The Throne in Heaven: Revelation 4:1-11

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven.

A door. Open. Standing invitation to see beyond the veil. The vision shifted from earth to heaven, from churches to throne.

And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.

Come up here. The summons to see what was coming. The future opened before John's eyes.

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

The Spirit carried him up. And there—the throne. Not empty but occupied. Someone sitting. The center of heaven, the seat of all authority.

And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.

No human form described—just light. Jasper—clear, brilliant. Ruby—blood red, fiery. An emerald rainbow—the sign of covenant now surrounding the throne. Colors beyond earthly palette.

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

Twenty-four elders. Perhaps representing the twelve tribes and twelve apostles—the full people of God. White robes of righteousness. Gold crowns of authority. Surrounding the central throne, subordinate but honored.

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.

The throne was not silent. Lightning flashed from it. Thunder rolled from it. The sounds of Sinai, now permanent. Power emanating constantly.

In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

Seven lamps—the fullness of the Spirit. Blazing before the throne. The Spirit of God in complete manifestation.

Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

A sea of glass. Still. Crystal clear. Unlike earthly seas that churned and threatened, this sea was peaceful, reflective, beautiful.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

Four living creatures. Covered with eyes—seeing everything, missing nothing. In the center, around the throne—closest to God, constant attendants.

The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

Lion—wild majesty. Ox—domestic strength. Man—rational dignity. Eagle—soaring swiftness. All creation represented. All nature bowing.

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings.

Six wings like Isaiah's seraphim. Eyes everywhere—under the wings, all around. Nothing escaped their sight.

Day and night they never stop saying: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.

Never stop. Day and night. Unceasing worship. Holy, holy, holy—the threefold declaration of absolute purity, transcendent otherness. Who was—eternal past. Who is—eternal present. Who is to come—eternal future.

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever.

The cascade of worship. Living creatures give glory. Elders fall down. The throne receives endless adoration.

They lay their crowns before the throne and say: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.

Crowns laid down. The elders' gold crowns, cast before the throne. You are worthy. The worthiness of God acknowledged. The crowns returned to the one who gave them.

For you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

The reason for worship: creation. All things made by God. All things existing by his will. The Creator enthroned, receiving what is rightfully his.

The throne room of heaven. Ceaseless worship. Lightning and thunder. Living creatures and elders. Glass sea and blazing lamps. And at the center: the One who was and is and is to come, receiving the glory he deserves.