During the holidays, lot of families reunite for a day or two or perhaps a week or longer. Cousins, nephews and grand parents we haven’t seen in a while drop by or maybe we will visit them. Old photo albums will be brought out and laughs and pained faces will grimace at hair and clothing styles that have gone out of favor or acceptance.
Sometimes it will be noted that someones’ uncle still dresses the same or has that same mustache that nobody has the nerve to tell him he should trim. Maybe an aunt still dresses like she is thirty years younger or you wonder how just a few Twinkies, (remember those?) could add so much girth to your mid-section.
In all the searching through albums and scrolling past pictures on I-pads, laptops and I-phones, there is one thing most people will be looking for…themselves.
When people look at pictures, they often are looking for themselves. We don’t like to say it because it seems too self-centered, but we just naturally look for ourselves in the family photos. Were we smiling big? Did our hair look funny? Does my stomach bulge? Am I even in the picture?
Often we can miss the content of the pictures just looking for ourselves.
In chapter four of Revelation we see an incredible and awe-inspiring view of God on the throne, in the Heavenly realm, surrounded by an impressive gathering of creatures and beings.
I think most people miss two of the most important chapters in the book of Revelation, (Chapters four and five) because they are looking for other things. Most of the book of Revelation deals with the judgment of God on an unrepentant and Christ rejecting world. Chapters four and five give us an in-person account of what the throne of Heaven is like. There is a view of the Creator, the most wise, loving, kind and gracious God who invites us to spend eternity with Him.
People understandably are going into Revelation to get details of the things to come. To get a behind the scenes look at the coming car crash. In looking for the gory details of the coming calamities some details are overlooked that shouldn’t be. The correct title of the book is ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ‘. We get some vivid pictures of the Christ in his glory. We also get glimpses of His Father on the throne. We see as best as we can in our weak human form an itty-bitty glimpse of the splendor we will see when we are granted access to this throne room.
I don’t believe everyone will be granted access to this incredible throne room by the way. Jesus goes before those who will be judged and issues the orders and sets the penalty for the crimes. I don’t interpret that the judgment will take place in the throne of God. Sinners who are not covered by the payment for sins, (Christ’s blood) are not given access to God, in fact the Bible makes clear that sin and all things unholy cannot and will not be allowed into his presence.
Continuing on…
In this chapter there are 24 elders who are not named, but must have some bit of clout or significance in order to be granted a seat in the most acclaimed board room in all of the universe.
There is much debate as to who these elders are.
I have my opinion: I think they are a collection of rotating elders chosen out from the saints who will be in Heaven. These saints will be from the Church, the Apostles, the Israelites and even from the Patriarchs who were before the time of the Law and the Prophets. People like Noah, Job and Enoch. That’s my opinion, but I know it differs from that of others.
It’s not really important who they are. The view in this chapter is primarily of the Almighty and the fact that He is seated upon the throne and he rules in the Heavens. Despite the efforts of mankind to relegate him to a bygone era, the time will come when his existence, his authority and absolute and limitless power will be made clear. The world will shake and tremble in fear of the Almighty and his Son to whom He has granted the right to judge the world. (That’s what happens in the next chapter.)
Who are these creatures and beings?
What does an angel look like?
If angels sit on clouds and play harps all day, then how come John the Apostle didn’t say anything about seeing that?
In Ezekiel, Daniel and Isaiah we get other glimpses that these prophets had of these same creatures.
“And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.” Ezekiel 1:6″
“And every one had four faces the first face was the face of an ox, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.” Ezekiel 10:14″
Do these sound like the little chubby-bodied angels you see on the hallmark cards? These are the Cherubim or Seraphim that the Bible gives little detail about. The Bible and other ancient texts also refer to beings called ‘Watchers’ that have great power and authority.
I am fascinated by these four-faced, six-winged creatures and I look forward to meeting them in person. But more so, I look forward to meeting the Almighty who ‘inhabits eternity’.
When we look through this book we often miss so much because we are trying to make news stories or the latest military weapons match a couple of verses. Go slow, don’t miss anything, but it’s best to let God interpret what the symbols and signs mean. Many of them are interpreted for us, but we don’t pay enough attention to it to get the proper interpretation.
Many Bible students pick verse one of this chapter as a verse that describes the rapture of the Church before any of the judgments start.
Many good students of the Word think nothing significant in regards to judgment will begin until the Church is removed. I don’t agree with that. Judgment must first begin at the house of God, ‘that’s the church. I do believe very strongly that the Church will be removed before the seven-year tribulation period begins. That’s for another article though.
The Rapture will happen, we just can’t be sure of the timing. Rev. 4:1 may describe its’ occurrence before any coming judgment, but some very wise scholars have it occurring later in the chronology.
“After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hear, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.”
This verse is chosen by many to indicate the timing of the Rapture. The thought is that sometime before all the other ‘car-crash-calamities of the following chapters the rapture will take the church into Heaven. I don’t completely disagree, but I do see other verses that give a different view of the timing of the rapture. I do believe the Bible says plainly that there will come a time when the chosen of God will be pulled away from the coming judgment.
“…I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:10
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last rump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52
There are some great word-pictures in this chapter. Take a good read and let your imagination run wild with the creatures, beings and the Almighty who is on the throne.
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If your child has troubling dreams and sees things in those dreams that come to his waking world; will you know what to say or do?
Clay Writer.
End Times Tribulation Watch 