Revelation 4 – The Throne in Heaven

Overview: Heaven’s Focus Before Earth’s Storm

🔹 Theme: The sovereignty and holiness of God.

🔹 Focus: A heavenly throne surrounded by ceaseless worship.

🔹 Outcome: All creation acknowledges God as worthy.

The Origins of the Rapture Theory

The Rapture theory, as commonly taught in modern evangelical Christianity, originated primarily from John Nelson Darby (1800–1882), a British theologian and founder of the Plymouth Brethren movement.

Key Origins of the Rapture Theory

🔹 John Nelson Darby (Early 19th Century): Developed Dispensationalism and taught a Pre-Tribulation Rapture where believers are removed before the Great Tribulation.

🔹 Margaret MacDonald (1830): A Scottish teenager whose vision of a secret rapture may have influenced Darby. Evidence is debated.

🔹 Cyrus Scofield (1909): The Scofield Reference Bible popularized Dispensationalism and included footnotes on a Pre-Trib Rapture.

🔹 Hal Lindsey (1970s): The Late Great Planet Earth linked the Rapture to modern events and fueled end-time interest.

🔹 Tim LaHaye (1995–2007): Left Behind series made the Rapture a mainstream Christian belief.

Rapture in Church History?

🔹 Early Church Fathers (1st–4th Century): No direct evidence of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture. They expected tribulation before Christ’s return.
🔹 Reformers (Augustine, Luther, Calvin): No mention of a secret Rapture—focused on a single Second Coming.

Conclusion: Rapture vs. Endurance

The Rapture theory is a relatively modern interpretation. The faithful have always endured through trials, not escaped them.

📖 John 17:15 – “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”
✔ Jesus didn’t pray for escape, but for protection within tribulation.

Throughout history:
✔ Noah wasn’t taken out of the flood—he was preserved through it.
✔ Israel wasn’t removed from Egypt during the plagues—God shielded them in Goshen.
✔ Daniel stayed in Babylon, but thrived in the lion’s den.
✔ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not spared the fire—but God was with them in it.

➡️ God’s pattern has always been preservation through, not evacuation from, tribulation.

📖 Revelation 14:12 – “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Why Fleeing to Pella Was Not a Rapture Event

🔹 Pella (70 AD): Christians fled Jerusalem based on Jesus’ warning (Matthew 24:15–16), but this was not a supernatural escape—it was a strategic act of obedience.
🔹 They still suffered: Relocation did not spare them from persecution, hardship, or Roman oppression.

➡️ Pella was like Noah’s ark—not a rapture, but a place of refuge during judgment.

🔹 Fleeing to Pella fits God’s consistent model: provide protection in the storm—not whisk away His people.

Key Takeaways

🔑 God is on the throne—before, during, and after judgment.

🔑 Heaven’s center is not man, but God.

🔑 Worship is the proper response to divine majesty.

🔑 The throne room prepares us to trust through the coming storm.

Prophetic Patterns & Fulfillment

🔮 Pattern of heavenly scenes before action: Exodus 24, Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1.

🔮 Four living creatures reappear in Revelation and in Ezekiel’s vision.

🔮 God’s throne precedes the opening of the seals in Revelation 5.

Historical & Cultural Context

📜 Throne Rooms – Ancient kings ruled from thrones; John sees the real throne of the universe.

📜 Colors and Stones – Jasper, sardine, and emerald would have been known for value and symbolism.

📜 24 Elders – The number likely reflects priestly and tribal symbolism from the Old Testament.

Final Reflection: Let Worship Lead the Way

Before the seals open and judgment begins, heaven sings. Revelation 4 centers our hearts on what matters most—God’s glory, holiness, and reign. If we miss the throne, we’ll misunderstand the rest.

📌 Is worship your starting place?
📌 Are your eyes on the throne or the storm?
📌 Do you live as one who knows the King?

🚀 Begin with awe. Stay in wonder. Heaven rules.

Rev 4:1  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. 
Rev 4:2  And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 
Rev 4:3  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. 
Rev 4:4  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. 
Rev 4:5  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. 
Rev 4:6  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. 
Rev 4:7  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. 
Rev 4:8  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. 
Rev 4:9  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 
Rev 4:10  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, 
Rev 4:11  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.