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

 Much of what John observes up there in heaven resembles features of the tabernacle in the wilderness. This was constructed about 1,600 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; Hebrew 9:5) Hence, the cover of the Ark served as a 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 an 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 Jame's description of Jehovah as "the Father of 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." (1 John 1:5) What a superbly glorious personage Jehovah really is!

Next time: Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Jehovah's Resplendent Throne - Conclusion

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