Revelation 4:5 (A Prelude To All Judgements)

(Before we begin, there’s something I got to correct. In our last study in Revelation 4:2-4 (In The Throne Room of The Most High God) on the subject of the emerald “rainbow round about the throne of God.”

The Holy Spirit had pointed out to me that I left out an important revelation about this rainbow.

Leading you all, who heard and read that message, to believe that the rainbow was multicolored.

I need to add this revelation to this message now, because it is important. So as the Scriptures states,

Revelation 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.

The rainbow that surrounds the throne of God is no doubt the color of an emerald. It’s not multicolored.

In our last study we were getting into the meat of the importance of the “rainbow.” and why it surrounds the throne of God.

But I failed to minister further about what’s so significant about it being the color of an emerald.

So, here’s the revelation: Emerald is one of the stones on the Ephod (Hoshen) of the Levitical High Priest that represents the tribe Judah.

We are going by the actual birth order of each tribe of Israel found in Genesis 49:1-28.

Which the stones that represent each tribe of Israel are also mentioned by birth order in, 

Exodus 28:15-21 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.

Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

Since we now know that the emerald is the tribe of Judah, this may not mean much to you, but it should.

Because as you do a study on the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ’s lineage came out of Judah according to the genealogy of Luke 3:23-38.

This is why Jesus Christ is referred to as the Lion of Judah in Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Why is Jesus Christ referred to as a lion? A lion is known to be the king of the jungle. The jungle is the world.

So Jesus Christ is the King of the world. This is why He will establish His government on earth in His second advent as is prophesied first in,

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

And this prophecy concurs with Revelation 19:11-20:4.

Another interesting fact is that the lion does not fear any animals. Yet they do have enemies, as also Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ does not fear man, beast, the world, the flesh nor the devil. Yet satan, satan’s kingdom of darkness, sinners and the works of satan are his enemies.

And that’s significant! This emerald rainbow tells us three things:

#1). As Jesus Christ proclaims, “I Am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

That means in order to get to God, we must go through Jesus Christ. We must know Him as our personal Lord and Savior.

For He is the vail in the Old Testament that separates the holy place from the most holy place where God dwelt among His people in the tabernacle.

That emerald rainbow is that vail round about the throne of God as well.

#2). Jesus Christ is near and dear to God’s own heart. And those who love Christ and abides in Him, love’s God His Father and are near and dear to God’s own heart and throne, both Jew and Gentile.

#3). God is always reminded by this rainbow (His personal promise) that He watches over His ministers in protection. Because the safest place to be in life, is in the perfect will of God.

Revelation 4:5 (A Prelude To All Judgment)

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.

Lightnings and Thunderings

The thundering’s and the lightning are the next instance John witnessed, proceeding out of the throne of God Most High. Which reveals to us two things:

#1). It’s the awesome power and majesty of God on display.

When God first appeared on Mount Sinai, as He descends on top of the Mount, there were thunderings and lightnings,

Exodus 19:14-20 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.

And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

And again, after God spoke His 10 Commandments in the hearing of the all the congregation of the Jews in

Exodus 20:13-18 Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

#2). The thundering’s and lightnings are also an unsettling warning that a storm is brewing within The Almighty God for judgment.

And that’s the point of Revelation chapters 4 and 5. It’s a prelude of judgments to come upon on the earth, starting in Revelation chapters 2-3; chapter 6; and chapters 8-16.

Judgment upon all humanity for the rejection of Jesus Christ.

Also for the sins, abominations and wickedness of man that God Most High has endured throughout the church age after His only begotten Son; Jesus Christs’, death, resurrection and ascension.

Throughout the Holy Bible, God’s wrath and action of judgment are followed by thundering’s.

Take for instance, the time when God Almighty was dealing with the heart and pride of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let God’s people go from slavery in Egypt

Exodus 9:13-26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

(the 1st warning) For I will at this time send all My plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like Me in all the earth.

For now I will stretch out My hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.

And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee My power; and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth.

As yet exaltest thou thyself against My people, that thou wilt not let them go?

(the 2nd warning) Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.

(the merciful warning of God) Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.

He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses: And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.

And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt.

(the judgment) So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.

You see, after the thundering, judgment always proceeds!

This may be one of the great reasons why the four beasts (also known as the Four Living Creatures) worship’s God who sits on His throne and the twenty-four elders fell on their faces. To please, appease, if you will, God’s slowly brewing anger of holy righteousness.

And in the Apostle John’s day, this pending judgment was just beginning as a rumbling, much like a storm warning brews in the horizon from a distance on earth before it comes.

You see, God always warns (thunders if you will) way ahead of time before He judges.

Because that’s the mercies of God and even sends His ministers out to preach, prophesy and warn before judgment comes; as we have seen through Moses in the Book of Exodus.

As is also shown us in Ezekiel 33:7-9  So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me.

When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

And not just there only, but as you read through the Old Testament, He always warns before He judges Take for another example, the nation of Israel.

Before God delivered His treasured possessions (the Jews) into the hand of their enemies as slaves for 70 years. 

He sent out His prophets in warning to repent from the sins and turn to God, for over 100 years. And they did not heed the warnings; and judgment came.

This is why it is still written for all humanity, especially Christians today.

The warning from God through His ministers; 2000 years ago, on through the end of the world; the pending judgments coming:

2 Peter 3:1-14 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

(The reason for the pending judgment coming) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming?

for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

These are the reasons behind why God will put an end to the world. Because of people’s rejection of God, the truth, and because the abominable, adulterous, deprived wickedness of all humanity 

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(the merciful, self-controlled patience of God) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

(Here’s the warning and the promised judgment coming) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation (walk with the Lord) and godliness,

(the second witness of the last pending judgements of God) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Voices

The Apostle John also heard voices, as in plural, many voices that proceeded out of the throne of God.

This is a very important detail John writes, as he starts verse 5 “And out of the throne proceeded“ meaning, ‘came forth or continued from.’ And lists, “Lightnings, thunderings and voices.”

We have already covered that the voice of God is like “a noise of many waters” in our past study: Revelation 1:15-19 (Jesus Christ Is The World’s Real Messiah part 2)

“God Most High, His Father, has the same voice…As the saying goes, ‘Like father, like son.’ Ezekiel 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and His voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with His glory”

excerpt taken from the study of Revelation 1:15-19 (Jesus Christ Is The Worlds Real Messiah)

So, this could be His own voice that John is hearing. It could also be His thoughts.

When we have a really close relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We can actually hear God’s thoughts at times.

Many born-again Christians have experienced this without realizing it. I’m sure you’ve heard peoples testimonies about hearing a whispering voice of God.

That’s not an actual voice of God. You are hearing His thoughts, when you are really close to God in your personal relationship with Him, on a deep intimate level.

Just like Jeremiah the prophet experienced in the context of Jeremiah chapter 29.

God let him in on His plan (thoughts) for Israel after the 70 years of captivity. Way before God exiled Israel to Babylon.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

That’s not just for Israel or for Jeremiah, and/or all other prophets from the days of old. This still pertains to all Christians today.

In John’s case, not only was he Spiritually close to God, he had a really close relationship with God on earth as well.

He was also physically close to God here in chapter 4, in the spirit, at the throne room of God, where he can hear God’s thoughts.

It could also be, what God hears, John is also hearing. Such as, the thoughts, voices and hearts of all humanity at that moment of time.

Because, this brief mentioning of voices proceeding from the throne, is a general description; not a specific one.

For example, John just mentions voices. He did not describe voices singing, or shouting nor speaking specific words.

He’s hearing voices proceeding from the throne of God at that very moment. And that’s all he mentions.

So why not these voices be from every thought, voice and heart of all humanity of both the quick and the dead.

I also say the dead, because even though we die physically on earth, our soul is eternal. It lives forever in one of two eternal destinations, Heaven or Hell.

And people in Hell maybe thinking and/or complaining out loud their should’ve, could’ve and would’ves’

1 Chronicles 28:9 for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts:

Voices proceeding from the throne of God could also be voices of Christians praying to God Most High. Singing, praising and worshipping Him.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers:

This is a plausible interpretation, because it is written about God, that He hears all things because He knows all things.

Not just by His infinite knowledge, wisdom and understanding of all things; since He is the beginning of all intelligence.

He knows all things by observance. Observing by what He hears, see’s and discerns.

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

There is nothing hidden from His sight, Hebrews 4:12-13 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.

He records every idle word men (humanity) speaks, every nanosecond of the day since the dawn of creation to now.

This alone proves that He hears all voice mentioned in this study.

Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Like I’ve said at the beginning of this message. Revelation chapters 4-5 is the prelude of all judgments to come upon the earth!

This verse is an important set up of the pending judgments coming to the whole world.

And this is why this verse ends with this last statement, “and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.”

The seven burning lamps are the 7 churches of Revelation chapters 2-3.

And the seven spirits are the angels that are assigned to each of these seven churches mentioned in Revelation 1:4;11;20.

So, in our next few studies, we will be ministering out of chapters 2-3, because these churches represent the entire church age from beginning to end. And God’s judgment begins there first as it is written,

1 Peter 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God