![]() They remind us of the creatures that Ezechiel saw in a vision (Ezechiel 1). They have eyes on their front side with which they behold the majesty of God, and eyes at their back that allows them to see everything that happens in heaven and earth. The creatures – representatives of creation – have six wings with which they can fly in all directions as God orders them. They have brought the battle of faith to a good end and have received their reward: they are allowed to sit in close proximity to God upon thrones wearing white clothes and golden crowns (see Revelation 3:5 and 21 1 Corinthians 9:24-25). The elders represent the believers who have died. John sees two circles of worshippers around the throne: twenty-four elders and four living creatures. We small human beings cannot come close to the Holy God! And when Moses, Aaron and the elders a little later were allowed to go up the mountain to meet God, they saw beneath God’s feet above them something like a pavement of sapphire, shining brightly as heaven itself (Exodus 24). It was so terrifying that the people shrunk back and remained standing at a great distance. When the Lord descended upon mount Sinai the people were not allowed to come close to see the Lord, for then they would lose their life. Undoubtedly upon hearing and seeing all of this John has thought about the way God revealed himself to the people of Israel in the desert (Exodus 19 and 20). Before the throne, moreover, burn seven fiery torches – the Spirit of God – and a sea of glass spreads itself out in front of it. John cannot come closer because of the lightning, the thunder and the roaring sound that go out from the throne. His brilliance and that of the bow around his throne is comparable to the splendour of precious stones. (In these two chapters the word ‘throne’ is mentioned no less than fifteen times.) The appearance of the Ruler – God himself – is dazzling. The glorious centre of all that he sees is formed by the throne and the person sitting on it. Explanation John is an eyewitness of the heavenly liturgy.
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