John Enters the Throne Room of God -2
v.3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
John describes the beauty of God by comparing the brilliant light emanating from Him to the translucent colors of precious stones.
The rainbow (Hebrew qesheth, “a bow”) surrounding God’s throne is familiar to us as the token of the covenant God made with Noah when he exited the ark (see—Gen.9:13-16) as a proclamation of peace between God and man. It’s probably included here by the Holy Spirit to convey the great mercy and love of God toward man in Jesus Christ.
v.4-5 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed with white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightning’s, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
As he beholds the throne, it becomes clear to John how magnificent it is. Not only is it crowded with light and a wide spectrum of colors, but there are lightning flashes and thunderclaps, voices, and groups of spirit-beings.
Around the throne are twenty-four elders seated upon smaller thrones, each draped in a white robe and wearing a golden crown. Who are they? They are most likely twenty-four men who collectively represent the whole raptured Church. They are clothed in the same white robes Jesus will give to all of us who enter heaven, each wearing the crowns Jesus has given them as a reward (check 2Tim.4:8; Rev 22:12).
The “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” decribes the Holy Spirit in all His fullness (see notes—Rev.1:4).
v.6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
Having seen the One upon the throne, those seated around the throne, the thundering and lightning’s coming from the throne, and the Spirit before the throne, John describes what he observes at the base of the throne as a “sea of glass” as clear as crystal.
Most commentators believe that this “sea of glass” alludes to the Tabernacle laver called the Sea. According to Scripture, the Sea (a great basin of water) was the temple furnishing where the priests of Israel ceremonially cleansed themselves whenever they were required to minister at the tabernacle (1Kings 7:23; Ex.30:18-21). This was, as it probably is here, an anti-type for the Lord Christ Jesus Himself, in whom we are made eternally clean, pure, and holy by the washing of His blood (Rev.1:5).
Finally, in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, John sees “four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.” Please note, however, that the term “creature” is an unfortunate translation. For these aren’t beasts like those that the term creature denotes but highly alert angelic beings of the highest rank and order that would better be described as the “living ones”.