Revelation 4:3

Revelation 4:3

Like many children, I remember growing up and once a year on television, the “Wizard of Oz” would come on. We remember it; right? Dorothy transported to a magical land, that the colors began to become very vibrant. She met all these new friends and then they made it to the Emerald City. What an unusual yet splendid city it was.

Well, we are the companions of John, and even though we are not physically there, John is giving us a vivid image of what is there in Heaven. And let me say, this is no fairytale movie. This is the real thing, and John begins to break down the sight with things that we can understand here on earth.

“And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone”

· John has encountered the throne room of God, when the God called him into Heaven, he was immediately transported to the throne room of God.

· Now just imagine, what John is feeling and sensing. He is most likely in just awe, as he begins to see what Heaven looks like, what the throne looks like, and most of all what God looks like.

· Now the question could be posed, why doesn’t John die here. Even the Bible has said in Exodus 33:20 “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”

· Well the answer to our question is found in Revelation 4:2 “John is not in his complete form. He is not body, soul and spirit. He is only soul and spirit. Notice what this verse says – “And immediately I was in the spirit.”

· The reason why John is able to be in the presence of God and see Him, is the fact that John is literally in the Spirit.

· Now, some may ask, why doesn’t John fall down like Daniel or Isaiah did in the Old Testament. Well, this is my answer. John had been saved by Jesus Christ on Earth. He had the nature of the Lord imparted on him. The reason why he is able to stand and observe these things is the fact that he is a saved, child of God.

· John draws his attention here in verse three, to the throne of God and the one sitting on it. And he begins to describe what he sees.

· First, lets note the most obvious part of this verse, there is one on the throne. The throne of God is not empty. It is occupied. So many think that God has gone away, or has fallen asleep on us, but listen, God hasn’t left the throne. He rules and keeps all things together because he is on the throne.

· Many have desired the throne of God, Satan has wanted to sit there, mankind has tried to sit there, but listen the seat is taken. And there is only one who may sit there, and that is God himself.

· Growing up, I remember going to my grandparents house, and my grandfather has a chair that only he sits in. Well, when grandpa was away, sometimes we would sit in the chair. But listen, God has not given anyone the authority to sit in that chair. And I believe that God the Father when he completed creation, sat down in that throne, and that is where he has been ever since.

· Now don’t think that God is not involved with his creation because he is seated on the throne. God sends out his word, his messengers, and we must always remember that God is omnipresent, meaning he is here and on the throne at the same time. And the throne will never be empty.

· Now John begins to speak about characteristics of God. He mentions that God was like to look upon a jasper and a sardine stone. What does he mean by this?

· Well this may be answered with several answers. The first, John says “was to look upon”, have you ever been in a jewelry store and seen all the lovely and gorgeous stones that they have? They are something to see. Its just like when a lady may become engaged, and she shows off the diamond that her fiancé has bought here, a person may look at it and just say “WOW!”, the splendor of the jewel is something to behold.

· John compare God the Father as to the precious jewels of the era. These jewels were quite valuable and to have one, was to mean that a person was very wealthy. John knows that these stones are extremely precious, and of considerable worth.

· In comparison, God the Father was something to behold. His countenance is far beyond the manmade wealth of man. A jasper and sardine stone are found in nature, they are not created. And in that, we also can say, that God was not created, he has always been. His beauty is not something that is manufactured with a chisel and grinder, his beauty is natural and beyond the imagination of man.

· John does compare the Lord with the jasper stone and the sardine (or sardius stone; some even refer to this as the carnelian stone). Let’s first look at the jasper stone.

· The modern understanding of a Jasper Stone is a stone found in quartz and chalcedony rocks. When you would break them open, you would find them on the inside of it.

· This type of Jasper stone is quite unique, in the fact that it is a variety of colors. In fact, a Jasper stone can be red, yellow, brown, green and blue. Now, to me this speaks to me about the color of man. When it comes to culture, everyone seems to think about God as being the color of their skin. But listen, God is the color of all of our skin. He is Jasper, he host a multitude of colors in his appearance.

· Now I would be amiss, if I did not mention that many commentators, just assume that this is a red jasper stone. And indeed, it could be looked at that way, that perhaps John is looking at only the red color as we will also see in nature about the sardine stone, and just using it to make a double comparison with God having a red appearance.

· We mustn’t be dogmatic in the color, but the argument can be made for both answers.

· Now our focus switches to the sardine stone. And just like we just mention earlier, the sardine stone is a red stone.

· Now there is debate among some that this is actually referencing a Ruby, but it doesn’t appear that has a strong evidence supporting it. In fact, when John writes the verse down, he uses the word “sardio” and the Greek word for ruby is “roumpini”. So, there is a clear distinction that this isn’t a ruby.

· In our studies of the seven churches, we came to the city of Sardis, and in this area, a hard stone is mined, that has a deep red appearance, and this is called the Sardius stone. Hence where the city got its name.

· This is in all probability, the stone that John is referring to. The Sardius stone is a very hard stone. Red in color, and was used as the stone to represent the tribe of Judah in camp order. In Exodus 28:17 “And thou shalt set in it settings of stone, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.”

· In Rabbinical tradition, this stone would also have the name of Judah engraved upon it.

· Its redness can symbolize the blood of God that was shed for sinful humanity. God has a heart, and John symbolizes this with these two unique stones.

“And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight light unto an emerald”

· Now John turns his focus on the rainbow that is visible around the throne.

· This rainbow appears even without the appearance of rain. Man tries to justify the appearance of a rainbow, by the water acting as a prism to reflect the light. And that may be how a rainbow occurs, but I can say without hesitation, that it didn’t happen until God gave it to be that way.

· In Genesis 9:13 “I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.”

· The rainbow that God gives is a covenant, a reminder of his promise to not flood the earth again.

· So, knowing this about the rainbow we are familiar with, this rainbow has a slightly different appearance. First, it is told to us that this is round about the throne. It fully circles, the throne. The easiest way to visualize this, is like the ring we may see appear around the moon at night at times. It is not a partial bow, but a full circle.

· This is how this rainbow appears here around the throne of God.

· The circle has been used as a symbol of God’s never-ending, that he is without beginning or end. It continues on forever and ever.

· Now we have determine one difference from the rainbow we are accustomed too, the second difference is the color of the rainbow. It has a green emerald appearance.

· Again, John is using items we are familiar with to describe something else. He is comparing the two, because there is a similarity. And here the similarity is that they are both green.

· Now I have to admit, I have never seen a green rainbow. But John compares the color of this rainbow to the color of an emerald, this may indicate that the color does not break up quite the same like the rainbow we know of today. That just the color green is only seen.

· The Emerald has been said to signify hope, and the green with growth, and eternal life. This is most likely the meaning John is giving here, as he is inspired to compare the rainbow with an emerald. For it is through God we find hope, that we grow and have life, and find eternal life.

· The rainbow was a sign of promise in the book of Genesis, and this may suggest a promise of life through God, through Jesus.

· Verse three gives us a small glimpse of God the Father, his appearance is quite astonishing. We often think of God as some old man who is just surrounded by the color white. But I want you to know that God is very colorful, and displays these color within his throne room and within himself.

· We are not finished seeing the appearance of God, as he will also be further described in this book. But just as was preached in this past Sunday’s message, we can see the beauty of God even now, if we would open our spiritual eyes and see God with his creation, with his word, with his Spirit.

· We are seeing the inside of Heaven folks, and what most people think of Heaven doesn’t look like what John is describing. It is a fantastic place that is much more than fluffy clouds and harps.

Some people of today, have claimed to have died and gone to heaven and return, their description of Heaven is quite interesting in their description. What do you think when you hear these type of stories?

Does the thought of heave entice you, scare you, make you nervous, or fill you with joy? Why?