Revelation-The Worthy One

(Revelation Chapters 4&5)

After John received the news about the Seven Churches he was next given another Heavenly experience. John was given the opportunity to see future events unfold that would impact everyone on the face of the Earth, though he himself would never see it in his lifetime, those future generations would be warned of what to look for and how close they were to the return of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:1-11 “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.[2] And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.[3] And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.[4] And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.[5] And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.[6] And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.[7] And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.[8] And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.[9] And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,[10] The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,[11] Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

In Revelation Chapter Four John is given a personal audience before The Almighty. We are given a view of the throne of God, but this is not what I want to focus on at this time. It is the two different spiritual beings that are before and around the throne.

We again see the Seven Spirits, which also appear as Burning Lamps. First we need to find out what the Seven Spirits are and we do so by looking at what they appear as. This is not the only time that this description is given to particular spiritual beings. Once we find out who they are, it will correct the mistake of many translations of the Bible that we have today. At the same time it allows us to see who exactly the next four beasts are that are mentioned in verse six.

In Ezekiel 1:5-14 “Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.[6] And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.[7] And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.[8] And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.[9] Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.[10] As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.[11] Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.[12] And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.[13] As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.[14] And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

Ezekiel 10:14,15 “And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.[15] And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature…”

These Seven Spirits mentioned in Revelation are revealed as having the appearance of burning lamps. Just as the Four Living Creatures are depicted as burning coals and lamps in Ezekiel; I think that many make the mistake of misidentifying them with the four beasts is because there are four of them spoken of and not seven, as if there can only be four of them. These Living Creatures also go by another name in the scriptures. They go by the name Cherubim. The Seven Spirits that have been talking with John at the end of each letter to a church were in fact Cherubim. The four beasts, what they are called in the KJV, are different in appearance than the Living Creature (Cherubim). The Living Creatures all have four faces and four wings each and we know this by what Ezekiel saw and wrote, while the four beasts each have six wings and only one face each. Now Isaiah on the other hand witnessed and saw what these four beasts are.

Isaiah 6:2-3 “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. [3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

The four beasts mentioned in revelation are Seraphim and not Living Creatures that many translations put in the place of the four beasts. It is also the Seraphim that cry out and say Holy, holy, holy, before the throne of God.

Revelation Chapter Four sets up the scene for Chapter Five with the appearance of Jesus and the handing over of the Book (Scroll), which in turns begins the revealing of what is to come upon the face of the earth. Chapter Five opens up with a mysterious Book (Scroll) that is written not only on the inside but the outside as well. No man was found to be worthy to open this book in all of Heaven and Earth. It is interesting that KJV uses the word “man” while most others that I have read use the word “one”. Though it may appear insignificant it isn’t, it shows that all of mankind and only mankind were searched to find someone worthy to open the book. The dead, living and those in Heaven, Enoch and Elijah are the only ones of mankind that were taken up to Heaven without experiencing death, were searched to find someone to open the book.

Revelation 5:1-14 “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.[2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?[3] And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.[4] And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.[5] And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.[6] And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.[7] And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.[8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.[9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;[10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.[11] And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;[12] Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.[13] And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.[14] And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”

Another insight we garner, though it does not deal with future events, is that there are differences within the ranks of Angels. In the case of verse two it mentions a “strong angel” or “mighty angel” that makes the proclamation. This particular angel is stronger than others of his kind.

What we are witnessing here in Chapter Five is a memorial, an event to commemorate something that had already taken place. At the time John receives the honor of witnessing this event we know that years earlier Jesus had already provided the offering of himself for many, yet it is shown to John at this time Jesus taking hold of and preparing to open the Book. This was and still is a monumental event that began the beginning of the end. One seal will lead to another, which eventually in turn begins the Trumpets and then after them the Vials (Bowls) of Wrath.

In this Chapter we again get to hear about the Seven Spirits. In this case they are shown and seen as Seven Eyes and Seven Horns. Horns represent power and positions of power and Eyes represent watchfulness over people. So, Seven Cherubim have been appointed and given power and watch over God’s people to provide protection, but also to reprimand when they go astray. These Seven Spirits (Cherubim) are placed over the seven continents of our earth, overseeing all that is going on and stepping in when they feel the need and when called to do so by God.