Thinking Thursday

[Rev 4:1-8 ESV] 1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 

John is going to be shown a vision.

2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.

He is shown God the Father on the throne 

3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 

God's appearance is striking and beautiful.  The rainbow represents mercy in His judgment.

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

24 Thrones may represent the 12 tribes and the 12 apostles who represent God's people through the Old and New Testaments. 

5 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,

The power and perfection of God. 

6 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: 

7 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. 

8 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!"

The sea of glass is thought to represent the people and nations.  Verses 6-8 are similar to verses in Ezekiel.  Some attribute the 4 creatures to the 4 gospels that point to the Savior, Jesus Christ in each of their unique perspectives.

• lion = Mark which portrays Jesus kingship
• ox = Luke which portrays Jesus sacrifice and service
• man = Matthew which portrays Jesus humanity
• eagle = John which portrays his perfect and spiritual nature

This chapter is full of imagery and it is difficult to interpret when even the scholars disagree by what is meant.  But I want us all to learn from each other, so please comment on what you know about these verses.