4.

1 … Scripture reference – Rev. 3:8!; 1:10; 1:1!
2 … Scripture reference – Rev. 1:10; Dan. 7:9!
3 … Scripture reference –
4 … Scripture reference – Rev. 11:16; 3:5!; 7:9!; 19:14
5 … Scripture reference – Rev. 8:5!;1:4; 3:1; 5:6; 8:2
6 … Scripture reference – Ezek. 1:18
7 … Scripture reference – Ezek. 10:14!
8 … Scripture reference – Isaiah: 6:2; Rev. 16:5; Isaiah: 6:3; Rev. 1:4, 8; 11:17
9 … Scripture reference – Dan. 4:31
10 … Scripture reference – Rev. 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4
11 … Scripture reference – Rev. 5:12; 7:12!; 19:1; Eph. 3:9!; Heb. 3:4

II: THE SEVEN SEALS
l. Preparatory Vision

The Court of Heaven

Rv:4:
1 ¶ After these things I looked, and behold a door was opened in heaven, and the first voice [l] which I heard, as it were, of a trumpet speaking with me, said: Come up hither, and I will shew thee the things which must be done hereafter. … Scripture reference – Rev. 3:8!; 1:10; 1:1
2 And immediately I was in the spirit. [2] And behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting. … Scripture reference – Rev. 1:10; Dan. 7:9!
3 And he that sat was to the sight like the jasper and the sardius [3] stone. And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats, four and twenty ancients [4] sitting, clothed in white garments. And on their heads were crowns of gold. … Scripture reference – Rev. 11:16; 3:5!; 7:9!; 19:14
5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings and voices and thunders. And there were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. … Scripture reference – Rev. 8:5!;1:4; 3:1; 5:6; 8:2
6 And in the sight of the throne was, as it were, a sea of glass like to crystal: and in the midst of the throne, [5] and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind. … Scripture reference – Ezek. 1:18
7 And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying. … Scripture reference – Ezek. 10:14!
8 ¶ And the four living creatures had each of them six wings: and round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come. … Scripture reference – Isaiah: 6:2; Rev. 16:5; Isaiah: 6:3; Rev. 1:4, 8; 11:17
9 And when those living creatures gave glory and honour and benediction to him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever: … Scripture reference – Dan. 4:31
10 The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the throne and adored him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: … Scripture reference – Rev. 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honour and power. Because thou hast created all things: and for thy will they were and have been created. … Scripture reference – Rev. 5:12; 7:12!; 19:1; Eph. 3:9!; Heb. 3:4
(DRV)

[l] -Ver. 1. The former voice: the voice heard in the opening vision, I.e., in Apoc. 1, 10.
[2] -Ver. 2. In the spirit: the soul was absorbed in heavenly things, I.e., he saw with clear sight the revealed vision from Christ in Heaven.
[3] -Ver. 3. What stones are meant: Jasper is described as emerald green, but in Apoc. 21, 11 (343) it is qualified as “clear as crystal.” Sardius is ruby red. They were in the Jewish High Priest’s chestplate.
[4] -Ver. 4. Twenty four elders: these elders represent the holy ones of the Old and New Testaments.
[5] -Ver. 6. In the midst of: one creature on each of the four sides. Four living creatures: representative of animated nature. Four beings hold a primacy in the world, among animals, man; among birds, the eagle; among cattle, the bull; and among wild animals, the lion. But the covenantal meaning is given in St. Irenaeus: The Man is the Gospel of St. Matthew and is equivalent to the covenant of God with Moses in which time Christ was born. The Eagle is the Gospel of St. Mark, the Gospel of the Holy Spirit and is equivalent to the everlasting Gospel of the New Testament although of course the other three are included by St. Irenaeus and all of the Church Fathers as THE four everlasting Gospels of the New Testament. As St. Irenaeus said it is not possible that there are more or fewer than the four Gospels. The Bull is the Gospel of St. Luke and is equivalent to the covenant of God with Noah and represents therefore the Sacrifice of Christ on His Cross for the salvation of those who believe in Him. The Lion is the Gospel of St. John and is equivalent to the covenant of God with Adam, which is the promise of the Saviour to come and redeem Adam and all of the saints and raise all men to judgement. This first covenant is fulfilled during the time of the covenant of Moses by the coming of Christ by His Sacrifice on His Cross as represented by the Bull of the covenant of Noah (who sacrificed to God upon his safe delivery from the flood) and the preaching of all four Gospels, as the Gospel of Christ by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is represented by the Eagle typifying the Gospel of St. Mark; for in St. Mark’s Gospel he begins and ends with the Holy Spirit (see: Mark 1and Mark 16 directly below)

Mk:1:
1 ¶ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
8 I (St. John the Baptist) have baptized you with water: but He (Jesus Christ) shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
9 ¶ And it came to pass, in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in Jordan.
10 And forthwith coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens open and the Spirit as a dove descending and remaining on him.
11 And there came a voice from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
12 And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the desert.

Mk:16:
6 … Be not affrighted. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen: he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him.
15 And He (Jesus Christ) said to them: Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he condemned.
19 ¶ And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God.
20 But they going forth preached every where: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed. (by the power of the Holy Spirit who is given to those who believe in Jesus Christ, although as St. Paul and St. Peter point out with different gifts to each but always the Holy Spirit from the Father through the Son Jesus Christ. See: Rom:8:16; Gal:3:5; 1Cor:12:1 – 12; 1Pt. 1:2 and 2Pt. 1:1 – 8 [in 2Pt. 1:3 “the divine power” is “theias dunameoos” in Greek – the Holy Spirit proceeding from God the Father only through the Mediatorship of the Son Jesus Christ]).