Revelation 4:1 - 5

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Beginning with chapter 4 is the section which is written with symbolical language. The time covered in this prophecy is from the rule of the Roman empire and it's persecution of the church until corrupt men in control of congregations joined together with one leader in Rome to control the entire church. In about the 4th century the leader of the Roman empire was Constantine who professed to become a Christian. The union of the church and state resulted in an empire which persecuted the true believers and followers of Christ. This symbolic prophecy follows the proven history through the Dark Ages to the Restoration.

Remember John is physically on the Isle of Patmos seeing all of this in a dream given him by an angel of God's. When he says he goes somewhere or is taken somewhere, he is still on Patmos seeing a dream. He is writing what he sees and experiences.

The door standing open to heaven indicates he has been given the confidence of the Lord and will be given information not known by any other human.

The voice like a trumpet indicates a strong voice and filled with authority.

He is told he will be given information about things which will happen. However we are not to forget what he was told in chapter one verse 19, he is to write about things pertaining to the past, present, and future.

Because of his instructions he will write of the conditions of then which will have direct reference to things which will happen.

He is in the spirit, seeing what is unfolding in the vision he is being given.

He sees a throne and it is not empty, but has someone on it which means this person had the authority to rule over earth and the ones who were in heaven.

This person is described as being like these precious stones, very valuable and brilliant.

The rainbow represents an arch of authority placed above the throne similar to the great displays above the thrones of kings here on earth but much more magnificent.

God from the time of Exodus unto today has two major religious systems of which he orchestrated and led. First the Mosaic system and then the Christian dispensation. Here around the throne, he incorporates them both with 24 elders, 12 for the 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 for the 12 apostles appointed by Christ. (Matthew 19:28)

These men are clothed in white robes which represents their life of righteousness because all men who live righteously whether under the Law of Moses or under the Law of Christ will be allowed to surround the throne as victors over the world.

These 24 elders represents all of the saved from under both systems of religion.