MCan you imagine standing face to face with God? How would you react?
OSES took a handful of people up to Mount Sinaia where they saw the God of Israel. The account in Exodus chapter twenty-four reveals that His feet were on the surface of a clear, transparent Sapphire. We discussed this in the presentation “The sapphire and the Throne”. Many people have heard about the throne of God and have wondered what it is or what it looks like. Some people have seen it, usually in vision form. Ezekiel did in Ezekiel chapter one. I heard the sound of their wings when they moved; it was like the sound of rushing water, like the voice of Shaddai, like the noise of a tumultuous crowd or army. When they stopped, they lowered their wings. Whenever there was a sound from above the dome over their heads, they stopped and lowered their wings. Above the dome that was over their heads was something like a throne that looked like a sapphire. On it, above it, was what appeared to be a person. I saw what looked like gleaming, amber-colored fire radiating from what appeared to be his waist upward. Downward from what appeared to be his waist, I saw what looked like fire, giving a brilliant light all around him. This brilliance around him looked like a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was how the appearance of the glory of Adonai looked. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking. Ezekiel 1:24-28
This is the chapter that speaks about the living creatures that had four faces and four wings, fire and lightning and spoke about the four wheels. As it often is with prophecy, people spend much time in seeking information about their identity, their role and other matters–here, in Daniel and in Revelation, but when I read this again, I wonder if we may in fact be missing the point if we focus on them. Ezekiel said that there was a firmament above them and added: And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne in appearance like a sapphire stone, and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with the appearance of a Man . Ezekiel 1:26
The throne and the man took precedence over everything. Those beings, whoever they are, stopped everything they were doing to pay homage to that man. When Ezekiel saw this man, he fell on his face and heard that man’s voice. You realize by now I hope that this man was God, or as Ezekiel said, Shaddai—a God who never changes.
We often think that no man has really seen Him in the clarity we can see each other if we were standing face-to face, but that may not be totally correct. Abraham saw three men in Genesis 18. Who were they? Moses saw something in Exodus 24 when God called him up to the mountain, telling him to take Nadab, Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel. The account says: Moshe, Aharon, Nadav, Avihu and seventy of the leaders went up; and they saw the God of Isra’el . Under his feet was something like a sapphire stone pavement as clear as the sky itself. He did not reach out his hand against these notables of Isra’el; on the contrary, they saw God , even as they were eating and drinking. Exodus 24:9-11
Moses and Joshua were then called up further to meet with God to receive the Ten Commandments. We can all have an experience with God, but there can also be something more... Later in Exodus 33, Moses spoke with God in a face-to-face experience in the tent and Joshua was present. Moses asked God to tell him His Name and asked God to show him His way, so that he could know Him
May we all ask God to show us His ways, so that we too can Know Him. I believe more than ever now that in our desire to search for things prophetically, we would do better by making a similar request. When we know that, the other things can then fall into place.
That word Know is yadaʿ in the Hebrew. Various meanings include know, known and knowledge of course, but there is more. It speaks about perception, to understand, to recognize, be skillful, to be revealed, to discriminate and to know by experience. Its equivalent in Greek is Ginosko and both words speak of close, personal intimacy of relationship.
Ezekiel spoke about standing face-to-face with God. Imagine your reaction if you suddenly experienced such a manifestation. Many people have had them. I have. My first such encounter was in the Winter of 1970. It was night time and I was sitting on the floor in my bedroom looking up through the window. My back was against the bed and my feet were on the wall. Suddenly, I heard a “whooshing” sound as the curtains were flung upwards and outwards away from the house as a “tunnel” opened in the sky, ascending straight up until it disappeared into a pinpoint in the distance. I was lifted up physically out through the window into this tunnel and being whisked upwards at an incredible speed, still in the same posture but swaying slightly from side to side as I was moving, I could feel the breeze blowing on my face and hair because of this movement and could see outside this tunnel. The stars inside were gone, but the tunnel was illuminated brilliantly as in a bright full super-moon. The stars outside the tunnel looked like what was seen in the Star Wars movie when the spaceship went into light speed.
At the very top was a brilliant glistening white throne that looked like marble. It was enormous— miles wide and it was in perfect geometric proportions as if stamped out of a mould. It was gold-inlaid and adorned with precious gems, especially sapphires and the upholstery was like red silk or satin. A large “man”, a little over six feet in height was sitting on the throne, but he filled that throne. He was sitting in a regal position with arms on the arm rests and I was being taken at a fantastic speed towards him. I could not see the face clearly because a brilliant light seemed to emanate from within him and from behind the throne, but I saw enough to determine it looked like a man with a beard. I saw his arms and hands extending from a robe as they rested on the armrests.
Can you imagine standing face to face with God?
I saw his legs extending from the hem of that robe and part of his sandaled feet. He leaned forward and gestured to me saying something that was personal so I am not able to share that. He did however call me, “My son”. He then resumed his normal posture and I suddenly returned to my bedroom, but my position had changed slightly.
I do not attempt to say who that “man” was, but I shall never forget it. Such experiences change a man forever. It surpasses religion and “belief structures” and dispels doubts raised by speculation and debate. People argue about the existence of heaven or hell from an intellectual basis, but when someone has been there, the reality hits. I know that because I have been to both places...
It is easy to make a quick reply, but in all honesty we really do not know what we would do. Revelation 8:1 says that when the angel opened the seventh seal, there was silence in Heaven for about half an hour. I’m not as concerned about what that seal is as I am about being in Heaven and seeing things that human language cannot adequately express. That was Paul’s problem and I think I understand it now, after having visited there myself several times. On my first visit, I was totally speechless. I had been walking on a concrete path, placing one foot after the other on the pavement when as I stretched my leg out in another step, my foot suddenly landed on a solid gold street in Heaven and I froze on the spot! It took my breath away and all I could do was look around in stunned silence. I am not fantasizing or boasting but trying to encourage, because one day we shall have some kind of reaction when Jesus returns and we meet Him... Are you ready?
Though we don’t know how we would actually respond when standing before the literal throne of God, we can see what it’s like to approach the throne of God. The prophets shared their vivid visions of His throne with us and the apostles told us how we can enter His presence with confidence.
Let’s discover what His throne is, what it means for each of us today and on the day that we will appear before Him there.
To do that, perhaps we should see if God can really sit on a throne. In the Hebrew the word כִּסֵא often used is a chair, but most often in the bible it refers to a throne. God is a Spirit, so can He really sit on a literal throne? Did God show the prophets a literal throne to help the Israelites (and us) understand things? They were accustomed to seeing kings and statues of pagan gods in Egypt and Canaan sitting on thrones.
Whether God’s throne is literal or allegorical, the language of the throne in scripture emphasizes God’s authority. Perhaps God used the imagery of a throne to identify Himself as the King of all kings, whose glory, reign and authority are above any other throne on earth. Just as a king has authority over his domain, so God has authority over all creation and beyond and so sits on His throne to exercise that dominion.
The word for to sit in Hebrew is shev, that can also mean to dwell or inhabit. Perhaps God dwells wherever His throne is and His throne could be anywhere and everywhere at the same time.
If you look at pictures of the Queen, or her predecessors, you will see that they are dressed in royal garments on formal occasions and sit on a throne. King George v was dressed like that. You will notice the crown on the cushion to the right of the picture above. Please also notice his robe.
The length of a king’s robe represented the level of glory and splendor he wanted to portray among his subjects. Such elaborate robes would have been painstakingly woven together with great precision and craftsmanship, but God’s robes were never made by human hands.
As splendid as George’s robes looked, nothing can match God’s robes that “filled the temple” as Isaiah said:
In the year of King ‘Uziyahu’s death I saw Adonai sitting on a high, lofty throne! The hem of his robe filled the temple. S’rafim stood over him, each with six wings—two for covering his face, two for covering his feet and two for flying. They were crying out to each other, “More holy than the holiest holiness is Adonai-Tzva’ot! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
Isaiah 6:1-3
Thus said יהוה, “The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is this house that you build for Me? And where is this place of My rest? “And all these My hand have made, and all these that exist,” declares יהוה. “Yet to such a one I look: on him who is poor and bruised of spirit, and who trembles at My Word. Isaiah 66:1-2
David said:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1–4
A king’s robe was not the only symbol of his glory. The height of his throne represented the level of authority and power he possessed and commanded. High above all other kings and kingdoms, God’s throne is in the heavens and the earth is but one of a vast array of creations.
All these things My hand has made, and so all these things are Mine, says the Lord. Isaiah 66:2
What can anyone do in the presence of such power?
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. Psalm 114:7
There is nothing we can do that can be a substitute for God and His ways. He does not need anything we can offer him other than our love and obedience from which pure and unadulterated worship stems. By His own words, He looks favorably on someone who is poor and bruised of spirit and for those who “tremble at His word”.
When Isaiah entered the presence of God’s supreme power and majesty, he was suddenly aware of his own shortcomings and did not understand how he could be in the holy presence of YHVH Sabbaot, the Lord of Hosts. When he realized that, he cried out:
In the year of King ‘Uziyahu’s death I saw Adonai sitting on a high, lofty throne!
The hem of his robe filled the temple.
S’rafim stood over him, each with six wings—two for covering his face, two for covering his feet and two for flying. They were crying out to each other, “More holy than the holiest holiness is Adonai-Tzva’ot! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
The doorposts shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. Then I said, “Woe to me! I [too] am doomed!—because I, a man with unclean lips, living among a people with unclean lips, have seen with my own eyes the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot!”
One of the s’rafim flew to me with a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Here! This has touched your lips. Your iniquity is gone, your sin is atoned for.”
Then I heard the voice of Adonai saying, “Whom should I send? Who will go for us?” I answered, “I’m here, send me!” He said, “Go and tell this people: ‘Yes, you hear, but you don’t understand. You certainly see, but you don’t get the point!’ Isaiah 6:1–9
Such a question is still being asked today! The problems and issues remain the same. The answers are still the same. We live in a fallen world and are bombarded with everything that is ungodly. Like walking past a burning fire and through the smoke, it is possible to come out smelling of that smoke. A simple proof is in the hearing of cuss words spoken by worldly people—those with unclean lips and they come to mind at the strangest of times. The media is full of it. Hollywood speaks them and this does not only refer to swearing. It also refers to general talk that can be “religious” but not biblical, sound “spiritual” but lack genuine faith, critical and judgmental attitudes amongst the brethren and so on. If we suddenly stood in front of the throne of God right now, would we measure up or be ashamed? We shall all stand there one day and give account.
For it has been written, “As I live, says יהוה, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to Elohim.”
Each one of us, therefore, shall give account of himself to Elohim. Romans 14:11-12
Things are happening in our midst today that are alarming and many people, including Christians are wondering about end time events that will certainly happen. There are numerous passages in scripture to illustrate that as well you know, but an emerging problem is the focus being placed by many people on them. I call it a problem because one basic and fundamental truth is often overlooked. Daniel spoke of certain things such as that statue as seen in chapter two. People give all kinds of opinions at to who it is or its significance. That and other similar matters are not to be ignored, but there is something that eclipses everything and those matters pale into insignificance when we consider that we are dealing with God—the supreme being; creator of everything in existence.
Every knee shall bow
he bible tells me that Jesus Christ is Lord—not Lord to believers only, but Lord of all.
Let your attitude toward one another be governed by your being in union with the Messiah Yeshua: Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God something. On the contrary, he emptied himself, in that he took the form of a slave by becoming like human beings are. And when he appeared as a human being, he humbled himself still more by becoming obedient even to death—death on a stake as a criminal!
Therefore God raised him to the highest place and gave him the name above every name that in honor of the name given Yeshua, every knee will bow—in heaven, on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will acknowledge that Yeshua the Messiah is Adonai— to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5–11
Scriptures reveal that Jesus is seated in glory at the right hand of God and God is sitting on His throne in the courtroom of Heaven. Everything in existence without exception is subject to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, so the matter of end time judgment, fulfillment of prophecy, judgment and punishment of all evil is settled. I am learning to turn my attention nowadays to that throne room and the one sitting on it. It’s not that I am ignoring what is happening and the problems that exist but at the one who is in charge. Do we look at problems or do we look at the answers? Do we look at the mark of the beast of at the one who rose from the grave and will cast him down?
When I saw that throne all those years ago and when I walked those gold streets in heaven, picked a piece of fruit and ate it, saw the flowers and trees it changed everything. I saw the Heavenly city from a distance (I did not enter it) when standing on the shore of an immense golden sea that looked like glass. A brilliant light radiated outward from it and from behind it and I had to shield my eyes whilst peering out at the scene because it was too bright to look directly at it. Somewhere in that blaze, was a throne... Perhaps God in His mercy did not let me see more and I think it was because I could not have handled it. When Ezekiel approached God’s throne in all its splendor, it was almost too much for him and he fell on his face as we shall one day. God helped him to proceed.
...But the Ruach or Spirit entered him and put him back on his feet so he could proceed with his unique commission. Ezekiel 2:1-3
What God did for Isaiah and Ezekiel, He can do for each of us. Aware of our sin, He has removed our guilt and given us His Spirit so we can embark on our own unique commissions.
Just as God dealt with Isaiah’s sinfulness and Ezekiel was filled with God’s Spirit, so we too must come into God’s presence to be cleansed and filled with His Spirit. We know that living a holy life is not always easy, but it is what God calls us to. It takes work by spending time with God in His word and in His presence. I did not add prayer, because prayer often emanates from the natural mind. Many churches have “set prayers” and repeat “the Lord’s prayer”, but is that really praying? I no longer believe so and say that because such prayers are often repetitive, come from a prayer book made by man and usually follow the principles of certain denominational groups of all kinds. Prayer to angels, to “saints” or to Mary is not prayer. Even in the “Lords’ prayer”, that is the pattern Jesus gave and not the words themselves, He said we should address prayer to “Our Father” who is of course in Heaven.
We can also “pray the word of God” which is a good thing, but the selection of bible verses is important. For example we can make “faith confessions” in prayer that way, but they should be carefully evaluated to ensure that we are not being overly self-centered, such as confessions over money. Our faith confessions should really be in private—in our prayer closet, in secret as the Lord said in Matthew 6.
Prayer from the heart, not the mind—spontaneous prayer and prayer in the Spirit is more inclined to be heard and received in the court of Heaven. I am convinced that there are two kinds of prayer. Paul said:
...the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.
God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny
Romans 8:26–27
...anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand 1 Corinthians 14:13-15
Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers. And pray also that God’s revelation would be released through me every time I preach the wonderful mystery of the hope-filled gospel. Ephesians 6:17-19
Approaching the throne of God can be a wonderful thing, but it is also awesome. I recall going into my bedroom at night decades ago and started to ask the Lord to let me see Him. I had already met Him before when I was first saved and it was similar to the way Saul meet the Lord on the road to Damscus, but I was still young and immature I suppose and started to babble on in an immature way. I kept asking to see Him when suddenly a brilliant ball of light appeared in the middle of the room and started to expand. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. I became breathless. My heart started pumping furiously and I fled from the room struggling to breathe. After I regained my composure, I blurted out something like, “What was that?” when the Lord said, “I’m glad you did not stay”.
He never explained why and I do not know why this happened, but I am convinced that I would never have been able to manage what I did see. God is real. We are not here to play games. We are His temples. He has called us to Himself to (a) worship and (b) to service. That old worship song, “Take me into the holy of holies. Take me in by the blood of the lamb. Take me in to the holy of holies. Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am” sums it up.
We can already enter into God’s presence with boldness, because of what Jesus has done. Our great High Priest, Jesus, atoned for our sins once and for all going past the veil and making it possible for us to enter there as well, but there is another element—another degree—another level yet. It is one that gets God’s attention—that causes Him to look at us. There are several reasons of course and I am concentrating on this one alone.
This is the one to whom I will look,” God said on His throne, “to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word
Isaiah 66:2
Matthew wrote his book to the Jewish followers of Jesus explaining that the true children of God have responsibilities to follow God’s word. A day will come when we will stand before the throne of Messiah and be judged accordingly:
When the Son of Man comes [Messiah Yeshua] in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.
“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Matthew 25:31-34
That’s the day when we shall stand before a throne. I believe that the first experience I had as shared earlier when I saw that white throne may have been what scriptures call the “Great White Throne” in association with judgment. I will not presume to declare that it was of course as that would be foolish of me, but it has carried me through good times and hard times for decades now and is as fresh today as it was then.
My desire is to hear His words, some of which Matthew said above and to hear Him say, Well done...thou good and faithful servant”. Matthew 25:21-23; Luke 19:17.
I hope you will be there with me...
Robert