Coming Before the Throne (Part 1)
Every Sunday in church, after singing songs for worship, the screen always says "coming before the throne." Seeing it every Sunday, I often don't think about what this means. I was challenged recently about this idea of coming before the throne. Although I don't remember what it was that triggered this thought, I remember just wondering what it truly meant. Those who have not experienced a monarchy, often can have a difficult time picturing what this would look like. I want to think about two different things when it comes to the phrase, coming before the throne. First, I want to think about what the throne of God looks like vs. how I often picture it (maybe others can relate). Secondly, what should our respond be when approaching the throne of God.
Every time I think about coming before a throne, I start thinking of movies, because this is all I really have to go by. Looking at different movies, they represent the throne room differently. In the Emperor's New Groove, the throne room is represented as this really open room with nothing in it but Emperor Kuzco's throne (which stands hundreds of feet high above the floor). When Pacha enters the throne room, he enters through these gigantic doors. Kuzco's throne is very tall, but very basic (other than it is made from gold).
Another movie, Princess Diaries (specifically Princess Diaries 2), there is much more commotion. Part of this was indeed caused by Princess Mia's "chicken situation", but nonetheless, there were a lot of people in there. There was a line of people coming to see the queen and princess. Body guards were close by attending the queen and princess, assuring no one could threaten them in anyway. The throne was only a few steps above the main floor, and the people brought in gifts when they came to see the Queen, as a way to say thanks, for letting them see them, and hear about their concerns. There are many different movies which illustrate what a throne room could look like.
Now I want to look at what the Throne room of God will look like. Revelation is a great place to start. Revelation 4 tells us John's perspective of what the throne looked like. Every time I read this, I am just in awe of the glory of God. John starts off fairly vague. He says there was a throne with someone sitting in it. Ok, well, leaves quite a bit open to the imagination. But thankfully, he doesn't stop there. He starts describing the person sitting there, saying he was of Jasper and Ruby. Now, when I think of a person (or someone) I don't really think of gems to describe their features. A rainbow the shown like emerald encircled the throne. Now, already, I think this tops either of the thrones from the two movies I mentioned. But John describes even more! Around the one thrown, there are 24 other thrones, seating 24 elders. The elders wore white, with gold crowns on their heads. From the throne (the original 1 throne) came bolts of lightning and rumbles of thunder. In front of the thrown are seven lamps which were burning. These are the seven spirits of God. Some believe, according to Bob Utley, professor of Hermeneutics, that these 7 spirits of God are equated with the 7 churches talked about in Revelation 3.
Going on to the next verse, John describes something else in front of the throne, that looks like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Now by this point, I am completely baffled at the throne of God. I hope to in the near future, draw this out and see what this looks like in my mind (based on my ability to draw, which let's just say, God didn't gift me in that area). John still isn't finished though, there is more to draw. He says that in the center around the throne, there are four living creatures, which were all covered in eyes (front and back). I always thought mom's had a natural sense and had eyes in the back of their heads, but these four creatures LITERALLY DO! The first was an lion, then an ox, one like a human, and another like a flying eagle. Every one of these creatures had 6 wings, and eyes all over them, even under their wings. Now I am completely amazed. I begin wondering why they have so many eyes. Part of me wonders (this idea is completely out there, and has no biblical evidence to back it up, only my unique mind) if they have this many, as a representation that what they are looking at is so completely amazing, that they need that many eyes just to begin to comprehend what they are looking at. But again, this is only my curiosity.
Each of these creatures continuously said, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." John then says that whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to God, the elders (who are in the 24 other thrones), begin bowing down before him who sits on THE throne, and worship him, giving him their crowns!
John continues discussing more of what this imagery looks like in chapter 5. For the sake of those reading this, I will just let you read chapter 5 so you can see for yourself what it says. But this continual amazement of what God has given us to picture and image is jaw-dropping. In chapter 22 of Revelation, John's response to everything that happened which he saw, was to do nothing other than fall down and worship. He starts worshiping the angel, and the angel tells him "NO", worship GOD!
Wow! What is must have been like to experience this. To have no other response. To be able to do nothing less than fall before your creator God, and worship Him.
Well, now that we have the basics down of what the thrown room entails (as much as we can understand anyways), how does (should) that affect how we should respond in our prayers, and when we are actually coming before the throne?
Before we continue to part 2, I want to challenge you to read through Revelation 4-5, and just draw out what that imagery looks like for you, based on John's description.
(See Part 2)
Every time I think about coming before a throne, I start thinking of movies, because this is all I really have to go by. Looking at different movies, they represent the throne room differently. In the Emperor's New Groove, the throne room is represented as this really open room with nothing in it but Emperor Kuzco's throne (which stands hundreds of feet high above the floor). When Pacha enters the throne room, he enters through these gigantic doors. Kuzco's throne is very tall, but very basic (other than it is made from gold).
Another movie, Princess Diaries (specifically Princess Diaries 2), there is much more commotion. Part of this was indeed caused by Princess Mia's "chicken situation", but nonetheless, there were a lot of people in there. There was a line of people coming to see the queen and princess. Body guards were close by attending the queen and princess, assuring no one could threaten them in anyway. The throne was only a few steps above the main floor, and the people brought in gifts when they came to see the Queen, as a way to say thanks, for letting them see them, and hear about their concerns. There are many different movies which illustrate what a throne room could look like.
Now I want to look at what the Throne room of God will look like. Revelation is a great place to start. Revelation 4 tells us John's perspective of what the throne looked like. Every time I read this, I am just in awe of the glory of God. John starts off fairly vague. He says there was a throne with someone sitting in it. Ok, well, leaves quite a bit open to the imagination. But thankfully, he doesn't stop there. He starts describing the person sitting there, saying he was of Jasper and Ruby. Now, when I think of a person (or someone) I don't really think of gems to describe their features. A rainbow the shown like emerald encircled the throne. Now, already, I think this tops either of the thrones from the two movies I mentioned. But John describes even more! Around the one thrown, there are 24 other thrones, seating 24 elders. The elders wore white, with gold crowns on their heads. From the throne (the original 1 throne) came bolts of lightning and rumbles of thunder. In front of the thrown are seven lamps which were burning. These are the seven spirits of God. Some believe, according to Bob Utley, professor of Hermeneutics, that these 7 spirits of God are equated with the 7 churches talked about in Revelation 3.
Going on to the next verse, John describes something else in front of the throne, that looks like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Now by this point, I am completely baffled at the throne of God. I hope to in the near future, draw this out and see what this looks like in my mind (based on my ability to draw, which let's just say, God didn't gift me in that area). John still isn't finished though, there is more to draw. He says that in the center around the throne, there are four living creatures, which were all covered in eyes (front and back). I always thought mom's had a natural sense and had eyes in the back of their heads, but these four creatures LITERALLY DO! The first was an lion, then an ox, one like a human, and another like a flying eagle. Every one of these creatures had 6 wings, and eyes all over them, even under their wings. Now I am completely amazed. I begin wondering why they have so many eyes. Part of me wonders (this idea is completely out there, and has no biblical evidence to back it up, only my unique mind) if they have this many, as a representation that what they are looking at is so completely amazing, that they need that many eyes just to begin to comprehend what they are looking at. But again, this is only my curiosity.
Each of these creatures continuously said, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." John then says that whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to God, the elders (who are in the 24 other thrones), begin bowing down before him who sits on THE throne, and worship him, giving him their crowns!
John continues discussing more of what this imagery looks like in chapter 5. For the sake of those reading this, I will just let you read chapter 5 so you can see for yourself what it says. But this continual amazement of what God has given us to picture and image is jaw-dropping. In chapter 22 of Revelation, John's response to everything that happened which he saw, was to do nothing other than fall down and worship. He starts worshiping the angel, and the angel tells him "NO", worship GOD!
Wow! What is must have been like to experience this. To have no other response. To be able to do nothing less than fall before your creator God, and worship Him.
Well, now that we have the basics down of what the thrown room entails (as much as we can understand anyways), how does (should) that affect how we should respond in our prayers, and when we are actually coming before the throne?
Before we continue to part 2, I want to challenge you to read through Revelation 4-5, and just draw out what that imagery looks like for you, based on John's description.
(See Part 2)
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