There before me
was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it (Revelation 4:2).
No doubt about it;
under Roman Emperor Domitian Christianity was under attack. And one of the
first things John is shown in his heavenly vision is a throne. This is a throne
higher and mightier than the throne of Rome
One of my favorite
scenes is when the angel proclaims: Who is worthy to break the seals
and open the scroll? (5:2). For a time no one answers, and John weeps. Then one of the
elders speaks: The Lion of the tribe of Judah . . . He is able (v. 5). And John turns expecting to see a
lion, but instead: Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been
slain, standing at the center of the throne (v. 6).
Not only is there a
throne, encircled with a rainbow, (reminiscent of Noah’s story of God’s
preservation in Genesis 6-9); the throne is not empty – in chapter 4 a
majestic, heavenly figure is sitting on it. In chapter 5 the one sitting on the
throne is none other than Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. John illustrates that
God has come through for his people in the past and will again. To John, all of
this is evidence that God and not Rome is in control.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Have you ever felt like the
throne is empty? It’s not. What does it mean to your faith to know that God
reigns?
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