Thoughts on Revelation 4:1-5...
In the second vision Jesus comforts, "After this I saw, and, lo, a door opened in heaven, and I heard a trumpet saying,"
After the first vision there was a pause, signifying that a new revelation was forthcoming.
John was again given the privilege to see some of God's mysteries and the future, and to transmit them. The door in heaven was opened to him, because to him Jesus intended to give this grace of knowing the future and his glory.
The trumpet which he'd heard at the first vision's beginning, was again in evidence, directing John's actions, "Come up here, and I'll show you what's bound to happen after this."
What John saw and what he afterward described was revelation's result only. He wasn't called by God to enter.
The vision's beginning, "At once I was in the spirit; and, lo, a throne was placed in heaven, and One was sitting on it, and he that was sitting was jasper and sardius, and a rainbow encircling the throne was an emerald."
The ecstasy which was worked by God, which, as it were, separated the mind from the body, transported John to heaven's open door.
The vision's imagery indicates the glory which no words can portray.
The first object that struck John was a throne placed in heaven. His name that sat upon the throne isn't mentioned, for his majesty transcends conception and language.
It was Jesus, who has prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules. His appearance was so as to make him jasper and sardius, the jasper indicating God's beauty, and the sardius picturing his love's depths.
A rainbow, God's covenant symbol with humanity, a kindness-reminder, encircled the throne. This rainbow was an emerald, thus making the green stand out among the colours, as a symbol of God’s kindness and a hope-token.
This appearance's majesty reminds of grace's covenant which God made in Jesus, which's shining as a light unto hope.
Round about the throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones 24 elders seated, clothed in white, and on their heads crowns. On God’s glory's final revelation's day, he'll select this glory's witnesses and partakers.
As in the OT 24 orders of priests had charge of the Temple-service, so the 24 elders in this picture are a type, they represent the missionaries' royal priesthood.
The Church has its place with God in God's vicinity. The missionaries, as here represented by the elders, are cleansed with Jesus' blood and clothed with him. And God has promised to them crowns upon their heads, heaven's glory.
Glory's crown will complete every missionary's accession to the kingship to which they have been an heir by faith.
Awe's impression, which's secondary in the description, is now stressed, "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, voices and thunders; and 7 torches burning before the throne, which are the 7 Spirits."
It's Jesus that sits upon glory's throne. This is brought out by the thunderstorm that John heard. Lightning went out from the throne, and the storm announced God's power.
Simultaneously, however, the Spirit's torches were burning before the throne. The Spirit comes with her power, and gives life's light. Though God's terrible in God's justice, his grace's fire's light to all that receive Jesus as their Savior.
In the second vision Jesus comforts, "After this I saw, and, lo, a door opened in heaven, and I heard a trumpet saying,"
After the first vision there was a pause, signifying that a new revelation was forthcoming.
John was again given the privilege to see some of God's mysteries and the future, and to transmit them. The door in heaven was opened to him, because to him Jesus intended to give this grace of knowing the future and his glory.
The trumpet which he'd heard at the first vision's beginning, was again in evidence, directing John's actions, "Come up here, and I'll show you what's bound to happen after this."
What John saw and what he afterward described was revelation's result only. He wasn't called by God to enter.
The vision's beginning, "At once I was in the spirit; and, lo, a throne was placed in heaven, and One was sitting on it, and he that was sitting was jasper and sardius, and a rainbow encircling the throne was an emerald."
The ecstasy which was worked by God, which, as it were, separated the mind from the body, transported John to heaven's open door.
The vision's imagery indicates the glory which no words can portray.
The first object that struck John was a throne placed in heaven. His name that sat upon the throne isn't mentioned, for his majesty transcends conception and language.
It was Jesus, who has prepared his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules. His appearance was so as to make him jasper and sardius, the jasper indicating God's beauty, and the sardius picturing his love's depths.
A rainbow, God's covenant symbol with humanity, a kindness-reminder, encircled the throne. This rainbow was an emerald, thus making the green stand out among the colours, as a symbol of God’s kindness and a hope-token.
This appearance's majesty reminds of grace's covenant which God made in Jesus, which's shining as a light unto hope.
Round about the throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones 24 elders seated, clothed in white, and on their heads crowns. On God’s glory's final revelation's day, he'll select this glory's witnesses and partakers.
As in the OT 24 orders of priests had charge of the Temple-service, so the 24 elders in this picture are a type, they represent the missionaries' royal priesthood.
The Church has its place with God in God's vicinity. The missionaries, as here represented by the elders, are cleansed with Jesus' blood and clothed with him. And God has promised to them crowns upon their heads, heaven's glory.
Glory's crown will complete every missionary's accession to the kingship to which they have been an heir by faith.
Awe's impression, which's secondary in the description, is now stressed, "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, voices and thunders; and 7 torches burning before the throne, which are the 7 Spirits."
It's Jesus that sits upon glory's throne. This is brought out by the thunderstorm that John heard. Lightning went out from the throne, and the storm announced God's power.
Simultaneously, however, the Spirit's torches were burning before the throne. The Spirit comes with her power, and gives life's light. Though God's terrible in God's justice, his grace's fire's light to all that receive Jesus as their Savior.