DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE THRONE-ROOM

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THE THRONE-ROOM IN HEAVEN

"Immediately, I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald." (Revelation 4:2-3)

The rainbow has special significance in Scripture.

Of course, our thoughts go to Noah after the flood when God set a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant and promised that he would never again judge the earth by a great flood (Genesis 9:8-17). Even though we may go through rainy times, the rainbow reminds us of God's promise and His faithfulness. But that is on earth. John's vision was of heaven.

In heaven, John saw a throne and around that throne, a rainbow. It is interesting that the rainbow is "around" the throne and not just over it. I was flying from Oregon to Phoenix, sitting next the window, watching the clouds drift by. But suddenly, my attention was arrested by a rainbow. It was a complete 360 degree circle. I have only seen that once, but the memory lingers in my mind. I imagine that this complete circle of the rainbow can only be seen when one gets above the earth into the heavens.

But the significance is more than that. Ezekiel also had a vision of the throne-room in heaven. In his vision, he saw the likeness of a throne that looked like a sapphire stone and on the throne was the appearance of a man high above it. This is what Ezekiel recorded: "Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, saw was the the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD" (Ezekiel 1:26-28).

The glory of heaven cannot be imagined. Ezekiel and John both struggled to express what they saw. They could only say it was the "appearance" of a rainbow. When we get to heaven and see God's throne, it will be amazingly beautiful.

But that is not the focus of the throne-room. It is the One who sits on the throne that will be the center of attention – the One whom the angels worship, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come," and whom the elders worship, saying: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created" (Revelation 4:8-11).

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, when I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace. Oh, I want to see Him!

Love, Dad