Revelation 2

Revelation 4-7

Objective: 

• The Throne in Heaven

• The Lamb Takes the Scroll

• The 7 Seals

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• HEMY
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
  

Reading:

• Revelation 4
• Revelation 5
• Revelation 6
• Revelation 7

Key verse(s):

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works" Revelation 5:2

Comments:

• The word translated “Revelation” means “unveiling.
• The verb simply means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.”
• Apocalypse = Revelation = unveiling = uncover = to make manifest
• The author is St. John the Beloved

• Author	St. John the Beloved
  Place	Patmos during exile
  Date	96 AD
  Theme	The things which are things which you have seen the things which will take place after this
  Key verse	Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this-1:19

• St. John was exiled to Patmos when God revealed to him His mysteries
• It is the only writing that St. John mentioned his name in
• Ch. 4
  • The throne of God is also mentioned in Ezekiel 1,10 and Isiah 6
  • The Church planned for this scene to be in the Sanctuary so that when the People are praying, they are always seeing the Heaven
  • This chapter with all its details describes the Liturgy

  • 

• Ch. 5
  • Seals mean: things hidden from humans
  • 7 = complete number
  • 7 seals = 7 declarations
    • God tells us what will happen in the history of Church
  • In the old times, they used to seal each scroll with a seal for privacy and security
  • This scroll had 7 seals for the complete hiding
  • The priest told St. John to look at the Lion from the tribe of Judah, but St. John saw a lamb
    • Our Lord is strong like a lion and simple like a lamb
  • The standing lamb as though it had been slain applies only on the Cross
  • V.8: Incense = the prayers of the saints. We believe that the saints are always present with us and praying with us and for us
  • V.9-12: the words of this heavenly praise were taken by the Church and the words and concepts are used often - "worthy, slain, redeemed us, Lamb, strength and honor and glory and blessing"
• V.6-7
  • Church fathers mention that these are 7 periods that will come on the Church

  • 

  • First Seal: White horse = First Church of the Apostles. Very strong and conquered
  • Second Seal: Red horse = Era of martyrdom
  • Third Seal: Black horse = Era of heresies
  • Fourth Seal: Pale/Green = Era of a big heresy or a strong person who will give the Church very hard time and a quarter of the earth followed it/him
  • Fifth Seal: A joyful seal for encouragement

    • All the NT martyrs are linked to the Altar and were ready to give up their lives to Christ

    • V.10: Cried because they are still alive

    • Each one was given a white robe as a symbol of victory. And after they asked God about his judgment and vengeance, God asked them to "rest a little while longer". Why the wait? God is waiting for many other believers to join them

    • V.11: the martyrs and the saints under the altar are "fellow servants and their brethren"

  • Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances

    • The same signs that Christ gave his disciples that will happen before the second coming
    • The people who are not ready for the second coming want to hide from His face
    • V.15: All people will be judged and if they were sinful and prideful will be scared of Him
  • Ch. 7:
    • Telling us about the saints who were saved from the fifth seal
    • 144,000: 12 of OT x 12 of NT x 1000 (great complete unlimited number) = resembling the great unlimited number of saints and believers
    • V.3: The seal = Sacrament of Chrismation that gives us the "seal"
    • The tribes of Israel refer to the Church
    • The tribe of Judah was mentioned first because it is the tribe of our Lord
    • Mentioning every tribe ensures that every saint is counted and not forgotten by God
    • V.9: The saints in heaven will be from everywhere and not set for a certain number
    • V.12: Our praise in Pascha
    • V.14: The great tribulation is the world with all its tribulations. All the saints had tribulations in their lives (poverty, sickness, loss of a beloved, persecution, etc.).
      • Normally blood will stain. But the Blood of Christ purifies and makes things white
    • V.17: The reward awaiting all those who came from tribulation.

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. 1. What is seen in the midst and around the throne? How are they described?
2. Whenever the four creatures offer glory, honor, and thanks to God, what happens?
3. Why did St. John weep and what comforted him?
4. Why did they deem the Lamb worthy?
5. What is seen when the fourth seal is opened? What was given to them?
6. What is seen when the fifth seal is opened? What are they saying?
7. Why did the tribes' order start with the Tribe of Judah?
8. What future blessings the great multitude in white are promised to receive? 

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Who says without rest day or night “Holy, Holy Holy”?
   a) the angels b) the four living creatures c) the 24 elders d) St. John
2. The third living creature was like a:
   a) lion b) calf c) man d) eagle
3. What was in the hand of Him who sat on the throne?
   a) a golden lamp b) a golden bowl c) a scroll d) a harp
4. Who took the scroll from Him who sat on the throne?
   a) the elders b) a living creatures b) St. John d) a lamb
5. What colors were the horses seen in the vision?
6. What was given to the one on the red horse?
   a) a crown b) a bow c) a sword d) a pair of scales
7. What was the number of those who were sealed?
   a) 40 b) 140 c) 14,000 d) 144,000
8. "They shall neither _______ anymore nor thirst anymore; the ________ shall not strike them, nor any _______; "for the ______ who is in the midst of the throne will ________ them and lead them to living _______of waters. And God will wipe away every ______ from their _____."