December 26 - Nº 360 Revelation 4 – 5
While he was a prisoner on the island of Patmos, the apostle John had a profound encounter with God. The vision was terrifying and transforming. John wrote a brief synopsis of what had taken place. Then he shared the details of seven letters that “the son of man” instructed him to write. They were God’s evaluation of the current situations in each of the seven churches that had been under John’s care. Not long after that, John had a second vision. He looked up and saw the door to heaven standing open. A voice that sounded like a trumpet invited him to enter. “I will show you what must take place after this,” it proclaimed. As John stepped inside, he realized that he had just entered the throne room of God! Although everything in the room was indescribably majestic, John could not help but focus on the “One” who was sitting on the throne. He radiated with brilliance and beauty like diamonds and rubies. But John did the best he could to describe the whole scene. A rainbow that glistened like an emerald completely circled the throne, and from it came flashes of lightning and sounds of thunder. There were 24 other thrones surrounding the center throne. Seated on them were 24 elders dressed in white and wearing gold crowns. In front of the throne were seven blazing lamps (representing the seven characteristics of the Holy Spirit—see Isaiah 11:2-3) and a crystal-clear sea of glass. Four living creatures were also near the throne. Each of the creatures had six wings and many eyes. The face of the first looked like a lion, the second like an ox, the third like a man, and the fourth like an eagle. (These were probably angels called Seraphim—see Isaiah 6:2-3 and Ezekiel 1:4-14.) They praised God continuously saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” As these creatures praised God, the elders bowed down to worship Him and lay their crowns at His feet. Then John noticed something in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It was a scroll covered with writing. It was sealed with seven seals. An angel loudly proclaimed, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth came forward. John began to weep uncontrollably until one of the elders interrupted him. “The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals,” he announced. Suddenly a Lamb that looked like it had already been killed was standing in the middle of the throne room. He took the scroll. Immediately all the elders and the beasts started singing a new song praising the Lamb. Through his shed blood he had purchased the right for people from every tribe and nation to reign on earth with God. Millions of angels circled the throne saying, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Soon every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea joined in the praise.
Do you realize that when we pray, we enter the throne room of God in a spiritual way (see Hebrews 4:16)? Realizing how awesome and majestic God is, and knowing that all the elders and angels who are with Him are constantly praising and worshipping Him, what attitude should we have when we come into His presence?
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