Revelation 4:1–3 – A Glimpse into the Throne Room of God
What does it look like to stand at the door of heaven and hear God call you up? In Revelation 4, John gives us a powerful vision that draws back the curtain between heaven and earth.
But before we explore this heavenly moment, we need to understand how we got here.
The Significance of Revelation Chapter 1
John begins the book of Revelation with an awe-inspiring vision of Jesus Christ in His glorified form. That alone sets the tone for everything that follows.
Jesus is not merely a historical figure—He is the eternal Son, radiant in power and glory. Then in chapters 2 and 3, John addresses the seven churches of Asia—real churches in what is now modern-day Turkey.
These chapters give divine insight into the spiritual state of the Church, and they lead directly into the supernatural vision of heaven that begins in chapter 4.
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord…” —Revelation 1:8
“A Door Was Opened in Heaven” – Revelation 4:1
“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…” —Revelation 4:1
John sees a door open in heaven—a profound image of access. Heaven isn’t closed off; God invites John to witness what lies beyond.
The voice he hears sounds like a trumpet—loud, clear, and commanding—not a literal trumpet, but a divine call demanding attention.
Throughout Scripture, trumpets signify divine announcements, warnings, and the presence of God (see Exodus 19:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:16).
God tells John, “Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.” This is a pivot in the book—from what is happening in the churches now, to what will happen in the future.
“Immediately I Was in the Spirit” – Revelation 4:2
“And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” —Revelation 4:2
The moment John hears the invitation, he is caught up—in the spirit. This isn’t a physical journey; it’s a spiritual encounter. The first thing he sees is not angels, streets of gold, or pearly gates—but a throne.
And someone is sitting on it.
This detail is crucial. Heaven is centered around the throne of God. God is not absent, passive, or wandering. He is enthroned, ruling, and being worshipped.
This vision echoes other throne-room encounters in Scripture:
- Isaiah 6 – “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up…”
- Ezekiel 1 – A complex vision of wheels, cherubim, and the glory of God.
- Daniel 7 – “The Ancient of Days did sit… and his throne was like the fiery flame…”
Each prophet, though separated by time and place, saw a glimpse of the same divine reality: God in supreme authority.
We must understand that even though John sees someone sitting on a throne, he’s witnessing a spiritual reality. God, by nature, is spirit (John 4:24).
He doesn’t exist within the limits of time, space, or matter. While God has appeared in physical form—most clearly in Jesus Christ—these throne visions reveal His glory, majesty, and holiness, not His physical appearance.
Jasper and Sardine Stone – Revelation 4:3
“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.” —Revelation 4:3
John describes the One on the throne using precious stones—jasper and sardine (or sardius). These aren’t random decorations. They represent beauty, glory, and the unapproachable brilliance of God’s presence.
Jasper comes in many colors—green, red, brown, even multi-colored patterns. Sardius is typically deep red, associated with blood and sacrifice.
But the point isn’t to give God a racial or skin color identity based on the stones. These gems are radiant, valuable, and overwhelming in beauty. To reduce this vision to an argument about God’s ethnicity is to miss the grandeur of the moment.
This also calls back to the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 28:17–21), where both jasper and sardius appear. God ties His appearance to the history of redemption and His covenant relationship with His people.
John also sees a rainbow encircling the throne—emerald in color. Unlike the multi-colored rainbow in Genesis, this one radiates a consistent green hue. Green often symbolizes life, renewal, and eternity.
The emerald rainbow reminds us of God’s covenantal faithfulness. Just as He promised Noah never to flood the earth again, this emerald arc around the throne proclaims God’s consistency and mercy through every age.
More Than Color—It’s About Glory
Some groups misinterpret this passage to argue for a racialized view of God based on gemstone colors. But the variety in the appearance of jasper and sardius alone makes such claims baseless.
This isn’t about race, it’s about radiance. About majesty. About divine splendor.
Just like in Revelation 1, where John describes Jesus with a white head & hair, but feet like burnished bronze—not to show a literal skin tone but to express His wisdom, holiness, and judgment—John does the same here.
He doesn’t reveal God as a color; he reveals Him in glory.
The point isn’t to box God into our image—but to lift our eyes to His glory. Share on XWorship the One on the Throne
Revelation 4 doesn’t just show sights and sounds—it calls us to surrender. John records this vision to stir reverence in our hearts. God pulls him into heaven, not to satisfy curiosity, but to reveal glory.
Every detail—the throne, the voice, the stones, the rainbow—points us to God’s majesty and His supreme rule.
This passage doesn’t invite debate about what God looks like. It demands worship of who He is.
And the beauty of Revelation is this: the One seated on the throne is the same One who stepped into creation, walked among us, and laid down His life. The same Jesus who reigns in glory is the One who redeems in grace.
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” —Revelation 5:12
When John sees the throne, he sees the center of all reality. And at that center is the One who has always been—and always will be—worthy of our praise.
If you’ve ever wondered about the appearances of the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament and whether they point to Jesus, you’ll want to read this next article.
Discover how the Old Testament consistently reveals Christ long before Bethlehem. God bless.
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