John before God

“From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God” Revelation 4:5.

The lightning and thunder are reminiscent of the divine appearance in Exodus 19:16: “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.”

The seven fiery torches are reminiscent of the menorah in the tabernacle. They are a type of the “sevenfold spirit” described in Isaiah 11:2: ” And the Spirit of the LORD (YHWH) shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord“.

Seven means that the Holy Spirit is present in all its fullness.

Although John speaks of thunder and lightning, the whole description exudes calm, order, holiness, and devotion. It’s nothing terrifying, just something majestic and holy.

God is holy (Leviticus 11:45).

Before the throne of God there are 24 representatives of mankind. John does not define these 24 persons in more detail.

Their white robes show that they have been washed clean. Revelation 7:14 says about the robes: “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”.

The golden wreaths indicate that they have received the crown of victory. They have arrived at their destination.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:25, “Competitors… do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

The golden wreaths, the white robes and the designation “elders”, representatives, chiefs indicate that these twenty-four persons are not heavenly beings but human representatives.

Revelation 4:4, “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.”

It is remarkable that John does not describe the person sitting on the throne in detail.

John speaks of the glow coming from God shining like jasper and carnelian surrounded by an emerald rainbow.

The jasper is a crimson speckled stone. Crimson is the colour of the king. This stone symbolizes that God reigns. He is above everything. What he says is suitable.

The colour of carnelian is closest to human skin. This stone tells us: God is our counterpart, or we are his image. Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'”

The emerald rainbow is like an aurora borealis and is a reminder of life. Green, like plants, symbolizes life. The rainbow symbolizes the faithfulness and mercy of God, as experienced by Noah in the rainbow in Genesis 9:12-17.

God reigns. We are like his image and life comes from Him. He keeps his word.

After seeing Jesus in chapter 1, John not only receives a message (2-3) but it is shown what is about to happen. “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this” (Revelation 4:1).

It is a special characteristic of God that he does not instrumentalize us but includes us.

For God our personality is important. God does not dictate the Bible but lets people describe their experiences with him.

Despite the 40 different authors, the Bible contains a common storyline. God is looking for people and wants to win them to share life with him.

“We believe in what was revealed to us, and what was revealed to you. Our God and your God is one.”

Rabbi Kirt Schneider was a Jewish man in the New Age, until he saw Jesus in a dream…

The church in Laodicea is the only one that Jesus does not praise in the epistle.

The self-perception of being rich and to have no need is in big contrast to the conclusion of Christ, who describes Laodicea as poor, needy, wretched, pitiable, blind and naked. They think they are not dependent on God.

There is only one hope: Jesus says he is standing at the door, waiting to be let in (Revelation 3:20).

The message to Laodicea sums it up. If Jesus is out, then all our religion is of no use to us. Jesus knocks, but he doesn’t rush in with the door.

Faith means letting Jesus into our life and sharing everything with him.

«And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you» (John 14,16-17).

Through the Holy Spirit, God became experienceable for all people.

John 16:8: “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

Although Pergamum was a centre of imperial cult and Greek god worship, the followers of Jesus hold on to their faith even after Antipas was killed for it.

But there were also people in the community who were looking for compromises.

In Pergamon and in Thyatira, some mixed religion with eroticism, although God always explicitly separates these two areas.

Instead of meat sacrificed to idols, the Pergamum believers should focus on the hidden manna.

Those who do not give up and hold on to Jesus receive heavenly bread (manna) and a new suitable name.

Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”