Last Wednesday corporate prayer service, our sister Jaya, reminded us that Jesus is coming again!
Acts 1:9-11 was read – “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was departing, behold, two men in white clothing stood besides them; and they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky: This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven”
And we went on to sing the hymn “Jesus Is Coming Again”, which echoed the refrain:
Coming again, coming again;
May be morning, maybe noon. Maybe evening and maybe soon!
Coming again, coming again.
O what a wonderful day it will be, Jesus is coming again!
Today, I would like to write about the scene of heaven that the Apostle John had recorded for us in Revelation 4:2-4. The scene, depicting the throne of God, give us the privilege of previewing the place where we will live forever and hence, all the encouragement for us to look forward to our Lord Jesus coming again.
The throne of God, standing in heaven, is a symbol of God’s sovereign rule and authority in the temple of heaven. The temple in heaven (Rev 21:22) is not an actual building. The Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are the temple. The standing throne, points to us that God’s sovereign rule is permanent and unshakeable. God is unchanging and in complete control of all things.
And in verse 3, although Apostle John does not name the One sitting on the throne, it is obvious that He is the one that the prophet Isaiah saw in his vision: “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). The Lord was described like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance. This can be compared to a diamond, with all the shining, flashing elements of the glory of God . Brilliantly refracting all the colors of a spectrum. What a sight we can imagine! A sardius seems to imply a fiery, blood-red ruby. Hence, it also show the shining beauty of God’s glory and perhaps also tells us about God’s blazing wrath, about to unfold later onto the rebellious world in Revelation 6-19. This vision of God’s throne is not one of peace or comfort. Its flashing magnificence also tells of God’s judgement.
And last but not least, there was a rainbow around the throne! The emerald appearance reveals again the many splendored glory of God. In Genesis 9, rainbow symbolises God’s covenant faithfulness, mercy and grace. Thus, God always work in perfect harmony. His earlier facet of judgement and wrath never operates at the expense of His faithfulness!
Are we willing to believe and take the Word of God as it is told to us? The glory of heaven awaits all of us. Are we excited and are we looking forward to Jesus coming again? If the answer is yes, then we would need to be prepared for His coming again!
Elder Andrew Lim
