After these things I saw, and Look, a door opened in heaven, and the voice like a trumpet that first heard speaking with me, saying, “Come up here!, and I will show you what will happen after these things.”
Immediately I was in Spirit; and Look
A throne was placed in heaven, and on the throne one sitting, and the one sitting looked like a jasper and sardius stone; and a rainbow encircled the throne, looking like an emerald. Revelation 4:1-3
v 1 After these things. . . after these things two Greek words: meta tauta, “after these things”. See 1:19.
The Timing of the Rapture of the Church
Because the phrase “meta tauta” occurs here, and is used by John as a structural phrase, and because the Church is not mentioned in Revelation again until 22:16, many believe that the Church will not go through the Tribulation, and, therefore, that this verse means “after the things of the Church”, and, at this point, the Rapture takes place.
Position I The Post-Tribulational View
Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27 (14:62); Revelation 7:9, 13-14.
This position holds that although meta tauta is a phrase which has structural significance with John, there are many Scriptures which indicate that the gathering together of believers occurs after the Tribulation. Therefore, the suggestion that the Church is no longer seen in Revelation is pushing the significance of the phrase too far.
Position II The Pre-Tribulational View
Isaiah 26:19-21; I Thessalonians 4:17; 5:9; Luke 17: 26-30.
The word “Church” has occurred seven times so far in Revelation. It does not appear again (except in plural form. The plural form (Churches) occurs 12 times in Revelation, all between chapters 1 and 4, and again in 22:16). Based on this and 1:19, we conclude that the section we are entering is the period after the things of the Church. There is a “Mid-Tribulational” view, however, this is really a variation on the pre-Tribulational view, and, therefore, is not being treated separately. The key to the mid and pre-Trib. views is the concept that the people of God are not called to endure the judgment of God’s wrath upon the earth.
An Additional Perspective: The Paradox Of Prophetic Timing Of The Rapture And The Return Of Christ
I Thessalonians 4:13-5:10; I Corinthians 15:49-53; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4; Matthew 24:15, 21, 29, 42.
There appear to be two gatherings together--one at the beginning of the Tribulation, and one at the end. I suggest that there is a massive repentance and acceptance of Christ during the Tribulation, resulting in a mass of “Tribulation Saints”. If there are any left at the end of the Tribulation, who have not died for their faithful witness of Christ, they will be gathered together to Christ to return with Him (and us) for the last battle in human history.
v 1 door see 3:8, 20. Trumpet 1:10
v 2 In (the) Spirit 1:10 Throne seen about 45 times in Revelation, 15 in Chapter 4 alone. See Daniel 7:9-14.
v 3 Jasper is described later as being clear as crystal (21:11). The Jasper is usually red, or brownish. The Sardius is also red. So the idea that Jesus has a nice tan is reinforced again.
Each of these stones is in the breastplate of the High Priest. Each one is associated with a particular tribe, or son of Israel, and each son’s name has a meaning. Jasper is Benjamin, which means “Son of my right hand” (See Exodus 28:20). Sardius Exodus 28:17--(a ruby), was Reuben, which means, “Behold, a Son”. Emerald Exodus 28:18 was the stone for Judah, which means “praise”. Jesus is presented as the Son of God, and He was of the tribe of Praise. And each of these stones in the High Priest’s breastplate represented the people of God coming into the presence of God. Rainbow See Genesis 9:8-17 and Daniel 7:9-14, as well as Revelation 10:1.
Light
If you think about yourself do you feel like you’re on the light side or the dark side? I’m not making any reference here to Star Wars and the force. Let me explain
Moses wanted to see God’s glory. But God said “no one can see my face and live” (Exodus 33). Once Moses began to enter God’s presence on a regular basis, however, Moses’ face changed. There was a transformation as he was exposed to the light of God’s glory. Moses began to glow. Jesus appearance seems to radiate light from His eyes and even His feet (Revelation 1:14, 15). Now that John sees Jesus on the throne of heaven, even his surroundings are incandescent. There is a green-tinted rainbow all around His throne. Some might think of this as a property of the throne or the environment, but I think it is simply an outpouring of Jesus’ nature. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness whatsoever (1 John 1:5). It seems to me that people that look to Him, and look at Him for any duration are likely to begin to reflect that glory just a bit. For this reason, Paul said “Ye are the children of the light and the children of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5). Jesus said “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5).
So, the question again-do you feel like you’re on the light side or the dark side? I think many of us, if we’re honest, would say, “I feel (at best) a bit dingy next to the One with Whom we have to do”. I certainly don’t feel worthy or comfortable coming into the presence of the One who is purest Light. My own impurity is made painfully clear in that place. But this is part of the beauty of our faith. As we turn away from our dirty, filthy, stinky animalistic selves and gaze towards our LORD, just the choice to look away, followed by the act of looking to Him, already initiates a change in our fundamental nature. We begin to crave the Light, and to dislike the dark-even the darkness within. We begin to dissociate with those who loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil (John 1). We begin to be transformed by the brilliance of the One we look to so that our eyes start to adjust, and we can see details of beauty and goodness we were blind to before-our eyes were fitted for the cave and not for the sunlit surface of the heavenly throne room.
And this is the great paradox. Those who are filled with darkness see only darkness around, and can’t even see the light. Those who are full of light see goodness even in the darkest times and dimmest caverns of the earth and the souls of men. Those of us inclined toward darkness who, against the darkness, turn toward the Light, are being transformed into beings of Light and good and truth and justice and peace. Look to His throne today, even if it hurts.
Prayer for Today
Father
Your goodness hurts me.
Hurt me.
Your Light seems like a laser cutting through the dark layers of my soul.
Shine into me.
Turning to You feels like turning away from myself and all I find comfortable.
I turn to You.
Give me the grace to become a bearer of Your light and Your goodness and Your truth. Build these qualities into my soul , even though this process pours hot tears from my eyes, turn the tears into Your eternal light.
In the name of Him who sits on the throne and shines forever in Your glory
Amen.
