[Editor's Note: For this study, the author uses easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) of Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society. His insights are given in capital letters. This include explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read in order to make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. Occasionally make changes will be made in the CEV words if a variance is detected from the meaning found in the King James Bible.]

REVELATION 4

1 After this, I looked and saw a door that opened into heaven. Then the voice that had spoken to me at first (REFERS TO THE VOICE OF JESUS THAT WAS FIRST REPORTED IN REVELATION 1:10) and that sounded like a trumpet said, "Come up here! I will show you what must happen next. " (THIS IS THOUGHT TO REFER TO WHAT WILL OCCUR AFTER THE RAPTURE)

2. Right then the (HOLY) Spirit took control of me, and there in heaven I saw (IN A GOD-CREATED VISION) a throne and One (GOD) sitting on it. 3. The One who was sitting there sparkled like precious stones of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. 4. Twenty-four other thrones were in a circle around that throne. And on each of these thrones there was an elder dressed in white clothes and wearing a gold crown. (THIS SIGNIFIED THAT THEY HAD BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY BY GOD)

5. Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder and voices came out from the throne in the center of the circle. Seven torches, which are the seven spirits of God, (THIS REFERS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS SEVEN QUALITIES) were burning in front of the throne. 6. Also in front of the throne was something that looked like a glass sea (THIS INTERIOR DECORATION PIECE REFLECTS THE NATURE OF HEAVEN, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A CALM SEA WITHOUT WAVES ) clear as crystal.
Around the throne in the center were four living creatures covered front and back with eyes. (SEE THE NOTE BELOW) 7. The first creature was like a lion, the second one was like a bull, the third one had the face of a human, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and their bodies were covered with eyes within. (IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TRANSLATE THESE WORDS. THEY ARE THOUGHT TO MEAN THAT THEIR INNER THOUGHTS WERE REVEALED) Day and night they never rested, singing

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord,
the all-powerful God,
who was and is
and is coming!"
(THIS REFERS TO JESUS' RETURN TO EARTH)

9. The living creatures kept praising, honoring, and thanking the one who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever. 10. At the same time, the twenty-four elders (OF THE CHURCH IN HEAVEN) knelt down before the One (GOD) sitting on the throne. And as they worshiped the One who lives forever, they placed their crowns in front of the throne (ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEIR SPIRITUAL NATURE WAS GIVEN TO THEM BY GOD) and said,

11 "Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created. "

(BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUAL PRAISE OF GOD AND JESUS IN HEAVEN THE INHABITANTS COME TO RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN UNWORTHINESS AND DEPENDENCE UPON JESUS RATHER THAN UPON THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR FOR THEIR SALVATION; A NECESSARY LESSON FOR THOSE GRANTED SALVATION !)

See Also:

Into The Throne Room...Revelation 4
After hearing the heavenly voice commanding him to �Come up here�, the apostle John has been translated from �the things that are�� , through the �door opened into heaven�, into the very throne room of God.

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