REVELATION SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 4.3

Gleanings from the Book of Revelation:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

The

REVELATION TO JOHN

(The Apocalypse)

 

Chapter Four

 

 

(Verse 3)

 

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.

 

The last lesson presented the reader with a remarkable glimpse of the overcomer's eternal home. As John was caught up in the Spirit, being completely overwhelmed, he was supernaturally placed in the throne room of God. The Throne itself had no shape or form, but its appearance was an awesome spectacle of brilliance and light.

In describing what he saw, an easy outline surface:

A. On the Throne (verse 2)

B. Round about the Throne (verses 3-4)

C. Out of the Throne (verse 5)

D. Before the Throne (verses 6-11)

 

The reader-hearer should also notice that every word in the continuing verses is not randomly placed but carefully positioned having a distinct and definite deep spiritual significance and purpose. Any symbols or types used in the Old Testament were merely anticipatory shadows of better things promised to come.

 

1. On the Throne

As determined in the last study, the One on the Throne is God the Father. He is accurately revealed in verse eight as the object of worship:

Revelation 4:8b - Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

To differentiate the three members of the Godhead, so there is no contradiction between Who is on the Throne in Chapters 4 and 5, is simple:

1.  God the Father – God the Father is always presented in Scripture as a brilliant light in shining glory or flaming fire. Here, the intent of John's vision is the glory of God rather than an anthropomorphic representation.

John 6:46 - No one has seen the Father except the One Who is from God; only He (i.e., Christ) has seen the Father. (NIV)

 

1 Timothy 6:16 - Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

2.  God the Son – As also discussed in the previous studies, many people have seen Jesus in different forms, times, and places:

a. In His pre-incarnate appearances, (i.e., a Theophany or Christophany in the Old Testament)

b.  In His human body

c.  In His transfigured body

d.  In His post-Resurrection body

e.  In His complete glorified body

 

3.  God the Holy Spirit – Invisible and Indivisible: Manifested as seven Spirits (cf. Isaiah 11:2-3a). It rested on Jesus, you recall, in the form of a dove (cf. Luke 3:22). Other emblems require further doctrinal study. But, the Holy Spirit is identified in Revelation 4:5 as being the seven Spirits of God.

 

And He that sat was to look upon

Grammatically: One was set, One sitting or One seated (a present participle in verses 2 and 3) indicates a continuous sitting or occupancy.

 

He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone

An interesting illustration of precious gems having the brightness and brilliance of unimaginable, intensified, dazzling light elucidates Father God when looked upon.

There are two stones in place:

1.  The Jasper Stone

2.  The Sardine Stone

 

1. The Jasper Stone

The word jasper, perhaps of Sumerian origin, is used to characterize its modern counterpart as we know it today, an opaque or semi-transparent precious gem. However, its biblical usage, according to Chapter 21 in describing the New Jerusalem, has the appearance of a clear, polished, crystal-like stone, namely a diamond.

Revelation 21:11 - Having the glory of God: and her [the New Jerusalem's] light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal (cf. Revelation 21:20).

Hence, the jasper stone symbolizes the brilliant glory of God and speaks of His omnipotence.

 

2. The Sardine Stone

Sardis means prince of joy. Similar to our ruby or carnelian, on the other hand, the sardine or sardius (Hebrew, Odem) stone is a deep ruby or blood-red stone symbolizing the sacrifice offering or atonement for sin, divine anger, and righteous indignation - (Our God, a consuming fire as found in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Hebrews 12:29). 

 

The Breastplate

A fascinating study of these stones is found in the book of Exodus. After Moses gave the children of Israel the pattern for the Tabernacle and the order of its sanctuary, he then issued minute details concerning the garments the high priests were to wear. Both the jasper and the sardine are two of twelve stones embedded in the breastplate over the ephod of the High Priest.

 

On the breastplate, arranged in four rows, were twelve precious stones. Every stone represented one of the twelve tribes. The names of each son of the patriarch Jacob or Israel (later renamed by God) was engraved on each stone respectively according to their birth and their nature. They are positioned from right to left on the breastplate as the Hebrew language is read.

Exodus 39:10-14 - And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row, beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches (settings) of gold.

 

Exodus 28:29 - And Aaron (the High Priest) shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the Holy Place (the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle), for a memorial before the LORD continually.

 

What is seemingly interesting is the fact Reuben (a blood-red ruby), the firstborn son by Leah, means:  Behold a son. Benjamin, the last born of Rachael who died during childbirth, means Son of my right hand. Both are types of Christ pointing to Jesus as our High Priest.

 

The first begotten son of God (cf. John 3:16; Hebrews 1:6) indicates Jesus' first incarnation, looking toward the Cross from the Old Testament viewpoint, and He who is seated on the right hand of God the Father (cf. Matthew 26:64; Hebrews 12:2) looking back to the Cross and towards His Second Coming from the New Testament point of view.

 

Food for thought: Did not Jesus say?

Matthew 20:16 - So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

 

Together both stones signify the glory of sacrifice, and God's covenantal relationship with Israel [i.e., all nations of the earth will be blessed (cf. Genesis 22:18)].

 

The New Jerusalem

Another interesting study of precious gems is found when John discusses the city, the New Jerusalem (read Revelation 21):

Revelation 21:18 - And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

This verse accurately portrays the brightness and glory of salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

The next verse adds more clarity to the Jasper stone's proactivity: 

Revelation 21:19 - And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper.

 

Jasper, the foundation stone is a reminiscence of Paul and Peter's explanation of our Saviour as chronicled:

Ephesians 2:20 – (The Church, the saints) are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone.

 

1 Peter 2:7 - To you who believe, then, this stone (Jesus Christ) is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone (Jesus Christ) the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone," (BSB)

 

A point to consider in reading chapter 21: There is no further mention of the sardius stone. Because His blood sacrifice for sin was satisfied at the Cross once and for all, a red stone is no longer needed.

Hence, Jesus Christ will be the eternal Cornerstone in all His radiance and glory.

 

2. Round about the Throne

 

And there was a rainbow round about the Throne, in sight like unto an emerald

 

A rainbow

This is not a rainbow as is commonly known. It is taken from Hebrew, meaning an arch or a bowed prism. The Greek word for rainbow is iris, defined, as a halo.

 

Rainbow is only mentioned a few times in Scripture, the first is found in Genesis 9:13 when God gave Noah a covenantal promise He would never use water in judgment or destroy the earth by water again (cf. Revelation 9:11).

Genesis 9:13 - I do set My [rain] bow in the cloud[s] (sky), and it shall be for a token (sign) of a covenant between Me and the earth.

 

Round about the Throne

Literally: That is (adverbially) all around in a circle [Strong's: G2943 from G2945] or circular fashion, encircling. A good rendering is, 'And encircling the Throne was a ring of light which was like an emerald in appearance." [Weust, Kenneth S. The New Testament; an Expanded Translation. Grand Rapids, MI; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1961.]

 

A circle symbolizes the absolute sovereignty of God, eternal Heaven, His unbroken love, and the completeness of His faithfulness. It also attends as a reminder of God’s power, mercy, and longsuffering.

 

In sight like unto an emerald

The emerald is another precious gemstone usually light green in colour. The emerald stone that represented Judah on the breastplate of the High Priest means praise. It symbolizes freshness and endurance.

 

Here is some spiritual food for thought: The colour denoting earth has always been green, the most pleasant colour for the human eye to behold. Now, revisit Genesis 9:13 - The covenant was between God and the earth. What John sees is a green emerald-like colored rainbow encircling the Throne. The rainbow is a sign that God never abrogates His promises, thus serving as a reminder of His grace and faithfulness to His people. 

 

Also, before the flood, no rainbow existed, even though there were seasons according to Genesis:

Genesis 1:14 - And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.

 

And there was a vapor from the earth that watered its surface:

Genesis 2:6 – But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

 

These atmospheric conditions did probably exist until the time of the flood. Hence, the antediluvians refused to believe the waters would fall from above.    

Note:

Genesis 7:11b - The same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

 

As the Noachian covenant stands forever, subsequently, in John's vision of Heaven, he sees a green-coloured rainbow round about the Throne also signifying life, and that judgment will never be pronounced again. Redemption was paid. The storm of Tribulation has abated. Judgment is spent. And a new day has dawned – Eternity.

 

The following study will reveal what is protruding out of the Throne and transpiring around the Throne.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. God's image is revealed as ___________?

2.  Name three gemstones John describes in Heaven.

3.  Why is the jasper stone most important?

4.  Who is manifested on the Throne?

5.  Describe Jesus in the New Heaven and Earth?

6.  What is God's covenant to the church?

7.  Why is a green rainbow important to believers?

 

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