The Throne of God

This is the scene that we will see when we enter heaven. What John is experiencing is the first glimpse as to what a Christian will see when they stand before God. Also, note that John does not have the words to matter-of-factly describe what he is seeing. He keeps having to tell us “having the appearance of” or “as [if] it were.” Words could not successfully describe what had been shown to John.

Standing- The throne is not said to be randomly placed, it is not sitting over there somewhere, but it is standing. Standing paints an image of being immovable, unchangeable, unshakable, and permanent. This will be an important image to keep in mind as we progress forward and the world is plunged into chaos. The world will seem to be turned upside down, but God still remains unchanged reigning sovereignly on His throne.

He who seated the Throne: There is only one who can sit on a throne. There can only be one king in solidarity. Millenniums ago, the city state of Sparta used a form of government called “Dual Monarchy.” It worked for them for centuries, but when other countries tried it it would only fail. You see, there can only be one. If you “share” power with someone else, your subjects will look to one more than the other. Who do you believe holds more power in your house? Your mom, or your dad? What about your school. Who do you fear more? Some teachers, or some principles?

— God is the only one who can be seated on His throne. There was one instance when someone else tried to take the throne of God, and from that one try to usurp the kingdom the entire universe was thrown into chaos and turmoil. This moment was of course when the devil tried to take God’s glory, and he was thrown out of heaven down to roam lower territories. Never again to ascend to his former lofty position.

— Only God is worthy to sit on His throne, only God is powerful and just enough to sit on His throne. It tells us that He has the appearance of Jasper and Carnelian. The “appearance of” tells us that this was simply what His glory appeared to be, and not a physical form. God is not a stone. Deuteronomy 5:8 ““ ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Exodus 20:4 ““You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”

What is on display here is something radiant and clear like a diamond, but red as well for fierce power and glory.

God’s Throne:

Around the throne was a rainbow of green. The rainbow signifies God’s promise to never destroy the world by flood again, and by Him keeping His promise it gives us the ability to believe and place our trust in every other promise that He has given us as well. Can anyone think of another important promise that God has given us? One that we most certainly would want Him to keep. Salvation. “...Whoever will believe in me will not perish, but have ever lasting life.”

Green signifies peace. It gives a calming contrast to the awesome and overwhelming image of the one on the throne.

Around throne were 24 thrones. These were smaller thrones that paled in comparison to the throne of God.

Elders:

Who or what do you think these are?

They are not angels. No where in scripture does it mention that angels will be reigning or sitting on thrones not does it speak of angels wearing crowns.

Matthew 19:28 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 “Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge (govern) angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” — Hebrews 1:4 & 14 “having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” ...“Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” —

Revelation 3:21 “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

In the OT 24 priests represented the people of Israel. These 24 elders will represent the church. The entire church. The church from the day of Pentecost (when the church is said to have started) to the moment of the Rapture (the moment the church will be removed from the world.)

Lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder symbolizes:

Have you ever sat out in your yard and watched a summer storm roll in from the distance? What do you notice? Lightning, thunder, and dark clouds that seem to roll across the sky like smoke. This imagery around the thrones symbolizes the coming storm of wrath that God is about to unleash on the world.

The 7 lamps: These are not the lamps of the church. These are outdoor torches. They are the 7 spirits of God. It describes Jesus in all His fullness Isaiah 11:2 “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” 7 is the number of completeness. God used 6 days to create the world, and then He blocked off the last day for rest. When you see the number 7, know that it means complete and lacking nothing. Lamps are associated with war. This symbolizes what is about to happen in the rest of the book. God is about to go to war with the wicked.

The sea in front of the throne is debated. Some theologians offer theory that the sea is the church. Revelation 17:15 “And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.” Ephesians 5:26 “that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,”

Others say that it is a vast pavement of glass, shining brilliantly like crystal. Exodus 24:10 “and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.” I agree with this one more, but we will get into some of it next week.

Regardless of the stance, heaven will clearly be filled with an array of vivid colors and lights. Beautiful no doubt.

The 4 Living Creatures: “Full of eyes”e is nothing to stir fear or anxieties. There is nothing that would cause panic or danger. God is in control, and the threat of violence is relinquished.

The 4 Living Creatures: “Full of eye” This means that they see in every direction. They “see all.” Eyes in all directions symbolizes them being aware, alert, and comprehensive knowledge. Nothing pertaining to their duties escapes their scrutiny. They thoroughly completed their ascribed jobs.

Ezekiel 1:4–21 ESV

As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above. Each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning. Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel. When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went. And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

Theologians speculate what the appearance of the angles may mean. Some people believe that they represent the attributes of Christ, others believe that they represent the creations of Christ. Lets look at both arguments.

Lion: some believe that it represents Christ as the Lion of Judah. Others believe that it represents wild creatures of God’s creation.

Ox: Some believe it describes Jesus as the beast of burden that carries our sins. Others believe it represents domesticated animals.

Man: Some believe it represents Jesus as the Son of Man. Others believe it represents God’s pinnacle of creation which is mankind.

Eagle: Some believe that as the eagle rules the skies, this represents Jesus ruling the heavens. Others believe that it represents the creatures of the skies.

Argument #1- The creatures line up with the 4 gospels representation of Christ. Matthew (King of kings [Lion]), Mark (servant [ox]), Luke (Son of Man [man]), John (Son of God [Eagle])

Argument #2- The tribes of Israel camped under these 4 banners: some with Reuben (symbolized by a man), some with Dan (symbolized by an eagle) some with Ephraim (symbolized by the ox, or calf) and some with Judah (symbolized by the Lion)

Regardless of exact meanings, these beasts are war machines that will come into play later on in Revelation.

Isaiah 6:3 “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””

Revelation 4:8-11 “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.””

Isaiah 40:28 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”

God’s power is seen in His creation. Psalm 33:9 “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”

Because He created everything, He has the authority to judge everything. He judged Satan and the sinning angels by kicking them out of heave, He brought judgment on Adam and Eve in the garden for rebelling, He brought judgment on the whole world at the flood, He brought judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, He brought it on the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Jews, He brought it on all who would become unruly and stand against His will.

— God has the right and authority to judge the world, and He is about to. This is what Revelation is about. The judgment of the unbelieving, and the salvation of His children.

Water Baptism: Jesus was baptized with water, and so were the disciples. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. When we are baptized we are telling the world that we have placed our faith in the sacrifices (the death) of Christ for the payment of our sins, and that we believe that He has risen again and is reigning in heaven. Just as the bible tells us. Jesus also tells us that we will reign with Him. So when we are baptized we are confirming our faith in Jesus outwardly.

— It also says that we are dead to our old ways (Buried in the water, would literally be dead if not brought back up). We are dead to our old ways, and alive in Christ. The water baptism symbolizes our old self dying, and we being resurrected in Christ.

—So overall, baptism symbolizes our faith in what Christ has done for us, and what we do now because of that faith.

Are you Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib, or Post-Trib ? I want thorough explanations, and scripture to back your position. You may have arguments that do not have scripture, but not many. And I would rather they be more observations than a full blown argument. The more you can back it with scripture, the more likely it will be accurate.