The StoryLine of Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect LESSON 5: GOD, GODS THRONE, CREATURES AND PEOPLE

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The Story-Line of Christian Apocalyptic
Rhetorolect LESSON 5 GOD, GODS
THRONE, CREATURES AND PEOPLE AROUND THE THRONE

• The image of God changes when Christian
  apocalyptic rhetorolect in the Revelation to John
  re-presents images from the Hebrew Bible.
• While God is human-like in Isaiah and the
  apocalyptic book of Daniel, God is like a blend
  of human, stone, and fire in Ezekiel, and God is
  like precious stone in the book of Revelation.
• The presentation of the creatures and humans
  around the throne of God also changes from the
  Hebrew Bible to Revelation.
• Out of four creatures around the throne in
  Ezekiel, Revelation presents four creatures like
  a lion, ox, human, and eagle.

• Click for the next slide and an explanation
  of God and Gods throne in the Hebrew Bible.

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The Likeness of God to Human Form in the Hebrew
Bible

• The prophetic book of Isaiah and the apocalyptic
  book of Daniel describe God in relation to human
  form.
• In Ezekiel, God is like a blend of human form,
  stone, and fire.
• In Ezekiel and the apocalyptic book of Daniel,
  Gods throne is fiery flames.
• In both Ezekiel and Revelation, Gods splendor,
  or glory, is associated with an emanating
  rainbow.

• Click to read the presentation of God in
  relation to human form in Isaiah in the Hebrew
  Bible.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
GODS LIKENESS TO HUMAN FORM HAS
NO FEATURES in Isaiah 6

• Isaiah 61 In the year that king Uzziah died, I
  saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted
  up and his train filled the temple.
• 68 I heard the Lords voice, saying, Whom shall
  I send, and who will go for us?
• Then I said, Here I am. Send me!
• (Read Isaiah 6)

• Click to read the presentation of God in
  relation to human, stone, and fire in Ezekiel in
  the Hebrew Bible.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
GODS LIKENESS TO HUMAN
FORM,PRECIOUS STONE, AND FIRE in Ezekiel 1

• Ezekiel 126 Above the expanse that was over
  their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the
  appearance of a sapphire stone
• and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness
  as the appearance of a man on it above.
• Click to read the continuation in Ezekiel.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
GODS LIKENESS TO HUMAN
FORM,PRECIOUS STONE, AND FIRE in Ezekiel 1

• Ezekiel 127 I saw as it were glowing metal, as
  the appearance of fire within it all around, from
  the appearance of his waist and upward
• and from the appearance of his waist and downward
  I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and
  there was brightness around him.
• Click to read the continuation in Ezekiel.

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Hebrew Bible Resource THE GLORY OF THE LORD
HAS THE FORM OF A RAINBOW in Ezekiel 1

• Ezekiel 128 As the appearance of the rainbow
  that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was
  the appearance of the brightness all around.
• This was the appearance of the likeness of the
  glory of Adonai.
• When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a
  voice of one that spoke.
• (Read Ezekiel 1)
• Click to read about God and Gods throne in
  the apocalyptic book of Daniel in the Hebrew
  Bible.

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Hebrew Bible Resource GOD IS LIKE A HUMAN, AND
GODS THRONE IS FIRE in Daniel 7

• Daniel 79 I saw until thrones were placed, and
  one who was ancient of days sat
• his clothing was white as snow,
• and the hair of his head like pure wool
• his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels
  burning fire.
• Click to read the continuation in Daniel.

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Hebrew Bible Resource GOD IS LIKE A HUMAN, AND
GODS THRONE IS FIRE in Daniel 7 cont.

• Daniel 710 710 A fiery stream issued and came
  forth from before him
• thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten
  thousand times ten thousand stood before him
• the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
• (Read Daniel 7)
• Click to read about the image of God in
  Revelation to John in the New Testament.

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• Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect in the Book
  of Revelation Reconfigures God as Like Precious
  Stone that Causes a Rainbow

• Click for next slide.

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Apocalyptic Christian RhetorolectGOD IS LIKE
PRECIOUS STONE THAT PRODUCES A RAINBOW in
Revelation 4

• Revelation 42 Immediately I was in the Spirit.
  Behold, there was a throne set in heaven,
• and one sitting on the throne 43 that looked
  like a jasper stone and a sardius.
• There was a rainbow around the throne, like an
  emerald to look at.
• (Read Revelation 4)
• Click for explanation of the throne in
  Revelation.

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The Book of Revelation has a Throne with no
features, but with Lightning, Thunder,Flaming
Torches, and a Sea of Glass

• Click for next slide.

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Apocalyptic Christian RhetorolectLIGHTNING AND
THUNDER COME FROM GOD'S THRONE in Revelation 4

• Revelation 45 Out of the throne proceed
  lightnings, sounds, and thunders.
• There were seven lamps of fire burning before his
  throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
• 46 Before the throne was something like a sea of
  glass, similar to crystal.
• In the midst of the throne, and around the throne
  were four living creatures full of eyes before
  and behind.
• (Read Revelation 4)
• Click to read about the creatures around
  Gods throne in the Hebrew Bible.

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Creatures around Gods Throne in the Hebrew Bible

• The prophetic books of Isaiah and Ezekiel, and
  the apocalyptic book of Daniel, describe
  different kinds of creatures around Gods throne
  in the Hebrew Bible.
• Click for seraphs around Gods throne in
  Isaiah 6.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
SERAPHS WITH SIX WINGS in
Isaiah 6

• Isaiah 62 Above him stood the seraphim. Each one
  had six wings.
• With two he covered his face. With two he covered
  his feet. With two he flew.
• 63 One called to another, and said, Holy, holy,
  holy, is Adonai of Armies! The whole earth is
  full of his glory!
• Click for creatures around Gods throne in
  Ezekiel 1.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
FOUR HUMAN-LIKE CREATURES,
EACH WITH FOUR FACES HUMAN, LION, OX, AND
EAGLE in Ezekiel 1

• Ezekiel 14 I looked, and behold, a stormy wind
  came out of the north, a great cloud, with
  flashing lightning, and a brightness around it,
  and out of its midst as it were glowing metal,
  out of the midst of the fire.
• 15 Out of its midst came the likeness of four
  living creatures.
• This was their appearance they had the likeness
  of a man.
• Click for continuation of creatures around
  Gods throne in Ezekiel 1.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
FOUR HUMAN-LIKE CREATURES,
EACH WITH FOUR FACES HUMAN, LION, OX, AND
EAGLE in Ezekiel 1

• Ezekiel 16 Everyone had four faces, and each one
  of them had four wings.
• 17 Their feet were straight feet and the sole
  of their feet was like the sole of a calfs
  foot
• and they sparkled like burnished brass.
• Click for continuation of creatures
  around Gods throne in Ezekiel 1.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
FOUR HUMAN-LIKE CREATURES,
EACH WITH FOUR FACES HUMAN, LION, OX, AND
EAGLE in Ezekiel 1 cont.

• Ezekiel 18 They had the hands of a man under
  their wings on their four sides
• and the four of them had their faces and their
  wings thus
• 19 their wings were joined one to another they
  didnt turn when they went each one went
  straight forward.
• Click for continuation of creatures around
  Gods throne in Ezekiel 1.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
FOUR HUMAN-LIKE CREATURES,
EACH WITH FOUR FACES HUMAN, LION, OX, AND
EAGLE in Ezekiel 1 cont.

• Ezekiel 110 As for the likeness of their faces,
  they had the face of a man
• and the four of them had the face of a lion on
  the right side
• and the four of them had the face of an ox on the
  left side
• the four of them also had the face of an eagle.
• (Read Ezekiel 1)
• Click for people around Gods throne in
  Daniel 7.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
A THOUSAND THOUSANDS AROUND
GODS THRONE in Daniel 7

• Daniel 710 A fiery stream issued and came forth
  from before him
• thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten
  thousand times ten thousand stood before him
• the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
  
• Click for continuation of Daniel 7.

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Hebrew Bible Resource
A THOUSAND THOUSANDS AROUND
GODS THRONE in Daniel 7

• Daniel 711 I saw at that time because of the
  voice of the great words which the horn spoke I
  saw even until the animal was slain, and its body
  destroyed, and it was given to be burned with
  fire .
• 712 As for the rest of the animals, their
  dominion was taken away yet their lives were
  prolonged for a season and a time.
• (Read Daniel 7)
• Click for Christian apocalyptic rhetorolect
  that uses these Hebrew Bible resources.

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The New Testament book of Revelation
Reconfigures the Seraphs, Creatures, and People
in the Hebrew Bible books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and
Daniel.

• Click for next slide.

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Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect

FOUR LIVING CREATURES in Revelation 4

• Revelation 45 Out of the throne proceed
  lightnings, sounds, and thunders.
• There were seven lamps of fire burning before his
  throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
• 46 Before the throne was something like a sea of
  glass, similar to crystal.
• In the midst of the throne, and around the throne
  were four living creatures full of eyes before
  and behind.
• (cf. Ezekiel 1)
• Click to continue Revelation 4.

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Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect

FOUR LIVING CREATURES in Revelation 4 cont.
(1)

• Revelation 47 The first creature was like a
  lion,
• and the second creature like a calf,
• and the third creature had a face like a man,
• and the fourth was like a flying eagle.
• (cf. Ezekiel 1)
• Click to continue Revelation 4.

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Christian Apocalyptic Rhetorolect

FOUR LIVING CREATURES in Revelation 4 cont.
(2)

• 48 The four living creatures, each one of them
  having six wings, are full of eyes around and
  within.
• They have no rest day and night, saying, Holy,
  holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was
  and who is and who is to come!
• (cf. Isaiah 6)
  
• (read Revelation 4)
• Click for a summary.

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Good Work!

• In this lesson you have learned that
• 1) God is like human form in Isaiah and Daniel.
• 2) God is like human, stone, and fire in
  Ezekiel.
• 3) God is like precious stone in Revelation.
• Click for continuation of the summary.

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Excellent!

Out of four creatures around the throne in
Ezekiel, Revelation presents four creatures like
a lion, ox, human, and eagle. Like the book of
Daniel, Revelation has thousands of people around
Gods throne, worshipping God. Good luck with
Lesson 6 on the Son of Man and Judgment on earth.