Revelation 4:5-11 ESV
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, 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: 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. 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!”
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 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,
“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.”
We know the majesty of God is present in the signs of lightening, thunder, and rumbling as there were on the mountain long ago. He is awesome and worthy of praise. Notice similar parallels to the ancient tabernacle of God, which was a shadow of the temple in heaven. This not the first time we gaze into the throne-room of God.
The burning torches represent the Spirit of God, the fire of His truth and purity which refines and brings the believer into the presence of our Father by resurrecting them from the dead. Christ has that light and is the light. It is that light we share and continue to reflect in the world.
The sea of glass can signify the waters of man that will be still and at peace that only comes by being reconciled to God. It is the peace that goes beyond understanding. That peace, like His reign, has begun and is yet to come. His kingdom is within until He comes again. The the sons of God will then be revealed and the glory of the new creation will come into view. Its purity is revealed in its appearance likened to crystal. This is the effect of the Holy Spirit on the heart of man. It points to a creation filled by the living water flowing from the throne. Still water runs deep.
The four living creatures on each side of the throne show us that God rules over all creation. There is nothing He does not see or escapes His notice. He never sleeps.
Each of the creatures has a noble face symbolizing the best of creation, a creation as God intends to finalize and perfect. Creation was not completed long ago, but is underway and ongoing. Jesus said that the Father is working even now, so it is the true Sabbath is yet to come. The seven days of creation in Genesis functions as an overview of a process which finds its end in the last pages of Revelation. It is then God will enter His rest. That rest, or Sabbath, was made for man who is to be in fellowship and part of the love which is God.
The six wings on each creature may point to a creation that is complete and whole as intended. These creatures have eyes that see the extent and beauty of creation, and have eyes within that witness the truth of God and behold the beauty of His light in their own being.
The twenty-four elders are the harvest of first fruits from the earth, the Church - complete with the crowns and white robes promised to those who are able to overcome the earth through Christ. They sing a song of praise that creation longs to hear.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
Exodus 19:16
On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
Ezekiel 1:13-14
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures darted to and fro, like the appearance of a flash of lightning.
Ezekiel 1:18-21
And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
1 Kings 7:23
Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference.
Revelation 21:11-14
having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Revelation 22:1-2
Chapter 22
The River of Life
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
2 Chronicles 7:3
When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
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