Revelation 4 and 5
There are a lot of young and eager Christians who are now teaching the word, some look like clowns but the reality is they are doing what the pastors and those who know the word should be doing. They should be commended for that and I am very happy for all that. However, we still need those, like Paul, who have been trained thoroughly in the word and nowhere is that more apparent than in their teaching on these two chapters. They see the rapture in these chapters and that is a very valid point. But being partially right is what a counterfeit bill is. So I will walk us through these two chapters verse by verse. They are absolutely essential to understand correctly. Generally when it comes to eschatology it doesn’t matter. But Jesus being Lord of all is an item of the faith that has been once for all delivered and this is something that we must contend for.
4 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 shew thee things which must be hereafter.
John is a type of the raptured saints. But think how weird that is. We see the rapture as the saints being taken before the period of intense tribulation where the believers left behind will be martyred. But John is the opposite, he is the last apostle alive, he was boiled in oil, all the other disciples have been martyred and many if not all of them by the time he gets this revelation. That is significant. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is no new thing, that which has been is that which will be. The church age at the beginning of the age is like a mirror image of the end of the age. John is the last apostle alive at the beginning and he will be the first taken at the end. I liken this to book ends which are a mirror image of each other. John being called up to heaven and a door being opened is definitely a type of the rapture that takes place at the end of the age.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 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.
There is a lot to say here, but right now the focus is simply on when do these events take place.
4 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.
The argument here is that these 24 men are elders who are now in heaven, hence there is a rapture that has taken place and that also is true. When Jesus rose from the dead a number of saints also rose from the dead and went with Him to heaven. The number 24 is very significant as King David had 24 priestly courses. These elders are the priests to God in the greater King David’s reign.
5 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.
This is another indication of the rapture. We are told clearly in Revelation that the lampstand depicts the church, since the seven lamps of fire are in heaven that means the church is in heaven. I also agree. But it is absolute blasphemy to say that this can only refer to the rapture. It is an item of the faith that Jesus is sitting in the heavenlies during the entire church age: Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. And not only Jesus, Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: So yes, Paul told us in the book of Ephesians that the church is in the heavens and Jesus is on the throne at the start of the church age. So these verses are not talking about the rapture, they are confirming what Paul shared in Ephesians. Can I see the rapture in these verses? Yes, absolutely. Does that mean John is telling us that this will happen 2,000 years from when he wrote the book of Revelation? That is absurd on many, many levels.
I will skip to chapter 5
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Very good scholars have pointed out that this is a title deed. It is significant that it is written within and on the backside to make sure no one can add to or take away from what is there. These seven seals are how they sealed up title deeds. So that also is very significant. Paul told us that the mystery hidden from the ages was opened to him and that “6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs” with Jesus. That is a reference to the title deed which Jesus opens in Revelation 4 and 5. This is what Paul means when he says “that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
If you think that this title deed has not yet been opened, then you annul the ministry of the Apostle Paul and you insult the Lord Jesus Christ who has been made head over all. Not will be, but has been. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. This is present tense, not future tense. The reason the restrainer needs to be removed first is because this is present tense. If it was future tense and the scroll is not opened until the Antichrist appears, that is what the Muslims teach. This is blasphemy against Jesus Christ, the one Lord that all believers must believe in. This word for power is translated 29 times as “authority”, also right, jurisdiction. Jesus is telling us that He has the title deed to the earth, it is His, He has all authority, all power, and all right.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
The lamb as it had been slain. This is right after the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Jesus ascended to the throne weeks after the resurrection. Stephen saw Him sitting on the throne and then stand up. It is contrary to the New Testament to say that the gospel of our salvation, the unsearchable riches of Christ that we are heirs of, that this is not opened until the Antichrist appears.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Why is Jesus worthy? He was slain and redeemed us with His blood. A title deed belongs to you when you pay for it. When did Jesus pay the price? That was when He was crucified. If you deny that and say no, this is not opened until the Antichrist shows up you are denying the redemption of Jesus Christ. That is an item of the faith once for all delivered that we are to contend for. This is just the most blasphemous doctrine.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
John hears ten thousand times ten thousand angels in heaven worshipping the Lord at this time. That is 100 million. If the rapture has taken place why doesn’t he also hear 100 million believers in heaven worshipping the Lord? The only people in heaven that John mentions are the 24 elders who were raised at the same time that Jesus resurrected from the dead.
