It looks to me like John is describing things as they are.. taken to heaven to see what is going on there.. I don't see anything saying that this was a picture of the moment of Christ's ascension into heaven.. at the very least it appears to be things as they are at the time he (John ) is in vision - but I would concede that it was probably like that since his (Christ's) ascension since the lamb has already been slain and that limits the start time to a specific point in time 2000 years ago where that state of things could have existed. Could be a short time later but pretty much it would have started then.
Bob
I’m posting these insights though they are not mine personally I think harmonize with scripture and magnify the love of the Godhead, and bring more clarity to apocalyptic prophecy. It will take two postings.
(1st Post)
Each apocalyptic prophecy has a starting point in time and a ending point in time, and each event will come to pass in the chronological order given within each prophecy. This is God’s ordained law, and when each event comes to pass it can be time stamped. However, a starting point is not described in Revelation 4. The starting point is determined by linking Daniel 7:9-14 with Revelation 4 and 5.1 Let me explain. Daniel was zoomed forward in Daniel 7 to see the Father, the Ancient of Days, convene a special meeting in 1798. John was also zoomed forward to 1798 to observe the same meeting, but from a different perspective. Both prophets saw the exaltation of Jesus.
After Jesus produced the righteousness needed to save repentant sinners, He was summoned to heaven to be declared “King of
Earth.” Centuries later, after being found worthy, the Father exalted Jesus again by declaring Jesus to be “Ruler of
heaven and
Earth.” The Father, with this declaration, relinquished His throne and sovereign authority to Jesus. For the past 200+ years, unknown to millions of Christians, Jesus has reigned on the throne of the universe as “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This is an important part of the
untold story of Jesus, but it does not affect our prayers because praying to the Father is always appropriate.1 Since 1798, the Holy Spirit has merely redirected our prayers to Jesus because Jesus
temporarily rules the universe. This is the Father’s will!2
Jesus will continue to reign as almighty God until the end of the 1,000 years. After creating a new heaven and a new Earth, Jesus will give sovereign authority back to the Father so the Father may once again be, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”3 I realize the exaltation of Jesus is a new topic for many Christians, so a healthy amount of skepticism is expected and an open mind is required. Consider these four passages from the Bible:
1. Daniel saw Jesus given authority, glory, and sovereign power:
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man [This vision was given ~600 years before Jesus was born. The significance for us is Daniel saw Jesus as a
son of man long before Jesus entered the
form of a man.]
, coming with the clouds of heaven [Daniel is not describing the Second Coming. This setting occurred in heaven when the little horn on Earth had fulfilled 1,260 years of power. Because He is the archangel and a member of deity, Jesus is surrounded by a host of holy angels which looked like the “clouds of heaven” to Daniel.]
. He approached the Ancient of Days [the Father]
and was led into his presence. [After He was found worthy – Revelation 5,]
He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; [and a time will come when]
all nations and peoples of every language [will worship]
worshiped him. His dominion [will be]
is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom [of priests –
Revelation 1:6]
is one that will never be destroyed.”4
2. John also saw Jesus given power in 1798 that He did not possess previously. Notice seven attributes of power given to Jesus after He was found worthy to receive the book sealed with seven seals:
“In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive [1]
power and [2]
wealth and [3]
wisdom and [4]
strength and [5]
honor and [6]
glory and [7]
praise!’ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea [
Psalms 145:21, a phrase indicating universal praise – obviously people on Earth or under the Earth (in their graves) knew nothing about this event]
, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’ The four living creatures said, ‘Amen [so be it]
,’ and the [24]
elders fell down and worshiped.”5
3. Bible scholars believe Paul wrote the book of Ephesians about A.D. 62. Paul knew, at the time, the Father planned to give Jesus sovereign authority at a future time. Consider Paul’s words:
“He [the Father]
made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times [when the years]
will have reached their fulfillment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”6
4. Paul also knew a time would come when Jesus would return the sovereign authority the Father had given Him:
“Then the end will come, when he [Jesus]
hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he [Jesus]
has destroyed all dominion, authority and power [at the end of the 1,000 years]
. For he [Jesus]
must reign [as almighty God]
until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
“For he [the Father]
‘has put everything under his [Jesus’]
feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him [Jesus]
, it is clear that this does not include God [the Father]
himself, who put everything under Christ [when He was found worthy in 1798 and given sovereign power]
. When he [Jesus]
has done this [destroyed death, the last enemy]
, then the Son himself will be made subject to him [the Father]
who put everything under him, so that God [the Father]
may be all in all [the Sovereign Ruler of the universe once again]
.”7
Now that you have considered the
transfer of sovereign authority between the Father and Jesus, you can easily resolve an
apparent conflict! In
1 Timothy 6:15, Paul says the Father
alone is “King of kings and Lord of lords, but, in
Revelation 19:16, John saw Jesus wearing the title “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” at the Second Coming. This
apparent conflict is resolved by the
transfer of sovereign authority in 1798. When we know all the bits and pieces the Bible teaches, it makes perfect sense just as it reads!
Why Was Jesus Exalted?
When the time arrived to enter the final phase of His plan to save repentant sinners, the Father assembled the angels and conducted a search to see who was qualified to bring the sin problem to a close. After scrutinizing everyone in the universe, Jesus alone was found worthy to receive the book sealed with seven seals. After He received the book, it became known as, “The Lamb’s Book of Life.”8
The Father gave Jesus sovereign authority over heaven and Earth because Jesus needs it to accomplish the objective that goes with opening each of the book’s seals! The Father recused Himself from ruling the universe and took “a back seat” for these four reasons:
1. Before anything was created, the Father foreknew sin would occur and, according to His plan, Jesus would play the central role in saving sinners. Because Jesus lived in the form of an angel in heaven and then a pauper on Earth, the Father predetermined everyone would eventually see that Jesus is actually a deity like Himself. The exposure of
all that Jesus is began unfolding in heaven in 1798.
Soon, Jesus will open the fourth seal. This act and the ministry of the 144,000 will dramatically reveal Jesus is almighty God. This process of breaking the seven seals is called the “revelation of Jesus Christ” and the details are outlined in the book of Revelation. At the end of the 1,000 years, there will be a glorious climax to the revelation of Jesus. At that time, and only at that time, everyone who has ever lived on Earth will be alive. Jesus will appear on a great white throne with the Father before an innumerable host of people and angels. Both Gods will be glorified with the brilliance and sovereign power that normally attends the Father. Jesus will be seated beside the Father who will announce Jesus is no longer the Son of God. He is an almighty God: a self-existing member of deity like Himself. The Father will also declare Jesus as His equal in every way; therefore, everyone will be required to bow down and worship the Creator for who He is! This declaration is the third law of the universe!
“It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge [that Jesus Christ is an Almighty]
God.’ ”9
“Therefore God [the Father]
exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord [sovereign]
, to the glory of God the Father.”10