THE THRONE ROOM“Day and night they never stop saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’” –Revelation 4:8
How would you meet the King of Kings? One of Wheaton College’s great presidents, Dr. Raymond Edman, was trying to explain that one day in chapel. He wanted students to take worship seriously, so told about his visit to Haile Selassie, former emperor of Ethiopia. Before seeing the monarch, Edman was briefed about royal protocol and told how to bow with respect as he entered the king’s presence. “In the same way,” Edman said, “we must prepare ourselves to meet God.” At that moment, Edman slumped onto the pulpit, fell to the floor, and died. Just like that, he entered the presence of the King of Kings. In the context of his message, his death stunned the Christian community. Many said Edman in dying that way “had the easiest transition to heaven of anybody they’ve ever known, that he lived so much of his life in the presence of God down here that he simply changed venues.” (David Jeremiah, Prayer: The Great Adventure, Multnomah, 1997, p. 98).
The Bible says Heaven is God’s throne and earth is his footstool (Isaiah 66:1, Matt. 5:34). That’s beyond our understanding, along with the unfathomable truth that the all-knowing, all-present, all-seeing, and timeless One created the world and each of us. When the prophet Isaiah had a vision of God’s throne room, he struggled to express God’s greatness: “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). He wrote of six-winged creatures flying about the throne, continually calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” The doorposts and thresholds shook and smoke filled the temple (6:2-4). Experiencing all this, Isaiah could only cry out, “Woe is me.”
Eight hundred years later, after Christ’s time on earth, His disciple John had another vision of God’s throne room. By now, John was the last surviving disciple, an old man of ninety imprisoned on the island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. One day, as John was what he called “in the spirit”—perhaps in prayerful communication with God--he had that memorable vision. What he saw put him at a loss for words. He could only say the Person on the throne “had the appearance of” precious stones (Rev. 4:3). He also saw:
Brilliance: A rainbow “resembling an emerald” (does this stretch your imagination?) encircled the throne (4:3)
Assistants: The thrones of twenty-four “elders” who fell before the One on the throne and offered him their crowns as they praised Him (4:4, 9-10).
Mighty noise: “Flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder” (4:5).
Blinding light: “Before the throne seven lamps were blazing” (4:5).
Amazing flooring: “Before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.” (4:6).
Countless heaven-creatures: “I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” (5:11)
Incredible praise creatures. Like Isaiah, John saw six-winged creatures, but got a closer look at four. Full of eyes, one was similar to a lion, another to an ox, a third to a man, and the fourth to an eagle. They never stopped saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (4:6b-8). One author remarked he always wondered why these magnificent creatures said the same thing over and over. “The answer was an epiphany,” he said. “The wonder of being in God’s presence never wore off.” (Dan Schaeffer, “Paradise Found,” Discipleship Journal, Issue 136, July/August 2003, p. 39).
Have you considered what you’ll do when ushered into God’s throne room? Will you curl up, face covered, because of His blazing holiness? Or will you dance in purest joy that you’re finally there? Will you be aware of others worshiping as well? In John’s vision there “was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9).
What will be the most astounding aspect of the throne room? Perhaps King David anticipated it: “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4). The old apostle John also anticipated gazing on the beauty of the Lord: “We shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:3). “They shall see His face” (Rev. 22:4).
What will be the most wonderful part of Heaven? No question: the Throne Room, where we shall see the King of Kings in all His glorious splendor.
Prayer: Great God of all, help me to worship You now as I anticipate seeing You on your Heavenly throne. Amen.
Assistants: The thrones of twenty-four “elders” who fell before the One on the throne and offered him their crowns as they praised Him (4:4, 9-10).
Mighty noise: “Flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder” (4:5).
Blinding light: “Before the throne seven lamps were blazing” (4:5).
Amazing flooring: “Before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.” (4:6).
Countless heaven-creatures: “I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” (5:11)
Incredible praise creatures. Like Isaiah, John saw six-winged creatures, but got a closer look at four. Full of eyes, one was similar to a lion, another to an ox, a third to a man, and the fourth to an eagle. They never stopped saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (4:6b-8). One author remarked he always wondered why these magnificent creatures said the same thing over and over. “The answer was an epiphany,” he said. “The wonder of being in God’s presence never wore off.” (Dan Schaeffer, “Paradise Found,” Discipleship Journal, Issue 136, July/August 2003, p. 39).
Have you considered what you’ll do when ushered into God’s throne room? Will you curl up, face covered, because of His blazing holiness? Or will you dance in purest joy that you’re finally there? Will you be aware of others worshiping as well? In John’s vision there “was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9).
What will be the most astounding aspect of the throne room? Perhaps King David anticipated it: “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4). The old apostle John also anticipated gazing on the beauty of the Lord: “We shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:3). “They shall see His face” (Rev. 22:4).
What will be the most wonderful part of Heaven? No question: the Throne Room, where we shall see the King of Kings in all His glorious splendor.
Prayer: Great God of all, help me to worship You now as I anticipate seeing You on your Heavenly throne. Amen.
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