Verse 14
The worship culminated in John’s vision with the four creatures saying "Amen" repeatedly after the vast crowd fell silent. The elders worshipped by prostrating themselves before God’s throne (cf. Revelation 4:10). [Note: See David J. MacLeod, "The Adoration of God the Redeemer: An Exposition of Revelation 5:8-14," Bibliotheca Sacra 164:656 (October-December 2007):454-71, for another exposition of this pericope.]
These chapters (4-5) present heaven, God’s dwelling place, as a real place. John saw God receiving great honor there surrounded by innumerable angelic worshippers. Even though John saw a vision, it was a vision of something that truly exists. We may be able to see it and the individuals said to be there someday.
In chapters 4-20, John described what he saw in heaven and on earth. The following chart identifies which place was in view in each of the sections that compose these chapters.
| The Focus of John’s Visions in Chapters 4-20 |
| In Heaven | On Earth |
| The heavenly throne (ch. 4) | |
| The Lamb on the throne (ch. 5) | |
| The first four seal judgments (Revelation 6:1-8) | |
| The fifth seal judgment (Revelation 6:9-11) | |
| The sixth seal judgment (Revelation 6:12-17) | |
| The sealing of the 144,000 witnesses (Revelation 7:1-8) | |
| The great multitude (Revelation 7:9-17) | |
| Preparations for the trumpet judgments (Revelation 8:1-5) | |
| The first six trumpet judgments (Revelation 8:6 to Revelation 9:21) | |
| The little book (ch. 10) | |
| The ministry of the two witnesses (Revelation 11:1-14) | |
| The announcement of the seventh trumpet judgment (Revelation 11:15-19) | |
| The expulsion of Satan (Revelation 12:1-12) | |
| The activity of Satan (Revelation 12:13-17) | |
| The activity of the two beasts (ch. 13) | |
| Judgment at the end of the Great Tribulation (ch. 14) | |
| The announcement of the seven last judgments (ch. 15) | |
| The seven bowl judgments (ch. 16) | |
| Religion in the Tribulation (ch. 17) | |
| Commerce in the Tribulation (ch. 18) | |
| Praise for judging (Revelation 19:1-10) | |
| The second coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11-21) | |
| The millennial reign of Christ (ch. 20) |
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