70 The Revelation of Jesus Christ Lord now is·seated upon a throne of grace, and He is dealing with the world in grace. Have you ever wondered why God allows things to go on as they are in the world today? It is because He is seated upon a throne of grace. But one day, when the last member has been added to the body of Christ, and the church has been translated, the Son of God will rise from His throne of grace.and take His seat upon the throne of judgment. It is that throne which John sees, from which pro ceed "lightnings and thunderings and voices." THE HoLv SPIRIT "And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." Again we have the reference to the Holy Spirit in the fulness of His Person and power. Seven is the complete number, and Isa. 11 :2 describes the seven-fold attributes of the Third Person of the Trinity. When John sees Him here, He is back in the presence of God. His task of calling out the church is finished. He has been in the world now for almost two thousand years. He will never leave till the last member is added to the body of Christ, and the church is translated. But one day He will return to the presence of God. John is given a glimpse of that day, a view of what will take place in the future, when the church and the Spirit of God shall be in heaven with the Lord. During the tribulation period, the Holy Spirit will empower the Jewish witnesses, but His relationship with the tribulation saints will be of a different character from His relationship to believers in the church age. THE FouR L1v1NG CREATURES As we read verses 6-8, let us note that the Revised Ver sion here and always translates the word "beasts" "living creatures," and correctly so:
"And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and In the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living_creature like a calf, and the third living creature
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker