Revelation 4:2-4 2And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne. While it is certainly possible that John was still on Patmos when he saw this throne and the One who sat on it as in a vision, taking the passage at face value it appears John was literally caught up to heaven, transported there as a crew member on Star Trek was transported from the planets surface to the transporter room on the Enterprise. Was he in the body or out of the body when he was before Gods throne? It is hard to tell at this point, but there is evidence that he was there in some sort of physical form because in Rev 5:4 John weeps when he thought no one was worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. Was his spirit weeping? Perhaps, but doesnt seem likely. Also, all the descriptions seem to be Johns attempt to let us know what he saw while in heaven, but even he does not fully understand what everything means. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone, and a rainbow surrounded the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats, and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold. I believe the use of the word elders (ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΟΥΣ presbuterous = senior, elderly person), indicates these 24 were human beings enthroned in heaven, and not angelic beings (though there is a possibility that humans become very similar to angels when they are glorified). Whether human or heavenly angels, these are victorious overcomers: Rev 3:5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment, and Rev 3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne, and Rev 2:10 ... be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. We see them dressed in white, seated on thrones, with crowns on their heads.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:28:33 +0000
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