1. WHAT scene was presented to John after the vision of the seven churches? Rev. 4: 1, 2. Note 1.
2. How does he describe the One who sat upon the throne? Verse 3. Note 2.
3. What assurance is given us by the rainbow about the throne? Isa. 54: 9, 10. Note 3.
4. Whom did the prophet next see round about the throne? Verse 4. Who are these? Rev. 5: 9 (last part), 10. Note 4.
5. Further describe the view of the throne presented in the vision. Ch. 4: 5, 9. Instead of "beasts" the Revised Version has "living creatures."
6. What song of praise is uttered by the elders? Verses 10, 11.
7. What did John see in the hand of the One upon the throne? What challenge was uttered by the angel? What was the response? Ch. 5: 1-3.
8. How did this affect the prophet? What assurance was given? Verses 4, 5.
9. Who then appeared to the prophet's vision? What did the Saviour do? Verses 6, 7. Note 5.
10. What song of praise was then heard in heaven? Verses 8-12.
11. In prophetic anticipation unto what grand chorus did this song of praise swell?—In vision the prophet was carried to the final triumph, when all the universe is cleansed from sin through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. Verse 13.
12. Where will all the saved have begun to learn the song? Ps. 40: 1-3.
NOTES.
1. These visions of heaven show how real and tangible is that place. Mysticism would make heaven but a state or condition; but heaven is a real place. Spiritual beings in bodily form dwell there, and go to and fro. Men in redeemed flesh, who once lived on earth, as Enoch and Moses and Elijah, and our Lord and Saviour, in whose hands of flesh may be seen the prints of the nails, serve and dwell in heaven. There is the tree of life and the Garden of Eden, trees that once rooted in the very soil of this earth as do those which we see about us. Let none be robbed of the hope of heaven by the theosophical mysticism which is sweeping the world to-day.
2. Throughout the Scriptures the Lord represents Himself as One before whose face and bodily presence the redeemed sinner in immortal flesh may one day come. The fact that God is Spirit in no way suggests the spiritualistic idea of an all-pervading personality or influence with no special place where His bodily presence may be approached by spiritual beings. Here is a view of the throne of heaven wholly in accord with scenes presented in Holy Writ: "I saw a throne, and on it sat the Father and the Son. I gazed on Jesus' countenance, and admired His lovely person. The Father's person I could not behold, for a cloud of glorious light covered Him. I asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He said He had, but I could not behold it, for, said He, if you should once behold the glory of His person, you would cease to exist."—Early Writings, p. 45.
3. "In heaven the semblance of a rainbow encircles the throne, and overarches the head of Christ. The prophet says, 'As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about [the throne]. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah.' The Revelator declares, 'Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. . . . There was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.' When man by his great wickedness invites the divine judgments, the Saviour, interceding with the Father in his behalf, points to the bow in the clouds, to the rainbow around the throne and above His own head, as a token of the mercy of God toward the repentant sinner. With the assurances given to Noah concerning the Flood, God Himself has linked one of the most precious promises of His grace. . . . Isa. 54: 9, 10."—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 107.
4. These elders are plainly redeemed men, who once lived on earth. Many sleeping saints arose with Christ (Matt. 27: 52, 53), and as He ascended on high He led a multitude of captives (Eph. 4: 8, margin), first-fruits and pledges of His victory over the grave and of the coming and resurrection of all the righteous dead. In Solomon's temple note that the priests served in courses of twenty-four. 1 Chron. 24: 3, 4.
5. By His death and His victory over sin, Jesus had demonstrated His power to make manifest to the sons of men the mystery of the salvation of God, and, as Head of the church redeemed, it was His to reveal to the prophet events of the future which He desired His servants to understand.
