Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Behold "Four Living Creatures"

 John now observes another feature. He writes: "And in the midst of the throne and around the throne there are four living creatures that are full of eyes in front and behind." - REVELATION 4:6b. 

What do these creatures picture? A vision reported by another prophet, Ezekiel, helps us to find another answer. Ezekiel saw Jehovah enthroned on a celestial chariot, which was accompanied by living creatures embodying characteristics similar to those described by John. (Ezekiel 1:5-11, 22-28) Later, Ezekiel saw again that chariot throne accompanied by the living creatures. This time, however, he referred to the living creatures as cherubs. (Ezekiel 10:9-15) The four living creatures that John sees must represent the cherubs of God-creatures of high rank in his spirit organization. John would not think it unusual to see cherubs positioned so close to Jehovah's person, since in the ancient tabernacle arrangement, two cherubs of gold were displayed upon the lid of the ark of the covenant, which represented Jehovah's throne. From between these cherubs, Jehovhah's voice issued commandments to the nation. - EXODAUS 25:22; PSALM80:1.

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Lamps of Fire and a Glassy Sea - Conclusion

 John see also a "glassy sea like crystal." What would this symbolize with regard to those invited into Jehovah's heavenly court? Paul spoke of the way that Jesus sanctified the congregation, "cleansing it with the bath of water by means of the word." (Ephesians 5:26) Before his death, Jesus told his disciples: "You already clean because of the word that I have spoken to you." (John 15:3) Hence, this glassy sea like crystal must represent the cleansing, recorded Word of God.  Those of the royal priesthood who came into Jehovah's presence must have been thoroughly cleansed by his Word.  

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Lamps of Fire and a Glassy Sea

 What does John further see? This: "And there are seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, and these mean the seven spirits of God. And before the throne there is, as it were, a glassy sea like crystal." (Revelation 4:5b, 6a) John himself tells us the magnificence of the seven lamps: "These mean the seven spirits of God." The number seven symbolizes divine completeness; so the seven lamps must represent the fullness of the enlightening force of the holy spirit. How grateful the John class is today that it has been entrusted with this enlightenment, together with the hungry peoples of earth! How glad we are that each year over 2oo million copies of the Watchtower magazine continue to beam forth this light in more than a hundred languages! - PSALM 43:3.

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Throne - Lightnings, Voices, and Thunders - Conclusion

 Thunder usually follows lightning. David referred to literal thunder as "the voice of Jehovah." (Psalm 29:3, 4) When Jehovah fought for David against his enemies, thunder was said to come from Him. (2 Samuel 22:14; Psalm 18:13) Elihu told Job that Jehovah's voice sounded like thunder, as He does "great things that we cannot know." (Job 37:4, 5) During this part of the Lord's day, Jehovah has 'thundered' warning of the great acts he will perform against his enemies. These symbolic peals of thunder have echoed and reechoed throughout the earth. Happy you are if you have paid attention to these thunderous proclamations and are making wise use of your tongue in added to their volume! - ISAIAH 50:4, 5; 61:1, 2. 

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Lightnings, Voices, and Thunders - Continue

 What of the voices? During Jehovah's descent onto Mount Sinai, a voice spoke to Moses. (Exodus 19:10) Voices from heaven issued many of the commands and proclamations i the book of Revelation. (Revelation 4:1; 104:8; 11:12; 12:10; 14:13; 16:1, 17; 18:4;19:5; 21:3) Today, Jehovah has also issued commands and proclamations to his people, illuminating their understanding of Bible prophecies and principles. Enlightening information has often been disclosed at international conventions, and such Bible truths have, in turn, been proclaimed worldwide. The apostle Paul said of faithful preachers of the good news: "Why, in fact, 'into all the earth their sound went out, and to the extremities of the inhabited earth their utterances. ' " - ROMANS 10:18.

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne -- Lightnings, Voices, and Thunders

 What does Jehovah next see and hear? "And out of the throne there are proceeding lightnings, voices, and thunders." (Revelation 4:5a) How reminiscent of other awesome manifestations of Jehovah's celestial power! For example, when Jehovah "came down" on Mount Sinai, Moses reported: "On the third day when it became morning it came about that thunders and lightnings began occurring. and a heavy cloud upon the mountain and a very loud sound of a horn .  . .  When the sound of the horn became louder and louder. Moses began to speak, and the true God began to answer him with a voice." - EXODUS 19:16-19.

During the Lord's day, Jehovah makes his power and presence manifest in a sublime way. No, not by literal lightning, for John is seeing signs. What, then, do the lightning represent? Well, flashes of lightning can illuminate, but they can also strike one dead. Therefore, these lightnings issuing from Jehovah's throne well picture the flashes of enlightenment that he has continually granted his people and, even more significantly, his fiery judgment messages. - Compare PSALM18:14; 144:5, 6; MATTHEW 4:14-17; 24:27. 

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Identifying the 24 Elders - Conclusion

 What is significant about the number 24, in that John sees 24 elders around the throne? In many respects these were foreshadowed by the faithful priests of ancient Israel. The apostle Peter wrote to anointed Christians: "You are 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession.' " (1 Peter 2:9) Interestingly, that ancient Jewish priesthood cam to be divided into 24 divisions. Each division came to be assigned to its own weeks in the year to serve before Jehovah, so that sacred service was rendered without a break. (1 Chronicles 24:5-19) It is fitting, then, that there are 24 elders depicted in John's vision of the heavenly priesthood because this priesthood serves Jehovah continually, without ceasing. When completed, there will 24 divisions each with 6,000 conquerors, for Revelation 14:1-4 tells us that 144,000 (24x6000) are "bought from among mankind" to stand on the heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Since the number 12 signifies a divinely balanced organization, 24 doubles-or strengthens-such an arrangement.

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Identifying the 24 Elders -Continue

 First of all, they are wearing crowns. The Bible speaks of anointed Christians as gaining 'a incorruptible crown' attaining to an endless life-immortality. (1 Corinthians 9:25; 15:53, 54) But since these 24 elders are sitting on thrones, the golden crowns in this context represent royal authority. (Compare Revelation 6:2; 14:14.) This supports the conclusion that the 24 elders portray Jesus' anointed footstep followers in their heavenly position, for Jesus made a covenant with them to sit on thrones in his Kingdom. (Luke 22:28-30) Only Jesus and these 24 elders-not even the angels-are described as ruling in heaven in Jehovah's presence. 

This harmonizes with the promise that Jesus made to the Laodicean congregation: "To the one that conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne." (Revelation 3:21) But the heavenly assignment of the 24 elders is not limited to governmental rule. In the introduction to the book of Revelation, John said of Jesus: "He made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father." (Revelation 1:5, 6) These ones are both kings and priests. "They will be priests of God and Christ and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years." -REVELATION 20:6. 

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Identifying the 24 Elders

 John knew that priests were appointed to serve in the ancient tabernacle. So he may have been surprised at seeing what he describes next: "And round about the throne there are twenty-four thrones, and upon these thrones I saw seated twenty-four elders dressed in white outer garments, and upon their heads golden crowns." (Revelation 4:4) Yes, instead of priests, there are 24 elders, enthroned and crowned like kings. What are these elders? They are none other than anointed ones of the Christian congregation, resurrected and occupying the heavenly position Jehovah promised them.  How do we know that?

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Jehovah's Resplendent Presence - Conclusion

 Notice that John sees around the throne a rainbow, colored emerald green. The Greek word here translated rainbow (ir'is) suggests a completely circular form. The rainbow is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Noah's day. After the waters of the Deluge subsided, Jehovah caused a rainbow to appear in the cloud, and he explained what it symbolized in these words: "My rainbow I do give in the cloud, and it must serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. And I shall certainly remember my covenant which is between me and you and ever living soul among all flesh, and no more will the waters become a deluge to bring all flesh to ruin." (Genesis 9:13, 15) What, then, would the heavenly vision bring to John's mind? The rainbow that he saw must have reminded him of the need for a peaceful relationship with Jehovah, such as the John class enjoys today. It would also impress him with the serenity that will extend to all obedient humans in the new earth society. - PSALM 119:165; PHILIPPIANS 4:7; REVELATION 21:1-4.

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