Revelation 4-7
The Wrath of the Lamb
Begins

After hearing the contents of the seven letters, John sees a door open in heaven and a voice calling him up there (some see this as an indication of the Rapture), to see the things which must happen according to the plan of God. Being transported in the Spirit to the presence of God like Ezekiel, he sees God on His throne, as did Ezekiel. This vision clearly links the two books, as Ezekiel is also about the establishment of the Messiah's Millennial Kingdom. Thus all that Ezekiel said should be in the back of the reader's mind as they consider Revelation. Daniel 7:9-14 has a somewhat similar vision which fits the next chapter better. The four “living/ruling” creatures are most likely angelic beings, reflective of the aspects of Christ in His roles as king (lion), servant (ox/calf), man, and God (eagle).

 Whenever the four creatures gave glory to God, the elders also worshiped, both by their actions and words which acknowledged that all things were created by and for Him. We're not told the identity of the twenty-four elders in white garments with crowns on their heads. The crowns are golden victors' wreaths, which would designate them as rewarded overcomers, rather than angels (5:11 distinguishes them from angels as well). The next chapter (5:10) indicates that they are representative of those Christ has redeemed from all nations. The twelve apostles were promised thrones and rulership over the twelve tribes of Israel, so the additional twelve could be those who ruled over the Gentiles (rather than OT Patriarchs or prophets or priests), but most opinions are just that since we're not given more specifics.

 John sees the Father holding a scroll with seven seals on it. Roman law required that a “will” be authenticated by seven seals from seven witnesses. The scroll is the title deed to the earth which is inherited by Christ as a result of His obedience (Phil 2). He is worthy to open it because He is not only the legal inheritor of the promises made to David (2Sam 7; Ps 89 -Davidic Covenant) and Abraham (Gen 12), but also the faithful “overcomer” (verse 5). John was distraught perhaps because the purposes of God contained in the scroll would be thwarted if no one could open it. One of the elders encouraged John with the fact that the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, had overcome (was victorious) and therefore could open the scroll.

In the midst of the throne John sees the Lamb that was slain having seven horns (symbols of authority and rulership -cf Daniel's visions), and the sevenfold (abundant and omnipresent) Spirit of God. Jesus came and took the scroll and the four living creatures and the twenty-four praised Him. It's noteworthy that Jesus' reward is not given to Him, but He takes it, as a just recompense, which is highlighted in the chapter. The elders now have bowls of incense, (instead of the crowns which represented their ruling function, John sees them exercising their priestly function) representing the prayers/praises of the saints (holy believers), and harps to accompany their praise. (The less honorable ones had accordions.) They sang a new song, acknowledging the worthiness of Christ to open the scroll/will and execute its provisions. They cite the cause of His worthiness, His death, and highlight what it accomplished, the redemption of people from all nations, and the constitution of them as kings and priests (crowns and incense), to reign with the Messiah upon the earth. Note that this is a vision of the future which had not yet been implemented.

Then John sees and hears innumerable angels joining in with the elders and living creatures in praising the Lamb who was slain, for His worthiness. He is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing (did they miss anything?). Every created thing joins in the praise of God the Father on the throne, and the Lamb, ascribing blessing, honor, glory, and dominion/power to them. The elders fall down (again) and worship Him that lives (exercises dominion) forever (to the Age of Ages).

John sees the Lamb undo the seals on the scroll. As each of the first four is opened, a judgment is unleashed upon the earth, commented upon by one of the four living (ruling?) creatures. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse come from this passage, and are an outpouring of the wrath of the Lamb (see verse 17). It should be obvious to any literary or literal interpreter that these have not yet occurred, as well as those who pay attention to the clues in the context (ie, how long until...?).

The first is a white horse, a symbol of power, as is the bow, and crown. White implies but doesn't guarantee righteousness. The rider is given authority/permission to conquer, but no more is said about him here. No arrows are mentioned, nor the effect on earth, possibly pointing to a peaceful conquest (cf. Dan 9:27; 1Thess 5:3).

The second is a red horse, whose rider was given a sword, and power to take peace from the earth, which resulted in people killing each other. Red usually symbolizes blood.

The third is a black horse, who has a balance scale, used in buying and selling (the word is also for a “yoke” to harness farm animals). Through destruction or manipulation of markets, famine conditions are reached. The prices of wheat and barley are about twenty times the normal price, consuming an entire day's wages. Oil and wine, consumed more by the rich, are not to be touched.

The fourth is a pale horse ridden by Death, followed by Hades (the grave) who killed a quarter of the earth's population with war, famine, death, and wild animals. There is no record of anything like this in history (see another clearly yet future terror in the sixth seal).

The fifth seal reveals what should be vengeance and justice, but instead it reveals under the altar (before the throne cf. Ezekiel) the martyrs who had been killed for their faithfulness to the work of God, and the Lamb. They ask how long it will be until they are avenged. Their holy and true Master gives each of them a white robe (glory? cf. 19:8 where it is put for the righteous acts of the saints), and they are told to “rest” for a while until their fellow saints should join them (cf Heb 11:39-40 comments about the future glorification of the NT saints). There will come a time when they are avenged, but it is still future.

The sixth seal is unprecedented apocalypse of Biblical proportions. It's a global earthquake that moves every mountain, and every island out of its original placement, and which turns the sun black and the moon blood-red. Bunches of stars fall out of the sky to strike the earth like figs shaken from a tree. The sky is rolled back like a scroll (wonder what's under it). Everyone on earth heads for the hills to hide in terror from the face of the God who judges and the wrath of the Lamb. It's payback time and the great day of Christ's wrath has come. Only those rightly related to him can stand.

Four angels stand ready to unleash four winds upon the earth to destroy, but another angel ascending from the sunrise (where God's glory shines) has the seal of the living God to make secure the servants of God, first. He seals 144,000 Jewish believers, specified as coming equally from each of the twelve tribes. Sealing was done to identify and protect. No Gentiles are mentioned.

 After the sealing of the 144,000 Jews, John sees an innumerable multitude of people from all nations standing before the throne to serve God and the Lamb. They have white robes (righteousness) and palm branches (cf Jn 12:13; Lev 23:40). The refrain of their praise is similar to that in chapter 5. They are those who came out of the Great Tribulation (of the preceding judgments -Mt 24:21; Jer 30:7; Dan 9:24) and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb (note they are the active agents). They will no longer suffer, but the Lamb will shepherd them, and God will wipe away every tear (giving them joy instead).