"I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I beheld until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. (So, Daniel watched during the whole interim of Revelation 12 - 15)! As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time," 7:11-12. John's prophecy of "the day" proclaims the same things, but in a particularly well detailed manner by which any scribe who has been taught of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:52) may easily recognize the signs of his coming.
As told to Daniel, this is the sum - the synopsis of the entire social, religious, military and political matter - concerning the restoration of the kingdom to Israel during "the last days." This summary, the Revelation expands with details, for Daniel's prophecy was deficient to explain all the things now shown in The Revelation's "days" that must run concurrent with the political reality. There was also the sign of the Lord's coming to consider, and the manner in which his coming is introduced to the world, as regarded in the New Testament. Old Testament prophets speak not so sparingly of these two things.
First, Daniel shows the manner of the Lord's coming... He says, "I saw in the night, visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before Him." With a full copy of Ezekiel's prophecy before him, Daniel would have no trouble in understanding what location the Son of Man was brought near to in order to "meet" with the Ancient of Days... Ezekiel 43:7, "And He said unto me" (the prophet Ezekiel), "Son of Man, the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for the Olam,.." At this point in time, "...behold, the Glory of the God of Israel [has come] from the direction of the East," 43:2.
Only in "the last days" of present time shall the actual inheritance of the promised land be given to the Son of Man; only then shall the (elect) people indwelling his "house" be glorified (when "the Bride" is presented to him). Daniel continues, "And there was given him, a dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom, which shall not be destroyed," 7:13-14. Only then does "the Olam" begin.
The popular universal interpretation of the verses from Ezekiel goes something like this: When Jesus was taken into heaven, there his Father received him and gave him the rulership over all the earth, i.e., all the church. He presently rules the earth, i.e., the church, from the heavens. Eventually the whole earth will be subdued to God through the influence and growth of this heaven dwelling church, etc... This is a very soothing doctrine for the ear. But does the idea conform to the actual teaching of the Holy Scriptures? We think not!
One like the Son of man comes with the clouds of heaven. Jesus returns to the earth. These "clouds of heaven" must be carefully defined. Of the time of his appearance in these "clouds of heaven," no man knows the day or hour. But how he comes is a matter we can solve by careful analysis of all relevant Scriptures, not from just a few favored texts. The destination site of his coming must be carefully sought out, too.
Until his appointed return, the Lord, Jesus Christ, is indeed "in the bosom of the Father," per John 1:18, and is daily ministering in the true Holy Place of God (which is the heavenly temple of the Holy Spirit) as our true high priest. Therefore, take care to consider what the Scriptures actually say. Observe the staging of the scene, per Daniel, while also remembering that the Lord is now walking about in the Spirit among all the congregations assembled in his name.
Jesus is brought near before the Ancient of Days at some particular time period after John received the prophecy of the Lord's apocalypse in A.D. 95-6. The Father is seated. He is restraining His wrath but preparing to witness in the judgment. Where is the Ancient of Days at this time when Jesus is brought near Him? (See Daniel 7:9, 13, 21-22.) The Ancient of Days is sitting in the place chosen for the judgment activity. Presumably, that place is the site of the throne and of the mercy seat which is located within the Most Holy Place of the heavenly tabernacle of the Holy Spirit. We also know that the Almighty God is a very mobile Spirit, able to go wherever His chariots of the Spirit are directed to go. The One like a Son of man comes - is brought near - to the place wherever the Ancient of Days has chosen to seat Himself. Daniel shows God at that present time is sitting to judge the beasts of the earth! He is sitting to oversee in the judgment of the earth.
Where do all these judgments take place, then? In the heavens? In the skies? Or upon the earth? Does He not have certain opened books beside Him then? These conclusions are made mostly from Daniel's text alone. Notice then, when one carefully examines the heavenly scenes depicted in The Revelation that the very same things shown there actually take place (but with greater detail than) as summarily shown in Daniel's prophecy! The decisions of the judgment may be made in the heavenly places of "the clouds," but the outcome of the decisions certainly are carried out upon the earth!
So, where does the judgment session begin? It must begin from the presence of the LORD; from His holy temple, in the clouds, 1 Peter 4:17 ....Where the LORD is "sitting" with the whole retinue of his holy angels - comparable to "as in Sinai" in the Cloud of His Presence - where all the people were then assembled before Him; but at the end, at the place where the final judgment takes place. He is sitting upon the Cloud, on the mount which overlooks Jerusalem from the east. As Ezekiel 43:12 states: "Upon the top of the mountain" [Zion] "its whole limit round about is Most Holy."
"...And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple," says Malachi. We ought to expect that Israel will be in a state of anxiety, in a condition of mind in which the people are seeking for the Lord, as Malachi 3:2-4 indicates; at a time when the nation's judgment is near. This seems to be what Revelation 11:15 clearly affirms. Is this the present earnest expectation of the nation?
You may recall that the LORD was at the mountain site for at least three days before the "Ten Words" were uttered to the people by God Almighty Himself. All the congregation of the people then waited during the forty days more for Moses (with his 73 elders) to return from the meeting with God -- while He prepared "tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which (He) had written," when the Law of God was issued to the children of Israel... A short length of time - a minimum of six weeks - elapsed while God visited the earth at that time! Malachi 3:5-6 concludes the description of the coming of the messenger and of the Lord as a time when the Father, the LORD, "will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against (the ungodly in Israel), ... "For I, the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not (totally) consumed."
Does not the parable of the Marriage Feast (of the King who makes a marriage for His Son), Matthew 22:1-14, have a bearing here?
Is it unreasonable to expect that the Lord's return to His own holy mountain may quite well follow the same pattern as did his Father in the ancient days, and in a like duration of time?When the Glory moves to overshadow the new temple, the Lord receives his inheritance, and his own temporal throne. There, in his coming [parousia] to the Father's right hand to actually receive his commission, the Lamb immediately administers the vengeance appointed to him by the LORD upon an ungodly world. The LORD's righteous king begins his visible rule [epiphany) only when the LORD's enemies are made His footstool. God's bowls of wrath are then poured out upon all the rebels.
Will the glory of the LORD appear without the LORD Himself appearing to crown His king? And finally, does the Father give His glory to another? No! He will not give His glory to another Name, Isaiah 48:11, to none except to the one man who is designated as the "Holy One" of Israel, Isaiah 49:7. How does He give the glory to the Holy One? Both Old and New Testament prophecies answer that question.
When the "man of sin" goes to sit in the temple, is the glory of the LORD already resident over Zion? Not likely! "Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the King's son..," Psalm 72. The Almighty God Himself produces the glory and the honor of the kingdom only for His own "seed."
The Old Testament things concerning the Messiah of Israel are lessons that cannot be taught in this study. Established orthodox Christians will have no part of things Jewish, thank you. Nor will any other anti-Semite. Of this last fact the Hebrew Scriptures assure all men.
The Jews themselves will be taught to understand the lessons of righteousness of faith and belief only when the promised "messenger" comes, per Malachi.
1 And I saw upon the right hand of Him who sits upon the throne a scroll written within and on the back, having been sealed with seven seals.
"Upon;" epi, 1909. Or, over, at.
"Right;" dexios, 1188. Note that Jesus is not, at this time, at His Father's side.
"Hand." Not in the Greek. The object is not held in anyone's hand. The scroll is displayed at His right side, available close by, ready to access.
"Him Who sits upon the throne." The LORD, God Almighty.
"Scroll;" biblion, 975. Means, a little book, or a scroll of writing. The word is used to describe the paper written for the divorce decree; the writing or bill, per Matthew 19:7; Mark 10:4. Luke also uses the word to describe Isaiah's book of prophecy. See also Psalm 40 and Paul's discourse about it in Hebrews 10, concerning vengeance and judgment.
"Written within and on the back." The little book is written inside and on its back. The significance is that the little book is packed solid with information that is required for the procedure of the judgment which is about to commence, when the Lord is brought into the Most Holy presence of the Father, per Daniel, when the books are opened. (Revelation Six through Sixteen reveal the contents of this particular scroll.)
"Having been sealed;" kataspragizomai, 2696. Securely sealed; tightly sealed, as the suffix, kata, indicates.
"Seals, seven;" sphragis, 4973. These seven seals show how securely the little book has been sealed. It is bound by seven clasps. Each portion of the little book is opened in its order, as the next seal is removed; thus the book naturally is divided into seven contiguous parts. The first six seals have no kind of date or time limit for their execution, except that such conditions are predicted to precede the end of time.
Only the section of the seventh seal goes into any great detail about the content of its "signs." The section begins with a five months duration of "torments" upon the nations of the earth during the first five trumpet soundings. This "torment" ends in the death of 2,000,000 people under the sixth trumpet sound, and ushers in the last 1,260 days of present time.
Continuous history philosophy buffs have made these seal judgments into
"another gospel" of preterit kin, in believing that most of the Lord's
apocalypse is already fulfilled, with the addition of much profane history
of the nations to the prophecy's text. "But Wisdom is justified of her
children."
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
"Angel, strong;" iskuros, 2478. One having the might, or, strength, of power. His position is shown in what he does, as follows:
"Proclaiming;" keerusso, 2784. To make a public proclamation or advertisement of importance. Other translations of the word are, preach, and, publish.
"Voice, loud;" phonee, 5456; megas, 3173. The mighty angel is proclaiming with a voice like a megaphone. How long this activity lasts is not stated here. Note that in this prophecy, the angels always speak "with a loud voice,": 1:10 (12,15); (4:1); 5:2,12; 6:10; 7:2,10; 8:13; 10:3; 11:12; 12:10; (13:5); 14:7,9,15; 16:1,17; 18:2; 19:1,17; 21:3. Something worth saying is proclaimed aloud, publicly...
"Worthy, who is;" axios, 514. See in 3:4; 4:11; 5:2,4,9,12, and 16:6. "The laborer," said Paul, "is worthy of his reward." The usefulness or desirability of things these days is judged by "net worth" of the balance sheet. With God, use or desirability of things is valued by the work of one's spirit, whether it be a spirit of good, or the spirit of evil. Labor for the LORD is rewarded. Love's labor is not lost; it is the purest form of religion.
"Open;" anoigo, 455. See Rev. 3:7-8. The little book is written for one qualifying individual only.
"Loose;" luo, 3089. One with the ability to loosen the seals of the little book is the object of the "strong angel's" search and great, loud proclamation.
The angel has published the theme of the prophets, of which 1 Peter 1:3-12 testifies so beautifully!
3 And none in the heaven nor upon the earth nor under the earth was able to open the scroll to look at it.
At least, this was the situation - until the Messiah came to His own people, Israel. But, when the leaders spurned His grace and peace, the LORD then turned to the nations, Deuteronomy 4:6; 32:43, who received the good news with great joy. Indeed, the LORD had ordained Himself a prophet to the nations, Jeremiah, many, many years before the chosen people finally rejected the king whom the LORD had selected to rule over them according to all His prior Word.
No being living in the heavens (spirit), no being living on the earth
(no mortal), no being "under the earth" (dead and buried) was able to open
the scroll to look at the writ.
4 And I was weeping much because no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, nor to look at it.
The search for an individual worthy of the gift of God has gone on in
earnest since the days of the prophet, Isaiah. ...This was the grievous
situation, though, with all the prophets of the LORD, who prophesied the
Word of the LORD. Upon them fell the burden of the wrath of the people,
the priests, and the kings who continually disobeyed His law, upon all
those holy men who so loved the LORD. John, overcome by sorrow and joy,
weeps.
5 And one of the elders says unto me, "Weep not, behold; the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
"Elders, one of the;" presbuteros, 4245. Refer back to 4:4,10, where the "elders" are first introduced into the prophecy. Their activity is shown again here, 5:5,6,8,11,14; 7:11,13; 11:16; 14:3; and 19:4. Review of these passages will add considerable light to some of the working in the heavenly realm.
"Weep not;" klaio, 2799. The pertinent Old Testament text, Jeremiah 31:15, fulfilled per Matthew 2:18, when Herod slew the children, in part notes that "Rachel refused to be comforted for her children." Nevertheless, the LORD added to His word concerning her loss of children: "Thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD, and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border," 31:16-17. Zion will bear her children - a nation born in a day - at the appointed end time. All the dispersed Jews, too, are still to be gathered to Israel.
"Behold!" Signpost; signal; flashing lights. "Behold" always marks a point of some great importance for attention.
"Lion, the." The king of beasts. David mastered a lion with his bare hands. See Numbers 24:8-9; 23:24.
"Of Judah, the tribe." But only likened to the lion, for this "lion" is a man of Judah's tribe. See Genesis 49:8-12.
"Of David." He is the offspring of David...
"Root, the." He is, indeed, the "root" of David that shall prevail, as a lion dominates as a lord of his domain, according to the promises made to David, 2 Samuel 7. Also Genesis 49:22-26.
This root of David is spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, 11:1,10; (Isaiah 37:31 = 2 Kings 19:30); 53:2. Where Judah was cut off, the branch out of Jesse's roots should grow up. He "shall stand as a ensign to the peoples; to him the nations shall seek; and his resting place shall be glorious." His was a "body prepared" by the LORD to obey and to submit to His discipline in order to do all His will. Was any prior king or priest so worthy of the honor and the glory of the LORD? This "branch" of Judah, once cut off but which was made to have life in itself -- like Aaron's rod which produced buds, fruit and flowers over the night -- will receive the unchangeable priesthood after Melchizedek's order in the last days!
Ensign - By definition, Jesus was the example of three ensigns:
Fortunately for Israel, the powers of the heavens do not work against
the sons of Jacob to cut off the Name of God out of the earth. The land
remains for them when they turn back to God in faith and hope. See Isaiah
10:20-27.
6 And I beheld and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, 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.
"Lo." Behold! Equivalent possibly to the Hebrew selah. John is surprised to see not a lion but a lamb instead!
"Lamb;" arnion, 721. With one exception, John 21:15, the word is found only in the Revelation; and, always in close association with the work of God. Now, Abraham, in whose seed all nations shall be blessed, was completely aware of the connection of the Lamb with the work of God. He understood the gospel which was later preached to the Jews, for when he was commanded by God to offer up his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering, Abraham having Isaac with him, proceeded to obey the word of commandment. But when all was made ready for the sacrifice, Isaac questioned, Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Isaac, in submission, acknowledged the righteousness of his father in his obedience to God. Since God is merciful and will do no evil to the righteous, He provided Abraham with "a better thing" for the burnt offering. Thus Abraham named the place of the burnt offering as a memorial, Jehovah-jireh; which means, "In the mount of the LORD it" (the better thing) "shall be provided."
This was the act of faith and obedience that secured the blessing of God, through Abraham, upon all the nations of the earth. See Genesis 22.
The subsequent Law of God given through Moses incorporated the sacrifice of God in the form of the Passover lamb. And the prophet Isaiah bears witness of the lamb of God that "the LORD made meet upon him the iniquity of all of us." That coming to pass, he was indeed "led as a lamb to the slaughter," Isaiah 53; John 19:16-42.
"As;" hos, 5613. To wit, even as, while, after; used as a relative adverb. The text says, "a having been slain lamb;" the completely offered sacrifice.
"Slain, having been;" sphatto, 4969. In Genesis all that remained of each slain lamb was by God made into "coats of skins and clothed" Adam and Eve of their self-exposed nakedness in God's sight, for they had no right of their own to cover their sin of disobedience.
"Having;" eko, 2192. Meaning "to have and to hold," in possession of. The phrase echoes the phrase in the marriage vow, "to have and to hold."
"Seven horns and seven eyes." These characteristics of the heavenly lamb are immediately explained.
"Seven spirits of God." Each "horn" and "eye" represents a spirit of God in its work.
"Sent forth into all the earth." When the Messiah came to His own people, "the Jews" finally rejected the grace of the LORD. He then turned to Samaria, and the nations surrounding Jerusalem, where the people received him gladly. Later, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Romans 11:29, were poured out. Thus were the spirits of God sent forth into all the earth, according to Old Testament prophecy.
See Psalm 68:18; Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:8. Consider the texts of Matthew
7:11 and Luke 11:13, where Jesus speaks of giving "good gifts" to the children.
7 And he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
"And he came;" erkomai, 2064. To come. Where has he come from? Daniel 7:13 answers the query. "They brought him near before Him."
The word is used extensively in the New Testament in reference to the coming of the LORD, and the second coming of the Lord. Examination of this list of references will, by itself, prove the place of "the coming" and the manner of "coming" and what things occur at the "coming." Texts cited also provide the Old Testament source texts. Diligent students will have no problem in understanding where the place is where the judgment "sits." It sits in the presence of the LORD above Jerusalem in the holy mountains.
"And took;" lambano, 2983. To take in receipt (what is offered). The ability to take the little book is coupled with the worthiness as proclaimed by the "strong angel" of verse two. His worthiness is thoroughly shown in the activity which follows the receipt of the little book. Note what now takes place in the acclaim.
"Out of the right hand." Here and in verse one the word "hand"
is supposed to be inferred. The understanding is, Upon or from the right
(side); the word for "hand" is itself, cheir.
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures, and four and twenty elders fell down before the lamb, having every one of them harps and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Now we come to more conclusive evidence for the time when the reception of the scroll is awarded to the Lamb. In type it was awarded to the Lord after his death and resurrection; in actuality all the honors which the scroll endowed the Lord will be actually carried out at his return from heaven -- when he, quite literally, receives the full promises concerning his inheritance in the Land. He receives his house, his bride, his throne, his lands and all the glories which are attached to all these things. This literal reception has not yet occurred, else we are blind to the presence of the glory residing above a new Jerusalem!
"And when;" hote; 3753. When: a preposition denoting time - here, the time indicating the receipt of the little book is specified. From whence has the Lamb come to this "sitting" of the judgment? From the position shown in Revelation 1:12-16, 20. He comes from his present duty of walking about amongst the seven assemblies of the Spirit. The Lamb receives the little book, for judgment of the names held in the memorial place of the Almighty God. Again, reference Isaiah 6:1-4, the Old Testament prophecy of the great desolation to which this text obviously is related. John 12:41 refers to this "His glory" when Isaiah spoke of His appearance which "is to come." Compare Isaiah 6:4 with the events represented by Revelation 14:7 and 15:8.
"He had taken;" lambano, 2983 The Lamb now receives the book in order to dispense the justice due every man called to the judgment seat. See Matthew 25:31-46.
The living creatures and the elders promptly fall down before him to
acclaim his worthiness to open the scroll. In possession each has a harp
prepared, and a golden bowl full of incense. The bowls are described as
filled with the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song saying, "Thou art worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; for thou were slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation;
"Sing a new song." The lyric sung by the creatures and elders is new, but composed for the redeemed of the LORD, who shall return and come with singing unto Zion. This new song is sung before the throne. Its verse speaks of the redemption of the 'holy ones' and of their prayers to the Lamb regarding his part in their redemption from the earth. These new holy ones now commit their allegiance to the Lamb's power and authority. The conditions of the "Lord's Prayer" model have all been met in Jesus' Name.
"Redeemed;" agorazo, 59. The Lamb has officially purchased the
'holy ones.' He has done this in order to install the chosen portion of
mankind to the eternal grace of God. When the Lamb receives the little
book, the council of the LORD celebrates the redemption in his blood. As
written, the redemption includes holy individuals from all the ages of
humanity. This rejoicing in the Holy Spirit occurs when the holy ones are
glorified after their resurrection from the dead, and when the rewards
are meted out to each holy one...
10 And hast made us unto our God a kingdom of priests, and we shall reign on the earth."
"Priests;" hierus, 2409. See also Rev. 1:6; 20:6. This is the object of the gospel of the Holy Scriptures: Of God to make for Himself a holy people, a dominion of priests to reign as kings upon the earth who have written upon their foreheads, "Holiness unto the LORD." The dominion and reign of a nation of royal priests is expected by the redeemed to be established upon the earth. The typical making of these holy ones has now become an accomplished and completed fact. These are the new "children" of the Lord, and are adopted into the new Israel as "sons" of Judah's tribe.
The teaching was first given to Israel in Exodus 19:6 as part of God's
Law.
11 And I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.
The voices of the angels are also heard along with the voices of the living creatures and the elders.
The number of the voices is countless thousands and thousands.
12 Saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."
All attest to the Lamb's worthiness to receive the seven things which are the seven spirits of God, as enumerated. These things of worth are his entitlement (certification) to proceed to open and to look at the "little book."
"To receive;" lambano, 2983. He has received the gift of the "little book," in turn, he will proceed to dispense its "gifts" to men....
See 7:12, where the characteristics of the Lamb's worthiness are the same except that "riches" is there replaced with "thanksgiving."
"Power, the;" dunamis, 1411. No dynamic ability exists except through the enabling spirit that comes from God. (The translators are most inconsistent in their treatment of this word in translation).
"Riches, the;" ploutos, 4149. Always refers to the LORD's grace or glory found in His Christ!
"Wisdom, the;" sophia, 4678. The spirit is justified by the fruit of knowledge. This too comes only from above.
"Strength, the;" ischus, 2479. The forcefulness of an act; the energy expended in the working of the Holy Spirit is unmeasurable.
"Honor, the;" timee, 5092. The value or respect, or price one is willing to consider for a value received. True honor cannot be sold or purchased.
"Glory, the;" doxa, 1391. The ultimate "glory" is the Shechaniah Light, of which Peter, James and John were witnesses to in the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus upon the mount of the transfiguration. The same light of the glory was absorbed to a limited degree by Moses' face upon the Mt. of Sinai, when the Law of God was delivered to the children of Israel. The end of all things will see the whole earth filled with the same glorious light.
"Blessing, the;" eulogia, 2129. According to First Corinthians
10:16, the cup of the blessing is a fellowship in the blood of the Messiah.
The fellowship is the blessing of Abraham, Galatians 3:14; it is received
from God, Hebrews 6:7, (12:17); it is an inheritance, 1 Peter 3:9.
13 And every creature that is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in them, heard I saying, "Blessing and honor and glory and power unto him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever."
All creatures who inhabit the heavens and the earth testify to four
of these things. Here they omit reference to the riches, wisdom, and strength,
which may be reserved for the Father alone to give.
14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen." And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that lives forever and ever.
The four living creatures validate the witness of the Lord's worthiness to save the lives of others: "So be it." Be aware of the timing of this activity; read Hebrews 1:6. The angels of heaven worship the Lord when the Father "again brings the first begotten into the world."
The elders then bow to worship the LORD God Almighty, Who lives for the ages of the ages. And of such end is the substance of the ecstatic utterance of 1 Peter 1:3-12:
The credentials of the Lamb thus having been scrutinized and pronounced as genuine, he is then endowed with the right to sit at the right hand of the Father during the judgment process of the last days. As our advocate with the Great Judge, the Lamb is permitted to open and to read the contents of the little book.
As he reads the contents of the little book, the "lion" of Judah is assisted by the creatures whose chief positions are before the heavenly throne of the LORD.