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The seals of Revelation
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 (Rev. 4:1).
Jan Massys, The Revelation of St. John the Evangelist on the Island of Patmos, 1563
After the Apostle heard the epistles, he saw before him a door opened to Heaven. He heard the same voice, like the sound of a trumpet, that he heard earlier. The voice ordered him to go up to see what was going to happen. You see, the Holy Spirit calls the Apostle and Evangelist John. He shows that what He wants to reveal to the Apostle belongs to Heaven. It’s from God, the events of God, which is why the Apostle says he saw a “door open in Heaven.” The Apostle again heard the voice of Christ, as before. Christ Himself spoke with him and called him to rise up in order to see coming events. At the same time, the words “come up hither” mean that the man who desires to contemplate the mysteries of God must surpass that which is human. Do you remember how Moses ascended Mt. Sinai when God gave him the commandments? In the Transfiguration, the Lord took the disciples up Mt. Thabor to show that man is called to transcend the human in order to contemplate the Divine; to depart from all things human, to liberate oneself from human ties, and most importantly—from the passions and sin. Then it will be possible to receive everything that God shows His people.
And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald (Rev. 4:2-3). The Apostle was seized by the Holy Spirit; he was in a state of rapture by the Holy Spirit. He saw a throne upon which someone sat. From Him came a radiance like that of precious stone—jasper and sardius. Around the throne was a glowing rainbow, shining like an emerald.
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold (Rev. 4:4). Around this wondrous throne, striking in its glory and majesty, were twenty-four thrones. The Apostle doesn’t write here Who was sitting on the throne; he describes the throne and the place, but not the One Who was sitting there, as before. This throne shone with precious stones. Around the throne was a Heavenly rainbow and twenty-four other thrones, upon which sat twenty-four elders adorned in white robes, with golden crowns upon their heads. We see a resplendent throne before us, with twenty-four other thrones around it and twenty-four elders (presbyters1) sat upon them in white clothing and with golden crowns upon their heads.
Albrecht Dürer, St. John Before God and the Twenty-four Elders Who are these twenty-four elders? The Apostle John doesn’t explain. These were priests being called elders (presbyters). And today, a priest in Christian, evangelical terminology is a presbyter. There are three ranks of the priesthood: deacon, presbyter, and bishop. Some interpret this as the twenty-four elders being priests sitting around the throne of God. Others explain that these were the Twelve Apostles and Twelve Patriarchs of the Old Testament. Others say that it’s neither of those, but rather the twenty-four elders are people who have achieved high virtues. They were dressed in white clothes, testifying to their purity, and crowned with the golden crowns of the Kingdom of God. Of course, these are all images, symbols. It doesn’t mean God will appear and set up a throne with twenty-four other thrones around it. None of that will happen. They are images, used to show us the majesty and glory of God, and how glorified are those who surround God.
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God (Rev. 4:5). All of this surrounded this amazing throne. All of this testifies to greatness and proclaims fear; not fear in the psychological sense, but a reverent sense of the majesty and incomprehensibility of the presence of God in the world. These thunderings, voices, and lightnings remind us of Mt. Sinai, when God descended there to give Moses the commandments: The whole mountain shook, voices were heard, and thunderings, lighting flashed. This is how the Lord gave Moses the commandments. Around the throne were seven lamps of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. It doesn’t mean that God has seven spirits, but it means fullness. The number seven always reminds us of fullness and perfection; here—the spirits of God. Many ask what the candles, lampadas, and candle stands in church represent. The images described here speak about it—lights, lampadas, voices, incense. Everything in our churches is done according to the image of what was revealed in the visions of saints.
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind (Rev. 4:6). There was a crystal-like sea of glass all around. And in the center and around the throne there were four animals, full of eyes in front and back. We see before us a majestic throne in splendor and glory, and around it—twenty-four other thrones and elders sitting upon them, in white garments with golden crowns on their heads, as well as seven lamps burning at the throne, which symbolizes the seven spirits of God—the perfection of God. And it’s said that the floor on which the throne was set was like a glass sea, resembling crystal. There were four beasts around the throne. They were full of eyes, both in front and back. What does that mean? It means wakefulness, vigilant attention. These animals (which, of course, symbolize something) were in constant, vigilant attention, watching, singing, and uniting with God.
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle (Rev. 4:7). They weren’t those exact animals, but similar to them. This probably reminds you of something. Do you remember that the Apostles-Evangelists Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John are depicted in iconography together with these beasts? Why in particular a lion, calf, eagle, and man? They are the kings of animals. The lion is the king of wild animals, the calf the king of animals tamed by man, the eagle the king of birds, and man, of course, is the king of all living things. Four animals, filled with eyes, were in extreme, vigilant attentiveness, without a trace of carelessness or slumber. One ascetic said that it’s good for a man to be “all eye.” Man should have such attentiveness, as though the whole man is one eye. As we colloquially say: “Keep an eye out.” Be so attentive that it’s like you have 400 eyes looking everywhere. Such were the four beasts that symbolize the four Evangelists, holding and affirming the Gospel for the Church.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, Which was, and is, and is to come (Rev. 4:8). These four animals have no rest; they constantly, incessantly hymn God, saying: Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, Which was, and is, and is to come. See, we constantly come across testimony of the Triune God. The beasts sing thrice—holy, holy, holy—in honor of the Holy Trinity.
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, Who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created (Rev. 4:9-11). This whole vision described here by the Apostle John refers to God sitting on the throne. The elders offer glory, thanksgiving, and worship, and all their virtues and holiness to God. Who created everything? God—the creator of everything, Christ.
A book sealed with seven seals
Next, we’ll see another vision. And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals (Rev. 5:1). You see, the Apostle doesn’t describe Who is sitting on the throne, either because He couldn’t see him, or he simply wrote as the Holy Spirit enlightened him to write. He doesn’t say Who was on the throne, but in His right hand the Apostle saw a book, with writing inside and out. The book was sealed with seven seals. It was sealed with wax, just like our letters were sealed in olden days so they wouldn’t open. And moreover, with seven seals, which means the book was completely closed. The book was covered with writing, but the One sitting upon the throne held it in his right hand, and it was sealed. No one could open it or look at it.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in Heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon (Rev. 5:2-3). No one either in Heaven or on earth could come and take this book, open it, or look at it. No one could even get close to it. And the angel asks: Then who can open this book?
St. John Weeping, illustration from Revelation with Patristic Commentaries And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon (Rev. 5:4). The Apostle John greatly wept because there was no one worthy to come and take this book and open it and look upon it. It was impossible to even look at because of the radiance of its glory, and not a single written word could be seen. St. John saw this sealed book in the right hand of God, but no one could approach it. St. John wept because no one could take this book.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof (Rev. 5:5). Weep not—the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered. He will be able to open this book and remove the seals from it. We see such a striking vision, and further you’ll understand roughly what it’s about.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth (Rev. 5:6). The Apostle saw the slain Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne (Rev. 5:7). Who does the slain Lamb remind us of? Christ. What is this picture? It’s the image of the world before the Nativity of Christ. Mankind awaited the coming of Christ, but there was no one worthy through whom the Incarnation of God the Word could take place until the Most Holy Theotokos. With her holy life, with her sanctity, she was vouchsafed that Christ should be incarnate of her and God should become man. And now, as Man, through His human nature and sacrifice (that’s why it says the “slain Lamb” here), He goes and takes the book and holds it in His hand. That’s Who turned out to be worthy to receive the book—the Lamb, Christ. And what was this book? The book of grace, of the New Testament, of the new life that Christ brought the world—salvation and the deification of man. He came and took it from the right hand of Him Who was sitting on the throne.
And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints (Rev. 5:8). The twenty-four elders and four beasts fell down before the Lamb and worshiped Him. You see, they worshiped Him just as they worshiped the One sitting upon the throne. When Jehovah’s Witnesses come and ask: “Why do you worship Christ as God? Why do you believe Christ is the true God?”—look here, please. It’s what Scripture says. The same worship that the elders and four animals (Evangelists) gave God, they also give to the slain Lamb, the God-Man Christ. The elders worshiped the Lamb, and everyone had harps and golden bowls full of incense in their hands. And this incense, which the elders offered from golden censers, were the prayers of the saints. See, what we have in the Church is no figment of human imagination. No one sat down and reasoned: “We have to find something so we can have smoke in church.” All this is done according to the image of what the saints see in Heaven by the Holy Spirit. They saw incense, they saw candles, they saw golden censers filled with incense, with which they burned incense before God. Since the Church is the imprint of Heaven, it reminds us of everything described in Revelation, in the Old Testament. God Himself said to the Prophet Moses: “Be careful! Do everything exactly as you saw on the holy mountain. Don’t do it your own way. You have seen censers, incense, the Ark, and lamps on Sinai—so you do it the same” (cf. Ex. 30).
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation (Rev. 5:9). They all sing a new song before God, before the God-Man Christ: “You offered Yourself a sacrifice for us by accepting to be slaughtered, and thereby redeemed us to God.”
The Lamb on the Book with the Seven Seals And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth (Rev. 5:10). You see, Christ came, became man, offered Himself in sacrifice for us, received the book from God, gave it to men, and now they worship Him the same as they do God the Father. He is worthy because He was slain for us and redeemed us to God by His pure blood; everyone—from every generation, tongue, nation, and tribe, without any discrimination. The Kingdom left the people of Israel and entered the people of the Church. People from every tribe, every tongue, every nation—all are invited to enter the Church. God has made us into kings and priests of God by His Holy Blood, His sacrifice, through our Baptism. Remember how the Apostle Peter says: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (1 Pt. 2:9)? Those who are baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity are kings and priests: kings because they reign over the passions and sin, and priests because every one of us (whether male or female) performs a sacred act, offering God his salvation, his very self, his being as a sacred act.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever (Rev. 5:11-13). The Apostle heard not only human voices, but also how each creature seemed to say: “One honor to Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb.” To God, Who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb belong blessing, honor, glory, and power unto the ages of ages.
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever (Rev. 5:14).
To be continued…
