Revelation Chapter Four
(Chapter 4 from Dr. Hyle's excellent book, Let's Study The Revelation)
THE RAPTURE
Of course, as you will recall, "rapture " means "caught away. " It refers to the event when Jesus comes in the air and calls away His own from this world. It is the next event on God’s prophetic program.
Verse 1:
"AFTER THIS. " This is better interpreted, "After these things. " What things? It means after the church age. When Jesus comes to call us out of this world, the church age ceases, as the church will be with Jesus. So then we will not be caught out until the church age is completed. The rapture will mark the end of the church age."I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD. " The word "behold " means "look. " So John said, "Look, " when he saw what God had prepared for us. John was like a child in a circus as he saw all that was ahead for himself.
"A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN. " That door is Jesus (John 10:9). He is the only door to Heaven. Our job is to tell people to look to the door that is open to Heaven, or to the Lord Jesus Christ.
"AND THE FIRST VOICE WHICH I HEARD WAS AS IT WERE OF A TRUMPET. " This proves that this verse speaks of the rapture as it fits in perfectly with I Thessalonians 4:16 and I Corinthians 15:52. We who are looking for Jesus are simply awaiting the sound of the trumpet now.
"WHICH SAID, COME UP HITHER. " Here is the even that we call the rapture. Here the church is caught out of the world and we do not find the word church mentioned again in Revelation until all has been fulfilled. Some day Jesus will open up Heaven and say, "Come up hither. " The time of the Great Tribulation is going to come upon the earth. The Lord seems to be saying to His own that He does not want them to have to go through such an hour, so He calls them out of that period.
Verse 2:
"AND IMMEDIATELY [in the twinkling of an eye] I WAS IN THE SPIRIT. " It is the Holy Spirit who will call us out. He alone has the power to rapture us. Those who do not have Him in their hearts by being born again will not be caught away at the rapture.Notice in the remainder of this verse whom we shall see at once. We will see a great throne and Jesus on the throne. He is the first one the real Christian wants to see.
Verse 3:
"AND HE THAT SAT WAS TO LOOK UPON LIKE A JASPER AND A SARDINE STONE. "Jasper is a symbol of wisdom. Could it mean that it is wise to be ready for His coming? How foolish for a person to be lost as we see the time approaching.
Sardine is a symbol of marital happiness. That is exactly why He is coming. We are going to be married and live with our Bridegroom forever.
"AND THERE WAS A RAINBOW ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE, IN SIGHT LIKE UNTO AN EMERALD. "
The rainbow is a symbol of Calvary. It is a promise by God not to judge again that which has already been judged. The rainbow in Heaven will remind us that we will never have to suffer the sorrow and pains of this world again. It will be a constant reminder that we are in heavenly bodies to stay.
Emerald is a symbol of discovering false friends. You can rest assured that all of the false friends of Jesus will be discovered at the rapture. When the saints are gone, those who are left can’t fool anybody any more about their salvation.
Verse 4:
"AND ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE WERE FOUR AND TWENTY SEATS. " The word "seats " is better translated "throne. ""AND UPON THE SEATS I SAW FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS. " These elders represent every New Testament Christian. In Old Testament days there were 24 priests on duty at a time, but they represented all of the priests. Hence, these 24 probably represent all of the priests. The Bible teaches that every New Testament Christian is his own priest, so these 24 represent all of us who are saved. Praise God, all of His children are priests.
"CLOTHED IN WHITE RAIMENT. " We will be wearing white raiment. You remember in the Garden of Eden God made a coat of skins to clothe naked man. In order to get a coat of skins, an animal had to die and shed its blood before the skins could be obtained. So our Lamb of God shed His blood in order that we might have white raiment picturing our righteousness before God.
"AND THEY AHD ON THEIR HEADS CROWNS OF GOLD. " God is going to reward us for our faithfulness, etc., with crowns at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Crowns for faithfulness, clean living, suffering, soul winning, and loving the appearing of Jesus are all mentioned in the Bible as crowns that will be given. How many will you get?
Verse 5:
This verse shows the clouds with lightning and thunder. Above the clouds all may be peaceful when a storm is raging under them. When we are above the clouds with Jesus at the marriage of the Lamb, under the clouds shall be a time of Great Tribulation on the earth. Thank God, those of us who belong to Him shall be above the storm.Verse 6:
Four new creatures are introduced in this verse. They are called "beasts, " but the best translators call them "living creatures. " Really they are "full of life creatures. " They constantly are praising God as you see in verses 7 and 8. Their sole purpose is to sing praises unto God around the throne.Verses 9-10:
Notice now what will happen. We hear the creatures praising God, so we join in the song and sing with the living creatures and praise our wonderful Saviour.Note also what else we do. We take off our rewards that God has given us as crowns and hurl them at Jesus’ feet, and say He alone is worthy to receive them. Perhaps we shall sing,
All hail the power of Jesus’ name, Let angels prostate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all.
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