After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven (The lunar crescent looks like a door opening a crack into the Lamb and Jesus said, "I am the door" -- John 10:9; also "opportunity" -- Acts 14:27; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3): and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter (after 96 A.D.; John became Castor -- 11:1) (4:1) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne (Cepheus) (4:2). And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper (amber fire orange cp. Rev. 4:3 & Ez. 1:27) and a sardine stone (fiery red): and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald (green Milky Way; An emerald rainbow is God's promise to Judah -- a perpetual throne culminating in "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" -- Gen. 49:10; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 89:1-4; Jer. 33:17; Rev. 5:5) (4:3). And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold (24 stars in Ursa Minor or Lesser Sheepfold or "Little Flock") (4:4). And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire ("seven-branched Menorah ... is seven churches" -- Rev. 1:20) burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God (Seven "wandering stars" or planets -- Moon, Sun, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Mercury in that order from Ephesus to Laodicea -- Rev. 2-3 -- all visible to the naked eye)(4:5). ("And in the midst of the seven lamps one like the Son of Man (Sagittarius), clothed with a garment down to the foot (Milky Way), and girded about the breasts with a golden girdle (Milky Way). His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire (solar disk); And his feet like fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace (near Ara); and his voice like the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars (Moon, Sun, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Mercury -- see www.davidcolarusso.com/astro/ for the correct positioning of these seven in Sagittarius'"hand" or hemisphere); and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword (lunar crescent attached to arrow of Sagittarius); and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength (Sun in head of Sagittarius). And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead" (John is Castor [4:1 & 11:1] who rotates down as Sagittarius rises)(1:13-17). And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal (which means the starry HEAVEN -- "And they saw the God of Israel, and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone [celestial blue] and as it were the body of HEAVEN in his clearness" -- Ex. 24:10): and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes (stars) before and behind (4:6). And the first beast was like a lion (Leo), and the second beast like a calf (Taurus), and the third beast had a face as a man (Aquarius), and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle (Aquila holding Scorpio the serpent -- Java & Brazil; or Scorpio itself anciently was an eagle; or Serpens) (4:7). And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him (Each cherub had six wings just as the four main constellations have subordinate constellations: two decans above, two decans below, one to the left and one to the right); and they were full of eyes (stars) within: and they rest not day and night (continually rotate), saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come (4:8). And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever (4:9), The four and twenty elders fall down before him (as they rotate around the Polar Star) that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying (4:10), Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (4:11). Our model of the solar system and Milky Way galaxy portrays Mercury as grey-white, Venus as yellowish-white, Mars as red, Jupiter as orange with white bands, Saturn as pale yellow with a ring (looks like an eye), the Sun as orange and Moon as white. The other planets are not visible to the naked eye.The apparent diameter of the sun is given as about 2.5 times that of Jupiter or Venus, which are each the same apparent diameter. Jupiter and Venus are portrayed as about twice the size of Mars or Mercury, which are each the same apparent diameter. Saturn is portrayed as about 3/4 diameter of Venus or Jupiter. Mercury and Venus are the only two of these planets that can be seen at crescent phase. Mercury can be as much as 30 degrees from the Sun. Venus can be as much as 46 degrees from the Sun. The Sun, Moon and all the Planets move within a band that is 8 degrees above and 8 degrees below the ecliptic (16 degree band total) in a Sine-wave pattern (snake-like). The Moon only fluctuates 5 degrees above or below the ecliptic (10 degree band total) in a Sine-wave pattern. As seen from earth, each day the Sun, Moon and all the Planets and stars move clockwise (east to west) around us due to the rotation of the earth. Also, as seen from earth, each day the Sun, Moon and all the Planets move counter-clockwise (west to east) through the signs due to their actual motion. There are 36 equally-spaced marks around the perimeter of the drawing representing 10-degree increments around the Polar Star in Ursa Minor. We are told to "measure" this celestial "temple" (Rev. 11:1). Normal astronomy requires that one DEGREE equal one DAY in order to get a 360-day biblical pre-flood year. Therefore, if "each DAY (degree)" represents "a YEAR" (Nu. 14:34; Ez. 4:6), the total circumference is 360 years from whatever beginning date is used. The lunar crescent can rarely become visible when its angular distance from the sun is over 7 degrees and will certainly become visible by 12 degrees. When the Sun enters the Sign of Aries, it is March 21st, the Spring Equinox. The year progresses 30 days more and the Sun enters Taurus on April 20th. Etcetera. The Book of Revelation follows a LONG chronology of SUCCESSIVE historical events from chapter 1 to 3; 4 to 11 and 12 to 22 using the degree-for-a-year principle. The Book of Revelation may also follow a SHORT CONTEMPORANEOUS degree-for-a-day principle where the last seven years prior to the second coming follow the same plan that the last 2000 years have followed. This is not a new concept. Many prophecies in the Bible have had both LONG SUCCESSIVE and SHORT CONTEMPORANEOUS fulfillments: for instance the ten horns on the fourth beast of Daniel 7; the four horns on the shaggy goat in Daniel 8; and the abomination that desolates for 1260 days (Daniel 9:27 & 12:7). We also believe the three frogs of Rev. 16:13 are both contemporaneous and successive. |
John Saw Constellations in Heaven
Then "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God" (Rev. 4:1-5).
Astronomically the Milky Way "rainbow" sits over Cepheus' throne. The seven lamps are the seven-branched Menorah which is "seven churches" (Rev. 1:20) burning before the throne. These are the seven "wandering stars" or planets -- Moon, Sun, Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Mercury in that order from Ephesus to Laodicea (Rev. 2-3) -- all visible to the naked eye. Astronomically, there are 24 stars in Ursa Minor (the Little Flock).
What does the DOOR mean? The MOON is like a door which first opens a crack (crescent) and then opens fully (full moon) and then shuts again every 30 days. In fact, the pearly gates of Revelation 21 are all moons in various phases. Jesus said, "I am the DOOR" (John 10:9). An "open DOOR" also means "OPPORTUNITY" (Acts 14:27; 1 Cor.16:9; 2 Cor.2:12; Col.4:3). The Father sits on the throne "whom no man hath seen, nor can see" (1 Tim. 6:16; Ex. 24:10-11; Isa. 6:1-5). He is hidden in a blaze of glory. "JASPER" is amber fire orange (-- cp. Rev. 4:3 & Ezek. 1:27) but "SARDINE" is fiery red for justice.
What does "a RAINBOW ... like ... an EMERALD" mean? Birth order is "Reuben ... Simeon ... Levi ... Judah ... Dan ... Naphtali ... Gad ... Asher ... Issachar ... Zebulun ... Joseph ... Benjamin" (Gen. 29:31; 30:6-24; 35:16-18). Stone order "according to their birth" (Ex. 28:9-10) on the breastplate is "sardius (flesh color) ... topaz (yellow) ... carbuncle (green) ... emerald (green) ... sapphire (celestial blue) ... diamond (clear) ...jacinth (blue) ... agate (any color) ... amethyst (violet) ... beryl (sea green) ... onyx (variegated red/white) ... jasper (amber fire orange)" (Ex. 28:17-20) "every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes" (Ex. 28:21). Therefore, combining both lists we get: Sardius -- Reuben, Topaz -- Simeon, Carbuncle -- Levi, Emerald -- Judah, Sapphire -- Dan, Diamond -- Naphtali, Ligure -- Gad, Agate -- Asher, Amethyst -- Issachar, Beryl -- Zebulun, Onyx -- Joseph (The High Priest's Ephod contained two onyx stones, one on each shoulder -- for Ephraim and Manasseh [Gen.49:24]), and Jasper -- Benjamin. A multicolored RAINBOW is God's promise to not destroy every living creature with a flood (Gen. 9:8-17). An EMERALD RAINBOW is just that part of the spectrum that deals with God's promise to JUDAH -- a perpetual throne culminating in the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Gen. 49:10; 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 89:1-4; Jer. 33:17; Rev. 5:5).
Who are the "24 ELDERS"? There were 24 priestly shifts who served in "the house of the Eternal" from the descendants of Aaron (1 Chr. 24:1-19). There were also 24 Levitical shifts who "should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals" and "with song" (25:1-31). These were "the example and shadow of heavenly things" (Heb. 8:5; 1 Chr. 28:12-19). The twelve PATRIARCHS of Israel in the Old Testament and the twelve APOSTLES of our Lord in the New Testament "shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Matt. 19:27-28). They are a fitting parallel for the spiritual temple of the church. Our 24-hour day may be based on this.
"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. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come" (Rev. 4:6-8).
What is the "SEA of GLASS"? Astronomically it is the starry heaven. "And they saw the God of Israel, and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone (celestial blue); and as it were the body of HEAVEN in His clearness" (Ex. 24:10). Historically in Revelation 17:15 "many waters" are interpreted as "peoples, and multitudes and nations and tongues." In Luke 21:25 the "sea and the waves roaring" is a figure for "distress of nations with perplexity." The converse of these metaphors, a sea so calm that it looks like a sheet of glass, and so still that all sediment has settled to the bottom making it clear as crystal, would be people at peace, united and harmonious.
The "CROWNS" are astronomically the 24 stars making up Ursa Minor or the "little flock." Historically floral wreathes were awarded to the victors at Greek games after a successful struggle. They were not the crowns we normally think of today as gold metal.
Lightning, thunder and voices recall God's presence on Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:16). "Seven LAMPS" are the Menorah Seven-branched Candlestick representing the seven CHURCHES.
Who are these "FOUR BEASTS"? The original Greek here translated "beasts" should be translated "living creatures." Two gold cherubim formed part of the mercy seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant over which their wings were stretched. God dwelt between the cherubim (Ex.25:17-22; Isa. 37:16). Each cherub had four faces -- an ox, man, lion, and eagle (Ez.10:14,21). The curtains and veils of the Tabernacle were woven with figures of cherubim. In Solomon's Temple the walls and doors were carved with cherubim (Ex. 26:1,31; 1 Ki. 6:23,29,31). What do these CHERUBIM symbolize? The twelve tribes of ISRAEL encamped in four groups under the four leading tribe's standards -- Judah (lion), Ephraim (ox), Reuben (man) and Dan (eagle) -- east, west, south and north of the Tabernacle (Num. 2:3-31). Also the four main CONSTELLATIONS are Leo (a lion), Taurus (a bull), Aquarius (a man pouring water) and Scorpio (Anciently known as the flying eagle. Also Aquila [the eagle] is nearby. In Java and Brazil Scorpio is a serpent.) all rotating around God who dwells "in the sides of the north" (Isa. 14:13). "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south" (Ps. 75:6; Isa. 40:22). The CHERUBIM symbolize the ISRAELITE encampment and the ISRAELITE encampment symbolizes these CHERUBIM. Both are SERVANTS of God. The glass-like crystal SEA corresponds to the vast expanse of SPACE. The many EYES anciently symbolized the many STARS. Each cherub had SIX WINGS just as the four main constellations have subordinate CONSTELLATIONS: TWO decans above and TWO decans below and ONE to the left and ONE to the right.
"And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:9-11).
Just as Moses was learned in the wisdom of the Egyptians and defeated Egypt, so also John is learned in the wisdom of the Chaldean astrologers and defeats Babylon.
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