Dead Theologian’s Society Catholic Student Union at Florida State University
Session 3: Chapters 4 and 5 Creation and Redemption
Review the Context
In Revelation 3:20 we are told that Christ stands at the door knocking, waiting for us to open it to him. Almost before we can respond to the invitation, Revelation 4:1 shows us a door opening into heaven itself. Like the father who runs to meet his prodigal son in Jesus’ moving parable, Jesus preempts our response by opening a door of his own and revealing more of himself to us. What we discover when we peer inside that open door is the heart of the book: the throne room vision (Revelation 4-5). It is the heart of the text because it reveals to us God the Father and Jesus his Son, the end and beatitude of the human person. These represent not only the “end” of the journey, but also the “source” of all that is to come later in the book. From the heavenly throne will come both the judgment of the wicked and the joy of the redeemed, the horseman of the Apocalypse and the white horse of the King of Kings, who comes to defeat God’s enemies. All things radiate and flow from this central core—a Revelation of the sovereignty of God over all creation and human history, the throne that represents him to whom this world really belongs.
We have already seen how frequently John has drawn upon the more ancient “revelations” to the Old Testaments prophets to help explain what he is seeing. The Old Testament prophet most connected to the Book of Revelation is the prophet Ezekiel: there are over one hundred specific references to Ezekiel in Revelation. This shouldn’t surprise us since both authors trace the events that lead up to the destruction of the earthly Jerusalem and both give us the hope of the return of the shining city and its Temple.
Finally, Revelation 4-5 presents two distinct liturgies to the reader. Chapter 4 is a celebration of the liturgy of creation, while chapter 5 reveals a liturgy of redemption. Both visions follow a similar pattern that contains an important revelation of its own: all the glory, worship, an honor given to God the Father in Revelation 4 is given to his Son, Jesus, the Lamb in Revelation 5. The inaugural vision shows us that Jesus is “the first and the last,” and chapter 5 teaches us that he is fully God.
Revelation 4: Liturgy of Creation Revelation 5: Liturgy of Redemption The glory of the Lord (verses 2b-8a) The glory of the Lamb (verses 5-7) Worship of God (verses 8b-11) Worship of the Lamb (verses 8-12) Opening Hymn (verse 8b) Opening Hymn (verses 9-10) Narration (verses 9-10) Narration (verses 11-12a) Second Hymn (verse 11) Second hymn (verse 12b)
Session 3: Chapters 4 and 5 Page 1 of 4 The Text • The reader is transported into the heavenly throne room to witness the eternal worship of the Lamb and of the Father • Our Catholic Mass (liturgy) is based on the Book of Revelation • Chapter 3 ends with the image of a door and chapter 4 begins with an open door o What’s on the other side of the door? The fullness of the kingdom of God (CCC 1026: by his death and resurrection Christ has opened heaven to us) • “Come up here” (4:1) – an invitation o We now have the opportunity to witness this worship as John did o Reference to the “Lift up your hearts / We lift them up to the Lord” of the Mass o What we celebrate here on earth is being celebrated in heaven o CCC 1136: liturgy is an action of the whole Christ, those who celebrate it now … are already in the heavenly liturgy • The throne is the center of liturgy and our worship o John mentions throne 45 times in the Book of Revelation o This is important on the heels of the letters to the churches because one of the major problems being addressed was emperor worship – focus on the wrong throne o Liturgy brings back the order that is missing in our lives o Worship is not just coming together and doing whatever we want, but about recalibrating our lives in accordance with God’s will – putting our life back in order • Verse 4: 24 elders in white on thrones around the throne o Elder – presbyteroi (Greek) – origin of English “presbyter” or priest o 1 Chronicles 24-25 – King David established 24 divisions of priests from the Tribe of Levi to serve and sing in the Temple . providing continual worship . Reason: Israel always saw the tabernacle and temple as model of the eternal tabernacle and temple . They represent the faithful of heaven . Correlation to Perpetual Adoration (24 hours a day of continual worship) • Verse 5: fire symbolizes the transforming power of the Spirit • Verse 6: sea of glass o Reference to Solomon’s Temple o Ezekiel and Isaiah both saw the throne room in their visions o Ezekiel sees the throne room from below the sea of glass o John sees the throne room from above the sea of glass • Four living creatures o Starting to get into the “odd stuff!” o lion, ox, face of a man, flying eagle o Never cease to sing praise . “Holy, holy, holy” . Isaiah said the same thing when he saw the throne room . Saying it three times provides emphasis (Hebrew had no exclamation marks) o The early Church fathers associated these four creatures with the four gospels o THEORY: Zodiac: to the ancient cultures the zodiac played an important role. The word simply means “the path” (that the sun appears to take) – had their own twelve fixed constellations . Psalm 19:1 “the heavens are telling the glory of God” . These four creatures likely reflect the four quarters of the zodiac
Session 3: Chapters 4 and 5 Page 2 of 4 . All creation is from God and points to God . Archeologists have uncovered ancient synagogues with mosaics of the zodiac • Verse 10: the 24 elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne o Kneeling in the Mass is not just “a nice thing” but is in imitation of the worship in Revelation o CCC 1138-1139 o CCC 2642: The revelation of what must soon take place is born along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy but also by the intercession of the witnesses. The prophets and the saints, the vast throng of those who have gone before us all sing the praise of the Lamb … in communion with them the Church on earth also sings these songs with faith in the midst of trial. . Where is the best place to be in the midst of trial on earth? Heaven (in the Mass) • Verse 11: worthy are you our Lord and God … o Since the Old Testament, worship is not primarily an individual thing but is communal o The Letter to the Hebrews says “do not forsake the gathering of the assembly” o This worship is what changes the world o We are entering a formal ceremony in the presence of the King (like having a private audience)
CHAPTER 5 • Verse 1: Scroll that was written on both sides o Exodus 32 God wrote the Ten Commandments on the front and back of the tablets (“covenant document”) o Seven Seals . When signing an important oath/document the attester and six other witnesses provided their “seal” to authenticate the oath o This book represents God’s covenant promises o Opening the scroll is the same as fulfilling the covenants . This is why only Christ can open these seals • Verse 4: John weeps because no one has been found worthy to open the seals o Unintelligibility of history o But weep not in the midst of your trials – there is someone who can make sense of your history • Verse 6: the lamb standing as though it had been slain o Standing? o Exodus 12: the instructions for the Passover o Genesis 22: “Where is the Lamb?” . Abraham says God will provide Himself the Lamb . Israel would then offer up two lambs in the Temple as a reminder to God that He had promised to provide the lamb . Tamid Offering – at six in the morning they tied one lamb to the altar which would stand there for 3 hours before being sacrificed. At noon another lamb would be tied and inspected until being sacrificed at 3 PM. This happened everyday at the Temple. The word Tamid means “standing, continual, perpetual” . John is now seeing the Lamb of God
Session 3: Chapters 4 and 5 Page 3 of 4 • Verse 8: the bowls filled with incense (the prayers of the saints) o CCC 956: the intercession of the saints – “by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped” • Verse 14: the four living creatures said “amen” o CCC 1062: “Amen” may express both God’s faithfulness towards us and our trust in Him. To say amen is to verbalize an oath, it is to renew our covenant with God. o 2 Corinthians 1:20 “for all the promises of God find their “yes” in Him (in Christ)” o Our “amen” in Mass is an affirmation of the covenant and a recognition that our salvation is wholly dependent on Christ
Reflection Questions 1. Compare Revelation 4:5 and Exodus 19:16-19. What is described in Exodus and how does it reflect Revelation 4? What might be significance of recalling the Sinai event here? 2. When the Lamb took the scroll, it sparked a celebration of worship and the singing of a new song. This was often the case when God’s people were celebrating a redemptive or creative act of God in history. The Catechism reminds us that the book of Revelation “is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy” (No. 2642). How has worship helped to “bear your up” during times of great difficulty?
Session 3: Chapters 4 and 5 Page 4 of 4