Revelation 4 

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.  

"Churches" love to use this as their "rapture". They see "Come up hither" and run with it missing the word, "I" = John and only JOHN!

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 

"JOHN" is in his spiritual body standing before God.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 

The "jasper stone" is green, the "sardine stone" is red. John sees the jasper first because he is seeing the end of the age. The priest's breast plate had twelve stones in it. The jasper stone is the last on the breast plate. The Rainbow is The Shekinah Glory of God shining in every direction. The twelve stones on the breast plate were in representing of the twelve tribes of Israel.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 

These 24 where chosen because of their righteous acts.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 

That's what it sounds like when those with The power of God speak. It lights up where it's spoken and the sound echoes throughout.

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 

You want a good description of these beast? Go to Ezekiel Chapter 1 and draw it as you read it. It's an eye opener.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 

These represent different tribes as their standards, or what's on their banners. The Lion flag was Judah to the east. The south was the tribe of a "man's face" because Reuben was the firstborn. The west was the "ox", representing Ephraim, and Dan's banner was on the north side with "the eagle".

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 

"Beast" Greek word = "zoa", = "living ones" Their duty is to protect. "was, and is, and is to come" = the ages of time Christ walks the earth.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, 

We give the same glory, honor and thanks to Christ as these.

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

That's you and me and everything in between. We are made that we should be pleasing to our Father. Sadly, many today just don't care.