Chapter # 4 Paragraph # 1 Study # 2
January 21, 2024
Broadlands, Louisiana
(Download Audio)
Thesis: The Revelation given to John was deliberately tied to his own
attitude as the recipient of the truths it contains.
Introduction: In our last study, which was not retained for some reason, we considered the introduction to chapter four with a particular focus upon the heresy called "preterism". That heresy is rooted in a massive confusion at the
hermeneutical level, using precise correlations between the "prophecies" and "history" to claim legitimacy, and then swallowing the camel whole in other prophecies which are "spiritualized" in some form or another.
This evening we are going to take up John's particular focus upon his summons through an open door into heaven, tying it to the "first voice" he heard as a trumpet in chapter one and clarifying the realities of the heavenly setting in respect to the fallen bodies of human beings here on earth.
- I. This Chapter As The Ultimate Background For All That Follows.
- A. It is a vision of Heaven as the initial presentation of the issues of Heaven in respect to "what must take place after these things..." (4:1).
- 1. The phrase "after these things" (Meta tauta) is the opening phrase of 4:1 and the ending phrase of 4:1.
- 2. The "meta tauta" phrase has an earlier point of reference in 1:19 that is inescapably linked to 1:1 and its phrase, "...the things which must soon take place..." where "soon" (tachos) is given as a timing indicator, and in 1:3 and its phrase "...the time is near..." (eggus) which is also used as a timing indicator.
- 3. The second phrase (meta tauta) at the end of 4:1 is deliberately tied by the envisioned "angel" of chapter one to the future (a dei genesthai meta tauta).
- B. The relationship of "being in the spirit" to the summons to Heaven.
- 1. In the first reference to "being in the spirit" (1:10), there is a strong implication of deliberate "worship".
- a. In this text, being "in the spirit" was said to be John's situation "on the Lord's Day".
- 1) This particular phrase (the Lord's Day) is only found this one time in the New Testament.
- 2) There are seven references in the New Testament to "the first day of the week", with six of those seven referring to the day of the resurrection of Jesus.
- a) On two of these six, "worship" activities are enjoined: Acts 20:7 says they met on the first day "to break bread" and, in this case, they listened to Paul go into a long explanation of some unidentified truths; and 1 Corinthians 16:2 enjoins the Corinthians to set aside the portion of their prosperity that they intend to give to the work "every week".
- b) The other four have to do with waiting until the Sabbath had passed.
- b. The implication of John's statement was that he typically spent some time "on the Lord's day" in deliberate commitment to relating to God by the Spirit.
- 1) This was likely a time of dedicated prayer and, perhaps, pondering some portion of Truth, and, in normal circumstances, "assembling oneself with other believers" (Hebrews 10:25).
- 2) This was not a declaration that John had not been "filled with the Spirit" on other days: such "filling" is incumbent upon every believer all of the time. But, even that concept, enjoined by Paul in Ephesians 5:18, has overtones of "worship" because it enjoins the speaking of one to another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and the giving of thanks for all [of the people (the "panton" is either masculine or neuter) who are typically involved in this Christian fellowship].
- 2. This second reference seems, however, to be somewhat different because it seems to describe John's as in a flesh-less state (like unto Paul's "whether in the body or out of the body" statement in 2 Corinthians 12:2).
- a. There is this likeness, however: there is a complete absence of any kind of focus upon the "body": the worship of singing and listening to Truth tends to put the focus upon what is going on the heart/mind aspects of men even though their mouths and ears are engaged.
- b. John's "point" is that The Revelation of heavenly realities has little to do with physical concerns -- especially since we must be removed from these fleshly bodies before we are "fit" for participation in heavenly realities (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
