24 Elders, 7 Spirits, and 4 Living Creatures of Revelation (Day 8)

John goes on to describe a rainbow that looked like an emerald around God’s throne. God used the rainbow as a sign to Noah that He would never bring a flood to destroy the world again. Genesis 9:15-17 ⁽¹⁵⁾I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ⁽¹⁶⁾Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” ⁽¹⁷⁾So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (NIV) There is no other covenant to be made by anyone higher than God. This rainbow not only signifies covenant, but it is a sign of God himself. Ezekiel also described the appearance around God as that of a rainbow. Ezekiel 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (NIV)

 

 

Around God’s throne were 24 elders sitting on 24 thrones. These 24 elders represent the body of Christ who will judge the world in the end. Matthew 19:28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (NIV) There were 12 disciples following Jesus at the time, but the Bible says that Judas betrayed Jesus and later killed himself; therefore, he could not be counted as part of the 12 if this was a literal translation. However, this number is symbolic of those saints who make it in the end and will judge the entire world. 1 Corinthians 6:2 Or do you not know that the Lord's people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? (NIV)

 

 

These elders were dressed in white robes with crowns of gold. As we studied in the first lesson, white represents the purity and righteousness of God. There can be no sin in the presence of a Holy God. He represents all that is pure. Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (NIV) We are told in the Bible that we will be given crowns as rewards in Heaven. The crowns that John saw that were worn by the 24 elders represent the rewards given to the Body of Christ who endure to the end. 2 Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (NIV)

 

Revelation 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. (NIV) 

 John describes the flashes of lightning and sounds of thunder that came from the throne of God. This is likened to the return of Jesus when He comes back the second time to take His children home. Matthew 2:27 For as lightning that comes for the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. The Prophet Samuel’s mother, Hannah, spoke of the thunder of  God coming from Heaven to render judgment upon the earth. 1 Samuel 2:10 Those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” (NIV) These are signs of the power of God when He comes back in all His glory and the judgment that will be upon the face of the earth. In front of the throne were seven lamps that represents the seven spirits of God. In the first lesson, we broke down what the seven spirits represent. Let’s go back over them as a reminder. The 7 spirits found in this text represent those found in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 11:2   The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. (NIV)

7 Spirits

 

a.) Spirit of Rest – John 16:7 But I tell you the truth: It is  

for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the

Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him

to you. (NIV)

 

b.) Spirit of Wisdom – Ephesians 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. (NIV)

 

c.)  Spirit of Understanding – John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (NIV)

d.) Spirit of Counsel – John 16:8-11 ⁽⁸⁾When he

 

(Holy Spirit) comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁽⁹⁾ about sin, because people do not believe in me; ⁽¹⁰⁾ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ⁽¹¹⁾ and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (NIV)

 

e.)  Spirit of Power – Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NIV)

 

f.)  Spirit of Knowledge – 1 Corinthians 12:8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit. (NIV)

 

g.) Spirit of Fear (Reverence) – 2 Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (NIV)

 

 

Revelation 4:6-7 ⁽⁶⁾Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. ⁽⁷⁾The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. (NIV)

 

 

John described what looked like to him, a sea of glass, in front of God’s throne. In Moses’ time, the priests were to have a basin made from bronze glass to wash prior to entering the sanctuary. Exodus 38:8 They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. (NIV) No one was to come into God’s sanctuary any kind of way. This sea of glass as described by John takes on the same meaning as there must be a purity prior to going before the throne of our Holy God and entering His presence.

 

 

 

 

The four living creatures that John saw are also similar to the description that the Prophet Ezekiel had given during his vision. Ezekiel 1:10-11 ⁽¹⁰⁾Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. ⁽¹¹⁾Such were their faces. They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. (NIV) These creatures represent Jesus in all His completeness. Let’s take a look at each characteristic that each one possesses and discover its meaning.

 

Tomorrow, we will continue our study in the Book of Revelation. If you would be interested in purchasing these lessons, "Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil Bible Lessons 1-10" are available on Amazon.com. Lesson 11 will be available by the end of December.