
Describing the “Real” Heaven
Heaven is not only the dwelling place of God. As the apostle John’s vision in Revelation 4 and 5 reveals, it is a place of continual worship of God. The scene in these chapters challenges us to make worship a priority in our daily lives here on earth.
Transcript
There is an almost universal belief in heaven as a place of peace and rest for those who have died. Popular depictions of heaven have people becoming angels, flying around the universe, playing harps, or dancing in fields of flowers. Various world religions portray heaven as a progression from one level to another, or some kind of advancement toward deity, or reaching a paradise filled with physical pleasure.
You will notice that all these different conceptions of heaven place human beings at the center. It is all about us. The Bible, however, describes heaven primarily as the dwelling place of God.[1] Heaven is going to be a wonderful place for the redeemed, of course, but it is going to be a wonderful because of the glory and splendor of God’s presence.
Now as we set sail into Revelation 4–5, this is what the apostle John writes about as he tours the real heaven.
Chapter 4 begins with these words:
I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Following the seven letters to the seven churches in chapters 2–3, John is now shown what follows. So, this scene shifts from earth to heaven.
There is another shift here, as well, and it is critical to understand. From this point in chapter 4 until the physical return of Christ in chapter 19 to set up His kingdom, there is no mention of the church on earth. And that is because chapters 4–19 focus on the coming seven-year tribulation. The church has already been raptured away!
As promised in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, the Lord is going to deliver His church “from the wrath to come.” The rapture of the church before the tribulation—what we call the pretribulation rapture of the church—is important to understand because the focus of these next sixteen chapters has nothing to do with the church. The focus actually shifts to Israel, as God prepares them to receive their Messiah, King Jesus, when He returns after the tribulation period is over. Much more on that later.
Here in chapter 4, John’s body remains on the island of Patmos, but he is taken in spirit to heaven to witness this incredible sight. And the first thing he sees is God’s throne (verse 2). And the “one seated” on it is God the Father. This is the posture of a reigning emperor and a clear reference to the ruling power of God. Beloved, God is not resting; He is reigning.[2]
Next, John sees a dazzling display of light that surrounds God’s throne. John seems to have difficulty adequately describing it:
He who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. (verse 3)
Verses 5-6 add that coming from the throne are “flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder” and “before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.” This is God’s power and magnificence on display.
God is not alone in heaven. Verse 4 says that seated on twenty-four thrones surrounding God’s throne are “twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.” There are a lot of opinions on who these elders are, and I only have enough time to give you the right one. I believe these elders clearly represent the church, at this point now raptured into God’s presence. Their white garments speak of their redemption; their crowns are the rewards given them at the judgment seat of Christ. Those crowns will be cast at the Lord’s feet, as we will see in a moment.
John mentions in verse 5 the presence of the “seven spirits of God.” This expression is used back in Revelation 1:4 (cf. 3:1), where it is a reference to the fullness—the perfection—of the Holy Spirit.
Then John sees “four living creatures” (verse 6). The following verses describe them as having six wings each; one has a face like a lion and another the face of an ox. Another has a face that looks like a man, and another looks like an eagle. They are like nothing seen on the earth. But they closely resemble some Old Testament descriptions of angels—like those in Isaiah 6 and Ezekiel 1. These are angels of the highest created order.
And in verse 8 they are ceaseless in their praise, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.” At this point in John’s vision, the twenty-four elders cast their crowns before God’s throne and begin to chant this song:
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (verse 11)
As chapter 5 opens, John sees God the Father holding a scroll in His right hand; it is described as being “sealed with seven seals.” Then, verse 2 says, “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?’”
This scroll will be the script of God’s end-time judgments upon the earth. One commentator called it the “title deed to the world.”[3]
This is God’s planet. This is God’s plan. History is “His story.” He is in charge, and His plans for the universe and the future of mankind are already written down.
Just when it seems no one is qualified to open the scroll, one of the elders says, “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (verse 5).
Listen to how John describes this “Lion” standing there before the throne. He writes, “I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (verse 6). This Lamb is a picture of our Lord’s sacrifice and resurrection, which gave Him victory over death and Satan and the grave.
He is described here as having “seven horns,” biblical symbols of power, “and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Again, the number 7 pictures perfect completion. Jesus has complete, perfect omniscience. He does not miss a thing!
Jesus Christ, the Lamb, takes the scroll in His hand, and this unleashes a roar of praise in heaven. The elders and the living creatures now sing a “new song.” Verse 9 gives us the lyrics:
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Joining in this worship song are “myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands” of angels (verse 11). Literally understood, more than 100 million angels are chanting this song in verse 12:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
Verse 11 speaks of “living creatures,” using the Greek word zōon, from which we get our word zoo. Then, verse 13 tells us, “Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea”—every created being, every animal—is given the ability to join all of creation and all the redeemed in singing praise to the Lamb of God.
Dear Christian, heaven is a real place, and this is true assurance for your weary soul today. This is a description of your future, and you will never have a sad thought again. You will think only of how joyful you feel and how thrilled you are that you are finally home, worshiping the Lamb of God who redeemed you and forgave you and gave you life in heaven forever.
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