III HEAVEN

Chapters 4 through 7 are happening in heaven. Chapter 12 is a parenthetical, a spiritual glance of Israel, The Christ, the Great Red Dragon Satan being cast to earth for his last 7 years before the millennium.  The sealing of the saints on their foreheads, the saints are given garments, and worship God. The description of heaven is here. John is taken into heaven and he gets to see the Lord, sitting on His throne. Recommend reading Dr. Heiser’s books and watching his online Seminars! His book and online seminars with the title, “The Unseen Realm”, are greatly appreciated. For Chapter 12 of Revelation he offers another book with fascinating insight to understanding. A podcast about Revelation – https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/newstarthere/ https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/episodes/  Check out the Episodes 352 – 354. {{{Dr. Michael S. Heiser, “Reversing Hermon”, Part II, Chapter 4, pages 55 – 70. Chapter 4, ‘The Sin of the Watchers and the Birth of Jesus.’ ‘Revelation 12 as Astral Prophecy.’ “There is a good deal of evidence (e.g., zodiac mosaics in ancient Jewish synagogues) that faithful, theologically conservative Jews believed that divine activity that would have an impact on earthly events could  be discerned in the skies–activity they were careful to attribute to the true God and no other gods.” (See pg 288, NOTES, no. 100. See for example these studies: Jodi Magness, “Helios and the Zodiac Cycle in Ancient Palestinian Synagogues,” Dumbarton Oaks Papers 59 (2005): 1-52; Rachel Hachlili, “The Zodiac in Ancient Jewish Art: Representation and Significance,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental ResearchI 228 (Dec. 1977) 61-77; James H. Charlesworth, “Jewish Astrology in the Talmud, Pseudepigrapha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Early Palestinian Synagogues,” Harvard Theological Review 70:3/4 (July-October 1977) 183-200.)}}}

VISION OF TEMPLE

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door [was] opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard [was] as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

This verse is usually considered the point of the Rapture. ‘Come up hither’ and no mention of  ‘the’ church anymore. It ‘is’ at the same time as 6:9. It is the the time of the First Resurrection and the Rapture.

[Rev 20:4 NKJV] 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then [I saw] the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received [his] mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Rev 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. (Rev 4:3-5;) 2 Chr 18:18; Isa 6:1; Eze 10:1;

One set on a throne set in heaven

2 Chr 18:18; Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and [on] his left.
Isa 6:1; In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Eze 10:1; Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.  

Rev 4:3 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. Eze 1:26,27; 10:1;

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.  

Eze 1:26; And above the firmament that [was] over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne [was] the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. 27And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
Eze 10:1; Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.  

24 ELDERS

Rev 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. (Rev 4:4,10; 5:8,14; 11:16; 19:4;) (Rev 3:5; 3:18; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9,13,14; 15:6; 19:8,14;) Ex 28:2; Lev 16:4; Isa 61:10; Dan 7:9)

24 thrones, 24 elders, (See 4:10) (white robes)
crowns of gold on their heads

(Ex 28:2; And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
Lev 16:4; He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these [are] holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and [so] put them on.
Isa 61:10; I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh [himself] with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth [herself] with her jewels.
Dan 7:9; I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne [was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire.)  

Rev 4:5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. (Rev 1:4,12,16,20; 2:1; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6; 15:1,7;) Isa 11:1,2; Eze 1:26-28; Eze 10:1-22;)  

Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God

[Isa 11:1-2 NKJV] 1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
[Eze 1:26-28 NKJV] 26 And above the firmament over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne [was] a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so [was] the appearance of the brightness all around it. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw [it], I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
[Eze 10:1-22 NKJV] 1 And I looked, and there in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim, there appeared something like a sapphire stone, having the appearance of the likeness of a throne. 2 Then He spoke to the man clothed with linen, and said, “Go in among the wheels, under the cherub, fill your hands with coals of fire from among the cherubim, and scatter [them] over the city.” And he went in as I watched. 3 Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, [and paused] over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory. 5 And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard [even] in the outer court, like the voice of Almighty God when He speaks. 6 Then it happened, when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim,” that he went in and stood beside the wheels. 7 And the cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that [was] among the cherubim, and took [some of it] and put [it] into the hands of the [man] clothed with linen, who took [it] and went out. 8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings. 9 And when I looked, there were four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by one cherub and another wheel by each other cherub; the wheels appeared [to have] the color of a beryl stone. 10 [As for] their appearance, all four looked alike–as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 11 When they went, they went toward [any of] their four directions; they did not turn aside when they went, but followed in the direction the head was facing. They did not turn aside when they went. 12 And their whole body, with their back, their hands, their wings, and the wheels that the four had, [were] full of eyes all around. 13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, “Wheel.” 14 Each one had four faces: the first face [was] the face of a cherub, the second face the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. 15 And the cherubim were lifted up. This [was] the living creature I saw by the River Chebar. 16 When the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also did not turn from beside them. 17 When [the cherubim] stood still, [the wheels] stood still, and when [one] was lifted up, [the other] lifted itself up, for the spirit of the living creature [was] in them. 18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight. When they went out, the wheels [were] beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the glory of the God of Israel [was] above them. 20 This [is] the living creature I saw under the God of Israel by the River Chebar, and I knew they [were] cherubim. 21 Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and the likeness of the hands of a man [was] under their wings. 22 And the likeness of their faces [was] the same [as] the faces which I had seen by the River Chebar, their appearance and their persons. They each went straight forward.

LIVING CREATURES

Rev 4:6 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. (Rev 4:6-8; 5:6,8; 21:11;) Ex 24:10; Isa 6:1-3; 11:2; Eze 1:5-28; 10:9; Zec 4:1-7;

Sea of Glass, like Crystal

[Exo 24:10 NKJV] 10 and they saw the God of Israel. And [there was] under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in [its] clarity.
Isa 6:1-3; 1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.
Isa 11:2And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
[Eze 1:5-28 NKJV] 5 Also from within it [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. 7 Their legs [were] straight, and the soles of their feet [were] like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. 8 The hands of a man [were] under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. 9 Their wings touched one another. [The creatures] did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, [each] had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. 11 Thus [were] their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two [wings] of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. 12 And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went. 13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance [was] like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. 14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning. 15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel [was] on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their workings [was] like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings [was], as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. 17 When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went. 18 As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims [were] full of eyes, all around the four of them. 19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, [because] there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures [was] in the wheels. 21 When those went, [these] went; when those stood, [these] stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures [was] in the wheels. 22 The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures [was] like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. 23 And under the firmament their wings [spread out] straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. 24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. 25 A voice came from above the firmament that [was] over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings. 26 And above the firmament over their heads [was] the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne [was] a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so [was] the appearance of the brightness all around it. This [was] the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw [it], I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
Eze 10:9; And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels [was] as the colour of a beryl stone.
Zec 4:1-7; And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which [are] upon the top thereof: 3And two olive trees by it, one upon the right [side] of the bowl, and the other upon the left [side] thereof. 4So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What [are] these, my lord? 5Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.  7Who [art] thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone [thereof with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace unto it. 

Rev 4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. (Rev 4:6-8; 5:6,8;) Eze 1:5; 10:14;

Living creature (lion, calf, man, eagle)  [Ezekiel – cherub, man, lion, eagle; Rev – calf, man, lion, eagle] 

[Eze 1:5 NKJV] 5 Also from within it [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
Eze 10:14; And every one had four faces: the first face [was] the face of a cherub, and the second face [was] the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.  

Rev 4:8 [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!” (Rev 4:6-8; 5:6,8;) Isa 6:2,3; 41:4; 44:6; 48:12; 2 Chron 16:9; Eze 1:5,18; 10:12-14; Zech 3:9; 4:10; (Rev 1:4,5,8,11,17; 2:8; 4:8; 21:6; 22:13;)

“Holy, holy, holy,  Lord God Almighty,  Who was and is and is to come!” 

Isaiah 6:2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the LORD of hosts: the whole earth [is] full of his glory.
Isaiah 41:4Who hath wrought and done [it], calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I [am] he.
Isaiah 44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and beside me [there is] no God.
Isaiah 48:12Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I [am] he; I [am] the first, I also [am] the last.
[2Chron 16:9 NKJV] 9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of [those] whose heart [is] loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”
Eze 1:5Also out of the midst thereof [came] the likeness of four living creatures. And this [was] their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. 
Eze 1:18 As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings [were] full of eyes round about them four.
Eze 10:12And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, [were] full of eyes round about, [even] the wheels that they four had. 13As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. 14And every one had four faces: the first face [was] the face of a cherub, and the second face [was] the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
2 Chron 16:9For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. Zech 3:9For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Zech 4:10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel [with] those seven; they [are] the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.  

Rev 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,  

Rev 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: Rev 4:4,10; 5:8,14; 11:16; 19:4; Matt 19:28; Luke 22:30;  

24 elders (There is a lot of assuming that these elders have received their crowns for rewards, and they willingly cast them back to God. I believe this has nothing to do with rewards, but crowns, and I just don’t think they are casting rewarded crowns back as worship, but crowns that they take off and place at the feet of the victorious King. Due respect.  I just don’t see enough evidence from scripture to assume these crowns represent rewards. Telling someone here on earth they will receive crowns for ‘rewards,’ and say what they think is worthy of a reward in their view, is ‘puffed up’ and self-righteous. Certainly not what rewards are. No one knows who the 24 elders are and there is nothing in scripture that identifies them. If the 24 elders are the disciples and the 12 tribes of Jacob then, I also am curious to know if John is one of the 24 elders sitting there and at the same time telling what he saw. Granted he is very modest. Dr. Michael Heiser wrote they are the divine council attending with The Lord of Hosts .
Ref. to the 12 Apostles;  This is just not convincing enough evidence to conclude these 24 elders are any of the apostles.  

Matt 19:28; “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (also Lk 22:30)

Rev 4:11“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.”  

Chapters 4,5 and 7 are happening in heaven.

Chapter 12 is a parenthetical, a spiritual glance of Israel, The Christ, the Great Red Dragon Satan being cast to earth for his last 7 years before the millennium. They glimpse  the entire church age, through the Rapture. The sealing of the saints foreheads, the saints are given garments, and worship God. The description of heaven is here. See Dr. Michael S. Heiser info preceding ‘Vision of Temple’ chapter 4. Chapter 5 The Lamb, who is Emmanuel, appears as a Lamb and has prevailed in Chapter 6 to open the 7 seals. Each seal represents a period of time that happens at the same time as the Church ages.

Will continue to add chapters, a work in progress. Please send any comments to lrtgz3@gmail.com. Thank you.

To be Continued, with chapter 5

BABYLON  (Scofield, C. I. “Scofield Reference Notes on Isaiah 13″. “Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)”. <http://www.studylight.org/com/srn/view.cgi?book=isa&chapter=013&gt;. 1917.)  The city, Babylon is not in view here, as the immediate context shows. It is important to note the significance of the name when used symbolically. “Babylon” is the Greek form: invariably in the O.T. Hebrew the word is simply Babel, the meaning of which is confusion, and in this sense the word is used symbolically. (1) In the prophets, when the actual city is not meant, the reference is to the “confusion” into which the whole social order of the world has fallen under Gentile world-domination. (See “Times of the Gentiles,” Luke 21:24; Revelation 16:14; Isaiah 13:4 gives the divine view of the welter of warring Gentile powers. The divine order is given in Isa. 11. Israel in her own land, the centre of the divine government of the world and channel of the divine blessing; and the Gentiles blessed in association with Israel. Anything else is, politically, mere “babel.” (2) In Revelation 14:8-11; 16:19 the Gentile world-system is in view in connection with Armageddon; Revelation 16:14; 19:21 while in Rev 17, the reference is to apostate Christianity, destroyed by the nations Revelation 17:16 headed up under the Beast ; Daniel 7:8; Revelation 19:20 and false prophet. In Isaiah the political Babylon is in view, literally as to the then existing city, and symbolically as to the times of the Gentiles. In the Revelation both the symbolical- political and symbolical-religious Babylon are in view, for there both are alike under the tyranny of the Beast. Religious Babylon is destroyed by political Babylon Revelation 17:16 political Babylon by the appearing of the Lord Revelation 19:19-21. That Babylon the city is not to be rebuilt is clear from ; Isaiah 13:19-22; Jeremiah 51:24-26,62-64. By political Babylon is meant the Gentile world-system. (See “World,”; John 7:7; Revelation 13:8) It may be added that, in Scripture symbolism, Egypt stands for the world as such; Babylon for the world of corrupt power and corrupted religion; Nineveh for the pride, the haughty glory of the world. (Scofield, C. I. “Scofield Reference Notes on Isaiah 13.″)

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