<p>4:5 - see on Rev. 1:20;&nbsp;Jer. 1:11,12.</p><p><em>And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, voices and thunders- </em>As noted on :1, the vision of the Heavenly throne room in chapters 4 and 5 refers to how things are in the Heavenly court <em>in the last days</em>. In this context, the seven heads and mountains of the beast perhaps have their match in the seven spirits / Angels before God&rsquo;s throne. As found in Daniel, the situation on earth is not at all out of control; rather is it a reflection of the Heavenly throne room, just as the beasts of Daniel 7 arise out of the sea as a result of the apparent &lsquo;striving&rsquo; of the spirits / Angels / winds. The lightnings which flash out of the throne were not just what were &lsquo;usually&rsquo; there in Heaven; rather are these the lightnings which flash in the last day events of Rev. 8:5; 11:19; 16:18, recalling the flashing of lightning as a sign of God&rsquo;s especial and saving activity of His people (Ps. 18:14). As lightening, fire and thunder 'proceeds' out of the throne and from the mouth of Him sitting upon it (1:16; 4:5), so the same word is used of how fire and judgment proceed out of their mouth of God's briefly victorious enemies (9:17,18). So often the contrast is drawn between the things of God's Kingdom and God's people, and those of His opposition. The thundering recorded here is that of Rev. 19:6 at the time of the second coming of Christ. The great voice out of the throne &ldquo;voices&rdquo; may be a reflection of the Hebrew idea of an intensive plural is the great voice out of the throne of Rev. 16:17; 19:5 when &ldquo;it is done&rdquo;. It is the voice of victory which effectively comes out of the throne at the last day (Rev. 7:9,10).</p><p>The 24 elders of Rev. 4:5 represent rather than symbolize the believers, whose guardians they are. These Angels represent the saints in the court of Heaven. In this lies the practical meaning of all this; that we, our 'case', our thoughts and deeds, are represented in none less than the court of Heaven; and there they are judged, discussed, and responded to.</p><p><em>And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God</em>- It is the faithful who are &quot;before the throne&quot;. The seven spirits refers perhaps to the totality of God's Spirit and His power. Seeing He makes His Angels spirits, it could be that God's power is apportioned between seven senior Angels. But the connection with the seven churches and stars, who are the angels of the churches, is also clear. As the indwelling Spirit dwells and abides within us, so we are represented as the seven lamps burning always before Him in Heaven. In the last day, of which this vision speaks, we shall be turned to Spirit nature. We are the elders, and we are the seven spirits. The symbolism reflects different aspects of the same realities.</p>