We have been talking about the throne room in the heavens in Revelation chapter 4, down to around verse 8, where the four living creatures, having six wings full of eyes around and within, do not rest day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and is to come.” This is part of their duty. These four cherubim relate to the priestly service of the church in the heavens.
We see the throne and the sea of glass like crystal before it. There is no need for the church saints to be purified before entering their priestly service, as the 24 elders represent the church in their cycle. They are already purified and clean, so the sea of glass indicates no further propitiation or cleansing is required.
In the heavenly temple, Christ is the place of propitiation. Hebrews 9:11 describes Christ as High Priest of the good things to come, entering the most holy place once for all with His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption. His blood cleanses the conscience from dead works to serve the living God, making Him the mediator of the new covenant.
Back in Revelation 4, this is the church in priestly service with Christ on the throne and the 24 elders representing the church. The four cherubim with four faces and six wings have a ministry relating to the priesthood of the saints. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, the 24 elders fall down, worship, and cast their crowns before the throne. The cherubim do not rest day and night proclaiming God’s holiness, and in response the elders lay down their victor’s wreaths, indicating they have completed their priestly service cycle. The next group comes in, and this repeats.
The covenant is contained in Christ, who is the place of propitiation and satisfaction (Romans 3:25). In Revelation 4:7, the four living creatures are described: the first like a lion, the second like a calf, the third with a face like a man, and the fourth like a flying eagle. These differ from the earthly temple cherubim and resemble those in Ezekiel and Isaiah. They stand around the throne, suggesting a U- or H-shaped arrangement with the central throne, 24 surrounding thrones, and cherubim at the corners. Christ sits on the Father’s throne, so the throne has multiple seats.
Their six wings, eyes all around, and ceaseless proclamation of “Holy, holy, holy” indicate the three persons of the Godhead—God is holy, set apart, with three distinct persons sharing one essence. This is not vain repetition. The seraphim also proclaim this. Holiness means separation unto God.
In response, the 24 elders cast their crowns (stephanos, victor’s wreaths) before the throne, giving God credit for creation and all things existing by His will. This is true worship. The Levitical priesthood order (Luke 1, Zacharias) shadows this heavenly cycling of priestly service.
In Revelation 5:1, a scroll written inside and out, sealed with seven seals, is in the right hand of Him on the throne (now God the Father, shifting from Christ in chapter 4). No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth is worthy to open the scroll or even glance at it. John weeps greatly. One of the elders (representing the resurrected church) tells him to stop weeping: the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and loose its seals.
The strong angel proclaiming this may be a manifestation of the second person of the Godhead. The elders, as the church like Christ, have superior knowledge. Spirit beings, even fallen ones in Hades, lacked discernment. The Lamb, as though slain (a sacrificial term), appears in the midst of the throne, living creatures, and elders, with seven horns and seven eyes (the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth). Horns symbolize authority and power.
The Lamb takes the scroll from the Father’s right hand. The four living creatures and 24 elders fall down before the Lamb with harps and golden bowls full of incense (the prayers/worship of the tribulation saints). The elders sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for You were slain and redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.” (Note: textual evidence strongly supports “us,” identifying the elders with the redeemed church, supporting pre-tribulation rapture timing before the seals.)
The church serves as priests to the tribulation saints. Translations vary; some alter pronouns, potentially shifting theology. Base understanding on original languages and good interlinears.
