Tag: Colossians 1:15-17

The Heavenly Throne Room

Stepping over the border between Rome and Vatican City, I could see the bulk of the enormous Renaissance-era church across the square. Saint Peter’s Basilica holds 60,000 people at one time. Built over 120 years, its massive central dome designed by Michelangelo towers 448 feet above the floor. From the first moment I entered, I was awestruck by its size and grandeur. It made me feel small, but in the very best way. Arguably the most famous church on the planet, even this impressive structure falls short of the glories John describes in the throne room of heaven.

In Revelation 5 & 6, John’s vision gives us a glimpse of heavenly reality: “Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it. The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.” (Revelation 4:2-3, CSB) Seated around the throne, twenty-four elders continually cast their golden crowns before it in worship. Four creatures representing all living things on earth praise the Lord endlessly: “Day and night they never stop, saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come.’” They declare: “Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:8b & 11, CSB italics added)

Despite  having many authors, the Bible always reinforces itself. So, it’s no coincidence that the words of worship spoken in the throne room sound similar to Paul’s commentary about Christ in Colossians: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17, CSB, italics added) 

John’s description of his vision continues: “Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.” John weeps because there is no one worthy to open the scroll until one of the elders reassures him, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” John looks and sees “one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders.” (Revelation 5:1-3, 5b, 6b, CSB). 

Jen Wilkin contends that everything in Revelation is a recapitulation of something mentioned elsewhere in Scripture. Rich with symbolism, the description of the one worthy to open the scroll recalls  Old Testament prophecies and symbolic events. Christ is the Lion of Judah, referencing Jacob’s prophetic blessing over his son, Judah in Genesis 49:8-14. He is the Root of David, referencing God’s promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. And He is the slaughtered lamb, referencing the Passover lamb whose blood protected the Israelite slaves in Egypt from the tenth plague in Exodus 11. In Revelation we see  “a picture of Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain who is also the Lion of judgment. Jesus is the only one worthy to judge the world (cf. John 5:22).”*  

Continuing to narrate his vision, John describes the twenty-four elders and four creatures falling down in worship before the Lamb singing, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.”(Revelation 5:9b-10, CSB)

Here we find another connection to a different New Testament book–Peter brings further clarity to John’s vision as he describes followers of Christ: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10, CSB)

Revelation describes the kingdom of priests who will reign on the earth and 1 Peter explains that every person purchased by the blood of Christ is part of this royal priesthood. So, despite our sinful natures, we’re counted righteous because of the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf (1 Corinthians 1:30 & Romans 3:21-26). One day we will rule and reign with Christ in His glory. We’ll want to keep this incredible reality in the forefront of our minds as we read about events that will unfold in the next few chapters of Revelation.

Recently I attended a worship service while visiting family out of town. The space where we gathered was a simple, dark room filled with a couple hundred chairs facing a platform. It was a far cry from the grandeur of Saint Peter’s Basilica but the worship offered was pure and heartfelt. My voice caught as I realized we were joining the multitudes in heaven giving praise to our transcendent, glorious God: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!…Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:12b &13b, CSB) The Lord is our just Judge; may John’s vision compel us to express deep gratitude for His unmerited favor and never to lose reverent awe for Him as our sovereign Creator.

Jen Wilkin, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, Lifeway Press, 2024.

*gotquestions.org: “What Are the Seven Seals of Revelation?”

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Playing the Long Game

Sitting across the chess board from my son, he explained the rules and basic strategies of the game. I’d grown up playing checkers but had never ventured into the more complicated world of chess. My son’s agile mind seemed more adept at managing the pieces and remembering the various rules for moving them. After he’d beat me, yet again, he explained his strategy: “See the future.” I realized he wasn’t playing one move at a time but mapping out multiple options and anticipating countermoves. He understood the importance of playing the long game. 

Author and teacher Kelly Minter draws a comparison between chess, checkers, and our spiritual lives saying, “I am queen of the short game…On my bad days, I measure God’s favor toward me (or lack thereof) by whatever has gone right or wrong that day. When I do this, I forget that not only is God after the long game in my life—my personal sanctification, spiritual growth, blessing of others, heart growing to look more like Christ’s—He’s also after His long game. In other words, God cares deeply about our individual lives, and at the same time, He wants to use us in His far bigger story of redemption. We’re meant for something much larger than ourselves, but this is easy to forget in our instant gratification and selfie culture.” (p. 145)

The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 is just one of many in the Bible that illustrates this. He shows amazing trust in God and a willingness to endure hardship for the Lord’s greater purposes. Consider Joseph’s explanation when he reveals his identity to his brothers who had sold him into slavery 22 years earlier: “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” (Genesis 45:4-7, NIV) 

Instead of being vengeful towards his brothers for selling him or angry at God for allowing him to endure such hardship, Joseph focuses on the good that resulted from his presence in Egypt. He sees that his oversight of the food storage and distribution not only saved Egyptian lives but would ultimately preserve his family line as well. Kelly Minter explains, “So far in our study we’ve been mostly looking at Joseph’s story from a checkerboard perspective—lots of reactionary and sometimes unrelated moves that don’t seem to be governed by a bigger plan. We’re finally at a point where we’re beginning to see God’s much bigger plan of redemption playing out, a plan marked by patience and forethought. We’re beginning to see that God, in and through all the little moves of His people in our story—some sacrificial, some selfish—is working out a great plan to turn the house of Jacob into the nation of Israel in the land of Egypt. 

One might say all the players in Joseph’s story were playing checkers while God was playing chess. Except God isn’t playing a game with kings, queens, pawns, and knights. He’s writing a story of redemption that’s all about one King whose name is Jesus—the King who will rescue His people from their sins.” (p.149)

We know this ultimate truth about Jesus, but sometimes I wonder how many of us let it impact us daily. It’s commonplace lately to hear stories about lives filled with hurts and hardships. Many of us are grieving the loss of our pre-COVID lives. In the past year we’ve lost loved ones and livelihoods; we’ve grappled with depression and anxiety; we’ve struggled with loneliness and longed for community. We’re under pressure at work and at home. Marriages and families are crumbling. Some of us are suffering from physical ailments or caring for others with major medical problems. And to make matters worse, our nation continues to battle political strife and deep division. 

With so many sad, hard, and negative things happening all around us, I wonder sometimes if we’re doing exactly what Kelly Minter describes: getting so mired in the details that we’re forgetting God’s bigger plans. Is it possible that these hardships we’re facing could be reminding us of our need for Him? Instead of magnifying the difficulties in our lives, perhaps we should try a different tactic by trusting God to use them for good. When we’re grieving unwelcome changes or staggering losses, let’s look for the new things He might be doing.

Think of the hardships Joseph endured that preserved his family line, which ultimately brought us Jesus, our Redeemer. Because of Him, we have hope in the midst of every struggle. We have purpose and fulfillment. Our foundation is secure. Jesus is the answer to all the world’s problems and to our personal ones as well. This isn’t just a nice “Christian” thing to say—it’s the truth. So, if you call Him your Savior and Lord, then live like you believe it. Let your faith in Him steady you in these trying times and then ask God how He wants to use you as part of His bigger plan. It’s time to put away the reactionary thinking of checkers and to trust in God’s strategy for His long term plans.

Even though the world feels like it’s falling apart, rest assured that Jesus is holding all things together:

“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (Hebrews 1:3a ESV)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17 ESV)

If you’ve been letting the troubles in your life or our world drag you down, maybe it’s time to change your focus. Let “There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton remind you that you already have exactly what you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZXRIw5uBuY

Kelly Minter, Finding God Faithful: A Study on the Life of Joseph, Lifeway Press, 2019.