A Study Of The Book Of Revelation
Lesson No. 7: Chapter 4

Date: July 16^th and 23^rd, 2003, Wednesday Evening Adult Bible Class
Speaker: John Phillis
Note: Much of the information for this Study of Revelation was taken from the book “Revelation Through First Century Glasses” by W. B. West. Other sources: “The Living Word, Study of Revelation, Parts I & II” by Dr. Frank Pack; “Revelation” by Jim McGuiggan; “Commentary on Revelation” by Homer Hailey; “Commentary on Revelation” by Burton Coffman; “The Book of Revelation – Spiritual Sword Lectureship, October 18 – 22, 1998”; “Commentary on Revelation” by Howard Winters; “Revelation for Christians Today” by Lonnie Woodruff; “Unlocking Revelation” by J. Stafford North.

Objectives in Studying this Chapter:

1) To consider the implication of the vision of God on His throne

2) To note that this vision, along with the vision in Chapter 5, will set the stage for what follows

A Brief Introduction

It’s clear that, as we begin this 4th Chapter of Revelation, we are moving into another aspect, another part, of the book of Revelation. Chapter 1 was, more or less, an Introduction to what was going to happen. Chapters 2 and 3 were the brief letters that were directed to the seven churches of Asia. These letters, of course, concerned things that were going on here on the earth. And now, in Chapter 4, we’re going to move to a more “heavenly” point of view, if you will.

We’re going to see God in heaven. We’re going to see God on His throne, God receiving worship and adoration, which He is due. We’re going to see some of the beautiful poetical reminders of some of the Old Testament adorations. Keep in mind that the purpose of these Revelations at the time that this was written and passed among the congregations in the latter part of the 1^st Century and, perhaps, even into the 2^nd Century, was to encourage them, to lift them above the daily strife and struggles of this world that they were going through. And I submit to you that, for us today, this same effect is still possible, even though we are not being persecuted, even though we are not living under an evil regime, an evil government, as they were in that day. Nevertheless, we’re faced with other difficulties and problems. To have this perspective, this heavenly view, to be lifted above the fray of the world—the struggles, the discouragements, the strife that we all face—to see God as the Sovereign Ruler on His throne in the universe and in heaven, can be a tremendous encouragement. It was to them in that day, no doubt. It will be to us today.

The Transition from the First Three Chapters of Revelation Into Chapter 4— an Excerpt from Brother W. B. West’s Book, “Revelation Through First Century Glasses”

Brother West: As we leave the study of the letters of the seven churches, we set the stage for Chapter 4 by returning to the first Chapter of John’s commission to write: “Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter…”Revelation 1:19. The events of Chapters 2 and 3 are the things which are, and as we continue in Chapter 4, we shall see the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter.

Brother Phillis: Remember, now, Chapters 2 and 3 were what the Lord had to say to the seven churches of Asia, stating the condition, the circumstance, that they were in. What John was writing in those two Chapters was the “things that are.” Then, beginning with Chapter 4, he is writing not only about the things which are but also about the things which will come to pass in the hereafter.

Brother West: We are still in western Asia in one of these congregations…

Brother Phillis: Brother West is imagining that as we are sitting here reading this, we are in one of those seven congregations in Asia Minor. We’ve experienced difficulties day after day, week after week and month after month. Our fellow laborers, our neighbors, our relatives and our friends who are not Christians, have told us repeatedly of the power of the mighty Roman Empire. They have preached to us that it is an Empire stretching from the Danube to the north, to the Tropic of Cancer in the south and all the way from the Euphrates in the east, to Spain in the west—the mightiest Empire the world has ever known. They have told us that it has conquered every nation under the sun, and its armies have marched over the Roman roads to victory after victory.

Brother West: …but now we Christians see something quite different. The Roman Emperors no longer sit on their thrones. They sleep in the solemn silence of endless dust. The Roman Senate meets no more. The Governors of the large Roman Provinces have gone. Rome is gone, along with all the other mighty nations that have forgotten God. Almighty God sits upon His throne ruling the universe. This is the Message of Revelation 4, that God is on His throne in all His omniscience [all knowing], in all His omnipresence [all present], in all His omnipotence [all powerful]. He rules with all authority, as He has ever since before the beginning of time.