A. 2a,§45 - Book of Revelation, Explained

¤ The fourth and fifth chapters of Revelation would be more than aha topics. Heaven is opened for us!

The place where God is!! Where He sits on His throne (Rev. 4:2-3)!!!

¤ Once Jesus Christ had answered Peter concerning John, John 21:23, <“If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”>

In this way was shown to John, as the only still-alive apostle of Jesus, what was to happen in the ages of the churches (Rev. 1-3), and the time after that, Rev. 4:1, <After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the sound/voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”>

¤ The voice was still the trumpet voice of Jesus (Rev. 1:10).

When the ages of the churches are completely over and the last trumpet sounds, the believers will be taken up into heaven, as happened to the apostle John (cf. 1Cor. 15:50-53; 1The. 4:13-5:2).

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¤ A rainbow is seen around God’s Throne (Rev. 4:3b).

It is the sign of the Covenant of Jesus {cf. Gen. 9:8-17; Mal. 3:1b (also 2b§45)}.

¤ In the vicinity of the throne of God are raised 24 respectable believers who have obtained thrones, Rev. 4:4, <Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden garlands/crowns on their heads.>

These are not angels. Angels have no crowns, and no thrones. They are people who were bought with the Blood of Jesus Christ (Rev. 5:8-10).

¤ They had been bought like slaves. However, each of them had a garland/crown! Likewise, if we win, we will receive for example the garland/crown of life (!), Rev. 2:10b-11, <Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the garland/crown of life. 11. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.>

These elders had understood very well in their lives, where they had come from and where they had received their victory power, Rev. 4:10-11, <the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their garlands/crowns before the throne, saying: 11. “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and came to be.”>

¤ Whoever becomes a beautiful crown in the hand of the LORD in this life will also receive one in the future (cf. Isa. 62:3).

The apostle Paul called the people he had been privileged to lead to Christ, his garland/crown (Phili. 4:1).

¤ Thrones also have jurisdiction, as is seen in the millennial kingdom (Rev. 20:4).

And in the end, every human being will stand before the Throne of God's Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

¤ When John wrote everything down, there was still the age of Grace. But in the picture of the fourth chapter, lightnings, sounds/voices, and thunders came from the Throne of God (Rev. 4:5a).

It tells of the temporary Final Judgment of God at the end of the seventh and last trumpet period {Rev. 11:15-19 (also 8e§89₁156)}, Rev. 11:19, <Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple. And there were lightnings, and sounds/voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and a great hail(storm).>

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¤ Of the twenty-four elders twelve are apostle representatives from the Gentile churches, Mat. 19:28, <Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ….”>

And twelve represent the people of Israel. From the beginning they have been a people of twelve tribes (Gen. 37:9-10).

¤ In the end they all will become part of the Jerusalem of the New Heaven and the New Earth, Rev. 21:12-14, <The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates. 13. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14. The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.>

God bless you, pilgrim, Rev. 21:7, <The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.>