Last Week

We divided the chapter and the next based on perspectives of the throne: On the throne, around the throne, coming from the throne, before the throne, and toward the throne. What is the significance of the throne?

Around the Throne Verse 4

Elders, Sitting on Thrones

Who are the Elders. Elders are usually thought of as representatives. In the Old Testament, there are 24 priestly lines represented by a priest each.

More thrones? What are these? The Greek, thronos, is the same used throughout the chapter.  Thrones mean someone has been elevated to the position, a shared reigning if you will. Could it be angels? After all, in Col 1:16 Paul speaks of thrones & principalities when referring to angels:

Col 1:16

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

Oh wait. What does this mean, in context? The Him should be obvious. He’s talking about created things. Read it though verse 18 if you need more context.

Ok, OK, I got it. This means… Old Testament priests, right? There were 24 of them in 1 Chronicles 24:7-18, so this is a candidate. Any issues with this understanding? (What are they wearing? Do OT priests wear stephanos crowns? We’ll discuss the crowns later. Who does?)

How about 24 elders sitting on 24 throne angels? No? Hmm. What are we left with? The word elders here is the Greek presbyteros, which is used in Titus 1 to describe overseers and also 1 Tim 3 overseers and deacons. Maybe NT church elders?

We are seeing a recurring pattern here in Revelation. Not everything is neatly wrapped in a bow for us to clearly understand. We must rely on other Scripture to aid in our understanding. After all, the Bible is its own best commentary. Also, remember, note John frequently adds the modifiers “as if” or “like a” in his observations (Rev 4:1,3,6,7)  trying to describe things he (and we)  had never seen. First century Greek was the language he had to work with.

Clothed in White Garments

Have we forgotten Revelation 3:5:

‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Also the Bride of Christ is similarly clothed in Revelation 19:7-8

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Jesus spoke of these robes in his parable of the Marriage Feast in Matthew 22:11-13.

Golden Crowns

The crowns described here are stephanos crowns, described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:24. They are victors wreaths, rather than the kingly diadem Jesus wears Rev 9:12

Jesus wants to strives for the future rewards – 2 John 8, Rev 22:12. Paul then speaks of these as incorruptible, but as a reward for service, our works!  Is this how we earn our salvation? Where can you reference your assertion?

Crown	Significance	Reference	My Plan for This Crown
Imperishable	Endurance & discipline	1 Cor 9:24-25
Righteousness	To those who love the Lord’s appearing	2 Tim 4:8
Glory	Given to elders for faithful shepherding	1 Peter 5:1-4
Life	Faithfulness unto  testing, tribulation & death	James 1:12, Rev 2:10-11
Rejoicing	To those who have lead others to Christ	1 Thess 2:18-19

Here is the reversal of our sinfulness of giving our Savior a crown of thorns –  Mat27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2 for His gracious rewards to us. The thorns, are a reminder of sin in the Fall of  Genesis – 3:17-18.

Our good works will be tested, so build well – 1 Cor 3:11-15 What is the fire in this passage? What is it doing?

Out from the Throne Verse 5

“Proceeding from the throne” may be best understood as a royal proclamation from God Himself.

Lightening & Thunder

 Is this a Heavenly deluge, cloudy with a chance of meatballs? Again, flipping back through the Book gives us insight as to what these might mean. Remember the trumpet blast of Exo 19:16? How about Eze K’s freaky wheels and such  from Ezekiel 1?

The intensity builds up later in Revelation 16:18-21

GOD IS FURIOUS!

Recall we spoke of the 5 hour earthquake of Richter scale beyond 10 intensity at the start of Noah’s Flood. Thunder & lightening here is just as intense.

Seven Lamps of Fire

These are not the same as the lampstands used in Revelation 1 describing the church, or by way-back reference to the lampstands of the Old testament. These are more like burning torches, like Gideon’s in Judges or Nahum’s description of doom to Nineveh in Nahum 2:4

Henry Morris comments:

“Under the preaching of Jonah, Nineveh had experienced a great revival, sparing the city its judgment for over a century. However, it soon became incurably apostate, worse than before, and its most vicious crimes were committed in this later period. Finally, God called Nahum the prophet to announce its coming doom. It was still another century before Nahum’s prophecies were fulfilled, but they were eventually accomplished at the hands of the Chaldeans and the Medes.”

We spoke of the seven spirits of God in Revelation 1:4:

•  The second person that grace and peace is from is: “the seven spirits that are before his throne.”
• This is a debated over who exactly the “seven spirits” are.
  • Some believe they are archangels, others just more regular angels, and the majority of scholars believe that this is reference to the Holy Spirit.
  •  When the phrase is used elsewhere in the book it speaks of divine omnipresence—Rev. 5:6
  • Also in view of passages like Isa 11:2 and Zec 4:1-6&10 where a similar phrases is used in more of a Spirit of God manor.
  •  “The Holy Spirit of God, John tells us, is in front of God’s throne. The Spirit who energizes and equips the churches for service is the Spirit who proceeds from the very throne of God. We are indeed made sufficient for every assignment, every challenge, for the God who lives in us (1 Cor. 6:19) is the God who is before the throne! The One who is in heaven is the One who also is in us!”—Akin
  •  Lastly, 7 as we looked at above can mean perfection so the fact that the Holy Spirit is called, “the seven spirits that are before his throne,” could be pointing to His perfect work. PJ Ventresca Revelation 1_4_5a

Remember, as we move forward, as we did last week, that even in His justified wrath, God is still merciful:

Habakkuk 3:2

LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.