The Book of Revelation - Part 7 by Ps Michael Podhaczky

As pointed out previously, there are numerous themes intertwined throughout Revelation. Another one dealt with in the book is the throne of God. It says more on this topic than any other book in the Bible. Remember, this is a collection of visions that John had, given to him from God Himself. So, it is not John coming up with what he imagined.

The location has moved from earth to heaven. Be careful in your reading; follow what is happening closely, and do not get lost regarding where things are occurring. Namely, things have moved from Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and the seven churches, into heaven before the throne of God. The throne of God is mentioned some fifteen times in the rest of the New Testament, but some thirty-one times in Revelation, Rev 1:4; 3:21; 4:2,3,4,5,6,9,10; 5:1,6,7,11,13; 6:16; 7:9,10,11,15,17; 8:3; 12:5; 14:3,5; 16:17; 19:4,5; 20:11; 21:5 22:1,3.

John does not say who sat on the throne; possibly, it was hard to make out an appearance. However, it could be assumed by what is said that it was God the Father. John was overwhelmed by the colours,

“And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance” (Rev 4:3 NASB).

Imagine if you can what John saw, i.e. the jasper stone and the sardius or sardine (ruby) stone is a fiery red stone, cf. (Rev 21:11). The stones in the breastplate of the High priest had twelve stones in it, two of which were sardius and jasper, (Ex 28:15-21). These two stones were the first and the last stones in the breastplate, cf. (Ex 28:17,20). Sardius (possibly ruby) was for Reuben the firstborn and jasper for Benjamin the last born or youngest.

There were 24 thrones with elders sitting on them, which surrounded the throne of God, (Rev 4:4). They wore white robes instead of royal robes, Rev 3:4,5,18; 6:11; 7:9; 19:8. The elders wore golden crowns. They were not diadems (monarch crowns); instead stephanos (martyr crowns). So, they must be humans, not angels, since there’s no biblical record of angels being martyred.

Then John recorded seeing, “four living creatures.” This is not the word for a wild animal, but the word zoa the root for zoology, meaning living beings. They were covered with eyes in front and back (Rev 4:6). In Rev 4:7-8 he went on to try to describe what he saw. Then in Rev 4:8-11, the chapter ends with the four creatures worshipping God day and night, without rest. They declared His eternal reign. In reaction to the living creatures worshipping, the 24 elders also worshipped the One who sits on the throne. These are the first of the five songs of praise and worship in this section of chapters 4 and 5.

Pause in His presence for a moment and think this over…