Monday, May 28, 2018
Then as I
looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard
before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show
you what must happen after this.” And
instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting
on it. The one
sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne
like a rainbow. Twenty-four
thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold
crowns on their heads. From
the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches
with burning flames. This is the
sevenfold Spirit of God. In
front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four
living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living
beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face;
and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their
wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep
on saying,
“Holy,
holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Revelation 4:1-8NLT)
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Revelation 4:1-8NLT)
Sevenfold Spirit
of God, four flying beings, their wings covered with eyes and an unending
worship service – this is the imagery of a Stephen King movie!
There is much
about heaven of which we can only speculate.
God is, after all, mysterious and far above our pay grade to
describe. That being said, there are
some bits and pieces we can string together to understand the multiple meanings
passages such as this communicate. Not
the least of these messages is the holiness of God which is to be imposed upon
God’s creation in the time to come.
John is given a
vision of the throne room and the glory of God surrounding and filling the
entire space. There are elders –
representative of the ancient twelve tribes, and the New Covenant Apostles. These are gathered around the throne while the
choir four living beings with ferocious animal-like faces, and eye-covered
wings, encircle the whole scene with glorious and unending praise to Yahweh,
enternal God, flanked by seven torches, the sevenfold light of God’s eternal
Spirit, flashing, rumbling like thunder, with the chorus chanted over and over: Holy, Holy, Holy!
Many have
undertaken the explanation of God’s sevenfold Spirit. Some of these interpretations include the 7
characteristics of God’s nature. Others
include the work of the Holy Spirit, some with allusions to the churches on
earth.
As to which of
these (if any) are God’s intended, I only have impressions that are, as yet,
unresolved. I lean towards the character
attributes, wisdom, honor, truth, and so forth. Perhaps combinations or pieces of these
explanations may be simple glimpses or perspectives of that which is
indescribable in our present human condition…as I said previously…above our
ability.
But those distinct
impressions push me to join the choir.
Whatever this total scene in heaven portrays, what transcends to my mind
is the holiness of God, and the centrality of all creation falling down in
worship before Him.
Much of what we
understand as our duty in the here and now, as we prepare for the then
and there, is to learn to worship and praise God. And when I read about that I realize my life
as a follower of Christ is sifting me year after year, slowly conforming me
into the image of the One who showed us the holy pattern of true life –
worship. It is times like this when it
becomes agonizingly clear that my feeble attempts to lead worship are just that
– woefully inadequate in the presence of almighty, eternal, living God. If it were not for His condescension to enter
a manger and hang on a cross, I would have no hope of surviving being within a
million light years of the throne. I think
I’m beginning to understand how Peter felt when the vastness of Jesus dawned on
him:
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before
Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” Luke 5:8(NLT)
For You Today
You chew on that as you hit the
Rocky Road; have a blessed day.
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