The Throne of Glory

The scene opened up in the vision of the fourth chapter, presents a picture of gorgeous beauty. The Revelator says,—“I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven.” … “I was in Spirit: and behold A THRONE was established in the heaven. And upon the throne, One sitting. And the One sitting was in appearance like a jasper and a sardine stone. And a Rainbow circled about the throne, in appearance like an emerald. And round about the throne were twenty-four thrones: and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, having been clothed with white garments: and they had upon their heads golden coronal wreaths. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunders and voices. And seven lamps of fire, burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of the Deity” (Rev. iv.).

“The throne covenanted to the Son of David,” to be “established in the hour of judgment”—is represented there.

To the prophet Ezekiel there appeared in vision, “the likeness of a throne; and the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it,—and the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord” (Ezek. i.). The prophet Isaiah records a vision of the same throne; as he saith:—“I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple” (Isa. vi.).

In the vision that was revealed to the apostle John, those who will be accounted worthy to bear the Name of the Anointed One, are represented by the “Four Living Ones, full of eyes,” and “the twenty-four Elders.” In the “visions of Elohim,” that appeared to the prophet Ezekiel,—“the Four living ones” are described as having an “appearance like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps”:—“And the living creatures ran and returned, like the appearance of a flash of lightning” (ch. i.). The “fire” and the “Lightning” animating those living ones is representative of that Spirit symbolized in the Apocalyptic vision by seven lamps of fire burning before the throne: which are interpreted to signify “the seven spirits of the Deity.” Seven being a number symbolic of perfection:—“the One Spirit,” in perfect manifestation, is there represented.

“Out of the throne proceed lightnings and thunderings and voices.” This symbolizes a period of war. The outpouring of the wrath of Deity; to be executed through the agency of the “Four Living Ones,”—whose movements, energized by the power of the Spirit, are likened to “a flash of lightning.” The throne is to be established in a stormy period. Distinguished, by the prophet, as “the great and notable day of the Lord.” Made terrible by “the war of the great day of God Almighty” (Rev. xvi.). The going forth of Spirit-hosts on their mission of conquest and destruction, energized by spirit-fire, is foreshadowed in the vision seen by the prophet Daniel, as it is written: “His throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire: A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand, stood before him” (Daniel vii.). The work of these warrior-messengers will be attended with permanent results: and “the Controversy of Zion” will be decided beyond the power of mortal disputation. “For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa. ii.).

The establishment of this throne, and the King sitting upon it, (who is to “bear the glory”)—is the subject of the covenant which Jehovah made unto David. “The last words of David,” recorded in 2 Sam. xxiii., are prophetic concerning the King. The revised translation of these words by the Dr., reads thus:—“Now, these words of David, the last, are an oracle of David, son of Jesse: even an oracle of the mighty man enthroned, concerning an Anointed One of the Elohim of Jacob; and the pleasant theme of Israel’s songs. Yahweh’s spirit spake by me, and his word was upon my tongue: Elohim of Israel spake to me, and the Rock of Israel discoursed, saying,—There shall be a ruler over mankind, ruling in the righteous precepts of Elohim. And as brightness of morning he shall rise, the Sun of an unclouded dawn, shining forth after rain, upon tender grass out of the earth. Though my house is not so withAil, yet he hath appointed for me the COVENANT OF THE OLAHM, ordered in everything and sure: truly, this is all my salvation, and all my delight, though he cause it not to spring forth. But the wicked shall be all of them as a thorn-bush to be thrust away: yet without hand they shall be taken: nevertheless a Man shall smite upon them. He shall be filled with iron, and the shaft of a spear: but with fire to burn up while standing, they shall be consumed.” The word of the Spirit through the Psalmist further said: “His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the Sun before me. It shall be established forever as the moon, and a faithful witness in heaven” (Ps. lxxxix.).

When the tempest of war shall have subsided,—and the gentle showers of refreshing rain shall descend upon the harvested earth,—the Rainbow is represented as appearing in the cloud over-arching the throne. Jehovah has appointed the rainbow for a token of the unfailing steadfastness of His promise. Encircling the throne of His glory, it is a symbol of the everlasting stability of the “Covenanted throne,”—“the King and the glory,” of the kingdom of the “Millennial Aion.” According to the word of the Spirit,—“‘A Hidden period’ of mercy shall be builded: thy faithfulness in the heavens thou wilt establish.” “The glory of the Lord shall endure forever” (Ps. civ.). The rainbow is seen in the natural heavens when the sun is shining and the rain is gently falling. The shining forth of the light of the “Sun of Righteousness,”—who shall rise the “Sun of an unclouded dawn,” will reveal the goodness and glory of that time of blessing, in which all nations shall be blessed in Abraham and his seed. “The day of Rain,” referred to by the prophet, will bring to all people the blessedness contained in the following testimonies. The Spirit through His servant Moses spake, saying,—“Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak, and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the Name of Yahweh: ascribe ye greatness unto our Elohim. The Rock, his work, is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: an Ail of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he” (Deut. xxxii. 1-4). The refreshing fertilizing influences of the doctrine, the Word, the precepts of Yahweh, are likened to the gently showering rain, dispensing fertility and vigor to the tender herbage of the earth. The descent of life-giving Spirit power upon the people is also represented in the rain of the following passages. The Spirit for Israel says,—“After two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.” “His going forth is prepared as the morning: and he shall come unto us as the rain: as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (Hos. vi. 2, 3). “He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month” (Joel ii. 23). “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth” (Ps. lxxii. 6).

Having gained the victory in their conflict with the sin-powers of the world,—the saints are symbolically represented by the “twenty-four elders” enthroned. In realization of the Lord’s promise to those that overcome, saying: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Rev. iii. 21). The number twenty-four being so many distinct orders of priests, apportioned for the temple service of the kingdom, when restored; according to the typical “priestly arrangement” in David’s kingdom in “the days of old.” In “their official capacity as kings and priests,” the twenty-four elders are represented as occupying thrones circling around the One throne;—having golden crowns upon their heads. And they do homage unto the “One sitting upon the throne,” casting their crowns before the throne, and saying: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things: and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. iv. 11). “And they sing a new song, saying,—Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation: and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth” (ch. v. 9, 10).

Prophetic reference to these thrones appears in the word of the Psalmist, as he saith: “For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David” (Ps. cxxii. 5). The spirit of adoration awakened in contemplation of the wonderful excellences of the name of Yahweh, finds expression in these words of the prophet: “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!—who hast set thy glory above the heavens” (Ps. viii. 1).