Revelation 4:2-3; One Sat On the Throne

Revelation 4:2-3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 

John saw the throne of God lofty and majestic prominently seen in heaven. And there he saw one sat on the throne.

“Jasper” or diamond is a clear crystal. “Sardine” has the most perfect red colour.

It is interesting to note that when God created Adam and Eve in His image and likeness, they were glorious, as depicted in the Chinese character for glory “荣” (as seen below in the picture extracted from “The Discovery of Genesis” by C.H Kang and Ethel R. Nelson). It consists of two flames “火” or two persons “人 人” who look like fires with a bright and shining appearance. The light from them covered a tree “木” with most likely the “tree of life”.

The Chinese character “赤” means “naked” or “red”. It was a description of Adam before the fall. He was created glorious.

赤

There was a bright red glowing out like a flame of fire. The ancient word “赤” means “naked, bare or red (the colour of fire”, denoting Adam and Eve who were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25). Kang observed well, “These robes of light explain why, though naked, Adam and Eve were not “ashamed” to appear in the presence of God! … This reveals a dust “土”，and man as depicted below:

Our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed very God and very man as He rules from heaven after His ascension at the right hand of the Father. It was our Lord Jesus whom John spent precious time on earth that summoned to the gates of heaven:

Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (Revelation 4:1)

The absolute purity and redemption of God are surrounded by a rainbow, which is a sign of God’s covenant with His people.

Therefore, although Revelation presents God executing judgment, there is purity and redemption as well as covenant integrity surrounding heaven’s judgments. Amen.