A new movie will be coming to theaters later this month about a boy who claims he went to Heaven. It’s called ‘Heaven is for Real.‘ I’m always a little skeptical about claims of people who have gone to Heaven (or Hell) and returned to tell us what it is like. But this story has some valid details that makes it very believable.
However, I like to stick with the Bible’s account of someone who went to Heaven and commanded by God to tell us about it. I’m talking about the Apostle John. He was imprisoned on Patmos, an island for criminals, for the crime of preaching the Gospel.
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. (John 4:1)
John saw a door and was told to come up to Heaven and was given a glimpse of of a future time in Heaven. Many believe, and I am one of them, that this is a hint of the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Believers will be taken out of the world before the Great Tribulation period of destruction during the final days of Earth. John saw a few things in Heaven. I just want to share with you three things He saw…
John saw the Throne of God
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 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. (Revelation 4:2-3)
The Throne of God is the centerpiece in Heaven. It is mentioned 17 times in Revelation. God is on the throne and is described like a jasper and sardine stone. The jasper was probably the modern-day diamond. The sardine was a fiery-red stone. These speak of the hardness and brightness and the fire and redemption found at the Throne of God. It was a beautiful sight.
John saw the Rainbow
…and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (Revelation 4:2-3)
Around the Throne was an emerald colored rainbow. The rainbow speaks of the promises of God (Gen. 9:11-17). The fact that it is green reminds us of God’s eternal promises. This rainbow goes all the way around the Throne, unlike the half-circle rainbows on earth. Even before judgment, God remembers His eternal, never-ending promises to the earth. God is going to judge the world. But there is always mercy in the midst of judgment.
John saw the Twenty-four Elders
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold….The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:4, 10-11)
Much guessing has been done as to the identity of these beings. I believe these are men because ‘elder’ in the Bible is always used of men as representatives of people. These ‘elders’ help sing a song in Revelation 5 about redemption. Only people are redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
Why 24? The number 24 is mentioned 6 times in the Old Testament and always is associated with the priests of Israel. I believe these 24 men are representatives of all the redeemed of mankind. They are probably the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.
What do they do? In this scene in Heaven, as they worship God, the 24 elders fall down and cast their crowns at God’s feet. Where did they get these crowns? I believe they were previously rewarded for their service to God at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This is not a judgment of sins. Judgment of sins occurred on the cross through the death of Jesus Christ. The Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15) will be a rewards ceremony.
Several rewards, or crowns, will be presented to believers. Please see my previous post ‘Rewards in Heaven‘ for a description of these crowns.
Though these elders have high positions, they realize that their faithfulness has been made possible because of God’s faithfulness. Their good works have been made possible because of the goodness of God. All is God. They, along with all believers, will present all honor and reward to God.
It is interesting that when Jesus returns, He will wear many crowns (Rev. 19:12). It could be that Jesus will be wearing these crowns, or a representation of them, when He returns to set up His kingdom. If you have trusted Christ as Savior, you will be in attendance during this future event that John saw. I hope you will receive honors for your service for Christ. It will be a humbling and glorious event when we acknowledge that all that we are, all that we have, and all that we’ve done, is because of God. We will gladly lay everything before Him.
When you stand in Heaven that day, how will you have wished you had lived today? Are you living in such a way that the Lord will reward you for your faithfulness?