The Crowning of King Jesus (Revelation 4:1–5:14)

In 4:1, a new section of the book of Revelation opens, which lasts until the end of chapter 20. John receives a summons to ascend to heaven to receive information regarding what must take place in the future, that is, from the period in which John was living. Recall that John has just been given letters to seven churches, only two of which received no rebuke. Perhaps he needed reassurance that the church was not going to disappear under the effects of heresy and persecution. So he is given insight into how heaven sees the big picture. That is a reminder to us as to how to view things today, not by our assessment of current circumstances but by how God describes the future in his Word.

Between 4:1 and 20:15 of this book, John is given descriptions of life on earth during the period between Christ’s two comings. These descriptions are given in a variety of images such as seals, plagues, beasts, and trumpets. I would mention three ways of helping us understand what is being depicted.

Firstly, it is important for us to remember that these are not literal; rather they are images based on practices and shapes known to John in the first century. For example, when John says that the n0-one will be able to buy or sell without having the mark of the beast in their foreheads or hands, he is referring to the practice of branding slaves.

Secondly, we are to look at the overall details of the imagery to get the meaning and not at each of the details. To understand the point of chapters 4–5, we need to see what happens at the end of chapter 5. John is told that he is going to receive information about the future. We discover that the details of the future are in the scroll found in the hand of God. Therefore the imagery is concerned with identifying the person who is able to open the scroll and let the future happen. If we read chapter 4 by itself, we miss the point because Jesus is not mentioned in chapter 4; we must also read chapter 5 to get the full story.

Thirdly, many of the allusions that John mentions are to events in the Old Testament, particularly to occasions when God did something of special importance. We shall see some of these as we proceed through the chapters.

Having said that 4:1 begins the middle section of the book, we should note that there are also sub-sections within it. Chapters 4 t0 7 are one of these sub-sections and they describe the crowning of Christ and the way he rules to bring his people to himself. Chapters 4 and 5 describe the crowning and chapters 6 and 7 seven describe his rule.

Although we have left the seven letters behind, we are to see them as the introduction to what begins in chapter 4. In a real sense chapters 4 and 5 are the answer to the questions raised by John’s descriptions of the churches. John’s readers would have reached this section aware that churches have real problems, and would have wanted some help. And to understand the answer, we have to go back several decades in time, to the occasion when Jesus returned to heaven at his ascension.

The heavenly throne room (4)

In chapter 4, John describes what heaven is like. Let us briefly notes its details (As already mentioned, Jesus is missing from chapter 4).

The first object that John sees is a throne. He begins his vision by referring to the throne of God and he will close it by describing the great white throne (Rev. 20). On the throne sits one marked by purity and beauty (this does not mean God has a visible shape). He is likened to various jewels, and when we see their names we are to interpret them through first-century usage. Today jasper and sardius are red stones, but they were given a wider meaning in the ancient world and described jewels through which light shone. There were no impurities in what John saw; rather he saw a being with no imperfection, only purity and beauty.

Next John sees a rainbow, which is a reminder that God rules according to his own promises. The rainbow was given at the time of the flood as an indication that God would never again destroy the earth by a flood. This is a reminder that God’s sovereignty is accompanied by his desire for sinners to experience mercy.

Then John notes some lesser thrones, occupied by twenty-four elders, indicating that heaven is also a place of delegated power. We are not told who they are, only that they are holy creatures (dressed in white) who rule (crowns of gold) under God. There has been a lot of discussion as to who they are, with some thinking they represent the redeemed of the Old Testament and others thinking that they are angels. Personally I think they are angels because in the rest of the book of Revelation they are distinct from the redeemed (5:8; 7:13-14; 11:8; 14:3; 19;4). They are probably angels who have been given a special authority by God (Ps. 89:6-7).

From the throne came lightnings, thunders and voices. This is very similar to the way God appeared on Mount Sinai when he gave the law. It reminds us of his opposition to sin. These cosmic phenomena are often used in the Bible as pictures of God’s anger and judgement.

John also noticed the presence of the Spirit, illustrated by the seven lamps of burning fire.

Then John mentions the sea of glass, which reminds us that heaven is a place of peace because nothing that causes disturbances is found there. The sea also functions as a barrier to keep out unwanted intruders.

John also mentions the cherubim, strange looking creatures that are similar to the seraphim mentioned in Isaiah 6. They are guardians of the throne of God. Their eyes may suggest alertness as well as knowledge.

Heaven is a place of praise, as seen in the song of the cherubim and of the elders. The cherubim celebrate the holiness, power and eternal existence of God and the elders praise him as the great Creator. The elders, angelic beings who have been given authority by God, cast their crowns before the throne of God, confessing that he alone is King.

The effect of this description is to stress both the majesty and the mystery of God. Compared to him, all the pomp of earthly rulers is but tinsel. But there is someone missing from the scene of chapter 4, for both the Father and the Spirit are mentioned, but not the Son, which brings us to a problem articulated by the angel at the beginning of chapter 5.

The problem identified by the strong angel (5:1-4)

John refers to a book (scroll) sealed with seven seals. The fact that the book is sealed indicates that it is complete. The book cannot be opened until all the seals are taken off. I think the book is the book of life, and we are told in chapters 6 and 7 what the seals are, which are taken off one by one. When the last one is removed, the contents of the book of life will be revealed.

The problem concerns finding one able to open the book. The angel cannot do it, even although he is a strong creature. John thinks that no-one in the universe had the capability to open the book. In that book are the names of the church members in Ephesus, Smyrna and the other places. What is going to happen to them? And it caused him great sorrow.

The answer to the problem (5:5-7)

But John is told that there is one person who can take hold of the book and bring about its details. He is told that he is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. Calling him the Lion is the same as saying he is the Messiah promised through the tribe of Judah, that he would be the descendant of David (Gen. 49:9). He is the promised Deliverer, indicated to be a human in the prediction made in the Garden of Eden. But he is also divine, for he is the Root of David, that is, the origins of David. So the Rescuer has been identified.

John’s eyes are directed towards the throne and there he sees not a Lion, but a wounded Lamb. The reference of course is to Jesus as the one who suffered on the Cross, who was marred because of having paid the penalty of sin. The scars of Calvary are on his body as he stands before the throne of God.

But he is more than a wounded Lamb. He also has seven horns and seven eyes. Seven is the number that indicates perfection. The horn symbolised power; seven horns depicts all power. The eye depicted awareness and knowledge; seven eyes depict perfect knowledge. But this power and knowledge that Jesus possesses are linked to the fact that he has sent the Holy Spirit into all the earth.

Here we have a wonderful picture of Jesus. He is the answer to the problem because he is the divine Messiah, the suffering Saviour, and the One who sends the Spirit to bring blessings to the world. Yes he is worthy to open the book. So he proceeds to the throne and takes the book in his hand. That moment was a great moment for the human race. The Son of God, now with a human nature, has universal power in his hands.

The worship of the Lamb

The rest of chapter 5 describes the response of the onlookers to the handing over of the scroll to Christ. The same honour that was given to the Father in chapter 4 is given to Jesus in chapter 5. He becomes the object of praise of the heavenly host.

The song of the elders focuses on the worldwide gathering in of the people of God and of the great blessing they are going to receive in being lords of the future world. The song of the massed rank of angels concerns the slain Saviour being accorded divine honour. The song of creation focuses on both the Father and the Lamb, and the fact that they will reign for ever.

This vision is a reminder that the One in charge of the universe is Jesus Christ. He has been given the place of highest honour. To know that Jesus the man who once walked through this world, is on the throne is a comfort, a dignity, and a challenge.

It is a comfort because he knows what it is like to live in difficult situations. He is able to sympathise and provide help and assurance.

It is a dignity to know that his humanity is on the throne of God, as Rabbi Duncan put it, ‘The dust of the earth is on the throne of the universe.’ Jesus has taken the nature that sin defiled, that is our nature, and has made it glorious. If you come and trust in Jesus, you will be given a royal status.

It is also a challenge to us to submit to the One who went to the cross on behalf of sinners, and has now been exalted to gather in sinners into his kingdom. Have you joined the heavenly host and bowed the knee to him?

This knowledge is a source of great confidence. The early church in all its weakness would survive because Jesus was on the throne. (The troubles that we face at present will be overcome because Jesus is on the throne.) Jesus will conquer the nations is the message of this vision. Come and join the victory side.