Revelation 4 Symbols

From: Symbols of the Apocalypse Briefly Defined By: Alfred Henry Burton

Revelation 4 • 1 min. read • grade level: 11

2. Throne: The royal seat of authority and government.

3. Jasper and Sardine: Divine glory visible to man (Rev. 21:11¹¹Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; (Revelation 21:11)).

Rainbow: Sign of God’s unchanging covenant with the earth in mercy. Post-diluvian relationship (Gen. 9:13-14¹³I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: (Genesis 9:13‑14); Ezek. 1:28²⁸As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. (Ezekiel 1:28)).

4. Twenty-Four: Priestly completeness. The number of the courses of the priesthood in Israel (1 Chron. 24:4⁴And 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. (1 Chronicles 24:4)). Twice the administrative perfection in man.

Elders: Glorified saints as invested with wisdom and intelligence.

White Raiment: Recognition of righteousness (Rev. 6:11¹¹And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Revelation 6:11)).

Crowns of Gold: Royal dignity.

5. Lightnings and Thunderings and Voices: Signs of judicial dealing (Psa. 29:3-4³The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. ⁴The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. (Psalm 29:3‑4)).

Seven Lamps of Fire: The consuming power of the Spirit of God in perfect development (Heb. 12:29²⁹For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29); Rev. 1:4⁴John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; (Revelation 1:4)).

6. Sea of Glass: Solid purity, in contrast with the water of the laver (Ex. 30:17-21¹⁷And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ¹⁸Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. ¹⁹For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: ²⁰When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord: ²¹So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations. (Exodus 30:17‑21)).

Four Beasts [living creatures]: God’s attributes in judicial and governmental power on earth. Types of power, firmness, intelligence, and rapidity of execution.

8. Six Wings: Supernatural swiftness (Ezek. 1).

Full of Eyes: Perfect intelligence.

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