Thursday, June 24

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-17

3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spiritsa]">[a] of God. 6Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being."

Rev 4:3-11

This is just one of the descriptions of heaven that we get in scripture, there are more nuances in some other descriptions in scripture. The one thing that grabs me is why I wrote the first passage; everything described in Revelation exists for one reason... To give him pleasure! I hope I would be able to say the same thing about myself when I enter this place, with all that's going on around the throne all the distractions; dodging flying crowns thrown by the elders, chariots, creatures flying back and fourth, massive blazing lamps, sea of glass, lightning and thunder, 100 million angels ect... It could be quite an adventure getting to the throne! But what we have to remember is everything that is there is for the purpose of bringing him pleasure. The creatures are not there to fascinate us, the rainbow is not there to make it look beautiful to us and make us want to go there all those things are looking at one thing...the man on the throne! All things in heaven and on earth are for this one purpose. David wanted to join in the fun with all of created order when he said, " 4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.) Ps 27:4

People ask, what good is it to gaze on His beauty all day? Why would you want to do that? You should be doing things for Him (that look like you are doing something to humans).
What I just wrote above gives me full permission to pursue a life as a full time intercessory missionary, and spend my life in the prayer room. He is worthy of 24/7. It is unjust that he should not have it in our city.