The Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation or simply Revelation is the final book in the Bible’s New Testament. The book is said to occupy a key part of the Christian eschatology. It was written by John the Apostle with some arguments by modern scholars suggest that the book writer was John of Patmos. The book is also believed to have been written in the years between 70 AD and 95 AD. Revelation is the only book in the Bible that is apocalyptic in the sense that it is prophetic of devastation or ultimate doom. This paper is based on Revelation chapter 4 as well as the commentaries of the chapter. The greatly relies on the information as well as on the symbols and images in Revelation 4. The paper shows how each of the commentators has defined and interpreted the various symbols or images provided in the chapter.
Commentaries of Revelation 4
After Jesus Christ had instructed John the Apostle to have letters written to the churches, it is stated that there was yet another vision. In this vision, John the Apostle saw a throne that was set in Heaven. This throne was an emblem of Jehovah’s universal dominion in which case he pictured a glorious being upon the scene of the throne. The scene is hardly described in human features. In this case, it is only likened to the real aspect being described through an image. The book of revelation looks anonymous due to its imaginary nature. In verse one, it talks of some things in which John looked and behold him saw a door standing open, particularly in heaven. He also talks of a first voice he had heard and sounded like the sound of speaking trumpet to the Apostle. The trumpet aid that he should go up and that he would be shown would have to take place after the particular things. In this case, after these things, indicates a mark of the end of an older unit and the beginning of a new unit as far as the sequence of John’s vision is concerned. The marker is used severally when introducing a new unit of the vision continuity. The marker hardly indicates a temporal shift but continuity in which John received the vision through a system of units of materials. The first unit in Revelation is chapter one to three while charpter four to eight make up the second unit.
In the case of the first voice that was heard, it Keener takes it as a connection to chapter one of Revelation. In this case, the first voice was the voice resembling the voice of a son of a man. In this case, the son of man comes out to be Jesus Christ. Jesus had detailed all His roles as the churches’ Judge and it comes out that it was the voice of Jesus Christ indicating to the Apostle on his next part as far as the sequence of events are concerned. Reddish postulates that John was instructed to take this sequence Jesus Christ through His voice indicated as the first voice heard. While is true for the first voice, the part of a voice instructing John to go up shows that John had to leave the earth and get into heaven. John was however given invitations on separate occasions in order to see vision that is revelatory according to Osborne. This second unit starts in heaven but ends on earth and therefore this type of call can hardly be concluded to be the final call for John to leave earth for heaven. This verse is argued to be tortured in a way that would fit the interpretation of various people in terms of the Lord’s timing in the removal of John from earth to the stated heaven but definitely, there is hardly any exegetical or even scriptural basis for this type of claim.
The phrase, “Show you,” is a verbal phrase that has been used to show the events that John saw and their significance. The phrase is used severally throughout Revelation for this same purpose. This hardly any significant interpretation since John is only promise to be show vision in his prevailing condition. From this phrase, another phrase, “after these things is brought in. The things referred to in this case are associated with the church of God. The things imply a certain divorcement between church age, and all the events constituting Revelation from Chapter four to Chapter 19. As Thomas states it all prophecies of Revelation 4 to 19 describes whatever happens after the church has completed running its course. There is hardly any textual basis claiming that church age ended at Revelation chapter three verses 22 thereby creating a bias in Thomas’ argument. Besides, it is argued by Thomas that no Scripture passages that explicitly make the same claim. The argument that there is hardly any issue of the church in Revelation is anonymous. The church having not been involved in Revelation from chapter 4 to chapter 18:24 gives a clear implication that the church was hardly involved in any of the events that followed. It follows that the church has to be made to rapture to heaven. This argument is silent and can be said to be hardly an argument and that the kind of this logic can be ambiguous. The church is also absent in other Chapters of Revelation including Chapter 20 and Chapter 21. Chapter 20 to 21 deals with the issue of millennium and eternity or the future. The church hardly designates a heavenly entity. After Chapter 3 of Revelation, the church disappears. The case of the church disappearing after Revelation 3 is only assumed, a factor that may not be the case.
During the this Revelation, a fundament look at the prophetic literature is making use of nothing that is likely to give chance in discerning the implication of some essential information by the unwanted such as John the Apostle. His action could have been seen as politically unwise. In such case, friends may discern the same meaning of the messages or information but in any case, enemies would not be given the chance to do so. John’s identification with the church and then going ahead to state its future destruction to kingdoms could have been very unwise. This kind of Revelation was mainly intended to bring comfort to the people of God. The Revelation never meant that the people of God would be provided with ammunitions to cause destructions to world kingdoms. The enemies of God are able to do great but bad things to their own future according to Matthew. From this aspect, the church fact of not appearing in Revelation 4 to 19 does not implicate that the entity of the church hardly represented in these chapters since some terms like “wife” in the same chapters stand for the church. “Then they saw the throne, and they sat on them,” is a phrase that must constitute an aspect of the church. The given promises that the church shall reign with God is clearly depicted in this Revelation.
Other images and pictured phrases that depict the church in the chapter include, “a kingdom and priest”, “Fifth seal martyrs,” a multitude, bond servants, brethrens, saints, children, as well as wife as earlier indicated. From verse 2 to verse 3 of chapter 4, John states that he was immediately in spirit and h saw a throne standing in heaven. After sitting on this throne, He who was initially sitting on the throne appeared like jasper stone as well as a sadius. In addition, a rainbow surrounded the throne with an appearance of an emerald and is depicted by Keener as the sign of God’s mercy. In the spirit, indicates the capitalization of the spirit in which case John the Apostle was within the Holy Spirit. Keener suggests that John was certainly in Holy Spirit but his communication in this case is completely different. According to Keener, it gives an indication that the Revelation of John took place not in the body by in the spirit. In the spirit could also imply that John was within a vision trance.
The image of the throne standing in heaven can create ambiguity in that the use of the term sat can give the meaning of a past tense but the Greek use the term as set which means to design or place as a verb with respect to Aune’s cementations. The throne indicates the past in which John makes use of the term on several occasions. The implication in this case can be in the past or in the distant future. The throne could indicate the time that God took full control of the kingdom of heaven of the distant future when God shall sit on the throne to make judgments to His people as indicated by Osborne. The chapter has been describing on many occasions as depicting the scene of the throne. Most of the following events in chapter 4 are highly related to the image of the throne. The picture of the One seated on the throne is first focused by John. This aspect of one sitting on the throne is then followed by focusing on all that surrounds this throne. The third imagery in this case is an indication of what is flowing out of the throne. Finally, the image of what is before this throne is brought out by John’s revelation. From this image, the picture can be interpreted in such a way that the person sitting on the throne is definitely God the Father as depicted by all the Authors. He sits on the throne to rule, to guide, and make judgments to His people in various ways that are holy and clean. The throne is attractive giving an indication of how God’s kingdom is great.
In Revelation 4, it is indicated that there were 24 thrones. Upon these 24 thrones, John is said to have seen 24 elders who were sitting and clearly clothed in white. They all had golden crowns on top of their heads. The twenty-four elders seen to be seated around the throne form a complete circle in this case making the picture a great image. The twenty-four elders depict various thrones other than the main throne of God according to Osborne. Aune sees these twenty-four elders as showing that they are various kingdoms whose leadership is centered in God’s throne or leadership. The kingdom of God is assisted by other kingdoms, which are based on God’s origin and creation according to the commentaries of Keener. Their actions and roles should focus on the way of God’s leadership. There are various interpretations of the same but the identity of these beings having thrones around God’s throne can be established with information. According to Aune, these beings form the initial circle surrounding the God’s throne. At the same time, the beings are said to b twenty-four and occupying the same number of thrones. This represents an aspect of organization and pattern in God’s kingdom or leadership. The depiction of these elders falling down and worshiping God shows that all earthly kingdoms shall bow to God to worship him. According to Aune, the image gives an implication that all people all equal before God and that despite the position one holds in leadership, the glory of God has to be recognized. Osborne suggests that there is an implication that God needs to be worshiped since He is the center and source of all leadership aspect of individuals. This view is depicted by the fact that all elders are facing God. Aune see earthly kingdoms and leaderships as being associated with much evil deeds. In this case, white portrays purity and holiness in which case it shall come a time when all leaderships on earth shall be holy and only doing the will of God. All songs shall be directed to a way that would praise the Lord of lords according to Keener.
In the case of Jews, they would understand the elders’ image with certainties due to a variety of reasons. Although the image could represent the image of God’s kingdom in heaven in a long past due to the usage of the tense, the image depicts what shall happen in the future when all kingdoms shall realize that God exists and controls everything in the universe as depicted by Osborne commentaries. Aune argues that it is during this time when the Word of God shall convert many from evil to holiness. In some case, the elders could imply the Jewish audience and that is why it is indicated that that the Jews could know the meaning of this image without much difficulty. The particular group of beings is not clear however and could be angelic beings. Given that people can hardly rule in heaven with God, it may be concluded that the beings were angelic and that God rules alongside angles whose main work is to praise and worship Him according to Osborn. The main issue in the various translations is that the Scriptures were initially written in Greek and translating to other languages especially English language could create differences and an aspect of misinterpretation.
In Revelation 4:5a, there is another key image that of flashes of light coming from the throne. There also came sounds as wells as peals of thunder. From this image, it may b clearly interpreted that whoever or whatever comes of the throne is a continual phenomenon. The power of God or God Himself is all that is described as to have come out of the throne. God is powerful and frightening whose image may create fear to all on-lookers. Given that, it is only the image of light and the sound of thunder, it follows that God is a Great God and an invisible God as depicted in Keener’s commentariess. Aune says that people can hardly see God but they can see His wonders and deeds as well hear His voice in many ways. The image created from Revelation 4:5b to 8a is different. In this case, the image of seven burning lamps of fire is brought out. The seven lamps of fire indicate that these pictures represent the seven spirits of God. At the same time, it is indicated by Osborne that there was something before the throne in which case he goes on to interpret that before the throne, is a clause that shows an implication of the case where John moves to the scene that is right before the God’s throne. The section also talks of the sea of glass, which resembles crystals. This picture clearly indicates a depiction of the floor of the God’s throne or room. In this case, it may be indicated that the Kingdom of God is too beautiful and extensive to an extent of being compared to glass and sea respectively. The sea is broad and almost endless as far as the human being of this time of John’s revelation is concerned. At the same time, glass was considered an expensive material that was rarely produced and was only associated with kingdoms of high profile. If it were being likened to anything today, the same aspect of sea could be replaced with the universe, while the term for glass would be replaced with diamond or a more expensive and attractive material. The center and around the throne represents the location four living creatures that are stated by John according to Aune while Osborne points out that the four creatures standing at the center and around the throne could represent the four arms of a compass. These creatures may be the four directions that include west, east, south, and north. The creature in this case is described in a metaphor style such as, like a lion, a calf, a man, and a flying eagle. The phrase, four eyes, as it has been used means the ability of being able to see in any of the four directions. Keener on the other hand suggests that this ability can only come to a person after being charged with the responsibility of protecting God’s Holiness.
In Revelation 4:8b, day, and night are personalized by the fact that they do not stop calling the holiness of God and stating that this holiness is the Lord God. This God is said to be God Almighty by all Authors in this case. The One who were, who is, and the One who shall come. Indication that they hardly cease to say point out that people are watching over the God’s holiness but other than watching, they can never stop praising the name of God as holy and great as Aune argues. Given that even the non-human things can sing a praising song to God, humans should be in a better capacity to praise Him even more as Keener points out. Non-human things praising God can hardly get tired at any point unlike humans who would always become tired after a while. The term Almighty in this case can be said to be the first and self-designation of the Lord God. In this case, God used the term to refer to Himself in the Scriptures. The term is Hebrew and may have a different meaning from whatever may be depicted by interpreters. However, the term implies that God and His power are incomparable to other things or human beings according to Osborn.
In Revelation 4:9, the author depicts an image or a picture of living creature in almost a similar way. In this case, Aune suggest that they are glorifying and thanking, as well as honoring God. It is stated that “And (1) when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks (2) to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever.” When in this case indicate that these creatures only do this once indicating that the action shall only happen once according to Keener. When also depicts a time in future. In the next phrase, to is used before the preposition of God indication that God existence is eternal and that the fulfillment of the creature is to the God the Father. In the case of Revelation 4:10-11, the phrase, “The twenty-four elders,” is repeated. These elders are the beings chose to rule with God, sing, honor, and glorify God according to Osborne. It is said that these elders will fall down to praise Him as He sits on the throne. They are said to Warship His, He Who lives forever. They twenty-four elders shall at the same time cast their crown specifically before the God’s throne saying, “worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for (3) You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” From this case, will is used to depict that the events shall occur sometimes in the future according to Keener.
The phrase, “fall down before Him,” is the first action in a series of actions taking part in tows various sections. In worshiping Him, it takes the second and the final part in the two-part action. The worshiping in this case involved bowing down and offering a verbal praise. This was common during the time of John. Aune says that the worshiping in this case implies that people shall worship God in a serious way at one point in the future when the prophecy shall come true. In casting their crowns before the God’s throne, Keener suggest that it implies that all believers shall have crowns and shall cast these crowns before God’s throne. The worshiping shall be done by all believes who shall be equal before the Lord as seen in the case of the twenty-four elders worshiping the Lord and His throne as suggested in the commentaries of Keener. In the statement that says, “You created all things,” it means that the phrase comes from as the comments from the twenty-four elders. From this phrase, it can be seen that believers praises God in many ways. Believers have a stronghold that God created everything including things that are beyond the human knowledge.
Chapter four of the book of Revelation is seen to talk of the God sitting on the throne according to the commentaries of all the authors. This kind of image depicts that God rules forever. God controls and oversees all His believers while He is sitting on the throne. Whenever He gets out of his throne, the action may be fearful as depicted by the case of thunder and lightening. In Revelation 4:9-11, all the true believers completely ascribe their redemption as well as conversion. Believers are increasingly living in hope that one day in the future shall be a throne in which they shall show their respect to the Lord. The chapter gives believers a great hope in that they shall all be equal in front of God’s throne. The fact that God sits at the center of the throne could imply that He is overseeing all people as kings with crowns on their heads. God expects the great people to bow before him. The revelation of John tents to depict that the current generation has kingdoms that hardly recognize the throne or the presence of God. In this case, God views people including those in high positions as equal but acting kings. John could have implied that every person shall be his or her own king. This aspect is shown by the fact that all the twenty-four elders wore crowns. God gives people the same authority over his kingdom but people are usually in different positions. From these positions, people can worship the Lord in a way that is kingly with their crowns taken out of their head. The book of Revelation acts like prophesy that gives people and particularly the believers’ hope in the future. The Christian community is provided with immense hope in the kingdom of God. Only those shall have the required traits shall be in a position of gaining a chance to have a crown on their heads. The only requirement is being in a position to humble before the Lord and worshiping Him as the only King who is incomparable. It does not matter whether the believer is poor of was king in his earthly kingdom. All that matters is the capacity to praise the Lord and recognize Him as the King.
