One of the most pointed challenges you can give an anti-catholic is this one-
Show me your church's worship in Scripture.
When confronting chapter 4 and beyond, you must confront a startling reality. That reality is that John was called up to heaven. John saw what worship looks like so none of what you are about to read is speculation.
When you look at what Catholics call worship and what the Book of revelation shows as worship, you see that they are absolutely identical. There is just no way around it. What you call worship means nothing if it does not line up with what Scripture defines worship to be. The realization that the book of Revelation shows worship, Catholic style, has caused many to join up with us.
At the risk of oversimplification, there are two different views at play:
God replaced the Old Covenant with something totally new.
God fulfilled the Old Covenant with something that had been foreshadowed and is now realized.
We will show you that the 2nd option is the correct option.
Revelation 4: 1 After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Isn't the language strange? John says the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
Can it be that John does not know who it is? Even if you are one of those who believe that this is a different John than the Apostle, a different John from the writer of the Gospel, you still could not possibly not know by now, who you are speaking to.
Recall that in chapter 1, John describes Him as a Son of Man who says of Himself, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. It is just impossible that John did not recognize who it was. The fact that I do believe it is the same John who sat at table with Jesus and who wrote the 4th Gospel and 3 epistles, who stood at the foot of the cross, makes this phraseology even more staggering.
I have a theory and if you will humor me a bit, I think you may find it to be a compelling one and this one absolutely concerns a different John, one that it is even harder to believe could not know who Jesus was.
John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus. He was conceived in September of 3 BC after Zechariah was visited by an Angel. Baptized in his mother's womb at the greeting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, sometime between March and the end of June. Tradition places his birth at June 24th, almost exactly 6 months before Jesus.
As the families traveled multiple times each year, to Jerusalem, these cousins would have been well acquainted, and John cried out in the wilderness the herald of Jesus coming.
To the bystanders, John identified Jesus as The Lamb of God which was a powerfully prophetic title pointing to Jesus as the true Passover feast. Finally, John baptized Jesus, saw the Holy Spirit descend as a dove and heard the voice of the Father from heaven.
There wouldn't seem to be much chance that John the Baptist did not know who Jesus was. Yet, we are confronted with this puzzling exchange from Matthew 11:
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
Did John suddenly lose heart after being cast into prison? It's plausible. Perhaps he simply became confused that Jesus wasn't turning out to be the kind of Messiah he imagined. Perhaps, as some have speculated, John was asking the question rhetorically so that Jesus could answer for the benefit of John's disciples.
My personal opinion is that the 3rd explanation is the most plausible and I will tell you why. I believe John knew his end was near and he wanted his disciples to understand why he pointed them to Jesus.
He provided Jesus the opportunity to make the case. When Jesus makes His case, does he admonish John for his lack of faith? Quite the contrary! He exalts John and does a deep dive into describing the significance of his mission.
4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses. 9 Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,who shall prepare thy way before thee.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Eli′jah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates,
17 ‘We piped to you, and you did not dance;we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
I believe John the Revelator is doing exactly the same thing here. He doesn't want to merely tell you who is the one with the voice of a trumpet, He wants to show you.
Let's follow along.
First, we flash back to Chapter 1.
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast; 14 his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters;
John is clearly hearkening back to the prophetic visions of Daniel Chapter 7
9 As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire.10 A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
11 I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.14 And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
When you compare those verses in John 1 to what Daniel saw, in Daniel 7, you understand that they are one and the same. John's vision is the fulfillment of that which in Daniel's vision is prophetic. In this context, we can continue.
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! 3 And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.
So we have seen, again, the Son of Man and now we see again, the Ancient of Days- the Father.
Daniel's vision ratified by John's vision. Yet John takes it further. While Daniel refers vaguely and obliquely to many standing and serving and a court in session, John gives us a much sharper image:
4 Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads. 5 From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
In 1st Peter, chapter 2, we read:
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
From this verse comes the declaration that we are all Priests (priesthood), Prophets (Those who declare the works of God) and Kings (Royal) and those who declare this are not wrong. However, that doesn't mean that the general priesthood negates the ministerial priesthood or that a hierarchy does not/will not exist.
We are all Priests in that a Priest offers a sacrifice to God and that we can offer our own sufferings in union with those of Christ (Colossians 1:24-25)
We are all prophets in the sense that all of us are called to testify to God's law, will and deeds.
We are all Kings in the sense that we are brothers of the King of Kings and sharers in His Kingdom.
Nevertheless, some will receive the higher calling of Sacred ministry and offer the one-time sacrifice of Christ. Some will be educated and ordained to preach the gospel and some will be elected to those highest positions of authority, through which Jesus exercises Kingship.
What is bound on earth is bound in Heaven, Jesus promised it. What you will see, in the chapters that follow is that the action in heaven have consequences on earth and vice versa.
The word for elder is presbyteroi which actually can be translated as Priest.
24 Royal Priests on thrones, wearing crowns.
On thrones and wearing crowns of gold.
Many of our protestant brothers and sisters would say that these are the 12 apostles and the 12 sons of Israel. I don't necessarily disagree that they might be right. However, many don't seem to have much to say about what they are doing. Maybe you haven't given it much thought.
So let me be blunt here.
God has called John up to heaven and commanded John to write down what He sees. Would He have done that if what is about to be shown is of little consequence?
These details are all important because they don't just reveal what heaven looks like, they reveal how heaven works. In revealing what heaven looks like and how it works, they reveal to us what worship looks like and how it works. Pay attention. You don't want to miss it.
So picture that there are three levels of vantage with regard to the Throne. There is the Throne, there is the area around the throne, occupied by 24 mini-thrones, so to speak. Then there is the intermediary area between the two, that is called before the throne.
In chapters 1 and 2, we see a couple of references to Jesus and a two-edged sword. In one reference, it is issuing from His mouth, in another it is simply stated as something He has. The two-edged sword is an interesting analogy of a strong weapon that can be very effective if used correctly but you can also cut yourself with it if you aren't careful.
In this analogy, it seems to indicate how God's Word can be our salvation or our downfall depending on the care we show.
The Seven Spirits of God is another example of something to be seen from multiple vantage points. This is now the 3rd reference we see. In chapter 1 recall that we are greeted with Grace and Peace from the Seven Spirits who are before the Throne, along with the Father and The Son. Then, in chapter 3, Jesus speaks as one having the 7 Spirits. Finally, the Seven Spirits appear again before the throne here in Chapter 4 but instead of personified Spirits giving greeting, they appear here as 7 torches. These torches stand lit, before the Throne, between the 24 Elders and the Ancient of Days, as Daniel called Him.
Ponder the fact that a candle or lamp is just a smaller representation of a torch and serve the same purpose- to give light- and then play off the 7 torches before the Throne which represent the 7 Spirits and The 7 Lampstands Jesus walks amongst that represent the 7 Churches. Then ponder that, around the throne, beyond the 7 torches, are the thrones with the 24 Elders.
Before we go deeper, let me address an objection I heard once. It goes like this:
If we agree that the 24 Elders are Apostles and Sons of Israel, where is Mary? Why isn't her place mentioned if she is so special?
I'm glad you asked.
Consider this story from Matthew Chapter 20:
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zeb′edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
After reading what you have read, consider what Jesus is saying here. He is confirming that someone will sit to His right and left on the throne. On it, not before it, not around it.
On stage, so to speak.
Who would that be?
This again, is the beauty of typology.
In 1 Kings, Chapter 2, verse 19, the Queen Mother (The mother of the King) goes in to meet with the King. He bows in respect and places her on a throne to His right. As we have already discussed, Jesus is the Davidic King. That makes Mary the Queen at His right.
I will prove it to you.
Psalm 45 is a prophecy of who?
2 Thou art fairer than the children of men; Grace is poured into thy lips: Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, Thy glory and thy majesty.
4 And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, Because of truth and meekness and righteousness: And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
5 Thine arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under thee; They are in the heart of the king's enemies.
6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
7 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.
It is impossible not to conclude that it is Jesus.
Then what of the next verse?
9 Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women: At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir. |
Who is this Queen to the right of the King? Any 1st century Christian, former Jew, would have answered without hesitation- His mother. They knew the Old Testament and they knew who the Queen was. That is where she sits- on the right of the King.
Who is on the left? We can only speculate but I would give the 2 most likely options-
Peter, the Chief Steward / Prime Minister which means someone else in that 24th throne, so to speak.
Joseph, spouse of Mary and foster father of Jesus.
I would guess Joseph.
Why is this important?
The role of the Queen Mother, as we see clearly in 1 Kings 2: 12-21 was as someone who intercedes to the King, on the behalf of His subjects. The Davidic model on earth is fulfilled in heaven, not just by Mary but by the 24 elders and, as you will see soon- all the saints.
It's how heaven works.
This will be spelled out in more detail as we go but for now, it is important to see that there is a structure to God's governance in heaven and how it is connected to His worship by those on earth. God chooses to act through His creation. He ordains it.
And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
This version is strikingly similar to a vision in Ezekial Chapter 1
5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the form of men, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another; they went every one straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man in front; the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle at the back.11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 In the midst of the living creatures there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning.
The second vision almost seems like an extraction from the first. There is so much detail and so much symbolism that I feel that it's best not to get bogged down in details but address some large themes.
First, I think there are a few different ways of looking at the two visions.
Are they the same 4 creatures manifested is slightly different ways or are they a second 4 which resemble the first 4 in some ways or attributes? Are these actual creatures that actually look like this or are the symbolic representations?
I will say they are symbolic representations that are to show us some very specific things about how God works,
First, in both vision, what we see are creatures. These are not God. They are not Divine. They are Angels or Men or some combination. Both visions show some human appearance and features, particularly the vision in Daniel. In the Daniel vision, the most compelling thing that is said is right here:
12 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 In the midst of the living creatures there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
The creatures were led by the Spirit of God. This statement is reinforced by the image of the torches moving among them. You recall, in the Revelation vision, that the torches represent the 7 spirits of God. Notice also that their wings touch each other. This seems to infer a bond or connection- a chain of support, if you will. With other wings, they shield themselves. The wings clearly seem to indicate Divine power acting through them. It actually appears to possibly represent Grace.
Each of the creatures is identified with a Man, A lion, an Ox and an Eagle. In the Revelation vision, they each, separately, take on these personifications but in the Daniel vision, each creature possesses all 4. This also is very interesting. It would seem to indicate that each creature has a special charism or trait, strongest in himself, but shared among the 4. What could this be?
The early church had an interpretation that can even be seen today in churches like Saint Matthew's Cathedral in Washington DC. I've seen it myself.
The early church saw the 4 creatures as representing the 4 Gospel writers.
Michael Barber, in his work Coming Soon (page 86) said that Matthew is represented by the Man, as his gospel begins with the human genealogy of Jesus. Mark is the lion as he begins with the voice crying out in the wilderness, Luke is represented by the Ox as his gospel begins and end with the Temple where Oxen were slaughtered, and John's is the Eagle because of how the theological and spiritual message soars to the heavens.
Again, these are not my conclusions, nor Barber's. This is the take of the early church fathers.
Let's examine their hypothesis.
If they are what the creatures represent, then the phrase about them following the spirit is a beautiful depiction of the Divine inspiration of the Gospels. It's also an image of synergy.
Notice that the Spirit (in the symbolism of torches) doesn't move instead of the creatures. They move together. The first moves, the second follows.
They are in sync but it's cooperation not imputation.
Notice in the Revelation vision, they are covered all over with eyes. This is a representation that they see all things. This would be a supernatural ability, but it is entrusted to creatures and, apparently, to human creatures.
I say apparently because that is the almost humorous intrigue of these apocalyptic writings. As soon as you think you have an interpretation that fits, along comes a curve ball.
The curve ball here comes in the prophetic book of Ezekial. In chapter 10, we see these 4 creatures again from yet another vantage point.
7 And a cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it, and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.
9 And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling chrysolite. 10 And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel. 11 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced the others followed without turning as they went. 12 And their rims, and their spokes, and the wheels were full of eyes round about—the wheels that the four of them had. 13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing the whirling wheels. 14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the 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.
15 And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the river Chebar. 16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them. 17 When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
18 Then the glory of the Lord went forth from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight as they went forth, with the wheels beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the house of the Lord; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
20 These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the semblance of human hands. 22 And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the very faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. They went every one straight forward.
So now the creatures are Cherubs (Angels) and the face of the Ox has been replaced by the face of angels?
There are 9 levels of Angels according to Scripture and the early church. Cherubim are the 2nd highest behind Seraphim. The others are Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Principalities, Virtues, Angels and Archangels. You can research that yourself.
All of this changing and moving around of divine, angelic, human...All this switching of past, present and future. It's all so confusing. How do we make any sense of it.
They only way to make sense of it is to throw out the linear concepts you are trying to impose on God and on this Book and look at the image as it is being presented.
Things are not moving left to right from God to the Angels to Man, or even from the Top down. There is not a sharply defined street you can point to and say This is where God ends, and the angels begin" or "This marks the end of angels and the beginning of men".
Look at what we are shown. The Spirits are shown in front of the Throne. The creatures are shown around the throne. The multitudes are shown outside of that. God is not at the top, He is at the center. It proceeds outward, not downward.
The ever widening circles blend and blur because the light of God, like the light of the Sun penetrates all the way out for millions of miles. As the earth revolves around the Sun, creation revolves around God.
Seeing all of space through this image is essential to understanding this book.
Now comes the really challenging part.
Just as God is the center of all space, with all of creation spinning around in the outer reaches, the same is true of time.
God is the I AM not the I WAS or the I WILL BE. He sits at the very center of time and all times are present time to Him.
If you view this Book strictly from the standpoint of this happens and then this and then that, you have no hope of understanding it.
So, are the creatures angels or humans? Do they possess Supernatural characteristics and attributes or human? Are they in the past or present or future?
It's not either/or, it's both/and.
The entire point of what you are being showed here is how God's Divine power and Divine Will become infused with His creation like two molten metals being fused together as an element.
How is this possible? It's possible because of the God-Man, Jesus Christ. This does not make Angels into God or men into God. It makes them into lights, plugged into the Divine power.
Think of the 4 living creatures as one of the concentric circles through which this energy passes.
But what of 1 Timothy 2:5?
It is true, there is one mediator between God and Man- Jesus Christ. How could it be otherwise? In the Divine transfer of this heavenly power, He is the Divine Transformer.
Here is why I think the Transformer analogy is a perfect fit.
A transformer converts a primary source of power into a secondary source. The potential power (voltage) is often stepped down from the thousands of volts on the street to the 120 volts that is used in your house. The primary and secondary voltages do not come in contact with each other but the secondary is created by the magnetic field of the primary.
The amount of electrical flow is calculated in Amps, not volts. The Amps increase on the secondary side as the volts decrease- by the same proportion.
In other words, the amount of work that can be done is equal on both sides.
Think of the current flow as Grace and the Voltage as my will (represented by Voltage) decreases, His Grace (represented by Amps) can do more.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Thus, the secondary power that flows through the Angels, The Saints, The Priests and me, is His power. It's not either/or, it's both/and. It's God's power and His creation cooperates with it.
The Catholic connection?
This is what Mass looks like. In every Mass, we have a Priest seated on the Altar. In every Mass, we have a reading from the Gospels and in every Mass, we sing out Holy, Holy, Holy to our God.
Does your church service look like this?
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,
11 “Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.”
Just as we can speculate which 4 angels and which 4 men are represented by the 4 creatures, the same is true of the 24 elders/priests. It is widely speculated that they are the 12 Apostles and the 12 Sons of Israel. Although that is certainly plausible, I see nothing that compels this view.
They could represent them or they could simply be the top 24 saints in church history even some who lived after John. Remember, time is no obstacle for God.
Here are a few things I believe we do need to know about them.
They Worship God as GOD. (vs 10 & 11). Again, this counters the "Catholics worship Mary" tripe. An essential element of worship is an assent to Divinity of the person/object worshipped.
These are Men yet they are seated on thrones and wearing crowns. This proves that the saints are involved in the heavenly government.
Much is made in Evangelical circles of the image of them casting their crowns. The image is one of homage, humility and submission to a higher authority. Some in Evangelical circles take this as a repudiation of their crowns in recognition that God did everything and they don't deserve them.
That would be a repudiation of God's Justice and a terrible ingratitude. Reject this view.
We will see you next time with Chapter 5!
Yorumlar