A Visit to Heaven (Part II)

A thought to keep in mind tonight is that this visit to heaaven does not give a description of God, but of the affects of his glorious presence

The Rocks of Heaven

Rocks are used often in the Bible to describe things, even God

Isaiah 26:4 ESV

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

What do you think of when you think of a rock? Tough, long lasting, awe inspiring. Diamonds can cut pretty much anything.

Why does John use these rocks to describe what he is seeing?

It is not necessarily these rocks.

The fullness of God’s glory is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. This description of heaven is John using his words to describe what he is seeing.

He uses the rock names to make you reflect on OT passages

Stones that were in the garden of Eden

Ezekiel 28:13 ESV

You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.

Also these stones were used in the breast plate of the priest ephod (Exodus 28:15-21)

With like many Revelation passages it brings your mind back to the OT. John would have been a Jew before being a Christian so his Jewish tradition affected him a lot

In these rocks though I cannot help but to see the story of the journey to heaven. We started in the garden but were kicked out, and then the story of priest begins. OT priest show our shortcomings and then the ultimate High Priest comes to redeem us making us a nation of priest

Let us reflect little on the actual rocks described

Jasper

Word studies make us believe this was more than likely diamond, also Revelation 21:11 points to it being a diamond.

Diamond characteristics:

Beautiful

Strong (they are used in all sort of industrial tools)

Refractive

How are these characteristics seen in God?

God’s work in our lives is beautiful

God is the only one with the strength to break and mold our hardened hearts.

The fullness of light is revealed in Him and he allows us true vision with depth.

Carnelian

What is a carnelian? it is a reddish stone, that is a blood color

First thing i always think of is the blood of Christ.

the blood makes us clean and clear (like a diamond)

Let us think back to the time of this being wrote. Carnelian was used in the making of signet rings because hot wax would not stick to it

This color would have quickly came to mind since the rings were fairly common.

this was a ring to sign official documents

This color is almost like God is putting his official seal on heaven. saying this is mine and those who enter it are mine

The Rainbow and Weather in Heaven

Their is some speculation we could make on the rainbow being described as an emerald, but the important thing is to discuss the importance of the rainbow

Where do we see the rainbow in the OT?

Genesis 9:12–16 ESV

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

Ezekiel 1:28 ESV

Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Reminds us of God’s grace

Also in tonight's passage we see lightning and thunder around the throne

Where else do we see these things going on?

Exodus 19:16–19 ESV

On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.

Lightning and thunder are a reminder of God’s wrath and the fact he strikes awe and fear

In the context of revelation this is showing the storm of wrath building that is about to be unleashed on the world

All in one image we see the grace and wrath of God on display.

All these attributed exist in unison and compliment one another

Wrath (lightning) is what we deserve, but grace (rainbow) is what we are offered, spared the wrath

Wrath is an act of judgment while grace is forgiveness

The Sea of Heaven

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 4

4:6 sea of glass In Revelation, the sea likely symbolizes forces of chaos (see 13:1 and note; 21:1 and note). A calm sea points to God’s ability to subdue chaos and bring order.

This sea reminds us of the fact no one casually comes into God’s presence, there is a holy separation. I think back to the story of Peter walking on water. He could not just casually walk into the presence of God, in fact he sunk trying to do it by his own means. He only was able to sustain amidst the thunder and lighting and crashing waves by clinging to Jesus.

Application (How Do we approach God?)

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”