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THE RAINBOW

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 10.

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THE RAINBOW

By Wm. Covert

WM. COVERT
After the flood, to assure Noah and his sons of God’s love and their safety in dwelling upon the earth, the Lord said to them: “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” Gen. 9: 12-16.
The bow in the heavens is made by the shining of the sun through the falling rain; but there must be a dark cloud sufficient to form a background, else no bow can be seen. This transient picture, which seems like a brilliant crescent of the sky created to chase away the storm, is a visible representation of the perfection of grace, which illuminate God’s throne in the heavens. The pleasing hues of the rainbow behind the departing storm, most gracefully illustrate the wonderful beauty and richness of the righteousness, mercy, and love of God. It is but a reflection of that which the heavenly host constantly behold as they come to the throne. The prophet, in describing the glorious view which was given him of the eternal Presence, said that it was “as the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” Eze.1:28. John in vision was permitted to look upon the same glory; and in writing of the view, he said, “Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne: . . . and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” Rev. 4: 2, 3. The emerald is one of the most precious stones, and is prized for the pureness and richness of its coloring, being a green, or bluish-green, six-sided prism.
As the brilliant arch which follows the receding storm has a dark background, so does the bow which arches about the great white throne have behind it a cloud sufficient to give a most beautiful appearance to the glory which encircles it. “For,” says the Lord, “I have blotted out as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.” Isa. 44:22, 23. Another speaker says, “Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” Isa. 38:17.
These black sins are as dark clouds, which have spent their fury and are receding. The Lord, with these transgressions behind Him, looks through the bow of promise with gladness upon His children. It is man’s privilege to look upon the bow in the cloud, and through it see the glorious bow of eternal peace round about the throne of God. It is to him the bright symbol of the everlasting covenant, and a visible token of his salvation. The rainbow in our visible heaven is the Lord’s painted ensign of redemption, hung out in plain view for man to behold with his natural eyes, and study its significance. It announces that the storm has abated, and the sun is again shining. It is the Lord’s signal of peace. It is a variegated banner of love, stretching across the sky. Through it the Lord is inviting the sinner to seek and find the perfect righteousness of Christ, and live. It is as a token in the window of heaven, pointing in the direction of home,—a light on the shore, to guide the traveler to the haven of rest.