Seals, Bowls, Trumpets, Horses, and Angels

Revelation 4-8

Rev. 4:8 "Holy, Holy, Holy, the Lord God Almighty..." Where do you remember words similar to this being used? First place that comes to mind is in the words of our communion liturgy. Every time I get to the third "Holy" I can feel my heart start to beat a little faster. What we are doing in that act of coming together in communion with God is an Xtreme holy moment. Is it Xtreme for you?

The second place I remember using "Holy, Holy, Holy" is in singing the song that is named "Holy, Holy, Holy". Growing up in a church that did not use liturgy for communion, that is my first remembrance of that word used three times together. I also remember singing this song in St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome on a "History of the Church" tour I lead with some church members. We were a small group, so the tour company connected us with a Catholic group. The Catholic priest arranged a morning vespers service for us in some rooms underneath the main part of the church. People from all over the world were in different rooms singing the same song in different languages. It was a very holy moment.

You might want to look over Ezekiel as you read Revelation. Rev. 4:6b-8 seem to be a direct allusion to Ezekiel 1:5, 18. Ezekiel's creatures have four faces each, whereas John has four different creatures that are full of eyes. In Ezekiel the eyes are attached to the wheels of a chariot.

There is a quote in the New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. XII, pg. 596 that says "Reading Ezekiel 1 was severely restricted by by ancient Jewish teachers because of it's use by visionaries and the dangers to faith and life that such visionary activity posed." This quote comes from something called "Megillah 4:10", so I had to look up "Megillah". This is the scroll of Esther that is read during Purim. Here is the link if you want to know more: www.mezuzahdoctor.com/MEGILLAH/megilah.htm.

I need to stop for now and go mow the back yard before it gets too hot (today is my day off). That will be my work out for today.

This is fascinating reading. I recommend an old movie called "The Seventh Sign" with Demi Moore that will make this reading come to life for you. I have it on VHS if you still have a VCR and want to borrow it.