0596. The Rainbow–a Comparison
The Rainbow–a Comparison
"And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone; and there was a rainbow round about the throne" (Rev_4:3).
The picture before us is one of the beautiful and striking pictures of the Bible. The chapter has been giving us a description of Christ seated in the Heavens upon a majestic throne, preparing to judge the inhabited earth. The scene describes the beginning of the tribulation: the wrath of God is about to fall. The seals will soon be broken and war, famine and pestilence will fall upon the earth.
From the throne terrific lightnings are proceeding.
Round about the throne there are four living ones and four and twenty elders and an innumerable company of angels.
Upon the throne there sits One to look upon as a sardine stone, and a jasper.
Encircling the One Who sits upon the throne is a rainbow.
There had been ages before, another day of judgment upon the earth: a day preceded by a corrupt earth, and followed by a judgment of water, at that time God had placed His bow in the cloud.
The bow of Noah’s day was God’s promise of mercy. There was never to come upon the earth, another deluge so long as the rainbow was seen.
It is beautiful, even after four thousand years have passed, to walk out and behold God’s rainbow silhouetted against the clouds.
There is a day, another day, that is fast approaching, when a judgment, not of water, but of fire, will fall upon the earth.
As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the coming of the Son of Man. Then the earth was corrupt and every imagination of the thoughts of the heart of man, was only evil continually. The earth will be corrupt again.
God’s saints will be raptured and taken away and then will man do more and more wickedly. Hell will be turned loose on earth, and passion and folly will reign among men.
As judgment fell upon the people of that day, so will the judgment of God fall upon this ripened harvest of the present age.
When one reads in the Book of Revelation of the coming day of wrath, he cannot but thank God that there was a rainbow about the throne. This rainbow will speak better things than the rainbow of Noachian days.
When Christ comes forth to judge the earth,
His glory to make known,
And fiery darts of wrath proceed
From out His hallowed throne;
Then will the rainbow of His love
Encircle Him around,
And all the earth will come to know,
‘Mid judgments, grace is found.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR