The One on the Throne

And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. (Revelation 4:3, NIV 1984)

My Musings – In Bible times, the jasper was a clear stone, which contrasts to the opaque jasper stones known today.  It may have resembled a diamond. The carnelian was also known as ruby, probably because of its ruby-red color. The jasper and the carnelian were the first and last (“the Alpha and Omega”) of the 12 gemstones worn on the high priest’s breastplate. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Revelation 22:12-13, 16, NIV 1984).

Of course, the rainbow cannot help but remind us of God’s covenant with Noah, which symbolizes His promise that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (Genesis 9:12–16, NIV 1984).

God’s covenant was not only with Noah, but with all creation.  In this vision of Heaven, judgment is once again about to fall. The rainbow reminds us that God is merciful, even when He judges. Usually, a rainbow appears after the storm; but here, we see it before the “storm.”

The colors of the rainbow symbolize the varied aspects of God’s providential dealings uniting in one harmonious whole. Here, the predominant color among the prismatic colors is green, the most refreshing of colors to look upon. Green is also considered the color of promise, just as the rainbow itself is a symbol and reminder of God’s promise. This rainbow was a complete circle (no beginning and no end), not merely an arc or semicircle, for in heaven all things are complete.

My Advice – Eternity is present at the beginning of the end of this world and the making of all things new (new heavens and new earth). In between, through troubled times and great tribulation, mankind must remain cognizant of God’s (through Jesus) unconditional promise to all who are (or who become) born again. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1–4, NIV 1984).

In the end, no one will be able to say that they do not know the way. Jesus made it very clear. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV 1984). The one and only way. No other path will do.

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Sources:

Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 943). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 582). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 564). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Lange, J. P., Schaff, P., Moore, E., Craven, E. R., & Woods, J. H. (2008). A commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Revelation (p. 151). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

^[v] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 582). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.