Revelation 4-5: The Throne of God and The Lamb of God
1. The Throne of God (4:1-11)
a. The Sight of God’s Throne (4:1-8)
i. On the throne: A description of God
ii. Around the throne: An emerald rainbow and 24 elders on thrones
iii. From the throne: Flashes of lightning and sounds of thunder
iv. Before the throne: The seven Spirits and a sea of glass like crystal
v. Circling the throne: Four living creatures
1. The first was like a lion
2. The second was like a calf
3. The third had a face like a man
4. The fourth was like a flying eagle
b. The Sound of God’s Throne (4:9-11)
i. The Living Creatures’ Praise
ii. The Twenty-four Elders’ Praise
2. The Lamb of God (5:1-14)
a. A Sealed Book (5:1-5)
i. The Scroll: Written inside on the back, Sealed with seven seals
ii. The Question: Who is worthy to open the scroll?
iii. The Answer: No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth
iv. The Sorrow: There is no one worthy to open the scroll
v. The Solution: The Lion of Judah has prevailed to open the scroll
b. A Slain Lamb (5:6-7)
c. A Singing Creation (5:8-14)
i. The Living Creatures and Elders Praise the Lamb
ii. The Angels Praise the Lamb
iii. All Creation Praises the Lamb
Notice in 5:4-5
No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth (Hades) was worthy to open the scroll and disclose its message. No angel, no apostle, no OT saint was qualified to do what Jesus did. Only Jesus could accomplish what God intended. To study the superiority of Jesus further, read Hebrews 1-2 and Colossians 1:13-23.