I apologize for publishing 2 devotionals on the same day. I write ahead and somehow messed up the dates a bit at this time. I hope, but can’t be absolutely certain that with increasing age that it won’t happen again! Barry Hicks.
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
1.The 24 elders seem to fit the 12 Patriarchs of the time before Jesus and the other 12 the Apostles but who is the 12the Apostle? Does it matter if I know or not? 2. Seven is the number of perfection but why the seven spirits of God? Is it the different works of the one Holy Spirit? People often refer to Isaiah 11:2–3, with its sevenfold description of the gifts and activities of the Lord’s Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, godliness, and the fear of God. 3. Are the 4 living creatures the four gospels with their different emphases of the characteristics of Christ when He was on earth? The emphases of the four gospels would explain the faces but why do they have 6 wings each, and why are they covered with eyes? Do they represent from Isaiah 6 the faithful proclaimers of the gospel responding to God’s call, signify that between the Godhead on the throne and the church, represented here by the elders, is the full gospel preached by faithful appointed ministers? Most certainly God the creator and Redeemer deserves all the praise which is given Him! Their words of praise should be constantly on our lips! “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
Prayer: Thank You for this glorious vision of Yourself and Your Church
As I read it! 