4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.
Seated on them are elders. This lends itself to people, not angels or other heavenly beings. To my knowledge it is unknown who are these 24 elders. One thought is that there are 12 from the tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles (the 11 original plus Paul). Perhaps, but I believe that these 24 represent all those who believe. In 1 Chronicles 24 is the Division of the Priests. Because it was an honor to serve as a priest in or around the temple and only those from the tribe of Levi could do so and different families had different numbers of descendants David caused them to select 24 representatives (by casting lots) for the rest of the tribe to represent all the people of Israel as priest leaders in music, priestly duties, or aids to the priests. These 24 represent the people of God from all the nations. All who are spiritual descendants of Abraham.
Jesus indicated to churches in Sardis and Smyrna that if they were victorious they’d wear white and He indicated to church in Philadelphia that they’d wear crowns. Here we see elders wearing white and having crowns.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirit of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
The throne of God is spectacularly bright and loud. It exudes power. Just for reference, a typical lightning strike has 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) joules of energy or 10,000,000,000 (10 billion) watts of power. There were flashes of lightning (many of them) from the throne. The one on the throne is powerful, more powerful than all that we know or imagine.
In front of the throne is the perfect Spirit of God. And further is a sea of what looked like glass. It could have been glass, or crystal, or water that was so calm and clear it looked as glass. I am reminded of David’s words in Psalm 23:2, “He leads me beside still waters”. God leads us to places that rest our soul and He leads us to His throne in heaven, the stillest of waters.
The presentation is an amazing contrast. There is lightning and thunder yet there is a sea so still it is as glass. Here, if we see lightning and thunder the sea definitely isn't still. Mercy can be defined as power under control. Here we see great power under perfect control.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
There is a similar account in Ezekiel of these creatures. In his account, each creature had four faces, the man facing forward, the lion to the right, the ox to the left, and the eagle behind. This is an incredible scene of these four powerful creatures at the throne of God.
It is somewhat unknown as to what they represent or if they simply are as described. Some commentaries indicate that the four faces represent all that is on the earth. There is man representing mankind, the ox representing all domestic animals, the lion representing all wild animals, and the eagle representing all in the air. I guess the animals in the water don’t get a representative in this thought.
Another thought is they represent all that we understand. Our physical form, our work (ox), our power (lion), and our spirit (eagle). All the influence that any person can have.
Yet another consideration is a reference to how the Israelites camped around the Tabernacle. Some camped under Reuben symbolized by the a man, others with Dan symbolized by an eagle, others with Ephraim symbolized by a calf, or ox, and the rest with Judah symbolized by a lion.
However they are interpreted, the fact is they are intense and powerful and adjacent to the throne and they "see" everything everywhere.
Jesus indicated to churches in Sardis and Smyrna that if they were victorious they’d wear white and He indicated to church in Philadelphia that they’d wear crowns. Here we see elders wearing white and having crowns.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirit of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
The throne of God is spectacularly bright and loud. It exudes power. Just for reference, a typical lightning strike has 1,000,000,000 (1 billion) joules of energy or 10,000,000,000 (10 billion) watts of power. There were flashes of lightning (many of them) from the throne. The one on the throne is powerful, more powerful than all that we know or imagine.
In front of the throne is the perfect Spirit of God. And further is a sea of what looked like glass. It could have been glass, or crystal, or water that was so calm and clear it looked as glass. I am reminded of David’s words in Psalm 23:2, “He leads me beside still waters”. God leads us to places that rest our soul and He leads us to His throne in heaven, the stillest of waters.
The presentation is an amazing contrast. There is lightning and thunder yet there is a sea so still it is as glass. Here, if we see lightning and thunder the sea definitely isn't still. Mercy can be defined as power under control. Here we see great power under perfect control.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
There is a similar account in Ezekiel of these creatures. In his account, each creature had four faces, the man facing forward, the lion to the right, the ox to the left, and the eagle behind. This is an incredible scene of these four powerful creatures at the throne of God.
It is somewhat unknown as to what they represent or if they simply are as described. Some commentaries indicate that the four faces represent all that is on the earth. There is man representing mankind, the ox representing all domestic animals, the lion representing all wild animals, and the eagle representing all in the air. I guess the animals in the water don’t get a representative in this thought.
Another thought is they represent all that we understand. Our physical form, our work (ox), our power (lion), and our spirit (eagle). All the influence that any person can have.
Yet another consideration is a reference to how the Israelites camped around the Tabernacle. Some camped under Reuben symbolized by the a man, others with Dan symbolized by an eagle, others with Ephraim symbolized by a calf, or ox, and the rest with Judah symbolized by a lion.
However they are interpreted, the fact is they are intense and powerful and adjacent to the throne and they "see" everything everywhere.
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