Apocalipse 4
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Apocalipse 4
Guzik writes "The throne is a powerful declaration of not merely God’s presence, but of His sovereign, rightful reign, and His prerogative to judge.. We can’t think rightly about much of anything until we settle in our mind that there is an occupied throne in heaven, and the God of the Bible rules from the throne. “While there may be many differing interpretations, the fundamental truths are self-evident. At the center of everything is an occupied throne.” (Morgan) THOUGHT - James Hamilton make a great application point regarding Revelation 4-5 - "The cure to idolatry is seeing God as He is. The cure to immorality is seeing God as He is. The cure to a godless worldview is seeing God as He is. Revelation 4, 5 shows us God as He is. (See Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches) Hamilton's "pattern" for purity reminds me of Paul's "pattern" in Romans 13:14+ "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ (FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS) and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." This is the powerful dynamic we see in the Expulsive Power of a New Affection. In 1Th 4:5+ we read that believers (see context - 1Th 4:1-2, 3-4+) are to be walking "not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God." Notice why the Gentiles walk in lustful passion -- because they do not know God. It follows that the knowing God is a powerful preventative against walking in lustful passion. Father, for Your glory and honor and by Your Spirit and Word, may You enable each of us to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18+) Hamilton adds one other excellent thought - Seeing God will change your life. When you see God as he is revealed in chapters 4, 5, you know that God is worthy of praise because of who he is. God is worthy of praise because he is holy and eternal. God is worthy of praise because he made everything according to his will. When you see God as he is, you will know that everything is accountable to God. Seeing God as he is also means seeing Jesus, the one who was slain and rose from the dead to ransom people for God. If you see God as he is, you will worship him. He is worthy. Immortal, invisible God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Your great name we praise William Newell - Consider that the Throne of God, which was not in sight in the first three chapters of The Revelation, now comes into view; and so prominently, and in such character, from chapter 4 onward, as to make The Revelation become, “the Book of The Throne.” The Throne was not seen when God walked with His first man Adam, in the garden. But later we read, “Jehovah sat as king at the Flood” (Psalm 29:10). Here it was for judgment, not worship. The Throne is not seen in the history of Abraham or the patriarchs, for they were walking by simple faith, and were the depositaries of promises. They were not connected with a manifested Throne, but built altars for worship. When God brought Israel out of Egypt, He had a nation for His name, and dwelt among them in glory (although Himself in thick darkness), sitting above the cherubim of the ark of the covenant, which was a type of the Throne on high. Isaiah saw Him thus in the temple,—the seraphim above Him, crying, “Holy, holy, holy,” and Ezekiel saw “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah” enthroned upon the cherubim. It is quite astonishing in view of such holiness and glory to find written in 1 Chronicles 29:23, “Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king, instead of David his father.” It will not be until our Lord returns to take that throne of David (as He will—Luke 1:32, 33) that it will again become “the throne of Jehovah.” Christ will inherit it, as Son of David, but it was to David that it was promised (2 Samuel 7:11–16). Our Lord will then reign as “a Priest upon his throne”—the full Melchizedek figure. This is “the tabernacle of David,” a phrase quoted in Acts 15:16, 17, from Amos 9:11, 12. It is the millennial time. John
Apocalipse 4
Guzik comments that "The significance of these four faces has been interpreted in many ways." Therefore caution is in order lest one go too far afield from God's intended meaning. If you want more discussion of these "many ways," of interpretation, see Guzik's comments on verses 6-8 in Revelation 4. Some think the foursome are cherubim which is interesting as cherubim were certainly prominent in the design of God's "dwelling place" in the Tabernacle (See Ex 25:17–22+ = cherubs at each side of the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant and Ex 26:1–31). In some way the OT tabernacle and the ark of the covenant were a model of the actual throne of God. Exodus 25:8-9+ says “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. 9 “According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it. R L Thomas summarizes the multiple suggestions of these four living creatures - A merging of these four aspects results in the following identification of the four living beings of the Apocalypse: they are of an exalted angelic order engaged in worship, who bear a special relationship to those angelic beings described in Ezekiel and Isaiah and whose special function in the context of the Apocalypse is the administering of divine justice in the realm of animate creation. (See Revelation Exegetical Commentary)