Tag: living creatures
Heaven’s open door!
Scripture reading for December 7th: Revelation 4
Key Scriptures: Revelation 4:1-4 “After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first Voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne. And He Who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads.”
After writing down the seven messages of the things that are, John saw an open door leading to heaven. Jesus Christ spoke to him again, with an invitation to “come up here” and see the things to come. John was instantaneously translated through the open door by the Spirit of God and was shown the throne room of heaven and the beauty of the One seated there. All John could do was describe the color and glory as like that of precious stones and gems. He also described the four living creatures who worshiped there, saying “Holy, Holy, Holy!” Around the throne were also other thrones–twenty-four seated with that many elders. These elders would leave their thrones to fall prostrate and worship the One on the glorious throne, casting their crowns before Him! Oh the glory of His Presence! Worthy! Worthy! Worthy!
Revelation 4:8 “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, thank You for opening the door of heaven for me and all who believe in Your Son Jesus Christ. What an awesome privilege to worship You here on earth and to anticipate joining the hosts of heaven in worship and adoration one day in a glorified body like Yours! Use me here on earth to share this Good News of Your love for mankind through Your Son, the Worthy One!
Revelation 4:9-10 “And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him Who is seated on the throne, Who lives forever and ever, the twenty four elders fall down before Him Who is seated on the throne and worship Him Who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You have created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.””
Casting our crowns before the Throne!
Scripture reading for December 4th: Revelation 4, Psalm 111-12, Proverbs 26
Key Scriptures: Revelation 4:8-11 “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him Who is seated on the throne and worship Him Who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”
John was caught up through a door in heaven to behold the throne of God and the worship going on there. Magnificent living creatures full of eyes and wings worshiped, and the twenty-four elders followed their example. The One on the Throne is “Holy, Holy, Holy.” All creation belongs to Him and He alone is worthy of worship.
Faith Confession: I look forward to being caught up to heaven and to behold My Lord and participate in the worship there. God Almighty and Jesus Christ are worthy of all glory, honor, and power, for by their Wisdom I have an eternal home.
Proverbs 24:3 “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
The likeness of the Glory of God!
Scripture reading for August 19th: Ezekiel 1-6s
When a priest turned 30, he began his full time ministry. Ezekiel had just turned 30 years of age and he was a priest. He had been taken into captivity and was in Babylon with a group of exiles which included Daniel and his friends. They evidently met by the Kebar River to have their Sabbath observances and feast days and while they were meeting, God by His grace opened the heavens and gave Ezekiel a vision of God that changed his life and gave him direction and focus. He was called by God to go to his people and give them God’s word. He was warned by the Lord that God’s people were rebellious, obstinate and stubborn. (Ezekiel 2:1-4) His responsibility was to give them the word of God.
The vision that Ezekiel saw of the throne of God was spectacular. It began with a windstorm coming from the north with a towering thundercloud and flashing lightning and fire in the center. As it got closer, Ezekiel could see four living creatures. (Ezekiel 1:4-9) These creatures had the form of a man but they had four faces and feet like a calf and four wings with hands underneath. They glowed like bronze and the faces were that of an eagle, ox, lion and man. Below on the ground, there was a wheel that sparkled and had another intersecting wheel. These wheels were full of eyes on the rim and enabled the creatures to move in all directions as the Spirit moved them. When these creatures with the wheels moved, there was a sound like that of roaring waters, like the voice of God.
As Ezekiel looked he noticed a glowing throne of sapphire above the creatures and on the throne was a figure like that of a man. He was glowing with fire and brilliant light surrounded Him. This light looked like a rainbow and glowed with radiance! (Ezekiel 1:26-28) This figure had the “likeness of the Glory of God”! When Ezekiel saw it he evidently fell to the ground in awe, for the Lord later stood him up to talk with him. He was overcome by the likeness of God’s glory!
No man has seen God and lived. The Scripture states that sinful man would die if he could see the full radiance of His Glory. God grants some men grace to see a glimpse of His glory. Remember Moses was hidden by God in the cleft of the rock and was allowed to see His backside. (Exodus 33:18-20) Now God has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to show mankind the Glory of God. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The gift of the Holy Spirit enables us to have the Glory of God revealed to us by the Spirit. We are being transformed by that grace gift with ever increasing glory! (2nd Corinthians 3:18) When Jesus Christ appears and the trumpet blows, we will be instantly transformed into a glorious body, like His glorious body! (1st Thessalonians 4:16-18) We now carry the “likeness of the Glory of God”! Think about that and rejoice!