Today’s Scripture of the Day paints a picture that is hard to see, even with the eyes of the imagination.
The Throne in Heaven
4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. 3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.” (ESV)
tells of the Apostle John’s vision of heaven, which includes a throne, one who looks like jasper and carnelian, a rainbow that appears like an emerald, twenty-four elders, lightnings and rumblings, torches, a sea of glass, and four freaky-looking living creatures. Even though John describes this scene with great detail, I have trouble even conjuring up a mental picture. Maybe I need to google “jasper” or “carnelian”, but this glimpse into heaven almost seems unreal.
But is it possible that this heavenly picture that I have trouble imagining is actually more real than the earthly surroundings I see everyday? In
Our Heavenly Dwelling
5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)
, Paul says, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” The Christian life is based upon truth that you know is real even though you cannot see (or even imagine) it. Heaven is a real place. While this earth feels like “reality” now, it will only last for the blink of an eye when compared to the eternity. Also in 2 Corinthians, Paul writes, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” He describes this present “reality” is light and momentary, but heaven is eternal and weighty.
While today’s SOTD is hard to imagine, it is talking about something that is very real, and the reality of heaven in the future should make all the difference in the life of a believer today. If you know that this heavenly scene in Revelation is real, you will get less caught up in the things of this world. You will spend more time, effort, and money investing in the Kingdom of God (which will last forever). If you believe in a real God that sits on the throne, you will have a greater hatred for ungodliness.
As we read through Revelation in Scripture of the Day, remember that these chapters are not only full of descriptions of hard-to-imagine things. They are real and that reality that should change the way Christians live each and every day.
Deep…
But definitely the truth!
Thanks Pastor Ben!
Philosophical!
Absolutely! That’s a great reminder. Thanks!
Great Blog Pastor Ben! Thank you for sharing what Paul says about this world being a “light momentary affliction” I was very encouraged! Thank you for putting it all in perspective!
Some great wisdom here pastor Ben!
Great reminder Pastor Ben… it is definitely hard to conjure up a mental picture of some of these things, even with the most vivid of imaginations. Way to put things in perspective!
I’m so excited for heaven!”If you know that this heavenly scene in Revelation is real, you will get less caught up in the things of this world. You will spend more time, effort, and money investing in the Kingdom of God (which will last forever). ” Amen! This was very encouraging :)