An “inventory” of Revelation 4
Imagery and symbols (‘this is that’ or ‘this is like that’)
- Voice like a trumpet (Rev. 4.1)
- appearance of jasper and carnelian (Rev. 4.3)
- A rainbow, resembling an emerald (Rev. 4.3)
- seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God (Rev. 4.5)
- sea of glass, clear as crystal (Rev. 4.6)
- The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. (Rev. 4.7)
Names for God
- the Spirit (Rev. 4.2)
- One sitting on the throne (Rev. 4.2, 4.3)
- the seven spirits of God (Rev. 4.5) / God
- the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come (Rev. 4.8)
- him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever (Rev. 4.9, 4.10)
- our Lord and God (Rev. 4.11)
Cast of characters
- the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet (Rev. 4.1)
- twenty-four elders (Rev. 4.4, 4.10)
- four living creatures (Rev. 4.6-9)
- All things (Rev. 4.11)
Literary elements
- Hymns (Rev. 4.8, 4.11)
- Action and dialogue (Rev. 4.1-2, 4.8-11)
- Description of people and things (Rev. 4.3-8)
- Reasons (Rev. 4.11)
- After this I looked, and there before me (Rev. 4.1)
- I was in the Spirit (Rev. 4.2)
- there before me (Rev. 4.2)
- What John hears (Rev. 4.1b)
- What John sees (Rev. 4.1a, 4.2-11)
Visual elements
- a door standing open in heaven (Rev. 4.1)
- what must take place after this (Rev. 4.1)
- The throne (Rev. 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.9, 4.10)
- Jewels (Rev. 4.3)
- Rainbows (Rev. 4.3)
- White clothing (Rev. 4.4)
- Crowns (Rev. 4.4, 4.10)
- Lamps (Rev. 4.5)
- Lightning, rumbling, thunder (Rev. 4.5)
- Sea of glass (Rev. 4.6)
- Eyes (Rev. 4.6, 4.8)
- Lion (Rev. 4.7)
- Ox (Rev. 4.7)
- Eagle (Rev. 4.7)
- Wings (Rev. 4.8)
- Day and night (Rev. 4.8)
Themes and theology
- God (Rev. 4.2, 4.3)
- God as king (Rev. 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.9, 4.10)
- The Holy Spirit (Rev. 4.2, 4.5)
- God’s beauty and glory (Rev. 4.3)
- Worship (Rev. 4.8-11)
- God’s holiness (Rev. 4.8)
- God’s power (Rev. 4.8)
- God as past, present, future (Rev. 4.8, 4.9, 4.10)
- Glory, honor (Rev. 4.9, 4.11)
- Thanks (Rev. 4.9)
- Worthiness (Rev. 4.11)
- Creation (Rev. 4.6-9, 4.11)
- Possibly omniscience and omnipresence (Rev. 4.6, 4.8)
Source: author’s personal study