The God Of Revelation Chapter 4

[Rick]

The God Of Revelation Chapter 4

Since an issue has been made of who sits on the throne in Revelation 4:2 I have decided to do a short study of the topic. The God of Revelation does not fit the traditional Catholic Trinity view so it is confusing to many. I personally have no interest in what organized religeon or denominational creed has to say about it. I`m just interested in the facts as presented by scripture and that is what I will be addressing in this study.

First the chapter.

Revelation 4
1After 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.
2And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3And 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.
4And 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.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7And 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.
8And 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.
9And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10The 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,
11Thou 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.

We immediately have a conflict with the idea of a Trinity God. We have one throne with One God sitting on it. In verse eight the One on the throne is identified as Lord God Almighty and that God is the Father. Yet in verse 11 the One on the throne is identified as the Creator. Our Creator is a God who called Himself Jesus. In verse 5 we see that the Holy Spirit is also there. Confusion, confusion, confusion. All three persons, One God.

Some creeds dictate that it is the Father on the throne. Some creeds dictate that is Jesus on the throne. The Bible just declared that both are on the throne as One God.

Revelation 5 begins and is talking about the same throne.

1And 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.

How do I know it`s the same throne?

I know because the Bible confirms it in the same chapter.

13And 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.
14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

But what about the Lamb?

The Lamb told us that He came forth out of the Father who is the One sitting on the throne.

John 8:42
Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.


John 16:28
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

The Lamb is depicted in Revelation 5 having come forth from the Father.

13And 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.

The throne of God is the same throne throughout Revelation and Revelation confirms it in several passages. I will quote a couple of them.

16And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
( Revelation 11:16)

4And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
(Revelation 19:4)

Revelation also confirms what is revealed in Revelation 4. That Jesus sits on the throne with God.

17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
(Revelation 7:17)

Revelation confirms it again as the voice of Jesus in His role as High Priest is heard.

4And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
5And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.
(Revelation 19:4-5)

In Revelation 21 is that magnificant promise that God will make His home among men.

3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Revelation also confirms yet again what is seen in Revelation 4. God on His throne with the Lamb in the midst of His being.

22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
( Revelation 21:22-23)

Revelation 22 affirms yet again God and the Lamb sitting on one throne.

Revelation 22
1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

The depiction of the Triune God as One Lord in the book of Revelation is consistent with all that is revealed about the Godhead in the rest of the Bible if one is able to receive the truth about the One Triune God.