Scenes in Heaven.
Questions
1. What scene was presented to John after the vision of the seven churches?
Revelation 4:1-2 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Note: These visions of heaven show how real and tangible is that place. Mysticism would make heaven but a state or condition; but heaven is a real place. Spiritual beings in bodily form dwell there and go to and fro. Men in redeemed flesh, who once lived on earth, as Enoch and – Moses and Elijah, and our Lord and Saviour, in whose hands of flesh may he seen the prints of the nails, serve and dwell in heaven. There is the tree of life and the garden of Eden, trees that once rooted in the very soil of this earth as do those which we see about us. Let none be robbed of the hope of heaven by the theosophical mysticism which is sweeping the world to-day.
2. How does he describe the One who sat upon the throne?
Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Note: Throughout the Scriptures the Lord represents Himself as one before whose face and bodily presence the redeemed sinner in immortal flesh may one day come. The fact that God is Spirit in no way suggests the spiritualistic idea of an all-pervading personality or influence with no special place where His bodily presence may be approached by spiritual beings. Here is a view of the throne of heaven wholly in accord with scenes presented in Holy Writ: “I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus’ countenance and admired His lovely person. The Father’s person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it, for, said He, if you should once behold the glory of His person, you would cease to exist.”
Revelation 21:5-7 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
3. What assurance is given us by the rainbow about the throne?
Isaiah 54:9-10 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
Note: “In heaven the semblance of a rainbow encircles the throne, and over-arches the head of Christ. The prophet says, ‘As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about [the throne]. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah.’ The Prophet John declares, ‘Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. . . . There was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.’ When man by his great wickedness invites the divine judgments, the Saviour, interceding with the Father in his behalf, points to the bow in the clouds, to the rainbow around the throne and above His own head, as a token of the mercy of God toward the repentant sinner. With the assurances given to Noah concerning the flood, God Himself has linked one of the most precious promises of His grace. . . . Isaiah 54:9-10.”
4. Whom did the prophet next see round about the throne?
Revelation 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
5. Who are these?
Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Note: These elders are plainly redeemed men, who once lived on earth. Many sleeping saints arose with Christ Matthew 27:52 “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many”, Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” margin, first-fruits and pledges of His victory over the grave and of the coming resurrection of all the righteous dead. In Solomon’s temple note that the priests served in courses of twenty-four. 1 Chronicles 24:3-4 “And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service. 4 And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.”
6. Further describe the view of the throne presented in the vision.
Revelation 4:5-9 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever. Instead of "beasts" the Revised Version has "living creatures."
7. What song of praise is uttered by the elders?
Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
8. What did John see in the hand of the One upon the throne?
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
9. What challenge was uttered by the angel?
Revelation 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
10. What was the response?
Revelation 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
11. How did this affect the prophet?
Revelation 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
12. What assurance was given?
Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
13. Who then appeared to the prophet’s vision?
Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
14. What did the Saviour do?
Revelation 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Note: By His death and His victory over sin, Jesus had demonstrated His power to make manifest to the sons of men the mystery of the salvation of God, and as head of the church redeemed, it was His to reveal to the prophet events of the future which He desired His servants to understand.
15. What song of praise was then heard in heaven?
Revelation 5:8-12 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
16. In prophetic anticipation unto what grand chorus did this song of praise swell?
Revelation 5:13-14 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Note: In vision the prophet was carried to the final triumph, when all the universe is cleansed from sin through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Because the wicked will never make such a proclamation unless they are compelled at the very end of the controversy.
17. Where will all the saved have begun to learn the song?
Psalms 40:1-3 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
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