160103 God’s Throne Room

 Revelation 4:1-11 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.” ² At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. ³ 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. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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, ⁶ and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.

And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: ⁷ the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. ⁸ 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!” ⁹ And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰ 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, ¹¹ “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.”

When we look at the book of Revelation we are looking at a message that God gave to Jesus Christ to show his servants the things that must soon take place. The apostle John, who was possibly the last apostle alive, was on the Isle of Patmos in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. The book begins with a promise that Jesus is coming with the clouds and every eye will see him.

John received a series of visions and had the task of converting them into sensible human language. After writing the letters to the seven churches his second vision was a door standing open in heaven!

He heard a voice like a trumpet that was the same voice he heard when he was called on to write what he saw in a book to send to the seven churches of Asia. That voice called on him to “come up here” to see the next vision. It’s interesting that “up” is always the direction of heaven. We do know that others had previously been called up to heaven. In this case…

Jesus called John into heaven. Stephen, the first martyr, had seen into heaven. The event is recorded in Acts 7:55-56.  But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Stephen had been challenged by the Pharisees to defend himself against the charge of being a follower of Jesus Christ. Stephen follows that with one of the most concise descriptions of the history of Israel that we can find recorded anywhere.

What he saw that day caused him to be filled with courage. He laid aside all caution and said to the people trying him that they always resisted the Holy Spirit. And as he was defending himself he shouted out the words we’ve just read. As far as I can recall this is the only account of Jesus standing in heaven. In all the other instances that I’m aware of, outside the book of Revelation, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. I believe that Jesus stood to welcome his faithful servant, Stephen, as they stoned him to death. Following the example of his Lord, Stephen cried out “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” After saying these words he left his body in their hands and entered into the presence of his Lord.

Another example of a person seeing into heaven is found in 2 Corinthians 12:2-5. I believe the person spoken of in this passage is Paul himself. However, he worded it in such a way that he would not be boasting. Let’s see how he recounted the experience. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. ³ And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. ⁵ On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—

All the way back to the book of Genesis we find the veil between earth and heaven parted from time to time. “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death.” (Hebrews 11:5) The record in Genesis tells us that, “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:22-24)

Being called into heaven…

Jesus showed John a threefold vision. Revelation 1:19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.

John was instructed to write 1) the things he had seen, 2) those that are, and 3) those which are to take place after this. I believe that the first vision that John saw involved Jesus walking among the lampstands that represented the churches while holding in his hand the stars that represented the angels of the churches. Then, having received that vision and the messages to the seven churches, John is now called into heaven to begin to see the things that are and then he would see the things that are to take place. With his attention focused on heaven…

Immediately, John saw a throne. The psalmist saw that same throne and recorded it in Psalm 103:17-19. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, ¹⁸ to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. ¹⁹ The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.

So far as we know the throne of God has always existed in heaven. The God we serve is infinite — unlimited — and all-knowing. God is self-existent. He was not created, and in any sense that we understand about him, he is entirely independent and self-sufficient. God does not need us but chooses to be happy with us. No one has ever given God anything that they did not receive from him because God created all things. His throne has always ruled over everything!

John looked into heaven, he saw through an open door a throne…

And one who sat on that throne. Daniel saw a vision of this same throne and the one who sat on it. We find the vision recorded in Daniel 7:9-10. “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. ¹⁰ A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

In Daniel’s vision God is referred to as the Ancient of Days. He is God the Father! In Daniel’s vision he saw the eternal kingdom given into the hands of the Son of Man. That’s Jesus! Daniel could see that ultimately this Son of Man would be given dominion over every people group, nation, and language. He saw that this Son of Man would have an everlasting dominion that will never pass away. We live today in the introductory part of that dominion.

Let’s get back to the Book of Revelation and see that the throne was…

Surrounded by a green glow. Revelation 4:3 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.

Normally when we think of a rainbow it reflects seven colors but that’s not always the case. The rainbow surrounding the throne in heaven is green! Why? I don’t know! Perhaps the best explanation comes from a preacher I heard the other day who said, “after all emerald green is the color of Ireland”. I am pretty sure that Ireland is not heaven but the emerald green color of Ireland is clearly stated to be the color of the throne in heaven and its surrounding radiance. Then we see further…

Around the throne — 24 thrones. Let’s turn back to Revelation 4:4.  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.

Twenty-four thrones are mentioned again in Revelation chapter 11. What do these thrones represent? I certainly do not know for sure however it may be that these 24 thrones represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles of our Lord. That means that they represent both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Because John saw…

On those thrones — 24 elders. Revelation 11:16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God.

These 24 elders represent the whole church. It would be easy for us to assign names to these elders but we very likely would be wrong.

I’m reminded of a person who came to Charles H. Spurgeon, who was one of the greatest preachers of the 19^th century, and ask him about a difficult passage in the Bible saying, “What does THAT mean?” To which Spurgeon answered, “It means what it says.” One thing for sure, we do not have to understand everything in the Bible. Many years ago I gave up explaining the Bible in favor of believing the Bible and found everything became easier after that.

Suffice it to say that there are 24 thrones facing the throne in heaven and on those thrones are seated 24 elders who, when they hear the words of praise before God, cast their crowns at his feet. And then John saw…

Around it all — four living creatures. At least two other times these four creatures are found in the Bible. The first example is in Isaiah 6:1-3. In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³ And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Some 700 years before Jesus was born the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on a throne. Above him were the seraphim. We are not told that there were four of these creatures. But otherwise they are very similar in description to what John saw that Lord’s Day on the Isle of Patmos. The other passage is found in Ezekiel 1:5-14. And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had a human likeness, ⁶ but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. ⁷ 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. ⁸ Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: ⁹ their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ 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. ¹² And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.

Clearly, Ezekiel’s vision is very similar to the vision seen by John on the Isle of Patmos. Here, Ezekiel saw four creatures with a very similar appearance to those seen by John. I believe we can draw from these instances an understanding that there are created beings — winged creatures — that surround the throne of God. There are at least four of them and perhaps more that John did not see. We will talk about the creatures in heaven more completely later. One thing we do know is that there is in heaven…

Unending praise! We will turn forward to Revelation 19:4-8. And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” ⁵ And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” ⁶ Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. ⁷ Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; ⁸ it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

This scene comes directly after the destruction of a city referred to as Babylon. I believe it is safe to say that in the book of Revelation Babylon represents Rome. I don’t think it represents the Roman Catholic Church since that did not exist at the time of John’s visions. No doubt Babylon represented everything that was opposed to God on earth. From the very beginning Babylon represented rebellion against God by the human race! After the flood. Babylon was the place where men tried to raise up a tower into heaven. If you want to read about that event you may look in Genesis 10 and 11.

Throughout history man has tried to find a way to control the road to heaven. Symbolically, Babylon represents all those efforts. Everywhere we turn there is Babylon. And Babylon always represents life without God in control. We will see Babylon appear again and again as we go through the book of Revelation.

We must remember that these visions show us what was at the time, what John saw, and what would take place afterward. Far greater minds than I have struggled to understand the visions that John saw. Pray for me that I will be able to bring a little light on the subject and the result of it will be improved lives either through salvation and/or spiritual growth. This book was written to extend an invitation to come to Christ and quench our spiritual thirst with the water of life freely offered and available to all who will hear. Have you committed your life to Jesus Christ? Today can be your day of salvation.

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.