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2. The Immediate Vicinity of the Almighty (Revelation 4:4-8)
The Thunder Storm and the Voices in the Throne of God: After John had reported who was assembled "around" the throne, his description turns to the throne itself. As already mentioned, the throne should not be confound with a chair or a couch, for it rather resembles a small palace-like house or a mobile edifice having several flats, rooms and platforms with numerous functions.
REVELATION 4:5a
5 Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. ...
It was neither the appearance of the throne nor its daedal shape nor its brilliant glory, what the eyes of John caught, but what astonished him was the great energy of this power station of the cosmos which was discharged by way of lightnings and thunderings. Bright lightnings made him frighten and startle. At first he realized the huge power and discharge of energy in the throne. God is the original might who created all things and upholds them. John saw this almightiness in his own way.
The rolling and crashing thunderclaps hurt his ears and shattered him deep in his soul. He perceived the power of God by seeing and hearing. It is not for nothing that our forefathers said that God would be angry when thunderclaps crashed and lightnings set houses on fire or struck men dead. Not a few thunderstorms taught nominal Christians to pray anew. A storm may show us that we are guilty mere ciphers, and it makes us sense how all powers of nature are subject to our God.
Besides this discharge of power in the throne of God the voices the prophet could hear were also exciting. Did he hear the praises of Israel on which the Holy of Israel enthrones according to Psalm 22:4? Or did he hear something about the testimony of the witnesses amidst their temptations and fear of death? Was it the cry of desperation of those suffering worldwide from injustice, or the silent sighs of millions of women being maltreated, or the moaning of starving people, or the weeping of refugees, or the stammering of orphans, or the prayer cry at the Wailing Wall, or the sigh of converts being tortured? God listens to each word addressed to him. His wrath about the increasing injustice against defenseless people, his compassion with the helpless and his silence when he hears blasphemies cannot be plumbed. Psalm 2 reads that God "laughs" when men rebel against him and his Anointed. As a response of all questions, sins and prayers of men he sent them his meek and holy Son (Psalm 2:7; Matthew 3:17).
The voices in the throne of God which John reports of may include also commandments, calls or instructions. Yet John does not say any word about their issues, purpose and aim. He does also not go into possibly different languages and tongues.
What does your voice speak about before the throne of God? What kind of utterances did the Lord receive and save? What will he make you hear once again? We will have to give account of every word we have ever spoken! The throne of God is the power centre of the cosmos. It has an unlimited storage capacity.
PRAYER: Holy Lord, teach us to pray and supplicate in harmony with Your purposes, not only for our relatives, but also for the believers who are in distresses, temptations and dangers. Fill our hearts with the spirit of prayer that we may not only pray of ourselves, but that Your merciful Spirit may guide us to pray the prayer that pleases Your Fatherly will.
QUESTION:
- What do the voices heard among the lightnings and thunderings in the throne of God mean?