Revelation 4

(1)  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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(6)  And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
(7)  And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
(8)  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
(9)  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
(10)  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
(11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

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Study Questions

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1. Has there been a transition from earth (considering the seven churches of Asia) to heaven? Verse 1.

2. What is the point of reference when John says, “after this” (after these things, American Standard Version)? Verse 1.

3. Three important doors are mentioned in Revelation. Where and what are they? Verse 1.

4. What does it mean to be “in the spirit”? Verse 2.

5. How many times is the word, “throne,” used in chapters 4 and 5 and could that suggest its importance? Verse 2.

6. What would be the significance of describing the one on the throne as “stones”? Verse 2.

7. What color was the rainbow and what is the significance of a rainbow? Verse 3.

8. Can you think of any significance for the four and twenty elders? Verse 4.

9. What is the significance of white raiment and crowns of gold on the elders? Verse 4.

10. Do you see any comparison between the phenomena at Mt. Sinai and this in verse 5? (See Exodus 19:16-19)

11. What is the significance of the number seven? Verse 5.

12. In determining what the beasts (living creatures, American Standard Version) are, do you think Isaiah 6:2-3, and Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10 would be any help? Verse 6.

13. What does the phrase “full of eyes before and behind” suggest to you? Verse 6.

14. What would the faces on the living creatures suggest to you? Verse 7.

15. What do the living creatures do in this scene? Verse 8.

16. To whom does the phrase “the Almighty” always refer? Verse 8.

17. What feature of the Almighty is suggested by the phrase “which was, and is, and is to come”? Verse 8.

18. What is the signal for the twenty-four elders to fall down in worship before the One on the throne? Verses 9-10.

19. What phrase is used twice to emphasize the eternity of God? Verses 9-10.

20. Who alone is worthy to receive “glory and honor and power”? Verse 11.

21. What is the source of all created things? Verse 11.