2-14-22<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Many regular church-goers, pious people, folks who study their Bibles and do devotions, who might belong to prayer circles and church fellowships… a lot of us do not fully understand everything in the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not bad, necessarily. At least regarding theology \u2013 literally, the study of God \u2013 we can study but not know<\/em> everything\u2026 otherwise we would be as God. Even the angels do not know all, see all, nor can be present everywhere. God is God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But beyond our comprehension and even spiritual and intellectual curiosity, I think we all accept<\/em> some sentiments and words and traditions without fully understanding them. We find solace in some things as a result. Sort of spiritual security blankets, or comfort foods of the soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am among such folks. Imagery, allegories, symbols\u2026 in some things I let the mystery be, because I trust the meanings of passages and the ways of the Lord. If there are texts whose precise meanings elude me\u2026 or prophecies that are \u201cseen through a glass darkly…\u201d well, God has made His will known so often and in so many ways, that I surrender to those occasional things God wants to keep wrapped in His poetry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet we should not always exercise sweet surrender. Surely the Lord wants us to understand as much as possible, especially since every word has been imparted, inspired \u2013 literally, \u201cbreathed\u201d by the Holy Spirit \u2013 for our instruction and for reproof. So\u2026 we can always try a little harder. That<\/em> bread cast upon the waters never comes back void.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was thinking about such things recently when singing the old hymn Holy, Holy, Holy<\/em>, which has some verses that we sing perhaps automatically without fully understanding them: and the same for Bible passages from which the lyrics are drawn, in Revelation chapter 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hymn:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea. Cherubim and seraphim are falling down before Thee, Which wert and art and evermore shalt be!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Verses from Revelation 4:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne\u2026 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold\u2026.<\/em>And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For our attention here I have left out descriptions of beasts and wings and lightning and thunder and lamps, all wondrous \u2013 and mysterious \u2013 enough. We can study and profit from signs and symbols, and especially numerology and types, in the Bible; particularly in Revelation. And we can discern lessons from these passages, more-than-allusions and symbols as they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, we must realize that, no matter how mysterious they seem, they are descriptions of the Heaven that is, and the Heaven that will be as we see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the hymnologist\u2019s use of \u201cHoly\u201d three times is citing the praises of God quoted throughout Scripture: Three always represents holiness. We know that numbers like seven and 40 are repeated in God\u2019s story, all with consistent significance. We will join the angels in singing \u201cHoly, holy, holy…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, I believe the \u201cglassy sea\u201d is to tell us that, contrary to many examples of troubled waters and stormy seas throughout the Bible and in life, before the Throne of God the waters shall be not roiled. Untroubled, placid. A miraculous calm, in His presence. Like a mirror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Elders we might correctly assume are the prophets and apostles in Scripture; and perhaps saints and martyrs of the Church. Crowns? The Elders who wear them are worthy \u2013 in our eyes, and honored of God \u2013 for their service\u2026 but are we not told that the least among believers shall be the first? That (conversely, to be sure) that the smallest sin grieves God as much as what we might deem the grossest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do we understand that \u201cElders\u201d earn crowns? Are those the (again) mysterious \u201ctreasures\u201d we might store up in Heaven?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I believe the answer is what happens to those crowns at the moment this scene was revealed by Christ to St John. They were thrown down at the feet of God Almighty, the Elders declaring that He is worthy to receive Glory and Honor and Power. In other words, just like our own \u201crobes of righteousness\u201d in which we might cover ourselves, even the treasures and crowns of the most exalted saints are to be cast at the feet of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A picture of Heaven? Clearer, to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What else will Heaven be like? We have other imagery of shining stones and beauty and mansions and singing and\u2026 praising. We will join the angels in forever<\/em> singing and praising His name. We will not think it boring, even for eternity; for He is worthy. Will we see loved ones? Will our bodies be made whole? Will there be \u201cjoy unspeakable and full of glory?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes\u2026 but let us remember the \u201cunspeakable\u201d part! Beyond our current ability to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For all the good intentions of believers here, when I hear speculation about how \u201cold\u201d we will be, or being reunited with pets\u2026 I find myself wishing that people would be as concerned with getting<\/em> to Heaven as with what it will be like \u201cover there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can be sure of one thing as we look toward joining that throng of angels \u2013 the cherubim and seraphim \u2013 before the Throne. The joy we will have cannot be known by them, for they were never graced with life on earth, never able to experience the gifts of repentance and forgiveness, redemption and salvation. Those<\/em> things are ours!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holy! Holy! Holy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n + + +<\/p>\n\n\n\n