(1) After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (2) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (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.
Here is the opening of the second vision, with which John was favored. This Chapter appears to have been intended, as preparatory to what was to follow; not unlike the first. In the first Chapter, John had that glorious vision of the Person of his Lord. The next Chapter, Christ's message began, to the Churches. So here, John hath in this Chapter, a solemn and glorious vision, of the parties concerned in what was to follow; and then, in the succeeding Chapter, the business for which the Apostle was favored with the vision.
There is here in this Chapter, a view of the Lord's Church, with the Lord himself presiding over it. And one of the most solemn representations which can be. John begins it With observing, that after he had received from the Lord his messages to the seven Churches; and, perhaps, for ought we know to the contrary, delivered them.; he looked, and behold a door was opened in the heavens. By which is meant, that his spiritual faculties were called forth into exercise, and, looking up, he saw heaven opened to his view, as though he had beheld through it, this wonderful, and supernatural sight, which he hereafter describes. The first thing after looking up which attracted his attention was the sound of a voice, inviting him
to raise his affections above the earth to heaven; and a promise accompanied the invitation, that he that invited him would show him things which should be hereafter. And immediately John found himself, as he had upon the former vision, in the Spirit; meaning, under divine influences, See Revelation 1:10. Reader! pause, and do not fail to observe, how soon the Lord the Holy Ghost works upon the spirits of the people. No sooner had John heard the voice, but immediately he was in the Spirit.
The throne which John saw, and upon which One sat, hath been considered, as representing the Unity of the Divine Nature, in his threefold character or Persons. And the Jasper, Sardine, and Emerald stones, are supposed to be the representation of the Threefold nature of the Godhead. But it is observable, that though the brilliancy of these stones set forth the splendor of shining glory, yet no Personal appearance was seen. No man hath seen God at anytime, John 1:18. In relation to the Rainbow round about the throne, there can be no question to whom this refers, because the Rainbow, from the very first Covenant of grace made with Noah, was declared by the Lord himself, to be the token of the everlasting Covenant. There are so many very blessed things connected with this token of the Rainbow, that I beg the Reader's indulgence, to dwell upon the subject somewhat more particularly.
And, first. Let it be considered, how is the Rainbow formed? It is the effect from the sun's beams upon the watery clouds. And Christ, the Sun of righteousness, forms, by his shining, the whole effects of the Covenant of grace, upon all that is cloudy, in our nature. So that Jesus is the true Rainbow, of which that beautiful arch, formed in the heavens, is but a type or shadow.
Secondly. As the Rainbow in nature, is held forth by the Lord, to be an everlasting memorial of God's Covenant with the earth, that God will no more destroy the earth by a deluge: so Christ, the Rainbow in grace, is God's memorial, and man's confidence, that amidst all the deluge of sin, God will not destroy his people, for whom Jesus is the Covenant.
Thirdly. As the Rainbow in nature hath been in all ages the token of God's Covenant for the, earth's safety, when the Lord brings a cloud over the earth, and the bow is seen in the cloud; Genesis 9:13-14, so here, the throne of God which John saw, was encircled with the Bow, to intimate its everlasting abiding, like to the throne itself; being fixed of an everlasting green like an Emerald, to show its unfading nature, and its never-ceasing efficacy.
Fourthly. That this Rainbow was, and is Christ, is evident, for John saw Christ upon another occasion, as a mighty Angel come down from heaven, clothed with a rainbow, and his face was as it were the Sun, and his feet as pillars of fire, Revelation 10:1. So John had seen him before, Revelation 1:15-16. It is the peculiar prerogative of Christ, to shine as the sun upon his people, and to lift up the light of his countenance upon them.
Fifthly. John tells the Church in the fifth verse, that out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices. Perhaps these were meant to show, the many dispensations of the Lord, both to the Church, and to the world. But whatever dispensations come from the throne, they must all pass through the Rainbow, for the Rainbow was all round the throne, so that nothing could be manifested but through it. And this, very blessedly teacheth the Church, how everlastingly safe all Christ's redeemed must be, since nothing can come to pass, but it must pass his hands. And on the other hand, how awful to his enemies, since Christ is in all dispensations, and nothing can escape him.
Lastly. While the Rainbow in the heavens shadows Christ, and is designed to point to him, for which purpose God hangs out the Bow, it doth but half resemble Christ, for it only forms an half circle in the beautiful Arch we behold. But Jesus encircles the whole throne. Neither is it possible for God to look any way to his people, but in him, and through him. Oh! the blessedness to behold the Lord Jehovah, by faith upon his throne; and that throne encircled with mercy, in the Person and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.