I told you we'd see the number seven again. In this section, I read about seven lamps, which are the seven servants of the Lord - similar to the seven stars. This causes me to remember that the servants of the Lord are to be a light to the world, put on a candlestick and not under a bushel.
There also appears a book sealed with seven seals. The purpose of the seals seems to be that the book may only be opened by One who is worthy. At first, there doesn't appear to be anyone who is worthy, but then the Lord appears on the throne and opens the seals. It was Him who makes us kings and priests, who redeems us of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people by His own sacred blood, and who was slain. Worthy the Lamb!
There are four beasts, who act as angels and messengers before the throne. While it is unclear what kind of beasts they are, the role they play is indicative of their ability to comprehend what is going on, to speak, and to give instruction (see D&C 77:2). The beasts have six wings - similar to the seraphim found in Isaiah 6:2, where the purpose of those wings is clarified (see also D&C 77:3).
There are twenty-four elders found surrounding the throne. The Doctrine and Covenants explains that these are twenty-four worthy men of the seven churches mentioned previously. I also like to compare this with the Lord's instruction to the twelve disciples in the Americas, where He says that the twelve disciples in America will judge the American inhabitants, while the Twelve Apostles chosen in the Holy Land will judge everyone - including the twelve disciples in America. That may be a bit of a stretch, but it seems to fit the context. Those who sit before the throne are those who are in positions of authority and who mete out judgement. Please remember that the number twelve has significance relating to priesthood, authority, power, judgement, and the tribes of Israel. It is a number that has great importance both to us in our day as well as to the Jews in the time John recorded the Revelation.
There are some very large numbers here - ten thousand times ten thousand (or one hundred million), thousands of thousands (which probably is used to just indicate a LOT of folks), and later the infamous twelve times twelve thousand (one hundred forty-four thousand, which is the number of people originally assumed by the Jehovah's Witnesses to be saved). These numbers are probably not exactly significant, but rather meant to describe large groups of people who are saved.
Then we have the four horses of the Apocalypse. Incidentally, the word "apocalypse" or "apocalyptic" has come to mean - in English, anyway - something that is over the top destructive or terrible. The word has direct reference to this Revelation, and it is just the Greek word meaning "revelation". So don't get too concerned about that word. Whatever its current meaning, its root is just the word revelation. Having said that, however, there are certain destructions associated with these seals' openings and the releasing of these horses. The first is white and goes forth to conquer. The next is red and takes peace from the earth. Then comes a black horse, whose rider holds a pair of scales (judgement). The last horse is pale (gray?) and it is ridden by Death and Hell. Death and Hell are given power over part of the earth to kill with sword, hunger, death, and beasts of the earth. All in all, a not too pleasant picture.
The fifth seal opens and a voice is heard under the altar asking for vengeance for the blood of the martyred saints. The sixth seal, perhaps the most frightening of all, opens to a great earthquake, a darkened sun, and a bloody moon. The stars fall from the sky, and the heavens are opened like a scroll. Mountains and islands are moved. And the rich, and the great and powerful men of the earth hide in caves and ask for the mountains to cover them, to hide them from the wrath of the Lord.
Who shall stand? Who? (See Malachi 3:2-3)
There also appears a book sealed with seven seals. The purpose of the seals seems to be that the book may only be opened by One who is worthy. At first, there doesn't appear to be anyone who is worthy, but then the Lord appears on the throne and opens the seals. It was Him who makes us kings and priests, who redeems us of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people by His own sacred blood, and who was slain. Worthy the Lamb!
There are four beasts, who act as angels and messengers before the throne. While it is unclear what kind of beasts they are, the role they play is indicative of their ability to comprehend what is going on, to speak, and to give instruction (see D&C 77:2). The beasts have six wings - similar to the seraphim found in Isaiah 6:2, where the purpose of those wings is clarified (see also D&C 77:3).
There are twenty-four elders found surrounding the throne. The Doctrine and Covenants explains that these are twenty-four worthy men of the seven churches mentioned previously. I also like to compare this with the Lord's instruction to the twelve disciples in the Americas, where He says that the twelve disciples in America will judge the American inhabitants, while the Twelve Apostles chosen in the Holy Land will judge everyone - including the twelve disciples in America. That may be a bit of a stretch, but it seems to fit the context. Those who sit before the throne are those who are in positions of authority and who mete out judgement. Please remember that the number twelve has significance relating to priesthood, authority, power, judgement, and the tribes of Israel. It is a number that has great importance both to us in our day as well as to the Jews in the time John recorded the Revelation.
There are some very large numbers here - ten thousand times ten thousand (or one hundred million), thousands of thousands (which probably is used to just indicate a LOT of folks), and later the infamous twelve times twelve thousand (one hundred forty-four thousand, which is the number of people originally assumed by the Jehovah's Witnesses to be saved). These numbers are probably not exactly significant, but rather meant to describe large groups of people who are saved.
Then we have the four horses of the Apocalypse. Incidentally, the word "apocalypse" or "apocalyptic" has come to mean - in English, anyway - something that is over the top destructive or terrible. The word has direct reference to this Revelation, and it is just the Greek word meaning "revelation". So don't get too concerned about that word. Whatever its current meaning, its root is just the word revelation. Having said that, however, there are certain destructions associated with these seals' openings and the releasing of these horses. The first is white and goes forth to conquer. The next is red and takes peace from the earth. Then comes a black horse, whose rider holds a pair of scales (judgement). The last horse is pale (gray?) and it is ridden by Death and Hell. Death and Hell are given power over part of the earth to kill with sword, hunger, death, and beasts of the earth. All in all, a not too pleasant picture.
The fifth seal opens and a voice is heard under the altar asking for vengeance for the blood of the martyred saints. The sixth seal, perhaps the most frightening of all, opens to a great earthquake, a darkened sun, and a bloody moon. The stars fall from the sky, and the heavens are opened like a scroll. Mountains and islands are moved. And the rich, and the great and powerful men of the earth hide in caves and ask for the mountains to cover them, to hide them from the wrath of the Lord.
Who shall stand? Who? (See Malachi 3:2-3)
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