When the outlook is bleak, the uplook is glorious!
Revelation 4:1: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
Revelation 4:2: Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Revelation 4:3: And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
Revelation 4:4: Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:5: And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. In front of the throne seven blazing torches burned. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.
Revelation 4:6: Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
Revelation 4:8: The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
“Holy, Holy, Holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:9: Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Revelation 4:10: the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
Revelation 4:11: “You are worthy, Oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.”
In contrast to glorious light in Heaven, the situation on earth was dark and bleak and hopeless.
In Revelation 5 John is weeping!
Revelation 5:4 “John wept much!”
Revelation 5:5: But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:6: And I looked, and behold, in the midst (center) of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst (center) of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain.
Revelation 5:8: Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 5:9: And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals;
for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,”
Revelation 5:10: “And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:11: Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.
Revelation 5:12: Saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation 5:13: And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:6: And I looked, and behold, in the midst (center) of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst (center) of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain.
John 11:25-26: “I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”