A Throne

[phareztamar]

A Throne

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.


Chapters four and five of Revelation, are easily the most magnificent peek at heaven, ever recorded on earth. John has stepped through that door now, and we are in heaven. A breath-taking view…meant to stretch the spiritual imagination, and load-test the structure of our scriptural prowess.

What stands out first; is that the central theme of these two chapters, is the throne. It’s the first thing John saw. It is henceforth the hub, from which flows all of the spiritual activities to follow. As our exiled brother crosses this portal to heaven, he is instantly entranced by this throne. And here, John begins the record of:

All things that he saw.

He records its beauty and brilliance, and the much activity which revolves around it. Things round about the throne, which are five. Things out of the throne. Things before the throne. Things in the midst of the throne…and upon the throne.

Moreover, John locates for us that anchor in eternity…an anchor in time…from whence to start this vision. In 13 ½ billion years…the brief history of this heaven we’re now in with John…his vision locates our time. Not only our short 6,000 years since Adam, but even closer. It is after Calvary, at the start of the fourth thousand years. For in this vision, the lamb has already been slain. It is after his resurrection, and his glorification. After Pentecost, but not so much so. Here is the place in time, where the visions events begin.

In the lifetime of:

That learner whom Jesus loved.

does the lamb take a sealed book, from the right hand of him who sits on the throne. And though starting here, it covers events through the end of Day Six. Through a glass darkly, we even see traces of Day Seven and beyond. But the focus seems centered around the end of Day Six…the sixth thousand years. That would be our day, at least for the next 15 years. Then begins the seventh thousand years.

From the throne, John moves to the one who sat upon the throne. Keep in mind, that while he beholds him, lightenings and thunderings and voices are streaming by, coming out from the throne. He was to look upon like a jasper…thought to be a shimmering diamond. And a sardine stone…a gem of blazing red radiance. Surrounded by a rainbow of emerald…believed to be a glistening, polished green. We are twice-told, that this is he who liveth forever and ever. That all creation in heaven and earth, hail honor and blessing and glory and power to. And this one who sat on the throne, holds in his right hand a book, sealed with seven seals. He has created all things, and for his pleasure they are and were created.

But in his beautiful, dazzling description of him who sat on the throne, John never describes him as:

Like unto the son of man..

That description was of the lamb, in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. The same lamb, who now takes this sealed book, from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

This lamb, is he who:

Hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The sealed book is a turning point in the Revelation. Our theology has been checked at the gate…throughout the Patmos record…and even here… through the door, at the start of this heavenly vision. The sealed book is in the very right hand of God. Within its pages, are events in heaven and on earth, about to unfold.

Every seal that is opened, is a seal placed there by the right hand of God. Like Daniel’s words…shut up and sealed, until the time of the end.
If we allow that the seals are opened here…late in the lifetime of John…then we have nearly 2,000 years to see their application unfold. As each seal is opened, the ensuing events begin here, at this heavenly throne. What happens on earth, starts here, where John is in rapt attendance.

And what glorious record John makes; of the crescendo of praise, when at last the lamb takes the book. A ground-swell of adoration is let loose, with beasts and elders and angels in the millions. It is a new song. Harps are played. Incense is burned. They are joined by every creature which is in heaven. Every creature which is in the earth, and under the earth. And every creature that is in the sea. The whole of creation directs this praise; to the one who sat on the throne, and to the lamb in the midst of that throne, who has taken the sealed book.