Lesson 8

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Chapter Four - The Vision of Heaven and the Throne

Introduction:

1. Chapter 4-5 form an introduction to the Tribulation that really begins in chapter 6.

- 2 main points God wants us to focus on in these 2 chapters.

#1 Throne in heaven - chapter 4 (4:2)

#2 Chapter 5; the focus is on a book/scroll that is in heaven; the question will be asked, "who is qualified to open it?"

2. Rev ch-4 introduces the third part of the book, the revelation of the future. Outline was given in 1:19

#1. The things that you have seen; covered in the vision of Christ in chapter 1.

#2. The things which are; chapter 2-3, the churches.

#3. The things which shall take place; the future ch4-22.

Verse One begins: "After these things" this tells us that John is very interested in sequence;

- It separates the events of ch 2-3, the church; from the tribulation. This is very important. The Church is not here at all from this time on.

3. There is a complete change in perspective at this point!

- ch 2-3 views events on the earth.

- ch 4-5 views events in heaven.

- ch 6ff. views events from heaven that are directed to earth.

- In ch 2-3 we have the churches on earth

- with ch 4-5 the perspective shifts to heaven; to a throne and a book;

- then in ch 6 we will begin to see interplay between heaven and earth; with judgments (wrath) coming out of heaven directed at the earth.

4. Ch 4-5 then introduce or really sets the scene for the rest of the book; all that will happen.

5. All the events of ch 4-22 were future to John and they are still future to us today!

6. What we can expect! Summarize the prophetic content from this point basically in 3 phases, to describe the closing events of human history. [gives us a broad overview]

#1 Coming period of God's wrath

#2 followed by the return of Christ - as judge.

#3 followed by the reign of Christ - as king.

This sequence is not new! John is not the first to teach this!

Daniel taught this; Jesus taught this also.

Daniel 2,7

How about by Jesus himself?

- Wrath Mt 24:21-22

- Return Mt 24:29-31

- Reign Mt 25:31ff.

John also follows this same pattern in Rev.

- Outpouring of God's wrath;

- First pictures it as opening of 7 seals in ch 6.

- In Ch 8-9 have trumpets blown by angels announcing wrath.

- In ch 16 have wrath pictured as pouring out of "bowls".

- The return of Christ in 19:11f

- His reign in ch 20:4,6

7. Therefore we can conclude that Scripture is consistent.

8. When this wrath is poured out there will be certain world conditions, events that occur, people who will rise to power, attitudes that will prevail. (will have attitudes, people and events)

What we must be careful not to do, if we are to get a good handle on what scripture teaches related to this period of wrath is to think of it in curtain down and curtain up!

- This is also seen in the progression of nations in the time of the Gentiles which culminates in the greatest rule of man apart from God in the Tribulation under the GWD. Its a progression of events and attitudes, revolt against God, rejection of truth over generations that leads to this.

9. Converging conditions.

- attitudes; mystery of lawlessness, apostasy leads to moving away from the faith, secularization of the culture

- Conditions: Mt 24:4-8 Jesus gives a few; vs:9 begins specifics of Tribulation.

These things will be observed before but will reach their maturation in the Tribulation.

<4:1-2> The Invitation

"After these things (C/A) I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven,..."

- the door standing open indicates access to heaven.

"...and the first voice which I heard, like a trumpet, speaking with me said,..."

Content = an Invitation; "..Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things." (some important truths here)

1. Revelation of truth comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The things that Christ reveals are things that must take place.

3. Any understanding of the course of world events must be based on a Heavenly perspective of those events; from God's vpt, not man's.

4. What follows (ch 4-19) is a description of the "hour of testing/persecution that hour which is about to come upon the whole world."

<4:2a> The Scene Introduced

1. Immediately, right after hearing the voice commanding him to come up here, something happened; "I was in the Spirit"

2. What John saw first, one thing totally dominated the scene!

3. Is what John is viewing here real or is this just some mystical vision; that is only designed to teach some aspects of what heaven is about?