There’s a Rainbow

by Terry Wane Benton

"And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald" (Revelation 4:3).

He who sat on the throne “was like” jasper and a sardius stone in appearance. How was He like that? We think of the beauty of these stones. It is thought that these are colors of clear crystal, red, or scarlet depicting royalty. Rich in glory and kingly appearance.

The glory of a rainbow around the throne reminds us of the rainbow covenant of He Who is in charge of the world. When God destroyed the world by a flood he made a covenant to never destroy the earth with a flood again and set the rainbow as a reminder of that covenant (Genesis 9). God has a throne set in beauty, glory, and covenant assurances to His people.

Go up with John in this vision and see that the One in charge of all things is beautiful, kingly, and dependable with His promises. The “emerald” is the brilliant green of Spring’s hopeful colors of life. So, down here we may see the gloom of death, winter’s dying grays, but when John comes up in vision to see the magnificence of heaven’s throne, there is beauty, hope, refreshing life.

The bigger picture excites the souls of the saints and gives hope for great days ahead despite the gloom of things in this season on earth. It is “but for a season” and works for us a “far more exceeding weight of glory” (II Corinthians 4:16f). Look to Jesus out of this winter gloom, see the glory and beauty of the author and finisher of our faith. You will be glad you got heaven's perspective instead of looking through worldly eyes.