What is heaven like?
Opening Prayer
God of wonder, I want to live in light of the glory that is eternal. Open the eyes of my heart to see it.
Read REVELATION 4:1–11
[1] After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” [2] At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. [3] And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. [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. [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 spirits of God. [6] Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. 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. [8] Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” [9] Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, [10] the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: [11] “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does the text describe heaven?The seven letters are awesome. Jesus came down in person and spoke to the churches. Now John passes the other way, through a door into heaven itself. It is perhaps too simple to say he reports to us what he sees there. Ordinary Greek or English words may not fully convey the wonder of John’s experience. Even as a poet must find expression to speak to what is deeper than physical sight, John uses words that transcend the literal. As he shares his vision, John is “in the Spirit” (2) before the throne of God. Let’s not doubt: this is a true revelation. Therefore, we can be confident that John is recounting a solid, real, sensuous place. (Too many people picture heaven as misty and dreamlike.) But then can this possibly be an actual set of golden crowns, blazing lamps and creatures such as none of us can comprehend? Though we might not fully understand the mix of literal, metaphor and symbol, one thing is clear: at the center of the picture is the Lord before whom all creation will bow. However unfamiliar the language may seem, we should identify with the characters here. With the elders and the creatures, let us behold in wonder and worship our God.
Apply
Join with the creatures and the elders in praying the two prayers in verses 8 and 11.
Closing prayer
Majestic God, I, with all creation, will bow before Your heavenly throne. My heart longs for that day.
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