From this statement we may think that form chapter 4 onwards to the end of the book , john was seeing visions in chronological progression from chapter to chapter, but that is not so, because the same vision  seen form the chapter 6-11 is repeated in chapters 12-19,as viewed from a different angle.

you can see the order in  INTRODUCTION

Chapters 4-11 cover the whole of the 7years of the tribulation period, and they also reveal the positions of the saints in eternity ,with the eyes of an old testament saint ,or of a Jew. Let us study what he sees, chapter by chapter.

'.....Behold , a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne'(Rev4:2)

John sees the throne of God, and the One who sat upon it, that is God the Father.

We must understand that the throne is the highest place in heaven, and that it is the habitation of God. It is not, of course, an earthly throne, but it speaks of the glorious habitation of God. Zephaniah says:' He will rest in his love' (Zep3:17).The psalmist says that,' God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness'(Ps47:8) St.Matthew says: 'When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angles with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory'(Matt25:31).Therefore the throne of God is His love, His holiness and His glory. Christ ,When He rose from the dead, went to the right hand of God, and this right hand of God is within the veil(Heb6:19-20)

Thus we understand that the place within the veil, the holy of holies, is the throne of God.

In addition to the Father, we find the lamb of God, also on the throne.' and i beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the esrth(Rev5:6).Also in addition to he father and the Son (the lamb that is slain), we find that the Bride of Christ (the overcomer) will join the Lamb, Who is on the throne, at the rapture. 'to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne'(Rev3:21)

'..there was a rainbow round about the throne..(Rev4:3)

The rainbow' is a token that He is the God of covenant and that He is faithful to accomplish His promises(Gen9:11-13)

'And round about  the throne were four and twenty seats; and upon the seats. four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of Gold' (Rev4:4)

All around the throne are twenty -four elders, each one has a seat. They represent the  saints of the conscience period.

Because they are seated with crowns on their heads, some try to interpret that the elders are the Bride of Christ. But we must note that the 'Seats' mentioned here are not the same as the throne of God. they cannot be the same ,because the throne of God is mentioned separately from the twenty-four seats all round it. The throne of the Bride on the other hand, is the very throne of God Himself.

'And out of the throne proceeded lightings and thunderings and voices..' (Rev4:5)

'Lightings, thunderings and voices' speak of the righteous judgment and power of God(IISam22:14-15)

'...and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God'(Rev4:5)

He sees seven lamps of fire before the throne and they are the seven Spirits of God.

The seven lamps, which are the seven Spirits of God, together constitute one Holy Spirit, Revealing the perfect character of God. Here we do not find the third Person of the holy or blesses trinity particularly mentioned as on the throne, but the Holy Spirit works through the father, the Son and the Bride of Christ. As the Bride of Christ is still on the earth, serving the Lord before the throne, and as the Holy Spirit is still with the church, the Bride of Christ, He is represented as the seven lamps before the throne.

'And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal'(Rev4:6)

The 'sea of glass' denotes the position of the martyrs. In Revelation 6:9 we read, 'And  when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held'. These are the martyrs from the very beginning of the world up to the rapture of the New Testament church. Though they have died as martyrs, they are seen on the sea of glass. The sea of glass' speaks of Purification through suffering.

In addition to these martyrs ,there are martyrs of the great tribulation. they stand on the sea of glass mingles with fire(Rev15:2) unlike the other martyrs, they have a  higher position because of the terrible tribulation which they had to go through at the hands of the antichrist. 

'..And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne ,were four beasts full of eyes before and behind' (Rev4:6)

The 'four beasts' represents the saints of the Law period and the 'eyes' speak of their wisdom and insight.

some say that the four beast are no more than angelic beings with our any relationship to man. But this isn't so since their position is in the midst of the throne and all around it.' In the midst  of the throne' speaks of their nearness or their access tot he throne.

angles of God cannot come to this place. their position is outside this area.

'And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angles round about he throne and the beasts and the elders...'(Rev5:11).They cannot be angelic beings.

The four beasts, and the twenty-four elders, sing the same redemption song. this means that they have also been redeemed from among men. Therefore they are not angles.' and when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having everyone of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayer of saints. 'And they sung a new song, saying. Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation'(Rev5:8-9)

'And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third best had a face as  a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle'(Rev4:7)

Each had a separate face. each of these faces speaks of a great divine quality. The Lord Jesus Christ had all four of these divine qualities. The four gospels reflect these four divine characters of the Lord, one of which is presented by each gospel in turn.

Matthew speaks of Him as the Lion of Judah or as the King.

Mark speaks of Him as a Calf or a humble servant.

Luke speaks of Him as a Man of His love.

John speaks of Him as a flying eagle- of His Holiness as the Son of God

All four of these qualities were combined in Him. that is why it sis said of Him,' 'Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect , he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him'(Heb5:8-9)

The same quality is expected from the bride of Christ. In Ezekiel's vision concerning the Church, he saw four beast having four faces.......they had the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side; and they four has the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle'(Ezekiel1:6,10) With out these qualities she cannot be the Body of Christ or be one with Christ, neither can she be seated with Christ in eternity. The old testament saints cold not attain these qualities. Of them it is said; 'And these all, Having obtained a good report through faith, received not he promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect' (Hebrews11:39-40)

Each of the Old testament saints, However ,had at least one of these qualities. That is why each beast had only one face which represented their character. these four beasts therefore, are the saints of the dispensation of the Law.

'And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that at on the throne.. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat  on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne..'(Rev4:9-10)

In order to know the difference between the four beast and the twenty-four elders, we need to study the disepnsationtional truths. from the fall of Adam to the period of the New Testament, we find three clear periods or dispensations.

They are:

(1) The dispensation of Conscience.

(2) The dispensation of Law.

(3) The dispensation of Grace. 

(1) The dispensation of Conscience:

This is the period from Adam to the giving of the law through Moses, When man has no law to judge him but the law of conscience. Paul says, 'For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not he law, are a law unto themselves; which shew the work of the law written in their heats, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another(Rom2:14,15)

(2)The dispensation of the law:

This is the period from the giving of the law through Moses to the day of Pentecost. The highest standard of righteousness of man during this period was the standard of the law. The saints of the Laws period are evidently greater than the Conscience period saints because God gave them the law to discipline their lives so that they might become a kingdom of priests and an holy nation (Ex19:6)

(3) The dispensation of Grace:

This is the period from the day of Pentecost to the  coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is also called the dispensation (or the period )of the Church. The saints of the dispensation of Grace are very much greater than the conscience period and the Law period saints because

i) They are redeemed by a better sacrifice, not that of bulls and goats which could not take away sins, nor purge their conscience, but by the blood of Jesus(Heb10:1-4,10,14)

ii) They have a better priesthood. In the Old testament, the Levitical priesthood could not bring anyone to  perfection under Aaron; but the believers of the New Testament are called to perfection through Christ, who has a continual ministry after the order of Melchisedec (Heb7:11)

iii) The Old Testament saints could not live an overcoming life, because satan, who is the author of sin and death, was not destroyed. But Jesus, having destroyed satan at Calvary, has become the author of eternal salvation to the saints of the New Testament (Heb2:14-15)(Col2:15)(Heb5:9).These are few of the reasons why the saints of the dispensation of Grace are greater than the saints of former dispensations. Jesus himself said that those who belong to His kingdom are greater than all who were born before Him Conscience period and Law period saints)(Matt11:11)

In each of the above three dispensations, one comes across three groups of people of God;

(a) The saints: the elect, or the first -fruits(Titus1:1);(Rom8:23)

(b) The martyrs (Rev6:9)

(c) The believers(Rev20:12)

In addition to the martyrs mentioned above, there are martyrs of the remnant of the Church. These are they who refuse to take the mark of the antichrist, and die as martyrs during the great tribulation. They are therefore ,referred to as 'the tribulation martyrs', while those martyrs who died before the rapture are referred to as 'the general martyrs',

All these have their own positions in relation to the throne of God, of the saints of these three dispensations will be as mentioned below:

(1) The sanctified, New Testament church, called the over comers.

(2) The law period saints, represented as the four beasts.

(3)The Conscience period saints, mentioned as the twenty-four elders.

One may ask how were know that the twenty-four elders represent the Conscience period saints. whenever John mentioned the twenty-four elders, he mentioned them after the four beasts. For example he says, 'When he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb'(Rev5:8). Again,' And i beheld, and,lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb...'(Rev5:6)

Once again,' And i beheld, and i heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders..'(Rev5:11).

In all these places the twenty-four elders are mentioned after the four beasts, therefore the twenty-four elders point to the Conscience period saints who are of a lower order than the Law period saints, who are represented as the 'four beasts'.

Position of the saints II