Revelation - Chapters 4 & 5

Revelation – Chapter 4

The Red and Green Throne

Revelation Chapter 4 starts out with a description of the Great White Throne which we have talked about several times before in previous articles:

Revelation 4:3 – and He who is sitting was in sight like a stone, jasper and sardine: and a rainbow was round the throne in sight like an emerald. (YLT)

There are 3 words in this verse that are very interesting: jasper, sardine, and emerald. Jasper is a type of chalcedony or silicon mineral which can be red or green. Sardine is not referring to the fish, but comes from the Greek word sardinos which is another type of chalcedony that was red in Bible times. Emerald is type of mineral beryl that is green. Red and green are complementary colors and are therefore opposites. Red represents fire and judgment, while green represents growth, regeneration, and restitution. So this description of the throne confirms our understanding of the Great Throne. It will be a time of judgment when people are sentenced to the lake of fire, however, this will ultimately bring spiritual growth and restitution to the lost.

The Twenty Four Elders

Revelation 4:4 – And around the throne [are] thrones twenty and four, and upon the thrones I saw the twenty and four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and they had upon their heads crowns of gold; (YLT)

The twenty four elders is a description of the overcomers. Remember this verse from Chronicles:

1 Chronicles 27:1 – And the sons of Israel, after their number, heads of the fathers, and princes of the thousands and of the hundreds, and their officers, those serving the king in any matter of the courses, that are coming in and going out month by month, throughout all months of the year – [are] in each course twenty and four thousand. (YLT)

David’s army consisted of 12 groups of 24,000 each, for a total of 288,000. So the twenty-four elders and David’s army both represent the overcomers.

Thunder and Lightning

Revelation 4:5 – and out of the throne proceed do lightnings, and thunders, and voices; and seven lamps of fire are burning before the throne, which are the Seven Spirits of God, (YLT)

Thunder and lightning are more words that describe the overcomers. This can also be seen in Psalm:

Psalm 77:17-18 – Poured our waters have thick clouds, The skies have given forth a noise, Also – Thine arrows go up and down. The voice of Thy thunder [is] in the spheres, Lightnings have lightened the world, The earth hath tremebled, yea, it shaketh. (YLT)

Matthew 5:14-15 – ‘Ye are the light of the world, a city set upon a mount is not able to be hid; nor do they light a lamp, and put it under the measure, but on the lamp-stand, and it shineth to all those in the house; (YLT)

Psalm 127:3-5 – Lo, an inheritance of Jehovah [are] sons, A reward [is] the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hand of a might one, So [are] the sons of the young men. O the happiness of the man Who hath filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate! (YLT)

Psalm 77 compares lightning to God’s arrows that light up the world. Matthew says that we as God’s people are the light of the world. Psalm 127 compares God’s arrows to the sons of God. Remember that the sons of God is another term for the overcomers, because it is similar to the Hebrew word for barley. Therefore, thunder and lightning are just giving us more images of the overcomers.

Revelation 4:5 also mentions the seven spirits of God, which we already talked about it chapter 1. These are the seven aspects of Christ that are required for a man to have the full knowledge of the Holy Spirit.

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