John’s vision of heaven is just that: a vision of heaven. His experience is different to what Paul had when he was actually taken up to heaven and experienced things “that a man is not permitted to tell”. Jesus wanted to reveal to John what was happening in heaven in a way that was expressible, when in their reality these things are, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:4, inexpressible. And so, the vision is filled with familiar Biblical symbols. One of the things that John saw was 24 elders, probably representing the whole human race (two lots of twelve tribes: Jews and Gentiles), laying their crowns down before the throne of God. They did this in response to the praise of the living creatures, creatures seen also by Ezekiel and Isaiah (Ezekiel 1; Isaiah 6), which represented nobility (lion), strength (ox), wisdom (man) and swiftness (eagle). The creatures were covered with eyes, seeing everything, the greatest of which was the God whom they worshipped. These living creatures, despite their attributes, had the vision to recognise that God was infinitely above them. They saw that he was not just ‘holy,’ but ‘holy, holy, holy’. To be ‘holy’ is to be perfect and set apart. In relation to God it denotes absolute transcendence. Sometimes we need to realise how small we are lest the ‘crown’ of our attributes and achievements puff us up and delude us. If you think you have acquired some significance by your own achievements, then go out one night and look out into the universe. God is the creator and sustainer of all you see. It may be time to lay down the crown.
Ask God to expand your sense of who he is.
Read Revelation 4
