THE APOCALYPSE AND THE TEMPLE CODE

AROUND THE THRONE

A. The four living creatures

Main verse: Revelation 4:7-8

1. The word beast is not the same word as the beast (for the antichrist). This Greek word is zoon. 2. The Greek word zoe is the word for life in the New Testament. They are living creatures. 3. The beast alluding to the antichrist is therion , or a wild beast (Rev. 13:1). 4. Isaiah also saw Seraphim with six wings, full of eyes and crying holy (Isa. 6:1-2).

B. These beasts match the four main tribes at the tabernacle

Location

The Tribe

The Emblem

The Number of Men

   

East West South North

Judah

Lion

74,600 (Num. 1:27) 40,500 (Num. 1:33) 46,500 (Num. 1:21) 62,700 (Num. 1:39)

Ephraim Reuben

Ox

Man

Dan

Eagle

C. The four living creatures and Christ

The Heavenly Emblem

The Imagery of Christ

The Gospel Reference

   

Head of a Lion Head of an Ox Head of a Man Head of an Eagle

Jesus the Lion of Judah

Matthew’s gospel

Jesus the Servant

Mark’s gospel Luke’s gospel John’s gospel

Jesus the Son of man Jesus the Eternal Word

D. There are 24 elders around the throne (Rev. 4:4)

 Elder is presbuteros, meaning one of older age; used of a deacon (James 5:14)  The elders are a picture of the twenty-four courses of priests at the ancient Temple  The elders are the twelve sons of Jacob and twelve apostles of Christ (Luke 22:30)  The twenty-four elders are a picture of the heavenly priesthood – at the Heavenly Temple

1. The earthly Temple correlation

a. The Temple service was overseen by fourteen men called the “ counsel of the Temple ” b. The Temple members were called the “ elders of the priest ” c. In the Heavenly Temple w e are a “ royal priesthood and a holy nation ” (1 Pet. 2:9) d. In the Heavenly Temple we are literally a “ Kingdom of priests ” (Rev. 5:10)

Note: These twenty-four elders remain in the Heavenly Temple throughout the book of Revelation

2. The appearance of the twenty-four elders

a. They are sitting upon 24 seats (in Greek - thronos ). These were seen by Daniel in Dan.7:9.

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