VISION OF HEAVENLY WORSHIP AND

THE GREAT SEARCH Rev 4-5

New Life

Bible Fellowship

I. Introductory Survey

A. Invitation to view heavenly scene 4:1 1. “Come up here” not rapture of

church but vision experience of John

2. This section starts the predictive section of the book

B. General Content 1. God’s throne described Chap 4 2. Search for person qualified to open

the seven sealed scroll Chap 5

C. Significance of search 1. Scroll contains God’s end time

judgments of the earth (7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls of

wrath) 2. Search is for person qualified to

send these great judgments upon the earth

ALL CREATION

ANGELS

24 ELDERS E E

E E

E LC LC E

E GOD E

E LC LC E E E

E E

E E

E E

E E E E

II. Description of the Heavenly Scene

A. God the Father on the throne 4:2-3 B. The 24 Elders 4:4 1. Their role

– a heavenly order with delegated responsibility concerning the saints

2. Their activity– worship God 5:11,14; 7:11; 11:1– Bring prayers of saints 5:8

II. Description of the Heavenly Scene

3. Their number 24– symbolic of redeemed:

» 12 tribes of Israel» 12 apostles

C. The throne of God 4:5-6a

D. The 4 living creatures 4:6a-8 1. Their role – guardians of the throne

and agents of God’s providential control of the world

2. Their activity – announce God’s holiness and release first 4 seal

judgments

E. The heavenly worship 4:9-11

III. The search for one qualified to open the 7 sealed scroll 5:1-7

A. The call announced 5:1-2

B. The frustrating failure to find a qualified person 5:3-4

C. The disclosure of the one qualified person, CHRIST 5:5-7

IV. THE WORSHIP OF GOD AND THE LAMB

Worshipers (Choir) PraiseWorshipers (Choir) Praise 4:8 4 Living creatures God’s attributes

(response) 4:11 24 Elders Sovereign creator 5:9-10 Living creatures, New Song

Elders and Angles Redemption by Lamb 5:12 Living creatures, Sovereignty of Lamb

Elders and Angels as Ruler 5:13 All creation God and Lamb

Heavenly Scene

E 24 ELDERS E

E E

E E

E LC LC E

E GOD E

E LC LC E

E E

E E

E E

E E

E E E E

All Creation

ANGELS

A A A A

A A E 24 ELDERS E A A

A A A E E A A A

A A A E E A A A

A A A E LC LC E A A A

A A A E GOD E A A A

A A A E LC LC E A A A

A A A E E A A A

A A A E E A A A

A A A E E A A A

A A A E E A A A

A A E E E E A A

A A A A

A A A A A A A