CHAPTER FOUR

The first verse of this chapter separates the Futurist and Historical viewpoints. When the apostle John was told to "Come up here", the Futurists believe this to be a foreshadowing of the eventual call which will come to the Church; i.e., it supposedly represents the Rapture. And since everything from verse 1 onward is presumed to occur after the 'going up', the Futurists believe all of Revelation from here on must happen during or after the Tribulation. As you already know, I do not ascribe to the Futuristic-only scenario.

I believe the LODR is the only solution which allows ALL the book of Revelation to be understood. Once again, I recall your attention to what I mean: First, there is the Historical perspective of Revelation; then, the Futuristic aspect will follow. In this chapter John saw God on a magnificent throne surrounded by four living creatures and twenty-four elders, all of whom fall before God and worship Him. Later on, we'll see that these 'persons' do the anouncing of events which are about to occur on earth, as directed from heaven. For example, they announce the Seals, the Trumpets and the Vials when the fulness-of-time has been completed according to God's perfect timetable.

John is reminded that God created all things for His own good pleasure. How reassuring it is to know this! Now the text:

The Throne Room of Heaven

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."

2 And immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

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.

4 And 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.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 And 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.

7 And 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.

8 And the four living creatures, full of eyes around and within, each had six wings. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!"

9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

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:

11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You have created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created!"