In this week’s study, I continue in Chapter 4, with the Vision taking place in heaven. John describing what he is seeing in the Heavenly Throne room.
5. Lightings and thunderings = The two oldest manuscripts transpose, “voices and thunderings.” Compare this with the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai, Exod. 19:16. “The thunderings express Yahweh’s threats against the ungodly: there are voices in the thunders (Rev. 10:3), that is, not only does He threaten generally, but also predicts special judgments”
Lamps = ‘lam-pas'’ I can’t help but think on Matthew 25 on those 10 virgins with their lamps, 5 having that oil, whereas the 5 foolish ones had no oil, “el-ah-yon”.
6. Beasts = “zoon” living ones or living creatures. Important, this is not the same Greek word as in Chapters 13 and 17. These “zoa” are the cherubim of Gen. 3:24, Ezek. 1:5-14. They are distinguished from angels. These “zoa” speak of creation and of redemption also. Could these 4 be some type of a supernatural enity?
Before = In front. As one looked on their faces, from whatever quarters the throne was approached, he could see a multitude of eyes looking upon him.
7. The first living creature was like a lion; this was, say the rabbis, the standard of Judah on the east, with the two tribes of Issachar and Zebulon. The second, like a calf or ox, which was the emblem of Ephraim who pitched on the west, with the two tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin. The third, with the face of a man, which, according to the rabbis, was the standard of Reuben who pitched on the south, with the two tribes of Simeon and Gad. The fourth, which was like a flying (spread) eagle, was, according to the same writers, the emblem on the ensign of Dan who pitched on the north, with the two tribes of Asher and Naphtali. This tradition description agrees with the four faces of the cherub in Ezekiel’s vision.
The first time the Zoa are mentioned in the Bible they are named, though they are not described. In Gen 3:24 they are called "the Cherubim," and this word has never been translated in any Version. We have, therefore, a good precedent for leaving their other names, Zoon and Zoa, also untranslated.
8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him = As the seraphim in Isa. 6:2 with two of which they might cover their faces as they did, testifying thereby their worship of Yahweh, when in His presence; and with the other two cover their feet, signifying their sense of their sinfulness, weakness, and imperfection, in their conversation, even in their best works, and in the ministry of the word; and with the other two fly about, as denoting their readiness to minister the word and ordinances, to visit the members of the church, and do all good offices of love and service to them that lie in their power.
My intention is to take this study to a deep level. Deeper than most of you are used to! I am asking no one to agree with me; however I do ask that you check every detail that I present out for yourself.
Don’t end up like those in Hosea 4:6 ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God (Elohim), I will also forget thy children.’
But, be like those in 2Timothy 2:15 ‘Study to shew thyself approved unto God (Yahweh), a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’
Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!
Have any questions? Feel free to email me at utwoy@netzero.net
