Join us for a special bonus segment where Steve Gallagher teaches on Revelation 4 & 5. We’ll examine John’s vision of Heaven, where seeing the Lord on His throne offers profound comfort—proving God is fully in control before the coming persecution and devastating judgments.

We also explore how God is celebrated as Creator, affirming His authority and right to accomplish His will. Don't miss this essential teaching on divine sovereignty.

Host: Steve, we want to continue our discussions in the Book of Revelation and we're looking today at Chapters 4 & 5. I just want to begin by asking you, as we look at Chapters 4 & 5, is this a continuation of the vision John received in the first three chapters?

Steve: The first words John writes in Chapter 4 is “After these things…” And anytime he makes that statement, you know that there's been some kind of a time gap between what preceded it and what he's about to present. So, this is actually a second new vision that John is about to relate to his readers. But I'll tell you something else. When you go through the different visions John has in the Book of Revelation, it's a fascinating thing because it's obvious that he's going back and forth between heaven and earth on these different visions. So, I don't know what the time gap is, but in the first vision of Jesus Christ and the letters that he sent to the churches, that was one vision. He must have come out of that trance, went back to normal life, then at some point later, all of a sudden, he goes back into this ecstatic trance if you will and now, he's being summoned up into heaven.
       So, John is called up to heaven, and he goes through some kind of a doorway and finds himself overlooking this enormous panoramic scene of God's throne room. And when I started really considering that, the thing that came to me of all things would be like some workmen up in the light bars in a grand opera hall, and he's up there fiddling with the lights or whatever they do, and he's looking down at this whole enormous scene being enacted down there on the stage and all the hundreds of people in the audience looking on. That's kind of the perspective I get of John here. He's up perched in some lofty spot and he's watching these momentous events occurring there in that throne room.

Host: As you looked at Chapter 4, you said that there were really two things that stood out to you in this chapter. Talk about those.

Steve: Well, the first one is that God is seen on His throne. Take that vision in the context of the whole unfolding story presented in the Book of Revelation. The Church is about to undergo severe persecution and there are devastating judgements about coming upon the earth. I believe that the timing of this vision is important in the unfolding of the revelation because it is establishing God's sovereignty over all the affairs on earth. And if you are one of those believers who's entering this time of great uncertainty and fear, you really need to know in your heart that God is on His throne.

Host: Yeah. We really see that in our current culture. The spirit of fear and uncertainty that seems to be enveloping earth is almost hard to escape.

Steve: Yeah, for any human being it is. But for believers, if they will get their focus on God on His throne, they will find the comfort that they need.

Host: Yeah. Amen. You mentioned secondly that God is celebrated as the creator in this chapter. Why is that important?

Steve: It's a picture of who God is. Think about all the mayhem that is going to be transpiring on earth. Who created this earth? Who created mankind? Who created the animals? Who created the trees? Who created everything? God did. And only God has the authority. Only God has the right to begin to dismantle creation. And He does have that right. I think that it is also significant to keep in mind as you read about all the judgments that will start to unfold in the rest of the book.

Host: Okay. And as you approach Chapter 5, you said there's another change of scene that occurs.

Steve: Well, Chapter 4 was very important because it establishes God in His rightful place. But something different occurs in Chapter 5. Now the Lamb of God is introduced into the scene. In other words, in Chapter 4 God the Creator is emphasized, now in Chapter 5, God the Redeemer, The Son Jesus Christ is the one who is emphasized.

Host: Yes. The beautiful lamb. What's really going on in this chapter and with this scene that John is observing?

Steve: There's a passing reference to a Council of God's Holy One’s that is mentioned in one of the Psalms. And I believe that's what we see happening right here. This is a council situation. It's also mirrored in Daniel 7 by the way. But basically, what this is, is the inauguration of Jesus Christ. He has just come off victorious from Calvary. He has defeated Satan. Now He is being installed as the Co-Regent of God's Kingdom. A scroll is being handed to Him and in that scroll are the contents of God's purposes for earth. So, the implications of this transaction going on in the throne room of God is of enormous implications for mankind.

Host: Well, when you think about the reality of what God has given us in this book, He has given us a glimpse into the Councils of God. This is an enormous, almost hard to grasp thing that we've been handed by God. And how important it is that we take the time to read these things and allow God to get these things into our heart, because as I know you and I and a lot of other believers believe, we are watching these very things unfold in the earth today.

Steve: Well, it's actually one of the points I made in this teaching is that Christians tend to just blow over passages like this. But look at the response of the angelic beings that are present there when all this happens. In Chapter 4, the four living beings and the elders fall down and worship God the Creator. In Chapter 5, they fall down and worship the Lamb. And then one final time, the 5th outpouring of worship is to worship God the Father, the Creator and God the Redeemer, the Son. In other words, when they are watching what's transpiring, they are overwhelmed and all they can do is fall on their faces and worship the Lord.

Host: Man, what a glorious scene. And for me, I can just speak for myself, what a glorious hope this gives me for what God is doing and what God is going to do in these last days. This is a tremendous and powerful Word that He has given us here.

Steve: God is in control and that's where our hope and our trust is.