In Revelation chapter 4, God’s throne is revealed. When John is given access by the Spirit through and open door into heaven, he begins seeing the wonders of God’s glorious presence. He beheld the throne and God sitting on the throne. Then John was shown twenty-four elders which represent the raptured or caught-away church. They fell down before God’s throne and worshipped, “You are worthy, O Lord…”
Revelation 4:6 NKJV Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
The sea of glass, like crystal probably represents the holiness of God.
In the Tabernacle there was a brass laver for the washing and cleansing of the priests. When Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel saw the God of Israel, “Under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity,” (Exodus 24:9-10).
The sea of glass most definitely represents holiness and purity before God.
Nothing around and about the throne of God is common, but precious, holy and pure. The glassy sea reflects the glory that surrounds and proceeds from the throne of God. It also reveals how far God is away from the impurities of a sinful world. He dwells in unapproachable light.
And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
This is the first of many presentations of God’s holy angels.
There are four classes of angels.
The ministry and function of angels is seen throughout the Revelation. They have a major function in the war against Satan and his angels (the dragon and his angels) in Revelation 12:7-9.
- There are millions of angels that encircle the throne and the living creatures, (Daniel 7:10; Revelation 5:1).
The word “angel” (angelos) is a divine messenger. This innumerable number of angels are supernatural beings that attend and serve the Lord of Hosts. There is no description of these angels. Throughout the Biblical script, angels have a unique ability to appear to people in the form of a man, or in the form of an angel with wings and possibly with the appearance of the other classes of angels. They are not babies that have died at childbirth or shortly thereafter. Angels are supernatural beings, the hosts of the Lord, and flying spirit messengers of God, (Psalms 148:2; Luke 2:13; Zechariah 1:14). Revelation 14:6 indicates they are winged beings.
Revelation 14:6 NKJV Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth; to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.
It is possible that all angels are endowed with special graces that depict their status and function.
- Second, traditionally there are seven archangels.
Michael and Gabriel are the only ones mentioned by name in the Bible.
Michael is an archangel and prince of angels. He is mentioned seven times as a prince of angels, (Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). Gabriel is mentioned four times in scripture, (Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:20-23; Luke 1:19; Luke 1:26-35).
In historical Hebrew literature, seven archangels are named.
Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer are three of these that are listed in the Bible. Gabriel said he was one of seven angels “who stand before the presence of God,” (Luke 1:19). Lucifer is described in Ezekiel 28:1-15 as a guardian cherub. He lost his position from among the fiery stones when he was filled with pride and led a rebellion of one-third of the angels against God. The traditional apocryphal books give names of the seven angels of power who stand before the presence of God. Enoch 20:1-7 lists six angels of power: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Zariel, and Gabriel. A variant reading adds Remiel as the seventh. Tobit 12:15 reads: “ I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who offer up the prayer of the saints and enter in before the glory of the Holy one.” What Gabriel said of himself in Luke 1:19, is said here of the seven angels, “Who stand before the presence of God.”
Revelation 8:2 speaks of seven angels who stand in God’s presence with seven trumpets.
Archangels appear to be cherubim that have high ranking assignment.
- Third, the seraphim of Isaiah 6, stand above the throne of God and cry “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
The word “seraphim” means burning ones, fiery serpent. These are holy angels of God that stand above the throne of God and declare the holiness of God. They are mentioned seven times in the Bible, (Numbers 21:6, 8; Deuteronomy 8:15; Isaiah 6:2, 6; 14:29; 30:6). Each of the seraphim have six wings. With two they cover their face, with two they cover their feet and with two they fly. We are not given any other description of their appearance in the Bible.
- Fourth, the cherubim are the “four living creatures” in the midst and around the throne.
Cherubim are guarding and covering angels. They are mentioned 66 times in the Bible. Their whole body, with their back, hands, wings, and the wheels that the four had, were full of eyes all around. In Ezekiel 10, each of the four cherubim had four faces: the face of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. In Revelation 4, John saw the four living creatures and each one had a different appearance. The first was like a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had the face of a man, and the fourth had the face of an eagle. Their eyes represent unceasing watchfulness. The cherubim have four wings. Two of their wings spread out upward and two of their wings cover their body. They cover their bodies in reverence to the holiness of God, (Isaiah 6:1-3). According to Isaiah 1, the movement of the cherubim is directed by the Spirit of God. Replicas of the cherubim were placed on each end of the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies, (Exodus 25: 18-22, Psalm 80:1; Exodus 26:1; 1 Kings 6:23-25). They are always found near or in the midst of the throne of God and are the highest ranking of heavenly beings. A cherubim was placed east of the Garden of Eden with a flaming sword, to guard the way to the tree of life, (Genesis 3:24).
In the midst and around the throne, John saw the four living creatures.
Revelation 4:7 NKJV The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.
These four living creatures are mighty cherubim.
Revelation 4:8 NKJV The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
This is the sound of their worship around the throne. Every believer should become familiar with the sound of worship. That sound is all around the throne of God.
In addition to the sound of their worship, Isaiah heard the seraphim worshipping God.
Isaiah 6:1-3 NKJV I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
Every time they cried out, the door post of the temple was shaken and the house was filled with smoke. From above the throne of God, the seraphim cry out to one another.
Listen to the sound around the throne of God in heaven.
- Hear the sound of the lightning, thunder and voices from the throne.
- The seraphim are crying to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
- The four mighty cherubim are constantly saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:9-11 NKJV Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
We should get ready for the sound of worship around the throne of God. All of the angels of God are represented around the throne giving honor and worship to God. In addition to the angels, the host of the redeemed will enter into the worship of God in heaven.
Say it out loud: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Evidence of the church’s exemption from the Great Tribulation is found here.
Before the introduction of the antichrist, beast and false prophet, the church is seen worshiping around the throne of God. Thousands upon tens of thousands of the redeemed will be around the throne of God declaring the glory, honor and power of God.
