An exposition and explanation of the apocalypse chapter four
[4 beasts and 24 elders]

V 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 open door was in heaven, and not into heaven. The only doors the Bible revealed to us are the doors into the sanctuary temple of GOD! The only door into heaven is JESUS. This must follow that the door was closed. A door belongs to a building.

V 2. "And immediately I was in the spirit; and , behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne."
Only one is seen seated on the throne. This must mean that John saw this before the ascension of JESUS because JESUS said in Rev.3:21 that He would sit together with His father on the throne.
This throne is in the temple [Hebrews 1:3; 8:1]

V 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."

As the bow is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the combined power of mercy and justice. It is this mingling that makes salvation complete. The glory of the law is CHRIST! He came to magnify the law, and to make it honourable [Isa.42:6,7,21; Luke 4:18; Isa.61:1-3].

V 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."

These 24 elders are seen in Revelation 5:8 ministering the prayers of the saints. They are the resurrected saints at the time of the crucifixion and others. But the white raiment suggests righteousness and the crowns suggest victory as priests and kings seen in Revelation 1:6 and therefore the 24 Elders are unlikely presentatives of unfallen worlds nor angels.

V 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."

The seven lamps suggests that GOD'S movable throne was in the holy or first apartment of His Temple.
The terrors of Sinai were to represent to the people the scenes of judgment. The voice of the Archangel and the trump of GOD shall summon, from the whole earth, both the living and the dead to the presence of their Judge. Lightening represents the swiftness of speed with which the Gospel work will be completed.
John was permitted to see the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary with the seven branch lampstand or candlesticks representing the perfect Spirits of GOD.

V 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."

Compared to the vision of the throne in Ezekiel chapter one, we see the crystal like glass on which the throne stands. Glass is also sometimes referred to as mirror and reflects the glory of GOD'S throne. The eyes represent the vigilance of the heavenly beings. The victors over the beast and his image will stand on the sea of glass [Revelation 15:2b].

V 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."

The earthly sanctuary was the pattern of the true sanctuary in heaven. It was surrounded by these 4 beast like creatures representative of all the worshippers. But modern dispensationalism and the secret rapture advocates have led the whole of Christianity astray to look for a rebuilding of the earthly sanctuary temple and refuse to look up into the heavenly temple where CHRIST as our great high Priest is ministering in the Most Holy Place where the Ten Commandments are to be found which dispensationalists are doing away with, led by Satan.

V 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."
The crucified One is on His way up to heaven after His resurrection. They are emphasizing the holiness of Jesus who was alive, died for us and is to rise again. Christianity today is de-emphasizing the holiness of JESUS CHRIST and promote love only. If GOD'S justice could so easily be set aside, JESUS would have had no need to die for our sins which is the transgression of the law of morals.

V 9. "And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever",

V 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,"

V 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."

We notice here that GOD the Father is being praised here as creator. It is not until chapter five that GOD'S Son receives His honour and glory.


BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD. 
 Even though the throne is mentioned 12 times, it is not a description of it, but rather what surrounds it.