Revelation 4 shows the setting of the earthly throne on earth for 1000 years, whenever the living creatures give praise to the one who sits on the throne on earth for 1000 years.
Revelation chapter 4:1
John was on the isle of Patmos, and had just received a Visitor from heaven Who gave him a vision of the Seven Golden Candlesticks, and in the midst of them stood One “Jesus” like unto the Son of Man. In His hand He held the Seven Stars.
John was told that the Seven Candlesticks were the Seven Churches, and the Seven Stars were the Seven Angels, Heads, or Pastors of the churches.
John’s first vision was to the church concerning their Spiritual condition in holiness and righteousness, showing what must be done to worship him who lives forever and ever.
It was necessary for the church to understand, and be a partaker of the great mysteries of which was to be hereafter.
The Epistles to the Seven Churches with their commendations and rebukes, point out the Perfect Church of the Last Day.
The whole Book of Revelation is prophetic and yet future. The fore-runner to the breaking forth of these great phenomenon’s is now in operation.
Immediately after the message given to John for the Seven Churches, a voice spoke to him and said, “Come up hither, and I will show you things which MUST be HEREAFTER.”
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that HEAR the words of this prophecy, and KEEP those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
In chapter one we are told of John being exiled on the Island of Patmos: no doubt deep in prayer and worship, for he was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.
The Lord spoke and appeared unto him and told him to write what he saw in a book and send it to the Seven Churches of Asia.In the fourth chapter he is given a revelation of things
WHICH MUST COME TO PASS as the throne in heaven is established., yet future.
Then he heard a voice which sounded like a trumpet, clear and loud, talking with him and saying, “Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.”
There is no time element given when these things would come to pass but a complete revelation was given him of the conclusion of God’s great plan of salvation, purposed before the world was.
The outcome of this plan has been prophesied throughout the Old and New Testaments, without giving any specified date.
Jesus says that we shall know by the signs of the times. But there is also another way whereby we may know when these things take place, and that is by rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
First things MUST come first. The Holy Spirit Who was sent to reveal the things which John saw in heaven, brings the revelation by discernment through the Word.
The full revelation recorded by John must come in the order of God’s plan. The house is not ready for the roof until it is progressively prepared thereunto.
Immediately after hearing the voice, John was in the Spirit and caught up into heaven, where there was a throne set for him to look upon. The Lord sat on the throne.
What John saw was not the original setting of the heavenly order, but the setting was to show him the things which was to be future.
These things are concerning His people and the earth. Not until the 20th chapter was John shown the heavenly setting of the New Heaven and New Earth.
All that John saw concerning God’s plan on earth must take place on earth, especially as the twenty-four elders fall before the throne in heaven.
Jesus says,“When you pray, pray thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. … surrounding the throne were twenty-four elders.
The kingdom of God is not a natural kingdom and takes place after the resurrection of the righteous dead.
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound at His coming, the dead in Christ shall rise a Spiritual man, and be given a body that pleases God.
There will be no resurrection of the natural body that has returned to the dust from which it was created.
The fourth and fifth chapters declare the order of the Millennial Age in the Kingdom of God on earth. This Kingdom comes to pass after the coming of the Lord and the resurrection of the righteous dead, and the Battle of Armageddon.
The throne was set in heaven and He that sat thereupon was to look upon as a jasper and a sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald, where the living creatures give glory. …
The jasper and the sardine stone, under the brilliant colors of the rainbow, presents a beautiful sight as well as a symbol of God’s promise of security from destruction.
Jesus said to His disciples…
“Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations..And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;..that YE may EAT and DRINK at my table in MY KINGDOM, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
If any deserves to sit upon these seats, certainly those to whom the promise was given were qualified and they will occupy twelve of those seats; but who are the other twelve seats reserved for?
And who are the other twelve elders who were in white raiment, with a crown of gold upon their heads?
This appears to be a mystery to many, yet most agree that there is to be a great gathering in Christianity in this Last Day, a gathering of a Many Membered Body which will evangelize the world.
Ephesians 4:11-16 Read Here, declares the making of the church in the Last Day, and the eleventh verse declares THE CHURCH is to be perfected by the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers.
The Apostles are not spoken of too much among God’s people in this hour, but they will appear in the near future in another Apostolic ministry; to found the Last Day Church, with Jesus still the Chief Corner Stone.
As the promise was given unto the first twelve Apostles, so will it involve the last Twelve.The twenty four elders sitting upon the twenty four seats are all Apostles of the Millennial Kingdom being rewarded for their faith and ministry of the past.
Revelation chapter 4:5
“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.”
Jesus will become King and God of the Kingdom of God on earth. He will become the supreme Lord for one thousand years, and then comes the New Heaven and Earth, and all power will be turned back to the Father.
1 Corinthians 15:24
“Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.”
Revelation chapter 4:6
“And before the throne 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.”
The four living ones or creatures are four fully redeemed men who lived on this earth and have been translated to heaven.
Revelation 5:8-10 assures us that they, and the twenty four elders were redeemed from this earth…
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 like an emerald. TONGUE, AND PEOPLE, AND NATION;
10. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The scripture shows that there are four men whom God has appointed as Leaders in His plan of redemption on earth, and have been taken bodily from this earth into heaven.
The four men along with the twenty four elders fill an important part in the Millennial Age. They sit in and around about the throne to lead and judge the twelve tribes of Israel and the great multitudes who are as the sea of glass before the throne.
*The first Living One is ENOCH, the seventh from Adam, who is Enoch, who is mentioned in the holy Bible. Adam, is mentioned in the holy Bible., the seventh from
Adam who pleased God, and was translated alive into the presence of God.
Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5.
“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”
*The second Living One is MOSES, the Lawgiver,who died and was buried by the Lord, and was resurrected and translated into heaven.
Deuteronomy 34:5-7,Jude 1:9 and Matthew 17:3.
6. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day, as it was hidden from the front and in back of the land.
7. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated, a testament to his life that lives forever and ever.
*THE THIRD LIVING ONE is ELIJAH the PROPHET OF GOD,Who was taken up into Heaven in a Whirlwind and Chariots of Fire.
2 Kings 2:11
31. Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
*The fourth is JESUS, God’s Son, Who died on the Cross, was buried and arose from the dead, and ascended into heaven after forty days.
Acts 1:11
If there was a purpose in the resurrection of Jesus Who was taken into heaven, then there is a purpose in taking Enoch, Elijah, and Moses into heaven before the End time resurrection.
They had eyes before and behind them, and it was for this reason that they were chosen, that they might see all things that took place and have perfect knowledge of the past and future, to maintain their high position around the throne.
Number four pertains to this world; it is a biblical number that speaks of the world, as the four directions which takes in all of the earth.
These four Living Ones have been chosen of God to be used in His plan on earth. In forming the twelve tribes of Israel into nations, the Lord divided them into FOUR groups to protect the tabernacle as they were marshaled through the wilderness.
They marched in the same manner, with the tabernacle in the center when traveling in the wilderness.
This was the standard set by God in the beginning to usher His plan of salvation through unto the End.
The tabernacle was the dwelling place of God on earth, and serves as a type of the Church of the Last Day. God divided the twelve tribes of Israel into four groups to fulfill His purpose.
Under ENOCH, the flying EAGLE, the believers of his day.
Under MOSES, the OX, the believers of his day.
ELIJAH the MAN, all believers of his day.
He was known as the man of God and stood alone throughout his ministry in his day.UNDER the LORD JESUS CHRIST, the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, in His day, ALL THE SAINTS of the Church Age.
Jesus died and was raised and taken into heaven. The Church will be translated at the End of the Age.
ENOCH, MOSES, ELIJAH, AND JESUS are the FOUR LIVING CREATURES in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne.
The record declares Them to be the only Ones REDEEMED from the earth and taken into heaven. Three of These men appeared on the mount of transfiguration after leaving the earth.
Ezekiel received a vision of These Four Living Creatures Who would appear again during the Thousand Year Reign in Their translated heavenly body after being in heaven for several thousand years. Read below…
2. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,
3. The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.
4. And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
5. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
6. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
7. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
8. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
9. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
10. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
11, as it relates to the peals of thunder. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
12. And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
13, which references the third that had a face like a man. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14, where the throne came flashes of lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
The Cherubims spoken of in the Bible are a part of the Godhead, but the four Living Ones are human beings which strictly belong to the human creation.
Ezekiel saw them as the appearance of a man, and everyone had four wings; one on each side. Wings are symbolic of power and time.
They were blessed with the power of God in Their ministry over a period of time on earth. The four wings speaks to us of the four thousand years before Christ.
They have a prominent part during the Reign of a thousand years. They are mentioned in the context of the living creatures give glory to God. Revelation 4:4-11, which describes the throne that came flashes of lightning and peals of thunder., Revelation 5:8-14, Revelation 6:1-8, Revelation 7:11-12, Revelation 14:3 & 14:15, and Revelation 19:4.
Revelation chapter 4:4-11
5. 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, the twenty-four elders fall before him.
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.
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; surrounding the throne were twenty-four elders.
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.
13. 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.
3. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
5. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see.And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
7. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
12. Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
The face of a LION…..the face of a MAN…..the face of an OX…..and the face of an EAGLE.
The face of a man connects Them to humanity in Their ministry. The face of a Lion connects them to the Lord Jesus in His ministry. The face of the Ox connects Them to Moses in his ministry. The face of an Eagle connects Them to Enoch and his flying ministry.
Although the wings of the power of God were given Them, the ministry was worked out through the hands of man, as noted in the study bible. The wings were joined together and when they went, they went straight forward and turned not. God’s plan of salvation is worked out through human vessels.
The purpose of God’s will through the dispensation of the age was worked out through the four Living Ones according to His order in perfect unity.
Four faces each, declares the ministry in Oneness. Each One was connected to the other’s ministry, even as the Body of Christ depends upon the love and unity of One another to blend together the Body.
“Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”,… Revelation 4:11.
