV)

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. -- Rev 4:5 (KJV)

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. -- Rev 4:6 (KJV)

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. -- Rev 4:7 (KJV)

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. -- Rev 4:8 (KJV)

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, -- Rev 4:9 (KJV)

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, -- Rev 4:10 (KJV)

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. -- Rev 4:11 (KJV)

Door opened in heaven

+++back+++

After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: Rev 4:1 (KJV)

and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; Rev 4:1 (KJV)

which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. -- Rev 4:1 (KJV)

The throne in heaven

+++back+++

And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. -- Rev 4:2 (KJV)

The glory of God is like a Jasper stone

a glorious emerald bow surrounds 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. -- Rev 4:3 (KJV)

Round about the throne, 24 elders

+++back+++

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. -- Rev 4:5 (KJV)

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: Rev 4:6 (KJV)

and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. -- Rev 4:6 (KJV)

And the first beast was like a lion, Rev 4:7 (KJV)

and the second beast like a calf, Rev 4:7 (KJV)

and the third beast had a face as a man, Rev 4:7 (KJV)

and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. -- Rev 4:7 (KJV)

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, -- Rev 4:9 (KJV)

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, -- Rev 4:10 (KJV)

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. -- Rev 4:11 (KJV)

1. God is in Control - God rules the universe

2. Proper attitude of humanity

3. Four principal attributes and manifestations

of God.

Ezekiel's vision

1. Lion: Royalty, King of Kings

Matthew - Jesus as King

2. Ox: Servant of creation

Mark - patient service of the Ox

3. Man: Intelligience, Love, Communion

Luke - depicts the humanity of Christ

4. Eagle: Eye of the eagle -

the glory of the heavens

John: God made flesh

Four Faces or Ages of the "True Church"

Church Age of the Lion

1. Bold and Courages as a Lion: 0 - 606 A.D.

Four Horseman of the Apocalypse

Conquering and to conquer !

Ephesus ? - 170 A.D.

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: -- Rev 2:2 (KJV)

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. -- Rev 2:3 (KJV)

Smyrna 170-312 A.D.

I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. -- Rev 2:9 (KJV)

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. -- Rev 2:10 (KJV)

Pergamos 312 - 606 A.D.

I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. -- Rev 2:13 (KJV)

Church Age of the Ox

2. Ox: Patient Loving Service of the Ox

Thyatira 606 - 1520 A.D.

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. -- Rev 2:19 (KJV)

The Monastaries - Was it of God ?

Monasticism

Call for Reform within the Orthodox Church

Marks of the Clergy

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, -- Gal 5:19 (KJV)

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, -- Gal 5:20 (KJV)

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. -- Gal 5:21 (KJV)

Marks of the Monastary

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, -- Gal 5:22 (KJV)

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. -- Gal 5:23 (KJV)

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. -- Gal 5:24 (KJV)

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. -- Mat 12:33 (KJV)

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. -- Luke 6:43 (KJV)

For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. -- Luke 6:44 (KJV)

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. -- Luke 6:45 (KJV)

Hospitals

Orphanages

Schools

Missions

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? -- James 2:20 (KJV)

For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: -- Mat 25:42 (KJV)

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. -- Mat 25:43 (KJV)

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. -- 1 Tim 5:8 (KJV)

Church Age of the Man

3. Man: Intelligience and Understanding of

God and his Covenant

Enjoying fellowship and Communion

(1500 - 1750 A.D.)

Sardis 1500-1750 A.D.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. -- Rev 3:4 (KJV)

Church Age of the Eagle

4. Eagle: the glory of the heavens

God made flesh in the church

the church soars into the heavens

Philadelphia 1750-to infinity

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. -- Rev 3:8 (KJV)

Rapture - the catching away

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. -- Rev 3:10 (KJV)

Door opened in heaven

Church Age of the Eagle

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. -- Isa 40:31 (KJV)

Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. -- Isa 58:14 (KJV)

Caught up into heaven

Review more in depth

Door opened in heaven

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 show thee things which must be hereafter. -- Rev 4:1 (KJV)

Commonly taught that this is the Rapture

John ascends into heaven

Out of the Body, in other words, In the Spirit

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. -- 2 Cor 12:2 (KJV)

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) -- 2 Cor 12:3 (KJV)

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. -- 2 Cor 12:4 (KJV)

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, -- Rev 1:10 (KJV)