The Seven Seals

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The 24 elders were people who lived on Earth at one time. God took two different witnesses from each of the twelve tribes to Heaven when Jesus ascended. (Ephesians 4:8) These people were resurrected when Jesus died (Matthew 27:53) and elevated to the position of priests. They have been given a front row seats around God’s throne because they will serve as a jury of human witnesses from Earth at this extremely important meeting.   

 

Revelation 4:5   From the throne came flashes of lightening, rumblings and peals of thunder. [These phenomena will be studied later on.]

 

Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits [that is, the seven angels that stand before] God. The brilliance of these seven angels looked like seven lamps to John.

 

Remember Revelation 1:47 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven [ministering] spirits before his throne,

 

Revelation 4:6   Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.         

 

This sea of glass is awesome, a great transparent platform of shiny sparkling glass that supports God’s throne. I think the beauty of this platform is magnified by the fact that God’s government is totally transparent. Ezekiel also saw this platform:

 

Ezekiel 1:22   Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice, and awesome.

 

Ezekiel 1:26   Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire [translucent bluish color], and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.

 

Revelation 4:6… In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.

 

The covering of eyes indicate the four creatures are omniscient that is, “all seeing.” The four living creatures see everything taking place in the universe.

 

Revelation 4:7   The [face of the] first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

 

Revelation 4:8   Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings.

 

Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was [present through ages past], and is [present], and is to come [throughout eternity].”

 

Ezekiel also saw the four living creatures:

 

Ezekiel 1:4   I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightening and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,

 

Ezekiel 1:5   and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man,

 

Ezekiel 1:6   but each of them had four faces and four wings.

 

Ezekiel 1:10   Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.

 

Ezekiel 1:12   Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.

 

Ezekiel 10:12   Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels.

 

Ezekiel and John saw the same four creatures that stand before God’s throne. Ezekiel tells us that the four creatures are identical, that is, each creature has the same four faces as the other four creatures. In other words the four living creatures are four clones, they are identical.

 

It is interesting that Ezekiel counted four wings and John counted six wings. The number of wings indicates swift flight. Also, John does not mention the four wheels that Ezekiel saw. The obvious question is: What does these four “all seeing” creatures represent? 

 

Answer: The Holy Spirit.

 

This may sound strange at first, but consider this: The four living creatures represent the work and the ministry of the Holy Spirit who is omniscient. This means He can be at four different points of the compass at the same time and in the same form.

 

The Holy Spirit is a co-eternal, distinct and separate member of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is a God just like the Father and the Son are Gods. The Holy Spirit has omniscience ( represented by the covering eyes) and He has omnipresence (represented by the four clones). This incredible being was represented to Ezekiel and John as four living creatures that were identical.

 

The Holy Spirit sees everything taking place at all times, He can read our hearts and minds, and the Holy Spirit can be billions of places at the same time. As we will see shortly, the four faces of each creature represent four capabilities of the Holy Spirit:

 

1.   Lion – Strength (Numbers 23:24)

2.   Ox – Endurance (numbers 23:22)

3.   The face of a man – intelligence (Ecclesiastes 8:1)

4.   An eagle – Deadly foe (Deuteronomy 28:49)

 

The Holy Spirit unites all creation with the heart and mind of the Father and He brings glory to God constantly…   (John 16:14, Matthew 12:31)

 

Revelation 4:9   Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,

 

Revelation 4:10   the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. 

 

They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

 

Revelation 4:11   “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

 

Revelation 5:1   Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

 

Revelation 5:2   And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

 

(The question of worthiness indicates some serious qualifications are required to break open the seals so that the contents of the book can be read…)

 

Revelation 5:4   I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

 

(John is upset… and we don’t know why this is so upsetting at the moment.)

 

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