Chapter 4
Blog Format:
1.
Housecleaning Notes - things
pertaining to Tuesday night at Leah and Jon’s
2.
Recap of the previous week discussion
3.
Chapter notes and background
4.
Questions and homework for the next meeting
night
As you may of noticed I have not had a chance to update the blog…yet we have already discussed chapters 4 – 8. I am going to get us caught up…and will start a new blog entry for Chapter9. Thanks again, and hope this helps make these chapters a bit easier to understand.
Recap of Chapters 4 (Chapter Notes and
Background)
Chapters 4 through 18 summarize the events
that take place preceding the return of Jesus Christ. At the same time, not all
of the events happen chronologically. As we discussed it is important to note
the words ‘like’ and ‘as’ as you read through these chapters. These two words
help the reader understand John’s method of communicating ideas / events /
concepts that he might not have the words to clarify, but at the same time remember
that John is giving a first hand exposition in terms of what he witnesses.
These chapters can be scary, convicting and at times confusing, but the message
is that Christ is returning in victory.
Chapter 4 - Notes and Background
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Chapter 4 begins with the words ‘After these things…’ The
preceding chapters deal almost exclusively with Christ’s message to the
universal church – all those who claim Jesus Christ as their savior. Some
Biblical scholars believe ‘After these things…’ refers to rapture of the
church. From chapter 4 through chapter 18, there is not a single reference to
the church, where as in the previous chapters it almost seems as if the entire
book will be for the benefit of the church. Why no mention of the church in chapters
to come? Many believe the church is no longer on earth, that Christ raptures
the church to Himself. Scholars speculate that from chapter 4on, it shows the
world after the rapture, but before Christ returns to reign.
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"The major focus of chapter 4 upon the throne is its
symbolism of God's sovereignty exercised in judgment.
From this point of origination proceeds the outworking of
God's wrath described in the body of the Apocalypse (cf.
6:10, 16-17; 14:7; 15:1; 16:5, 19; 18:20; 19:2, 11). Though
evil reigns for a time on earth, God will ultimately
prevail." 214 - Dr. Thomas L. Constable
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John gives a detailed
picture of God on His Throne, and makes it abundantly clear that everything
originates from His Throne. All of the universe, earth, everything in creation orbit
around God’s Throne. The word throne appears 45 times in the book of
Revelation, and only 15 other times in the rest of the New Testament. Chapter 4
makes plain that ultimately, despite the terrible calamites to come in later
chapters, God is in complete control.
John also introduces us to the order of Heaven. We find 24 elders surrounding God’s Throne, and four living beasts continually praising God. Many think the 24 elders are representative of the 12 Tribes of Israel: Judah , Issachar , Zebulun , Reuben, Simeon, Gad , Ephraim, Manesseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, Naphtali and the 12 Apostles of Christ: Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip ,Bartholomew, Matthew,Thomas, James, Simon, Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. We find Heaven unified in both the Old and New Testament leadership.
In chapter 1 John describes Jesus in detail, and uses imagery that the reader can utilize to picture the Person of Christ. When John describes God the Father on His throne in chapter 4 we do not see human anthropomorphic descriptions, but instead we are left in awe, the mystery of God’s glory intact. The imagery is very similar to what we find in the book of Ezekiel and the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. We see God on His Throne ready to judge a fallen world.
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