The Rainbow around the Throne

This vision of the throne is the heart of the book of Revelation. It is the very center of it. Everything we read in the book is centered around it and takes its meaning from it. It is not only the very first thing that John sees when the door into heaven is opened, but it is always there. All through the book there is that throne and if you want to understand the book and every single part of it, you have to look at it in the light of that throne.

Everything and everybody is arranged around that throne. You can draw concentric circles around it; they go out from that throne as shockwaves become wider and wider.

And in the heart of it all is that throne and "someone sitting on it" Please do not take that too literally, because John's vision becomes blurred. He becomes blinded when he looks at the One who sat upon the throne. And in chapter 5 he sees a Lamb standing in the center of the throne, so it is not so much a seat as a platform which rises above everything else.

It is the throne of God of course, that is evidently clear. And we are blinded by the glory of God which blazes forth from it, like the sun high in the firmament. This glorious throne of the Almighty God, the Master of the Universe, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Lord of Lords and the King of kings, who alone rules and governs, who alone holds authority and every knee must bow before Him - this throne of God is the very first thing that John sees when the door opens.

And then slowly but surely John begins to distinguish other features. Around the throne there were twenty four other thrones. And from the throne came --- vs 5 --- Before the throne (notice that everything and everyone is placed in relation to that throne!) - before the throne --- vs 5,6 ---

And closer around the throne in the center were four living creatures and farther out, around it all are the many angels, thousands of thousands of them, myriads in number, encircling the throne, singing with a loud voice and making music.

Amazing! The voice says to John: Come and I will show you what must take place after this, and the first thing he is shown is that blazing glorious throne of God with the Lamb standing in its center and everything else around it.

So the Lord is saying to John: When you look at everything that will happen from now on, never forget this throne, for this is where it comes from, this is where the power comes from and the direction, this is where the meaning of it all can be found, this is where God is and the Lamb. That throne in heaven is the center of the universe, and it is the center of your life too.

That's why it is so important to remember that John was given this vision when he was on the island of Patmos. John was the minister, the bishop of the seven churches in Asia. They were under his special care. In church history John is called the first bishop of Ephesus.

And it was a time of persecution. The Emperor Diocletian had unleashed a very vicious campaign of persecution against the christians in the empire, because he wanted to try and wipe out the christian church. So left and right people were arrested and put to death, men, women and children, that did not make any difference.

John had been arrsted too and sent into exile to Patmos, a little island before the Aegean coast of what is now Turkey. A bare rock in the sea, cut off from the mainland and from all communication with the mainland.

John does not know anything of what is going on and of what is happening to the church and to the churches for which he is responsible. As far as he knows they all have been totally wiped out and destroyed. And he is powerless against it. Doomed to idleness while especially in these trying times he ought to be with his people. And we can well imagine how unbearable this must have been for him.

Then Jesus appeared to him on a Sunday morning when he was praying. It was not a very meak and suffering Jesus, whom he saw, but a Jesus who appears to John in all His glory, so that John cannot stand the sight and falls as dead at his feet.

Because Jesus is not weak and suffering anymore, you see. John may be eaten away by his worries about the christians in the persecution, but here Jesus shows him that there is no reason for his fear and dejection.

And then he shows him the throne in heaven. Right in the middle of the most severe persecution, Jesus shows John that even when things may look pretty hopeless here and from our limited perspective, they are not hopeless, because God is in charge.

John does not see the throne of the Roman Emperor and His awesome and glorious power, sitting there in the center of the universe. Not at all. John sees the throne of the living God and the emperor is nowhere in sight.

When John sees the throne of God flashes of lightning and peals of thunder come out from that throne. God's judgments go out from the throne and John and the christians of his day were buffeted by the shockwaves of God's judgments. And the only thing they were aware of are those shockwaves. They were shaking in their boots.

But these shockwaves came from the throne of God.

God is in the centre. God is at the heart of it all. Nothing happens without his will.

So we should look at that throne, carefully. When we begin a whole New Year and a whole new decade 1990, we should look at that throne. When we wonder what will happen after this, what is in store for us, what is going on in this world and who is at the helm, look at that throne and at the One who sits upon it, at the One who stands in the center of it. It is God, the Living God, your God, and it is the Lamb, slain for your and my sins.

And around the throne, did you notice this, please look carefully for it is so very important, --- a rainbow encircled the throne.

That is a very special rainbow, did you notice. You have never seen a rainbow like that, because this is not just a halfcircle, spanning the sky from the one horizon to the other, but this rainbow encircles the throne. It goes all around it, like a full ring goes around your finger.

Remember the rainbow? Remember where it comes from and remember what it means? It comes from the story of Noah and the flood, remember? In those days, after those terrible days of God's judgment, God gave the rainbow to Noah as a visible token of his faithfulness and of His promises. Never more will I destroy the earth with a flood, God said. And whenever the sun shines on the rainclouds, dark and threatening heavy clouds, full of ominous things, you will see that rainbow as a reassurance on my part, that whatever happens, I will not change. My promises will not change and I will be with you.

See that rainbow, all around the throne. That throne from which the lightning flashes and the thunder rumbles, the throne from which come the judgments of God, --- and in the following chapters we will hear in detail what those judgements are that come over the earth from that throne of God --- that throne is encircled by the token of God's mercy and faithfulness.

Whatever those judgements may bring, whatever may happen in this world, no matter how these judgements affect us and touch us, or buffet us, no matter how tough it may get in your life, God is the ruler yet and He is not forgetting you.

We do not know what 1990 will bring. Even if 1989 ended with great hope for peace in the world, we do not know what horrors await us for this coming year. But we do know about that throne of God. And we do know about that rainbow of God.

He is faithful. He will never leave you or forsake you.

So we may lift up our heads and confidently look into the future. For the future belongs to God and to the Lamb.

Amen.