Jasper...Carnelian...Emerald

Revelation 4:3-4,9-11 - And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. 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…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.”

Ezekiel 1:28 - Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Revelation 5:5-6,9-10 - And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth…And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 7:11-12 - And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Application:

·         When God’s glory was symbolically revealed, it took the form of brilliant light.

·         Lay their crowns is acknowledgment that God alone is worthy of ultimate praise and worship.

·         Bearing the marks of its slaughter—the Lamb has come to power through His death.

·         The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ, has triumphed.

·         In the Old Testament a new song celebrated a new act of divine deliverance or blessing.

·         The sevenfold list of attributes (praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, strength) expresses complete or perfect praise.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV