Looking into Heaven - Pt. 2

 

After 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.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And 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. Around 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. From 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, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. (Revelation 4:1-6 ESV).

 

As we read a bit further in John’s vision of heaven we soon see that the focal point is the one who sits on the throne. Here Revelation brings us into the awesome presence of the Lord God Almighty. This is not the first time the Bible tells of someone standing before the Lord Almighty (see Isaiah 6:1-8; Ezekiel 1; Daniel 10). But since the time of Jesus’ ascension to heaven (Acts 1:9-11), this is the first sustained and detailed description of “the one who sat on the throne.” Even so, we are not given a full description of the Lord.

 

Even though we are understandably curious about heaven, this revelation is not merely a remedy for that curiosity. The Lord God opens heaven’s door and has John stand in his presence and write it down for the ages so that our faith in him may spring to life, grow in conviction, and be sustained in hope.

 

In our world of mixed emotions and situations both good and bad, pleasant and painful, joy and sorrow, doubt and conviction, success and failure, health and sickness, God wants us to see that our world is centered in him. This is a central theme of the Revelation beginning in chapter four. Of course, this s not the only reference we have to the majesty of God seated on His throne. However, here we see that the throne of heaven and the One seated on it have come near to all of us [note: the gospel of Mark tells us that Jesus’ ministry began with the words “The kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15)]. And here in Revelation we see that Jesus’ mission continues as he is seated on the throne. It gives us great motivation to praise Him in all things and know of our coming eternal victory.