September 24, 2010

1Mastering “…the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”September 24, 2010

2Mastering “…the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.”

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.

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. Revelation 4:6,7


Sighting 6 – The Four Beasts• “Four beasts...”: Zoa, living creatures (our word

for “zoo”) vs. therion: a wild animal, wild ferocious beast– Used to denote beings that are not human and yet not

really animals of the usual kind . . . Of the four peculiar beings at God’s throne, whose description Rev. 4:6-9 reminds us of the zōa in Eze. 1:5ff, the cherubim



And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.Ezekiel 1:4-6


And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

Ezekiel 10:14


The Four Beasts• Ezekiel’s vision in chapter 1 is similar (Cherubim)

– They attend the throne– They are winged– Aspects of their character represent a lion, an ox (or calf), a

man, and an eagle• But there are also significant differences:

– Ezekiel’s creatures had four wings whereas these have six– Ezekiel’s creatures each had all four faces of a man, a lion, an

ox, and an eagle whereas these each have one of the characteristics

– No mention is made of Ezekiel’s creatures themselves having eyes—although the wheels they attend are full of eyes. These creatures themselves are full of eyes


In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also YWH sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is YHWH of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:1-3


The Four Beasts• Isaiah’s vision in chapter 6 is similar (Seraphim)

– Had 6 wings…closer to what we see here• There are the highest order of angelic beings

– Impossible to fully describe– Stood with swords of fire outside the garden– Forms sculpted out of solid gold stretching over the

ark of the covenant– Pictured with golden thread in the veil separating the

Holy of Holies– Engraved into the wall of Solomon’s temple


The Four Beasts• These are exalted, angelic creations of God

– Lucifer once held the highest position among them allIsaiah 14

• They are distinguished from other angels• They are involved with announcing the judgments

of the tribulation (will call forth the four horsemen – chapter 6:1, 3, 5, 7)


The Four Faces• What do they represent?

– Animate creation?• Lion == wild creatures• Ox == domestic animals• Man == the pinnacle of God’s creation• Eagle == creatures of the air

– God’s attributes?• Nobility and majesty of the lion• Servant strength of the ox• Reason and will of mankind• Soaring swiftness of the eagle


The Design of the GospelsMatthew Mark Luke John

Presents as: Messiah Servant Son of Man Son of GodGenealogy: Abraham -- Adam Eternal

(Legal) (Blood line) (Preexistence)

What Jesus Said Did Felt Was

To the: Jew Roman Greek Church

1st Miracle: Leper cleansed Demon Demon Water to(Jew = sin) expelled expelled Wine

Ends with Resurrection Ascension Promise of Promise ofSpirit: Return:

Acts Revelation

Ensign: Judah Ephraim Reuben DanCamp Side: East West South North

Face: Lion Ox Man Eagle


The Camp of IsraelNumbers 2

• Every Detail by Design?• What might be hidden behind the details of

the Camp of Israel?

“The volume of the Book is written of Me”

Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10:7



Judah 74,600Issachar 54,400Zebullun57,400

Reuben 46,500Simeon 59,300Gad 45,650

Ephraim 40,500Manasseh 32,200Benjamin 35,400

Dan 62,700Asher 41,500Naphtali 53,400



Judah 74,600Issachar 54,400Zebullun57,400

186,400

Reuben 46,500Simeon 59,300Gad 45,650

151,450

Ephraim 40,500Manasseh 32,200Benjamin 35,400

108,100

Dan 62,700Asher 41,500Naphtali 53,400

157,600


Rabbinical Precision• The Camp of Judah: East of Levites• The Camp of Reuben: South of Levites

– Strict obedience denies area Southeast• Thus, only cardinal directions ordained • Only width of Levite’s camp allowed• Length proportional to population


S

W ELevites

Kohathites8,600

Merarites6,200

Gershonites 7,500

22,300Moses & Priests

N


Judah

Levites

Kohathites8,600

Merarites6,200

Gershonites 7,500


Reub

en

Lion

Man

SE?


Judah

Levites

Kohathites8,600

Merarites6,200

Gershonites 7,500


Dan

Reub

en

Ephraim

Lion

EagleMan

OxSW NW

SE NE

151,450

186,400

108,100

157,600


108,100

151,450 157,600

186,400


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.

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. Revelation 4:6,7


Man

Lion

Ox

Eagle


?

Documents

September 24, 2010