JOHN THE REVELATOR SAW THE FATHER ON HIS THRONE
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WOE TO THE MAN OR WOMAN THAT REJECTS THE LITERAL FUTURISTIC VISION THAT GOD OUR FATHER GAVE TO THE APOSTLE JOHN. He saw one great scene after another, each, so perfectly visible that he could paint a picture with words. As the future section of this Masterpiece opened before the Revelator, he saw the Father on His Throne. In the first verse of this Book, the Holy Spirit said, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him…” (Revelation 1:1) The Father gave this vision to His Son and the Son gave it to the Apostle John. I’m saying to all that read and warning you, “Woe to the person that would dare call the Father‘s Revelation to His Son anything less than literal and glorious.” The Father is the author of this, “Masterpiece and I tremble before this Infallible truth”.
The future sections starts in Chapter Four and here is how the drama opened: “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” (Revelation 4:1-3) This vision of God the Father on His Throne is majestic beyond words or human description. The excellency of jewels of the rarest quality is employed by John to give us a glimpse into this glory. John did not see the face of God because he could not live with a full view of such Divinity. The splendor of this scene leaves us with unfailing reverence for our Creator and His future plans for us. The Father was preparing John to understand a perfectly designed ending of all redemption. Everything from this point had to be given to the Church so we would never despair for the future.
The great Jehovah God is seated on His throne in the celestial heavens and is fully prepared for the heavenly court. Over six thousand years have passed since a serpent possessed by Lucifer walked into the garden and deceived God’s perfect couple, Adam and Eve. From the venom of lies in the garden, sin has touched every offspring of Adam. The upheaval of the earth by the Noahic flood left its scars on a sin-cursed earth. There is not one element of the created world unspoiled by the flood of evil, and it’s now time for redemption. The celestial city of Jerusalem, now in heaven, and its inhabitants are the only untouched geography in the cosmos, and the court will be held in its temple. David must have had a slight view of this seven-year session. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge.” (Psalms 48:1-3)
I’m reminded of the words of Apostle Paul when he sought to excite us of God’s love for us: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (I Corinthians 2:9-11)
We know this drama before John had to be seen as future because the saints are here gathered around the throne of God. They are seated on lesser thrones than the Father’s but in positions of heavenly authority. To add to their authority is the description of them, not as saints, but Elders. Look at the perfect wording. “And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold”. (Revelation 4:4)
Understand that these twenty four elders cannot be limited in number but rather seen as the church triumphant. The First Testament church is always described with the term “The Twelve Tribes,” or “The Twelve Patriarchs”. The New Testament Church is seen as “The Twelve Apostles, or Disciples” of our Jesus Christ. Together, the twenty-four elders are the Raptured Saints prepared for their role in every event from the Rapture until they inherit the city of New Jerusalem. The city will reflect the same twenty Four elders with the Apostles name on the twelve foundations and the twelve Tribes of Israel on the twelve Gates of Pearl leading into the city. Everything about this scene of our Father on His Throne is future and cannot be imagined in the present church world. Listen and look as John describes what he saw: “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.” (Revelation 4:5-6)
Reading the details of this picture before John is awesome and designed to fill us with the fear of God. Not a fear of dread but the emotion of sweet reverence that causes us to want to be there. Revelation was never meant to be scary or intimidating. Our Father is Sovereign and Omnipotent, but tender and merciful. His longing for us is far greater than we are capable of longing for Him.
The most powerful subject in Holy Scripture is, “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN”. Yet it is so reduced in today’s Church that the majority of Church members do not know the transformation that occurs. If a person is “BORN AGAIN” they are “New Creatures In Christ”. Please take time to listen to the Sermons I am preaching on this subject. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (I Corinthians 1:21) God”s plan for saving souls is the preaching of the Gospel and there is no backup plan. We will send a FREE CD Sermon to every person that requests it. Go to the Home page and at the top there is a section called, “SANCTUARY SERMONS”. Call us at 1 704 391 0588 or toll free 1 800 338 7883. Our e-mail is secretary@pawcreek.org .
Ed Wood
When reading the apocalyptic writings in the Bible though many are characterized by symbolism, it would be a mistake to think they all are entirely symbolic. Here are some examples:
In Revelation 1, John tells us what Jesus looked like in heaven. Clearly this is a literal account of what he actually saw. The seven candlesticks and seven stars, which I believe he also actually saw, do represent something else as well, namely seven churches and their angels (messengers). Notice in this case, the meaning of what he saw is explained.
In Revelation 12, we are given the account of a red dragon (again, in verse 9 he is identified as Satan), and in verse 1, a woman:
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Revelation 12:1). Here one must look elsewhere for her identity, and it shows up as Israel in Genesis 37:6-10 in Joseph’s dream.
With a little effort, it becomes easier to figure out which parts of prophecy are symbolic, and which are not. The Book of Daniel is likewise full of symbolism in which the nations which had an influence on the history of Israel are variously represented as parts of a statue (Daniel 2) and creatures (Daniel 7 & 8). All of them except for the last have already come onto the scene.
One of the big mistakes much of the modern church has done is either to ignore prophecy or esle “over-allegorize” it, thereby robbing it of its true meaning. Or to “grab-bag” the Bible, picking out only the parts that fit one’s personal point of view while omitting the rest.
A good rule of thumb is: The most direct reading of the Bible is the best. To try to read in symbolism where it doesn’t exist will lead to error every time, and the more one reads and studies it, the easier it becomes to understand which is which.
Garry Dougherty
Amen, Amen & Amen again to 1Cor1:21 – the foolishness of those who label themselves as born again or even saved – for they know not what they are doing, speaking of.
We were not born of ourselves in the flesh and surely not of the spirit.
It is only if we were lead without even realizing for some time, yet as to the watering hole to drink – the flesh would profit us nothing – yet it was as if Jesus fertilized the egg of the holy motherly spirit of God into us still without truly realizing she was inside and the virgin birth of the little loving spirit child within us was in the process of developing and now we are a child of God going back to school daily as as the holy spirit mother of God, to be as His queen assistant working of this world to care for His children – and now if we so desired, we could say ‘ I am a Born Again spirit child of God – But now we do not need to for our Father will let it be known the true disciplined children for the Queen has brought us back onto the bus of the Master Artist that we would see Him at His work and He would note we were there.
Judy
If the book of Revelations is not written with Apocalyptic symbolism
.. if every statement is literal ,,
why do all the gates of New Jerusalem bear only the names of
12 Jewish tribes ,,, and no gate is labeled “church” ??????
Dear Judy,
Look carefully! The gates are named afer Israel or the twelve tribes, but the foundations are names after the Church or the Twelve Apostles. Our Father and His book never miss a detail.
Pastor Chambers