요한계시록 Chapter 4

Translation: ESV

1

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

Key Message

The open door in heaven is the channel through which God reveals the secrets of history.

▸The second major section of Revelation begins here (chapters 4–22).

The second major section of Revelation begins here (chapters 4–22). 'A door standing open in heaven' represents the mystical experience of the boundary between earth and heaven being opened. The invitation 'Come up here' leads John into the heavenly throne room. This scene is one of the most majestic throne-room visions in Scripture, alongside Ezekiel 1 and Isaiah 6.

Related Verses

In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.
2

At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.

Key Message

The fact that God is seated on the throne is the theological foundation of all history and judgment.

▸'In the Spirit' is the same expression as in 1:10, denoting the state of receiving revelation.

3

And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

Key Message

God's glory cannot be fully expressed in any language; it can only be approximated by light, precious stones, and a rainbow.

▸The glory of God is described through the colors and brilliance of precious stones.

4

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

Key Message

The twenty-four elders show that God's people of every age will surround his throne and serve him eternally.

▸The 'twenty-four elders' are significant beings who appear twelve times in Revelation.

5

From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God,

Key Message

The lightning and thunder from God's throne proclaim his infinite power and holiness.

▸Lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder recall God's presence on Sinai (Exodus 19:16), emphasizing his holiness and power.

6

and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:

Key Message

God's throne is surrounded by holiness (the sea of glass) and complete knowledge (the living creatures full of eyes).

▸The 'sea of glass like crystal' represents the glorious and holy distance between God and his creation.

7

the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Key Message

The supreme representatives of creation serve at God's throne, showing that all creation exists for the glory of God.

▸The four living creatures are described in detail.

8

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"

Key Message

Heavenly worship is the unceasing, day-and-night proclamation of God's absolute holiness.

▸The unceasing praise of the four living creatures is described.

9

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

Key Message

All heavenly worship is for the glory, honor, and thanks of the one who lives forever.

▸The heavenly worship continues.

10

the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Key Message

Heavenly worship is the complete adoration of laying down all one's glory and crowns before God's throne.

▸The act of worship by the twenty-four elders is described.

11

"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

Key Message

It is worthy for God to be worshiped because he is Creator, and all things exist by his will.

▸This is the content of the twenty-four elders' praise.