Revelation 4:1-4

“Four and Twenty Elders”

The Bible says in Revelation chapter 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.”

The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is a gospel primarily for the church, the believers in Jesus as opposed to the lost of this world. Revelation is written too the 7 churchs. Truly there is only 1 church which consists of all those whom have turned from their sins to Jesus Christ. But the number 7 is a special number to God. There are seven continents. There are seven seas. There are seven days in a week. There are seven Spirits of God. And by addressing the seven churchs God is emphasizing that He is speaking too all believers, certainly all believers in this age of the church because the age of grace is the age of the church; the age of being separated from the world.

What happened to the apostle John while in prison around A.D. 96 is what is going to happen to all the believers at the end of grace, at the last trump, in the twinkling of an eye when Christ returns. Just like Enoch was translated that he should not see death so too shall all the believers be at the end of the age of grace when Christ raptures us.

This is what Revelation chapter 4 and verse 1 is describing when it says, “a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither.”

A door symbolizes opportunity. Jesus said in Revelation 3:7, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, these things saith He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;” Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

God is the one who controls all things. God is almighty no man is, no angel is. The first 3 chapters of Revelation talk about the church and then chapter 4 beings in verse 1 by shewing things that will be hereafter. God is the one who opens and closes the door of the beginning and the end of the age of grace. No one else will no nation, no leader of any country, no fallen angel, no evil desire of mankind. The age of grace, the age of the church shall continue on and on until God shuts the door of this age at the last trump when He takes the church to heaven.

Persecution of Christians will not end the age of grace. Sin will not end the age of grace. God will end this age when He decides to close the door just as God decided to open a door in heaven for the apostle John to look and behold the future.

In a way it is natural for man to think about time. Even the wisest man other than Jesus, King Solomon thought about time when he said in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

In thinking about time one of the best things to do is what the apostle John did and to behold God’s plan for the future for mankind. To truly understand anything about what is going to happen in the future of this world one must look to Jesus to reveal it in His Word. And Jesus has here in the book of Revelation.

Yes nations will rise and fall. Just in the past 20 years nations have risen and fallen all over this world. These things are of little consequence. What really matters in this world is God’s plan for the future. The most important truth to understand about the future at least the immediate future when it concerns the church and the end of the age of grace at the rapture is what will be going on in heaven at the throne of God. Because is what is talked about and described in Revelation chapter is Jesus sitting on His throne.

Revelation 4:1-3 says, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 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.”

In talking about the rapture, and what happens right after the rapture of the church what is described in the book of Revelation is not the world wide judgment of God poured out upon the earth but what is described is Jesus Christ sitting on His throne.

Yes tis true there are many important events which will occur in heaven during the seven years of the great tribulation. But the first and most important event at the end age of grace after the rapture of the Church is Jesus Christ sitting on His throne. The rise of the antichrist is not important, what is important is Jesus sitting on His throne.

Ezekiel 1:26-28 says, “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of His loins even upward, and from the appearance of His loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.”

In heaven, there is a throne and on that throne sits Jesus. Knowing that Jesus is sitting on His throne even now tells us that God is in control both in heaven and in this world regardless of any opposition towards the truth. When the age of grace ends and the church is raptured to heaven Jesus will still be sitting on His throne, regardless of what is happening on the earth at the beginning of the great tribulation.

In describing the glory of the God of Israel, Jesus Christ, there are two details given, the image of Jesus and a rainbow. What is mentioned first is the image of Jesus Christ. “He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone.” A jasper is a diamond. And a sardine is a deep red like a ruby: white and red or red and white. White is a color that symbolizes the holiness of God. Red is a colour that symbolizes the love of God. Jasper and sardine or you could say law and grace: holiness and law and grace and love in the beauty of jasper and sardine.

When we see the face of Jesus we will certainly see the Holiness of God, the law and grace of God, the everlasting love of God in a way we can never see it or understand it in His written Word.

Jesus sitting on His throne with a rainbow above Him; the bow in the clouds is very important because a rainbow symbolizes the faithfulness of God in keeping His promises. When we think of a rainbow the story of Noah’s ark should come to mind.

Genesis 9:11-9:16, “And I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off anymore by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations. I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember My covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.”

God loves to remember His promises to mankind. God destroyed the world with a flood once. And He will never use the waters of a flood again to judge this world. Yea, tis true there is sorrow on the sea it cannot be quiet. But the sea shall never again become the judgment of God. The rainbow of God’s promises is a rainbow of mercy and grace and faithfulness and the love of God for all this world.

In talking about the bow which is over the throne of God Revelation 4:3 says, “in sight like unto an emerald.” An emerald is green colour. There is much green in the world. Nature is very green. Grass is green. Leaves are green. In a way green is the colour of grace. When we think of the grace of nature which freely grows and gives life and beauty in the world we think of green. The promise of God’s eternal grace is a very important detail to notice.

A rainbow has more than one colour to it. Therefore an emerald rainbow has more than one shade or hue of green in it. There is more to the grace of God than we know. Ephesians 3:9 says, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”

God is from everlasting to everlasting. The name Jehovah means the eternally exist one so of course God is always a mystery and of course there is thus a fellowship to that mystery. Now in talking about the grace of God there is certainly a fellowship to the mystery of the grace of God. There is a mystery to God’s grace because there is always more to learn about the grace of God. There is a mystery to the grace of God because there is always more grace that God will give out to His children both today and in the future. God is Holy and does not change but God can chose to increase His grace in a person’s life or in a nation’s life or in the world depending upon how men respond to the truth of the Word of God.

In thinking of the emerald rainbow of God’s promises of grace we should remember the bow in the cloud. Genesis 6:8 says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” The rainbow is not a symbol of homosexuality but of God’s promises of grace. Grace always means to not suffer the judgment of God.

It is always good to find deliverance from the judgment of God for sin. This is why Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world so that those who repent of their sins to Jesus can find redemption and escape the eternal holy wrath of God. The promise and the truth that God will not destroy the world with a world wide flood as He did in the days of Noah is another example of the grace of God. The world will never suffer the destruction of a world wide flood again. This is grace. And to escape the judgment of God in the lake of fire through the blood of Jesus Christ is also grace.

We live in the age of grace. What God is doing in this world is a work of grace. The church is a work of grace. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a work of grace. This work of grace began with Jesus being born of a virgin and living a sinless life, giving us the teachings of the New Testament, dying on the cross for our sins, and rising from the grave defeating death. The work of God’s grace in this world in this age of grace will end with the rapture of the church. This twinkling of an eye is itself a work of the grace of God for all those whom shall not suffer physical death just as Enoch did not.

“Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” There is always grace to be found in Jesus Christ. There is grace to be found in the forgiveness of sins and in the eternal life of Jesus. Grace is what God gives freely. And what gives freely is always good.

In thinking about the emerald rainbow of God’s grace which is over His throne in heaven we should realize the grace of God is eternal because it is an everlasting gospel. Part of the fellowship of the mystery of the saints is in learning about the grace of God. This is the age of grace. The work that God is doing in this world is a work of grace. How many hues of green are in the emerald rainbow above the throne of God? No one knows. What do we really know about the grace of God that is found in Christ Jesus, the true grace? God children shall spend eternity learning about the grace of God and increasing in the grace of God.

Jesus sitting on His throne with a rainbow; these three colours: white, red, and green. And these three gemstones: jasper, sardine, and emerald. Here in the United States we have 3 colours: white, red, and blue or we should say red, white, and blue; blue instead of green. Blue could be called the color of mercy and green could be called the color of Grace. The B and the G are like B.G. for Billy Graham, who preached the cross of Jesus Christ for over 60 years and was a gift of mercy and grace to the United States. There are not many real preachers in the world. And there are not many Christians that live for the LORD for 60 years. United States what have you been doing with the gospel of Jesus Christ since the 1950’s?

White, red, and green: white… John 4:35, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” Red: Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Green: Revelation 3:18, “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

Psalms 23:1-3, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.”

White fields of harvest, the sins of the world, and the red blood of Jesus, and the green pastures of eternal life. Now think about these colours: red, white, and blue. There is actually more than one place in the Bible where the colours red, white, and blue are mentioned together. The Red, white, and blue is mentioned in Esther chapter 1.

Esther 1:1-21, “Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (This is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:) That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days. And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto the beds were of gold and all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace; Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble. And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure. Also Cashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus. On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him. Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment: And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the ing’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;) What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not. Likewise shall the ladies o Persia and Media say this day unto all the king’s princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath. If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small. And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: For he sent letters into all the king’s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people. ”

Where does the United States, and its red, white, and blue fit into the age of grace? Revelation 12:14 says, “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Half a time, just like football, half a time, just like Tim Tebo. Tim Tebo said at one of his football games, “First off, I have to thank my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and my teammates.”

In thinking about half a time of grace and in thinking about the end of the age of grace and in thinking about the red, white, and blue and two wings of a great eagle from sea to sea think about the story of Esther. In this story the king had a great feast, summoned all in the kingdom to the feast, and the queen refused to show to the feast. This story is exactly the opposite of what is going to happen at the end of the age of grace when Jesus Christ returns. When Jesus Christ returns at the end of a half a time of grace, Jesus’ Christ’s queen the church will with zeal and love welcome Christ coming to rapture all of the Christians from this earth.

Esther 1:6, “Where were white, green, and blue…upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white…” Where is the United States in the Bible? It is in here very subtly and very obviously has a half a time of grace in Jesus Christ. United States what are you doing? Have you forgotten United States that this country and its constitution which is suppose to protect freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and life and liberty is a country founded by Christians. Stop murdering Christians. Stop persecuting Christians. Doing so is destroying the country.

United States of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we the people, we the church, we the Christians will by the grace of God be a chaste virgin who is desiring the return of Jesus Christ.

In the story of Esther chapter 1 king Ahasuerus bid all to his feast and said, “that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.” The United States in its constitution by saying freedom of speech, freedom of religion, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has said, “that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.” In this half a time of grace Most of the United States is doing according to every man and woman’s pleasure in a very sinful way instead of turning from their sins to Jesus Christ and following the pleasure of the will of God. But when Christ returns the church will be a chaste virgin.

Esther 1:6, “Where were white, green, and blue…upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white…” Perhaps the United States is the pavement of the church in this world before the church is raptured by Jesus to heaven and beholds the white, green, and blue stones of fire which are beneath the feet of God.

In being the president of BDSM for this country and the World I Bruce Jason Creech pen name William Edward Night would like to remind the United States about its red, white and blue. 238 years of grace which has increased and shall continue to increase. You have done every man and woman according to his own pleasure in this country.

Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” On Two wings of a great eagle Jesus loves the way of a man with a maid in all its red, white, blue. Exodus 24:10, “And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in His clearness.”

United States Isaiah 22:1 says, “The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?”

Jesus loves the white, red, and green of heaven and the red, white, and blue of the United States. In fact the last two letters of the name JesUS spell U.S. J.E.S.U.S. The phrase half a time is in the Bible it refers to the last part of the age of grace. Every one in the United States knows what half time means. Perhaps more Christians in this country need to stand up against political correctness just as Tim Tebo did and talk about Jesus Christ in public, at work, everywhere so that liberty and grace increases in this country and in the rest of the World. Jesus loves the way of an eagle in the air. O! Eagle with great wings and many feathers art thou in the air?

One day the chaste virgin of the church will walk up and done amidst the stones of fire, the sapphire stones which are beneath the feet of Jesus Christ because Jesus hath put all things under His feet.

O! Yes the beautiful women, the models and the supermodels of this world love to walk up and down on the runway and cast their fashions and their graces and their bodies. When O! When Church wilt thou run the way of Jesus Christ instead of the way of your own pleasure in this half a time of grace?

Red, white, and blue: 50 stars and 50 states in a half a time of grace before the church sees the white, red, and green of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:4 says, “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 crown of gold.”

Now we come to the 24 elders. Perhaps in thinking about the 24 elders of the Bible, Christians of the United States and of the world, perhaps you will get motivated to live for Jesus Christ instead of living for your own pleasure because the pleasure of following in the footprints of Jesus is always greater than the pleasures of this world.

Who are the 24 elders? At the beginning of the age of grace there were 12 apostles. Perhaps here at the end of the age of grace there will be 24 elders. Perhaps they are 24 Christians from throughout all the church. I am inclined to lean towards the idea that they are 24 Christians here at the end of the age of grace who walk with God like Enoch walked with God and who watch and wait faithfully for the return of Christ.

The fact that 24 elders are mentioned here is a very important detail. 12 and 24 of course makes Christmas eve and we know that Christ was born on Christmas. God is a give and God loves to receive gifts too. Perhaps the greatest Gift to God here at the end of the age of grace will be the 24 elders who give their lives to Jesus Christ and give their best to be a part of the work of God’s grace in this age of grace.

Notice that the 24 elders are seated near the throne. In other words they are very close to Jesus Christ. Of course a throne speaks of power and authority but more importantly they are close to Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:1-4, “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. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 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. 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.”

Who are the 24 elders? In thinking about the details given in regards to the throne of God we are reminded of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the holiness of God, the love of God, and the grace of God. This is the age of grace. The work that God is doing in this world is a work of grace more than ever since the creation of the world. The age of the law was a work of law. The age of grace is a work of grace. The age after the great tribulation when Christ rules with a rod of iron will be a work of law and grace in an age of law and grace. But we live in the age of grace. The everlasting glorious gospel work of Christ is a work of grace. Perhaps the 24 elders who are mentioned here at the end of the age of grace, who are here shown too be sitting near the throne, are 24 Christians who have the most desire to serve Jesus Christ and accomplish His work of grace in this age. Perhaps the 24 elders are the 24 Christians who know the most about the word of God and who the do the most for the lost souls of the world and building up of the faith of the church. Perhaps the 24 elders are those who learn the most about God’s grace and who are the most thankful for the grace of God. Perhaps the 24 elders are 12 pairs of men and woman who by the grace of God promote the way of a man with a maid in marriage in this world instead of homosexuality. God’s emerald rainbow is a rainbow of grace not of sodomy.

Seek that ye may excel. The age of grace is sometimes called the last days in the Bible. Last opportunities are always great opportunities when it is the opportunity to be a part of the work of God in the world for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:12, “having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may be your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

In the past 22 years whenever I have thought about the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the great tribulation and the judgment of God is what has mostly been on my mind. But here in the book of Revelation what is first talked about in regards to the end of the age of grace is not the judgment of God nor the antichrist, but Jesus and His 24 elders. Here in the rest of chapter 4 we are going to see that the 24 elders will be doing something very special for Jesus before Jesus pours out His indignation upon all the nations of this world. They are going to Worship Jesus Christ. They are going to praise Jesus. They are going to cast their crowns before His feet and apparently they are going to do this before all the host of heaven and apart from all the rest of the heavenly host.

Seek that ye may excel in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. None of us can ever be an apostle because there were only 12 apostles. None of us can be Joseph the father of baby Jesus or Mary the mother of Jesus. None of us can be an Old Testament prophet such as Isaiah or Jeremiah. None of us will be used to write or give a book of the Bible. But perhaps some of us can become one of the 24 elders of the church. There is a great gospel work to be done in this world still. It shall by the grace of God always be a prosperous journey in the way world without end.

Revelation 4:9-11 says, “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 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, 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.”

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