Revelation #14

This morning we move on to look at God's glory in heaven. Oh this gets me so excited.



Revelation 4:1-6

1After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.



Chapter 4 begins the prophetic section of Revelation. In verse 1 John tells us after the letters to the churches he looked and seen a door open in heaven. He was going to get a look into heaven...wow! Then Jesus who voice sounded like a trumpet told John to come to Him and he would show him what was going to take place! In verse 2 the Spirit filled John and He seen God sitting on the throne! Oh my can you imagine??? Then in verse 3 John gave a description of God. God had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. Jasper represents transparency which is no sin. Carnelian is blood red which represents the redemptive holiness of God. The John told us there was a rainbow around the throne. This represents eternity. As you recall God promised never to destroy the earth again by flood and the half circle rainbow was a symbol of that promise. Well here the rainbow is a complete circle and represents a promise of eternity...thank you Jesus! The rainbow had the appearance of emerald which represents the radiating presence of God. In verse 4 we are told there are twenty-four elders sitting on 24 thrones. These 24 elders are representative of 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of the church age. We are told they are dressed in white garments which represent their righteousness by the blood of Christ. They also have gold crowns on their heads which represents their faithful service. In verse 5 we return to the throne John sees flashes of lighting and hears rumblings of thunder. This represents the splendor of God! I can only imagine what this will be like when we get to see this for ourselves. Before the throne were seven burning torches which are the seven spirits of God. Look at Revelation 1:4 as we have already seen this. Also before the throne was something that appeared like a crystal sea of glass. This represents pureness as there is no more sin to be asked forgiveness of in heaven! Give glory to God! This is also mention in Revelation 15:2.



I think this is enough for today to meditate on....wow it is overwhelming!



Tom