Jehovah's Resplendent Presence

What does John see? Listen, as he now shares with us his grand experience. "After these things I immediately came to be in the power of the spirit: and, look! A throne was in its position in heaven, and there is one seated upon the throne." (Revelation 4:2) In an instant of time, John is spiritually transported by God's active force to the very throne of Jehovah. How thrilling for John! Here he is given a dazzling preview of those very heavens wherein he and other anointed Christians have reserved for them "an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance." (1 Peter 1:3-5; Philippians 3:20) For those whose hope it is to live forever on earth, John's vision also has profound meaning. It helps them to comprehend the glory of Jehovah's presence and of the heavenly ruling structure used by Jehovah in judging the nations and afterward in governing human lives on earth. Jehovah is indeed the God of superb organization!

Much of what John observes up there in heaven resembles features of the tabernacle in the wilderness. This was constructed about 1,600 years earlier as a sanctuary of true worship for the Israelites. In the Holy of Holies of that tabernacle was the Ark of the covenant, and it was from above the solid gold cover of that Ark that Jehovah himself spoke. (Exodus 25:17-22; Hebrews 9:5) Hence, the cover of the Ark served as symbol of Jehovah's throne. John now sees the reality of that symbolic representation: the Sovereign Lord Jehovah himself sitting in Exquisite grandeur on his lofty heavenly throne!

Unlike earlier prophets who had visions of Jehovah's throne, John does not describe in detail the Holy One who occupies it. (Ezekiel 1:26, 27; Daniel 7:9, 10) But John gives us his impression of the enthroned One in these words: "And the one seated is, in appearance, like a jasper stone and a precious red-colored stone, and round about the throne there is a rainbow like and emerald in appearance." (Revelation 4:3) What incomparable magnificence! John perceives a serene, scintillating beauty like that of lustrous, gleaming gemstones. How appropriately this agrees with the disciple James' description of Jehovah as "the Father of the celestial lights"! (James 1:17) Shortly after writing Revelation, John himself stated: "God is light and there is no darkness at all in union with him." (1John 1:5) What a superbly glorious Personage Jehovah really is!

Notice that John sees around the throne a rainbow, colored emerald green. The Greek word here translated below (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 cause 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 sign of the covenant between me and the earth. And I shall certainly remember my covenant which is between me and you and every 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,m such as the John class enjoys today. It would also impress him with the serenity and peace of Jehovah's presence,a serenity that will extend to all obedient humans when Jehovah spreads his tent over mankind in the new earth society. -Psalm 119:165; Philippians 4:7; Revelation 21:1-4.

Next time: Identifying The 24 Elders.