Isaiah 6:1-3 “In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.’" (NASB)
Have you had those questions in your head about heaven. You know, how does it look? What’s going on? In my childhood I had this idea of blue skies and clouds. Don’t ask me why. As I’ve been under Biblical teaching I’ve adjusted my conception of heaven but there’s still plenty of mystery. So what is heaven like?
The prophet Isaiah had a very special opportunity, one that very few have had. He was given a glimpse into heaven. Isaiah 6 records what he saw. He records that this vision of heaven was given to him in the year if King Uzziah’s death. History tells us that happened in 754 b.c. One commentator notes that this coincides with the birth of Romulus, Rome’s namesake.
Isaiah reports that he saw the Lord sitting on a throne. Hearing this before I had in my head this was God the Father on the throne. But Scripture is clear that God the Father is invisible; He doesn’t appear in bodily form. “He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation”. Collosians 1:15 This passage in Collosians gives us the clue we need. Jesus is “The image of the invisible God”. So Isaiah saw Jesus on the throne.
The throne was, “Lofty and exalted”. That Jesus is seated on the throne is an indication of His office as King Jesus. Only the King sits on the throne. That the throne is “Exalted” is an indication of His majesty. Others have used the phrase “High and lifted up”. There is no throne higher than the throne of Jesus.
Then Isaiah reports that the robe Jesus wears has a train. ”With the train of His robe filling the temple”. His train is so expansive that it actually filled the whole temple. Barnes comments, “The Orientals regarded such large robes as indicative of grandeur and state”. Certainly the description of Isaiah with a robe completely filling the temple could not be matched by any earthly king. His robe is fuller, His throne is higher.
Next Isaiah tells us there were Seraphim standing above Him. What are Seraphim? The word Seraphim refers to “Fiery ones”. They have feet and faces so they seem humanlike in appearance except for their six wings. ”Each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew”. The covering of the face and feet with four of the six wings denotes an act of reverence in the presence of Jesus. It is worth noting, these heavenly beings are holy and yet they cover themselves in the presence of Him. This is an indication of the reverence we should have coming into His presence. And when do we come into His presence? Every time we pray. Think about that before you just toss a one liner toward heaven without contemplating what is really going on.
What were the Seraphim doing? They were calling to one another saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory”. These heavenly and holy beings were continually calling this out to one another. “Holy, Holy, Holy” Barnes suggests that this indicates something like a three part harmony. Each one singing a part as they all harmonize this praise.
What a picture of heaven. Jesus in all His splendor; King Jesus on His throne higher than any throne. Adorned with the most magnificent of garments being worshiped by these holy Seraphim who repeat time after time, “Holy, Holy, Holy”.
One day we’ll see this scene for ourselves and we won’t just be observers. We’ll be participants in the worship of Jesus in His very presence and singing ourselves, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts”! AMEN!
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