Throne Gazing

Deeply rooted in every human heart is an unquenchable longing for beauty, a God-given sense that beauty must have a meaning that is larger and more permanent than ones own self. It can arouse pleasure, delight and even bring rest. Every person longs to observe and be a part of beauty as they seek for a rare glimpse of greatness and yearn for a vision of glory. People are moved by music - the words of a poet - the work of an artist - a new born child - the uniqueness of all living creatures - the multicolored hues of a sunset - the brilliance of a sun rise - the majesty of mountain peaks - the melodic sound of a waterfall - the wind rustling through the leaves - the simplicity of a flower - the lightness of a snow flake.

These things cultivate ones sensory awareness and expand the consciousness in a way that creates an ever deepening appreciation of creation. Yet, they are all but token twinkles and shimmering shadows of the beauty of God that has been intricately woven through the fabric of all creation to instill within a deep hunger to know true beauty Himself. The reason people are attracted to beauty and long to be attractive and wanted by another is because God is the ultimate Beautiful One. He is the absolute original pattern of all other beauty. He made mankind to long for Himself because He sees each person as beautiful and longs for intimacy with them. Anything less than knowing God will leave one unsatisfied.

God is beautiful in all His ways. He relentlessly and lovingly pursues mankind reaching out in romantic passion with nail pierced hands. It was the beauty of Jesus that caused the disciples to drop everything and follow Him. (Matt 4:19) It wasn’t His looks or His charisma that drew them to Him. It was His mystical beauty, the wondrous fragrance of love that emanates from Him and ever consumes those who draw closer and closer as they take on His fragrance and His beauty. (2 Cor 2:14)

The Apostle John was given a prophetic revelation concerning Jesus when an angel visited him while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. (Rev 1) John made a valiant attempt to describe the indescribable of what he saw and experienced with words we could understand. He provided a tiny glimpse into the transcendent glory of Jesus and the Beauty Realm. I have combined various Scripture verses to build a portrait of what John saw. However, the depiction is at best insufficient and severely lacking in its representation but what John is able to describe is just how beautiful beyond description Jesus truly is and how one day soon every Born-Again Christian will “share in the glory to be revealed.” (1 Peter 5:1 NIV)

The Throne Room Of Heaven

Surrounding the great throne of Jesus are “seven gold lampstands”…“with burning flames. They are the seven spirits of God.” (Rev 1:5,12) The glory of Jesus illuminates all of heaven. He is “as brilliant as gemstones--jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow” (Rev 4:3 NLT)

Jesus “is wearing a long robe”…“dipped in blood” (Rev 19:13)… “with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. (Rev 19:15) He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance. (Rev 1:12-16 NLT) “and on his head were many crowns.” (Rev 19:11 NLT) “He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire” pure “water of life, clear as crystal flowed”…“from his presence.” (Dan. 7:9-10; Rev. 22:1 NLT). “Twenty-four thrones” surround Jesus “and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.”.. “Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense--the prayers of God’s people!”.. “And from the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder”. (Rev 4:5-6, 8 NLT)

The “twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God” fall “on their faces” and worship Him saying; "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry with you, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants. You will reward your prophets and your holy people, all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. And you will destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth." (Rev 11:15-18 NLT)