Art Image of Rev 7 People Streaming Into Heaven

Do you lot wonder what heaven looks like? Wouldn't information technology be dandy to have the opportunity to peer into the throne room of God and see what is going on in heaven? John gets the opportunity and he tells united states of america what he saw. In that location are iii cardinal texts that give us a film of sky. Two of those texts are in the Erstwhile Testament. The third text is constitute here in Revelation four. What practise you suppose we will see? The typical picture of sky today is people laying on clouds, wearing wings, and playing harps. Nosotros won't read anything like that in the scriptures. And then erase your heed of what yous remember sky is like and open up your mind to receive the view of heaven that John sees.

After speaking to the seven churches that are in the Roman province of Asia, the book of Revelation moves forrard in the prophecy. There are two phrases in Revelation iv:1 to tell u.s.a. that we moving forward: "After this" and "what must take place after this." The point is to show the states that the information apropos the seven churches has stopped. A new series of images is beginning. John sees a door standing open up in heaven. The phonation that spoke to John at the kickoff that sounded similar a trumpet tells John to come up. Christ is speaking to John and calling him into heaven. John does non actually go into heaven, equally we see in verse two. John is having a new vision and John is going to see into the throne room of heaven. As we are taken into this vision, we must visualize the picture before united states. Paint the image in your mind and see what is going on in heaven.

The Throne Room

One picture that is repeated throughout this chapter is the throne of God. Twelve times nosotros are told about the throne, and this does not count the 24 thrones which are as well mentioned. Twelve times we read about the throne and one sitting on that throne. The throne of God is the focus. In verse 2 nosotros encounter that the throne is established in the midst of heaven and one is seated on the throne. This is a statement of respect, not naming who is on the throne, because it is the Omnipotent God who sits on the throne.

Bright colors are used to describe the throne room and the ane who sits on the throne. God is pictured having the appearance of jasper and carnelian. At that time jasper had characteristics and color similar to a diamond or crystal. In Revelation 21:11 the jasper stone is described equally being clear as crystal. So we should visualize something like the gleam of a diamond. Further, carnelian was a peppery red stone. Around the throne is a rainbow that has the shine or glimmer of deep dark-green, that like an emerald. The rainbow image will be seen again in affiliate 10. It seems that the rainbow is a reminder of God'south faithfulness to his covenant, just as it meant to Noah after the flood.

Not only is the rainbow effectually the throne, but there are 24 thrones around the throne. Seated on those 24 thrones are 24 elders who are clothed in white garments and have gilt crowns on their heads. We are left to wonder who the 24 elders are and what they represent. Are the 24 elders simply another grouping of spiritual beings, like angels, or are they the saved people of God? Many see the 24 elders representing the saved people of God of the One-time and New Testaments. They say that the 24 consist of the 12 tribes of State of israel and the 12 apostles, which stand for all the saved under both covenants. However, at that place are some problems with this interpretation. First, we are not told to dissever the number 24 into ii groups of 12. God could tell united states that this was two groups of twelve if he wanted. 2nd, information technology is apparent in the book of Revelation that the 24 elders are repeatedly distinguished from the saints. Nosotros can encounter this distinguishing in Revelation seven:thirteen-17 where one of the elders tells John that the neat multitude represent those who accept washed their robes and fabricated them white in the blood of the Lamb. One of the elders is telling John that this other group represents the saved. Tertiary, we volition read about the 24 elders holding the prayers of the saints in Revelation v:8. This also shows that the 24 elders are not the same group as the saints of God. Quaternary, we will read about the 24 elders acting as intermediaries and interpreters (5:v; 7:13-17). These functions are things that we read about angels doing in the scriptures too. At that place is no reason to not understand these 24 elders as another group of spiritual beings. They seem to class part of the heavenly council as they are before God'southward throne and there is zip in the scriptures to tell us that these 24 elders represent something else. I volition conclude the discussion of the 24 elders past asking us to consider that the people of God are not in view at this signal in Revelation. The betoken is not almost the saved people of God and what they are doing. The point is what is God doing. The point is to look around the throne room of God and be in awe of the activity and splendor.

From the throne comes flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. The throne and the one who sits on the throne is pictured every bit being very active. The Lord is non asleep on the throne. In that location is activeness. The reader is being prepared for the outpouring of God's wrath. In Revelation 8:5 we will see the lightnings, rumblings, and peals of thunder representing judgment equally God sends forth his judgments from his throne.  This language too reminds us of the thunder and lightning when God came to Mountain Sinai. This thought matches what we see in the residue of verse v. We see the seven torches of burn down, which are the vii spirits of God. In Revelation 1 we noted that the 7 spirits of God are a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In detail, the paradigm reveals that it is God who is at work. We will salve our written report of the vii spirits of God until Revelation 5:half-dozen. Only it is enough to see that the throne room pictures the Spirit of God at work.

Before the throne there was something similar a sea of glass, like crystal. Over again, the splendor, beauty, and majesty of the throne room of God is emphasized. Not only are the 24 elders around the throne, only the four living creatures are around the throne also. The description of the four living creatures is astonishing with a face of a lion, ox, human, and eagle. Further, the four living creatures accept half dozen wings and are total of eyes all around and within. These are astonishing spiritual beings that are difficult to visualize and grasp. Earlier nosotros can move forward in the clarification of this throne scene, nosotros need to see that this is not the kickoff time these images take been recorded for us.

The Throne Room in the Onetime Testament

Ezekiel 1 also records a similar throne scene. Equally we read through Ezekiel 1, observe the similarities to what John saw. The first thing we tin come across in our comparing is that Ezekiel gives a much more lengthy clarification of the four living creatures. We encounter a similar body of water of glass like crystal in Ezekiel 1:22. Ezekiel also records a colorful throne room in verse 26 and the rainbow in verse 28. Fire is all around, like to the picture of the lightnings coming from the throne in John's vision (Ezekiel one:27).

Daniel 7 also mirrors the imagery establish in Revelation four. Here are some of the parallels (NIGTC, 314).

• A throne gear up in sky (Daniel 7:9; Revelation 4:two)
• God is seated on the throne (Daniel 7:9; Revelation iv:2)
• Fire before the throne (Daniel vii:9-10; Revelation 4:5)
• Heavenly servants before the throne (Daniel 7:ten; Revelation 4:4,half dozen)
• Book/coil before the throne (Daniel vii:x; Revelation 5:ane-5)
• The book/curlicue is opened (Daniel 7:10; Revelation five:2-5,9)
• The divine messianic figure approaches the throne to receive authority (Daniel vii:xiii-14; Revelation v:v-seven, 12-13)
• Authority over every tribe, language, and people (Daniel seven:xiv; Revelation five:nine)
• Emotional distress at seeing the vision (Daniel 7:fifteen; Revelation five:4)
• An explanation from the heavenly council (Daniel vii:sixteen; Revelation 5:five)
• Concludes with the mention of God'south eternal reign (Daniel vii:27; Revelation 5:13-14)

Revelation is in contact with the prophecy of Daniel. Even the order of events seem match in Daniel and Revelation. Revelation is showing us that we need to keep Daniel's prophecy in listen as nosotros read.

Conclusion

So what are we to accept abroad for ourselves today in reading these vivid images of the throne room of God?

1. God remains active. As well oftentimes God is depicted equally a God who created the world and and then operates with a "easily off" approach. God is on the throne and he is not asleep on the throne. God has not taken a vacation. God is aware of what is going on and he is active. The thunder and lightning coming from his throne depicts God in action, issuing judgments throughout the earth.
2. Encounter the Lord in his splendor. This is what the LORD says: "Sky is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could yous build me a temple as expert as that? Could y'all build me such a resting place? My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! "I volition bless those who take humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my give-and-take.  (Isaiah 66:1–2 NLT)

Exist struck past the glory of the Lord. Empathise what he asks of his people since he is the Almighty God. He demands submissiveness from us, a yielding heart that trembles at the very words of God and desires to obey.

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Source: https://thebookofrevelationmadeclear.com/revelation-bible-study/view-of-heaven.html

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