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Finally, arrived at the Throne of Heaven! All who enter must come in childlike faith, and through the grace of God. The bride of Christ has come Home. Let the wedding celebration begin!

Every time a Believer offers petitionary prayer it is to Father God, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus Christ the Son. It is a triune experience. Praise is also to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit individually as God's children are led. It is hard to conceptualize the Throne and God, but Rita and Sally have done their best to create something beyond humankind's knowledge.

Here you can see Jesus, along with his crown and flowing garment, is wearing a prayer shawl. The Bible does not say Jesus is wearing a prayer shawl in Heaven but since He was from the tribe of Judah when on earth and died a Jew (being God and man), they felt it is possible.

For instance prophet Malachi said, "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings." And Jesus said when weeping over Jerusalem, ". . . how often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!" Here He could have been speaking figuratively, yet these verses were possibly referencing the Jewish prayer shawl which looks similar to wings when held extended (Malachi 4:2; Matt. 23:37 NKJV). Obviously Jesus is not an angel so He does not and never did have wings!

The six-winged cherubims who surround the throne of God are not four beasts at the Throne as the King James translation states it, but these are four cherubim whose natures are symbolized in this word picture: brave as a lion, servants like oxen, wise as mankind, and swift like an eagle.

Throne Scene and Glory

Isaiah said, "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple" (Isa. 6:1,3). And the angels cried to one another, 'Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts.'" The train is a symbolic picture of the glory of Christ and not necessarily an actual robe that He carries with Him as He moves around.

Father God is seated at the Center of the Throne and His glory is so great that we cannot envision Him from earth's viewpoint. At the conclusion of this Age of Grace and the 1000 year Sabbath Millennium, Scripture says He will be "all in all" (I Cor. 15:28). Heaven in its entirety is the Holy of Holies, and the Throne of Heaven is most certainly the center of God's glory.

Covered by the glory is also the Holy Spirit of God. He is manifested in the oil of the gold Lampstand, in the emerald cloud of glory, and water of Life. He is gentle as a dove and called the Comforter. As a servant, His major work on earth was to find and prepare a bride for the Savior.

A portion of a building surrounding the Throne on the north side is how the artist depicts the abiding place for the twenty-four elders (twelve of them are within view). These elders, as Scripture reveals, are the twelve Tribes of Israel and the twelve Apostles. They are seated around the Throne of God, dressed in white garments with gold crowns on their heads (Rev. 4:1-11, Hebrews 12:2).

Once we arrive in Heaven, the Throne room probably will not always be in session with the twenty-four elders constantly there, nor will Jesus continually be physically seated by His father. But there will be movement in whatever way God works in His many dimensional Kingdom. Dr. Hugh Ross, scientist, says that astronomers have now discovered eleven dimensions in the universe although we still live in a three dimensional earthly planet at this point in time. Will Heaven have eleven dimensions or will Heaven be beyond dimensions? One day we'll know. This many-dimension reality helps when wondering how we will all have personal attention from our Lord.

Holy Furniture in Heaven

Rita found it interesting to see three of the six pieces of the furniture used in the Temple of Solomon and in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness are shown in Heaven. They are the Ark of the Covenant, the golden Altar of Incense, and the seven-branched pure gold Candlestick. Only the Altar of Incense and Menorah are pictured here because some commentators think the Ark may be a part of the Throne.

The Ark of the Covenant when on earth in the Holy of Holies, was where God manifested His immediate presence. Revelation chapter eleven indicates that one day when the seventh Trumpet sounds the Ark of the Covenant will be seen in Heaven (vs.19). The Ark, in some way, may be part of the Throne now as we know Jesus is represented in the pure beaten gold Mercy Seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant. We know the only way humankind, as a sinful race, can come to Father God is by the mercy expressed through Jesus' redeeming sacrifice of Himself for the world. He is our Ark of safety: the bread (manna), the rod of Aaron, the Ten Commandments imparted.

Christ is all this because His Father God loved the world so much, that He was willing to give His only beloved Son so that our sinful race would not perish but instead be rescued (John 3:16)!

The Golden Altar of Incense represents the prayers of all the saints as a fragrance to God. On earth this was the way into the Holy of Holies, to God's immediate presence. Now in Heaven our communion with God is so great that we consistently join the angels in praise and worship to God. It becomes a way of life. This life of joyful praise and singing is symbolized by the Golden Altar of Incense. (Rev. 8:3)

The Gold Menorah, or seven-branched Candlestick, represents the sevenfold Spirit of God and the oil within it. The fire depicts the power of the Holy Spirit used to light and empower the seven churches or communities on earth (Rev. 1:20). Now Heaven is lit by the presence of God and the saints are glowing with His presence.

Other furniture is depicted spiritually.

The twelve Loaves of Bread in the Holy Place represent the twelve tribes and all Believers in Yeshua (Jews and Gentiles) who have now become one loaf together, as wave offerings to God (Levit. 23:17-20, Eph. 2:14-18). Since we're all here joined as one, we now can be seen symbolically in these twelve loaves of celebration offered to God; table and bread apparently no longer need to be shown here.

Furniture that represents the Cross, the Brass Altar of the Outer Court, is not portrayed here because Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is here in His resurrected body. He has conquered death and is alive forevermore.

The Sea of Glass is the floor of the Throne room which Moses saw as a pavement of shining blue sapphire. Some scholars believe it depicts the Brass Laver, where in the Torah we're told the priests washed until their reflection was clear. So the saints' reflection in the Sea of Glass will be part of judging our works on earth. This takes place in front of the Throne where saints will stand before God at the Bema Judgment Seat. For those in Christ personal judgment will have already taken place on earth. (For more information on the Bema Judgment Seat see "To Heaven and Back" chapter eleven, page 142-143.)

The Party

This will be a time when works done on earth will be judged but also when special rewards are given. After this the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, will give gifts to His bride (Bk.Chapts.12,13). Now the joy begins as the Wedding takes place. Some will dance on streets of gold, others on jasper walls, some in Eden's meadows. Music from angels harps, flutes, violins and trumpets will fill the atmosphere.

One day the greatest celebration know to man will take place. You can't miss this. Plan now to make the party! There is a personal invitation waiting for you so please RSVP to the Bridegroom, as soon as possible! And save a dance for me.

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