The Book of Revelation

Chapter 4

I.                  Rapture of the Church

A.     John was shown things which would be hereafter

B.     Contrast of the Rapture and the Second Coming

 

The Rapture

The Second Coming

1.      Removal of all believers

1. The appearing of Jesus Christ

2.      Believers caught up in the air

2.  Jesus coming to earth

3.      He comes to claim bride

3.  He returns with His bride

4.      Removal of the church and start of tribulation

4.  Establishment of the Millennium

5.      Translation imminent

5. A multitude of signs.

6.      A message of comfort

6.  A message of judgment

7.      Program for the church

7.  Program for Israel and the world

8.      The rapture is a mystery

8.  Predicted in both Old & New Testaments

9.      Believers are judged

9.  Israel and the Gentiles are judged

10.  Leaves creation unchanged

10.  A change in creation

11.  Israel’s covenants unfulfilled

 

11. Israel’s fulfilled

12.  No particular action on evil

12.  Evil is judged and destroyed

13.  Takes place before the day of wrath

13.  Happens after the day of wrath

14.  For believers only

14. Relates to all men, saved & unsaved.

15.  Expectation of the church, taken                                        into the presence of the Lord

15.  Expectation of Israel, to be taken into the kingdom

 

II.               Viewing of God’s Throne  4:2-3

A.     Color of the stones

1.      Jasper – clear, crystal speaks of purity

2.      Sardine – beautiful red, speaks of  redemptive work

B.     Relationship to the tribes of Israel

1.      Each had a representative stone

2.      First and last stone on the breastplate, Ex. 28:17-21

3.      Rainbow; God’s mercy as well as judgment

 

III.           The Twenty-four Elders before the Throne  4:4

A.     Who are they?

1.      They are resurrected redeemed men.

2.      Representative of both Old and New Testament saints.

3.      Such as the Priesthood, 24 courses represented all the priests before Moses.  Cf. I Chron. 24:1-4, 19

B.     How we know they are redeemed.

1.      Their position on the throne.

a.       Promised to men, Rev. 3:21, Matt. 19:28

b.      A position in which angels could not stand.

2.      Their dress of a white robe.

a.       That which the redeemed wear, Isa. 61:10

b.      Promised to those in Sardis, Rev. 3:4-5

3.      The crowns they wore.

a.       crown of victory

b.      They had been resurrected and given reward.

4.      Their worship was that of redemption.  9-11