Revelation Chapter 4
Introduction
Revelation chapter 4 is a vivid depiction of the Holy Throne room. John of Patmos, the author of the book of Revelation is called up into Heaven where he sees the One who sits on the throne, and illusion to God the Father. Surrounding God are elders on thrones and all kinds of creatures, singing of the endless glory of God. This description of the throne room has strong ties to the book of Ezekiel, and they both portray the same message, all attention, honor, and glory should be given to the Lord. The book of Revelation is less a book about eschatology, to foretell what the end will be like, or when Christ will return, but rather, a book about worship; when the cost of fidelity to God is death, will the One who sits on the Throne …show more content…
The seven churches the letter is specifically addressing were facing extreme persecution, and at some level succumbing to the cultural pressure surrounding them. Necessarily, the letter contains correction, as well as offering encouragement that in the end their faithfulness to the true God will come with a great reward. Additionally, John of Patmos is commonly thought to be John the Apostle who wrote the fourth Gospel. However, the Greek used in the two books along with the tone and overall writing style are vastly different. (Osborne, 2002, p. 4) Therefore, the author is simply John a Jewish leader in the early Church who likely fled to Patmos to escape the Roman Government. (James Cate? 1/19) During this time in the Roman Empire the Imperial Cult was the official religion, this meant worship of the emperors as though they were god. Emperors demanded to be worshiped as a god, even being called “our Lord and God” and building temples throughout the empire to facilitate their worship. “The emperor was not so much as a god, but an earthly representation of a god.” (Osborne, 2002, p. 6) Nero and Domitian were two emperors who participated in extreme oppression of Christians, as well as demanding worship; thus, it is safe to date the book of Revelation as written under the reign of one of the two. The date of Nero’s severe persecution was 64-65 AD and Domitian was 81-96 AD. Based upon numerous factors, including the destruction of the Temple, Revelation was most likely written in 90AD and was, therefore, under the reign of Domitian, with many references to the horrific nature of Nero. (Beale, 2015, p.
Revelation chapter 4 is a vivid depiction of the Holy Throne room. John of Patmos, the author of the book of Revelation is called up into Heaven where he sees the One who sits on the throne, and illusion to God the Father. Surrounding God are elders on thrones and all kinds of creatures, singing of the endless glory of God. This description of the throne room has strong ties to the book of Ezekiel, and they both portray the same message, all attention, honor, and glory should be given to the Lord. The book of Revelation is less a book about eschatology, to foretell what the end will be like, or when Christ will return, but rather, a book about worship; when the cost of fidelity to God is death, will the One who sits on the Throne …show more content…
The seven churches the letter is specifically addressing were facing extreme persecution, and at some level succumbing to the cultural pressure surrounding them. Necessarily, the letter contains correction, as well as offering encouragement that in the end their faithfulness to the true God will come with a great reward. Additionally, John of Patmos is commonly thought to be John the Apostle who wrote the fourth Gospel. However, the Greek used in the two books along with the tone and overall writing style are vastly different. (Osborne, 2002, p. 4) Therefore, the author is simply John a Jewish leader in the early Church who likely fled to Patmos to escape the Roman Government. (James Cate? 1/19) During this time in the Roman Empire the Imperial Cult was the official religion, this meant worship of the emperors as though they were god. Emperors demanded to be worshiped as a god, even being called “our Lord and God” and building temples throughout the empire to facilitate their worship. “The emperor was not so much as a god, but an earthly representation of a god.” (Osborne, 2002, p. 6) Nero and Domitian were two emperors who participated in extreme oppression of Christians, as well as demanding worship; thus, it is safe to date the book of Revelation as written under the reign of one of the two. The date of Nero’s severe persecution was 64-65 AD and Domitian was 81-96 AD. Based upon numerous factors, including the destruction of the Temple, Revelation was most likely written in 90AD and was, therefore, under the reign of Domitian, with many references to the horrific nature of Nero. (Beale, 2015, p.