The Sign of the Rainbow
What is your immediate thought when you see or hear “rainbow?” For those who are familiar with the Bible, you’d probably say it was God’s promise that never again will he destroy all living creatures.
Genesis 6 is where the story of Noah begins. In The Message, verses 5-9 state: “God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night.” The New Living Testament tell us that Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. “Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!” Genesis 6:9-13
It was after the flood when God created the spectacular rainbow. Note how God repeats his promise.
“Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.” Genesis 9:12-17
The rainbow always appears after the storm. God’s word is absolute. “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10). Hebrews 13:8
There are seven colors in the rainbow. Seven in the Bible is symbolic of completion, fullness. In seven days God created everything. “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.” Genesis 2:1-2
God created this beautiful image and it is a seal until the end of time. He is a God of precision, specificity, and consistency and though it may not be tangible, it’s undeniably real. God said when the storm passes, you can rest assure those seven glorious colors will appear. And sure enough, the rainbow comes after the storm to give you hope.
As long as we live in this sinful and fallen world, we will always have the rainbow as God’s promise. When we get to heaven, there will be no more storms, but the Bible identifies a different kind of rainbow.
Genesis is the first book of the Bible and is known as the Creation book. Revelation 4 is the last book in the Bible and is known to many as the book revealing the apocalypse and second coming of Christ. Revelation is a book of warning and hope.
The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation and God gave him visions and an open entrance into the heavenly realm. Revelation 4:2 tell us that he was, “in the Spirit…” Revelation 4:2
John goes on to describe the throne of God. I imagine heaven’s colors are indescribable but the colors John sees are as brilliant as jasper, sardius, and emerald. He compares this vision to what he can relate to on earth. He writes “...and there was a rainbow around the throne.” Revelation 4:2
“Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Before the throne, there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back...The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” ...“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:1-11
John was seeing a similar vision to the one the prophet Ezekiel saw and what we too will see one day. “From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.” Ezekiel 1:27-28
In Genesis, the rainbow was a sign from God and in Revelation, it is a sign of God himself. God’s glory was gleaming, radiant, and flowing all around him like a rainbow in the sky.
Only those who believe and have asked Christ to forgive them of their sins will behold such beauty and live in the midst of what looks like a glorious rainbow.
People want hope, encouragement, and an assurance of something more than a glimpse of a temporary rainbow in the sky. They want the “pot of gold,” which is found only in Christ Jesus.
The rainbow is untouchable, something we stand in awe of for a brief moment. But, we can choose today to sit around the “rainbow” of God’s manifested presence without end. A beauty that is undefinable and indescribable.
“The Son is the dazzling radiance of God’s splendor, the exact expression of God’s true nature—his mirror image! He holds the universe together and expands it by the mighty power of his spoken word. He accomplished for us the complete cleansing of sins, and then took his seat on the highest throne at the right hand of the majestic One.” Hebrews 1:3
God’s unconditional love is unending. With him there is an assurance of hope, acceptance, endless promises, mercy, and the gift of salvation. He shows no favoritism, even to the most depraved mind. Because of Christ, no evil is too dark that Christ will not forgive.
Just as you look for the rainbow after a storm, look for Jesus’s return. “At God’s appointed time, the risen and ascended Lord Jesus will burst onto the world scene. Then everyone will know that Jesus is Lord of the universe!” p. 2034 footnote. Life Application Study Bible, NLT
“And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” ...“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; .” Revelation 4:8-11
