2 At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.

3 The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

— Revelation 4:2-3

7 But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment.

8 He judges the world with justice; He governs the people with equity.

— Psalm 9:7-8

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

–Hebrews 4:16

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.

3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows—

4 was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were too sacred for words, things that man is not permitted to tell.

— 2 Corinthians 12:2-4

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and peace to you from the incarnated God, the Savior Jesus Christ.

God’s throne appears 16 times in Revelation 4 and 5. The apostle John was taken up to God’s throne room in the heaven and he saw God reign on His throne over His creation. The Holy Spirit enabled John to see this vision of God’s throne, which symbolizes His absolute rule and majesty. God the resplendent One on the throne is surrounded by a rainbow of radiant colors with comparisons to precious stones. God dwells in majestic yet unapproachable light. As John took in the awesome sight of heaven’s glory, Jesus promised him something more. Jesus would unfold future events to John.

Besides John, the Bible records that other prophets also received visions of God’s transcendent nature and character. The apostle Paul was “caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things that no one is permitted to tell. By God’s grace and because of Christ’s sacrifice, believers mow have access to Almighty God. All of us the believers share this unimaginable privilege and will one day bask in God’s unfiltered glory forever.