Lent day 32
The Throne in Heaven
1After this I looked and saw a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had previously heard speak to me like a trumpet was saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things.”
2At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. 3The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.
Worship of the Creator
5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings, and peals of thunder. Before the throne burned seven torches of fire. These are the seven Spiritsa of God. 6And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, as clear as crystal.
I absolutely love this passage of scripture. Probably because Im quite a visual person and it sparks my imagination. Partly because I heard a formative sermon on it by David Ruis (worship leader ) decades ago which really opened my eyes to what is going on here.
There's a door.
Ever wondered why theres a door into heaven?
I dont know why its there, except that doors are significant in scripture. Jesus is the door to the sheepfold. What He opens no-one can shut and vice versa. Jesus has the keys to death and hell so maybe theres a door to that realm too? The fact is that there is a door and that door is opened for a while so that John can get a glimpse into heaven. Maybe I could have an open door moment too?? Ive never asked for one but how cool would that be?
Anyhow, the door is open and the voice is speaking again. The voice that sounded like roaring waters now sounds like a trumpet. I think the general idea is that it is loud. Heaven is loud. Johns senses are about to be assaulted big time.
Theres a throne. And someone sitting on it. It is a throne of grace, from which the river of life flows.
Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him” (Ezekiel 1:26-28) (Isaiah 6:1, Revelation 22:3-4, Isaiah 60:1-2)
His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. (Dan 7 9-10)
Lapis lazuli is blue. Its a deep rich blue mineral and was probably the material closest in colour that Ezekiel could reach for when trying to describe what he saw . So right from the start, amidst the noise of the trumpet and roaring water sounds we have this deeply rich colourful throne. It is blue but it is also on fire
Sitting on the throne is someone who is described variously as 'jasper' 'carnelian' 'glowing metal' 'fire' and 'brilliant light'
From the throne come flashes of lightning and the sound of thunder. I just get the feeling that the level of noise in heaven is mighty. Overwhelming. Powerful. In front of the throne are seven burning torches, flowing out from the throne is fire and a river and in front of the throne is 'something like a sea of glass as clear as crystal' - so a mirror?
In other words all this colour, blue and red and rainbows and white and gold is all reflected in a mirror on the floor. It is a mad riot of vibrancy.
And we have barely got started. 😀
The descriptions of heaven throughout the Bible are there for a reason. I think they help us to appreciate two main things. 1) what Jesus left to come and rescue us and 2) what we have to look forward to when He takes us to be with Him.
Both are pretty awesome thoughts.
Comments
Post a Comment