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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 2 - THE ENTHRONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST (REVELATION 4:1 - 6:17)
PART 2.1 GOD, HOLY AND ALMIGHTY IN HEAVEN (REVELATION 4:1-11)

1. One Sitting on the Throne (Revelation 4:1-3)


The Glory of God

REVELATION 4:2-3
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne 3 that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.

As soon as the trumpet-like voice of the angel rang out, was John "in the spirit". It is not said that the spirit filled him, but he enveloped him. The spirit was not only in him, but also around him. John was "in the spirit". The New Testament reads 27 times that Christ is "in us" and about 175 times that we are "in Christ". We do not “have“ or “possess“ Christ or his Holy Spirit, as he is “in us“, rather he possesses us and we will be wrapped with his glory and disappear in his grace, because we are in him. He is our protecting jacket. We are being preserved and carried by him at all times.

It is reported that Ezekiel in a similar manner was carried off by the spirit or translated into the spirit (Ezekiel 3:12-14; 8:3; 11:1+24; 37:1; 40:1-2; 43:5). This prophet kept silent in the community of believers for seven days after his spiritual experience. And St. Paul reports that he was not able to say whether he had been in his body or outside his body when he had been caught up to the third heaven and had heard there inexpressible words (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).

The spirit John speaks of is not a created spirit, but Gods own spirit according to the word of Paul, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God“ (Romans 8:14). We should not be afraid of the Holy Spirit, because he is the spirit of the Father and of the Son and comes to us as our comforter and advocate. He is the power of God and his holy love. We may confide in the guidance of this spirit of Jesus Christ confidently. He wants us to save, bless, strengthen, and sanctify.

The spirit opened John the eyes of his heart so that he at first saw the great and glorious throne of God.

This throne is neither a chair nor an elevated noble seat nor a golden sofa like once with the Turkish sultans. The throne of God is the power centre of heaven. Out of it proceed decisions, forces, lightnings, blessings, protections, guidance and judgments. The United Nations building in New York, the Kremlin in Moscow or the thrones of the Moguls in India were or are only passing shadows as compared with the fullness of power of the throne of Yahweh.

When John saw the throne, then it stood in heaven, it has been there since eternity. The throne carrier of God had already been revealed outside of heaven in earlier times in the region of Iraq, as Ezekiel reported (Ezekiel 1:4-28).

We read about the throne of God sixty times in the New Testament, predominantly in the book of Revelation of John (47 times) and 12 times in the present chapter 4.

In the following verses of the book of Revelation John being astonished and almost holding his breath describes what is going on "upon, around, in front of, and in the midst of" this throne. The throne of God is the centre of eternity.

John realized suddenly: the throne is not empty, but One was sitting on the throne! The seer is restrained in his description about the glory of God. He does neither speak of Yahweh, nor of Elohim, nor of the Father, but only says, "One was sitting on the throne."

Yahweh is sitting. He does not rest contented and comfortably like Buddha who is looking at time and eternity while smiling apathetically and condescendingly, but he is rather appearing in fire and light, as a concentrated power, as prince of peace and ruler of the world, who created all things, rules all things and will judge all men.

He was one, not two, three or more. Here, the witness of faith of the Old Testament becomes evident (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; cf. Mark 12:29-30). The Indian and Greece heaven of Gods are belied by this revelation. Each kind of polytheism has its source in the temptation of the original sin, i.e.,"You will be like God" (Genesis 3:5). Jesus, however, confessed unambiguously, "I and the Father are one" - not two! (John 10:30) Christians should not speak of two or three gods thoughtlessly. The complete unity of the Trinity surpasses our mind and requires a spiritual logic which we have to submit to in humility.

John summarizes these issues implicitly, as he testifies what he saw, "One is sitting on the throne!"

Not only the polytheists, but also all atheists and materialists are unmasked as misguided by this statement. Yet the seven churches in Minor Asia are to know: Our God is alive! He exists and he reigns. He has not forgotten us in our persecution. His throne is not empty. In eternal superiority is he controlling the proceedings of the world. He is the almighty creator of heaven and earth. He knows each person and exercises power over everybody. He is Lord and Judge. Yet we need not be afraid of the Lord of glory. He is love in person. He loves us. He knows us and takes care of us. He is our Father.

John does not describe in detail the appearance of him who sits on the throne. But as he speaks of "one", grammar may indicate that "one" is male. However, such a statement would be blasphemous, as God is neither male nor female, but man, male and female, was created in the image of God. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27) Unfortunately, nowadays, no man made and borne out of the dust of the ground may dare to say, He who sees me, sees God! That would be another blasphemy which will be uttered sometimes by anti-Christian rulers in a self-satisfied manner. Since sin entered the world the image of God in us human beings is disturbed to a great extend. Only Jesus, son of Mary, could confess in his holy love, "He who has seen me has seen the Father!" (John 14:9). Christ is the image of the invisible God. He has the traits of him who sits on the throne.

PRAYER: We magnify You, Holy One, because You live, exist and are sitting on Your glorious throne. You reign over the universe and You show Your holiness as a jasper without spots, and Your love as a fiery sardius stone, with a rainbow around You full of Your eternal power. We worship You, and we rejoice because You are living and are there at all times.

QUESTION:

  1. What does it mean that the throne in heaven is not empty, but there is someone on it?

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