John was called up into heaven to see the things that will happen after the church is caught up to heaven to be with the Lord Jesus. John sees Jehovah God sitting on the throne. John sees a rainbow around the throne that looked like an emerald. The rainbow means that God will bring blessing to the earth after the judgments are complete. Not everyone will be destroyed in the judgments. The 24 elders sitting on 24 seats around the throne of God represent all the redeemed saints of God. That includes all the Old Testament saints along with you and me and all the New Testament saints. The gold crowns show that we share the inheritance with Jesus Christ as He rules with authority and reigns in righteousness over this world. The crowns are given to you for a reward, depending on your faithfulness to Jesus Christ now in this life while on earth.
The lightnings and thunderings show that judgment and chaos will soon fall on the earth, while in heaven it will be orderly and peaceful like a sea of glass. The four beasts are powerful angels that are busy to make sure God is glorified on the earth, and they proclaim the holiness of God. Giving glory, honor and thanks to the eternal God, they cry out three times: Holy! Holy! Holy! At this moment, we, the 24 elders, will fall down with our faces to the floor in honor and worship to the One who sits on the throne. We will lay our crowns of reward at the feet of Jesus.
1. What was the One sitting on in heaven? __________ Revelation 4:___
2. What was around the throne that looked like an emerald? __________ Revelation 4:___
3. What did the 24 elders have on their heads? __________ Revelation 4:___
4. Crowns are given for rewards. What did the 24 elders do with their crowns? __________ Revelation 4:___
5. What did the Lord Jesus create for His pleasure? __________ Revelation 4:___