NB: It takes time to study and understand all the end time events and background. We all have a specific leaning towards one or another explanation which might have some weak points. No one person has a complete understanding of the Old Testament backdrop to the book of Revelation which in my view is needed to understand the details given by John who reuses symbols and general outcomes so we can understand what is taking place and why. We must be open to questioning our understanding and beliefs.
Introduction
Daniel makes a important statement about a court in heaven that is seated as part of the end time events. This is elaborated on in the book Revelation. This as we will see is significant as a number of scriptures come together.
The first reference to a court is Daniel and is referenced in:-
Revelation 1:7 Look! He is coming with the clouds! And every eye will see Him, even of those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the land will wail because of Him! Truly, Amen!
“Coming with the clouds” is quoted directly from Daniel 7:13. This reference and all the other following scriptures show that the whole book of Revelation is in the context of a celestial court that the Ancient of Days resides over seated as Supreme Judge in Daniel 7:9-14, 21-22, 26-27 and the judgements that are handed out in Revelation using the 7 seals, 7 trumpets and the 7 bowls.
Daniel 7:13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
To put this in perspective:-
In Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 Jesus makes a specific reference to Daniel and the “ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION “. This term is only mentioned in Daniel in the whole of the Old Testament.
When you look at Daniel chapters 7-12 you can see why Jesus made reference to it and its importance in order to have a outline with the sequence of key events linked to the 70th week tribulation period detailed in Revelation.
Celestial Court
In Revelation 4, John describes in detail the celestial court that Daniel only glimpsed – the “Ancient of Days” seated on His throne surrounded by other thrones (24 elders) and “thousands, thousands” attending Him (Daniel 7:9-10). The purpose of the celestial court is to transfer the kingdoms of the world to the “Son of Man” and the “holy ones (Saints) of the Most High”. This results in the land inheritance for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and his Seed as promised by God.
The celestial court might be a new concept to most as it was to me. However, it is clearly stated in Daniel 7 that there is a court which gives structure and context for a number of chapters and verses in Revelation which I hope you will agree.
The concept of a court proceedings fits as judgements are made on nations and peoples. God always keeps is promises and covenants (e.g. Permanent Land inheritance) to his people first Israel and then the saints of the Most High (Christians). God implements them legally in full view of the heavens.
Daniel 7:9-14, 21-22, 25-27 “I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;
10 A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.
11 “I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.
12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
Interpretation by the Angel
25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.
26 ‘But the court shall be seated, And they shall take away his dominion, To consume and destroy it forever.
27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’
In Daniel 7:9, it says that Daniel watched till the thrones were put in place. This means that this scene is not what heaven normally looks like. This is a special event. Notice that the Ancient of Days (God the father) takes His seat in this court.
Daniel 7:7-27 explained with the Celestial Court Seated
Revelation 4-20 elaborate on & supplement Daniel 7:7-27
1. Daniel 7:7 The fourth beast is the Roman Empire
The 10 horns = the 10 toes in Nebuchadnezzar’s image (Daniel 2:31-45)
The 10 toes (kings) are all present simultaneously when Antichrist arises & Christ’s Kingdom arrives (Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:8; Revelation 17:12-14).
2. The “little horn” arises after the other “ten horns,” spouting “pompous words” (Daniel 7:8,24).
3. The Celestial Court seated after “little horn” arises (Daniel 7:9-10 and in more detail in Revelation 4-5)
4. Little horn proclaims “pompous words” resulting in the 4th Beast (Rome) slain and burned (Daniel 7:11) = Mystery Babylon detailed in Revelation 17-18 which takes place at the mid-point of the 7 years.
5. Previous empires (Babylon, Persia, Greece) continue subjugated for a short time. (Daniel 7:12).
6. The little horn will persecute the saints for 3.5 years Daniel 7:21,25.
7. The “Son of Man” comes on the clouds, brought before the Ancient of Days, and given the Kingdom, along with the saints (Daniel 7:13-14,18, 25-27).
Revelation 4:1-4 The Celestial Court Seated
1 After these things I observed, and look, a door having been opened in the sky. And the first voice I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you what is required to take place after these things.”
2 Immediately I came to be in the Breath, and look, a throne was sitting and someone was seated on the throne.
3 The one seated had an appearance similar to a jasper and sardine stone. And a rainbow encircled the throne, similar in appearance to an emerald.
4 And encircling the throne were twenty-four thrones. And on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, having been clothed in white robes, and on their heads golden wreaths.
In Revelation 5:7 we see another step in the court proceedings with Jesus taking the 7 sealed scroll of judgement from the One sitting on the throne the Ancient of Days.
Revelation 5:7 Then He approached and took [the scroll] from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne.
People on the Earth See God’s Face
Revelation 6:14-16 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was stirred from its place.
15 And the kings of the land, the great ones, the commanders, the rich men, the strong, every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains
16 and said to the mountains and rocks: “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
In Revelation 6:14-16 we see the sky rolls up to show what? If we use Daniels court proceedings this seems to show the throne of God with Him seated in the court and the Lamb of God in heaven judging the earth. The 24 elders will be on their thrones like being part of the jury.
Then the kings, commanders, rich men (like Bill Gates), slave and free can now see the face of God as the sky (heavens) are rolled up and they then say “Fall on us and hide us from the FACE of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! “
This helps explain their fearful reaction in Revelation 6:15-16. They are seeing something that is scary and difficult to understand, but they will know that it is not a good sign. What would it be like to see God and Jesus in heaven when you never believed they existed and now they sense that God’s wrath is about to be poured out on them?
Conclusion
So if we view Revelation 4-21 as the transfer of the kingdoms of the world to the “Son of Man” and the Holy Ones (Saints) being given via the actions of a Celestial Court that passes judgements on the nations and people of the earth it gives an overall framework and understanding. The seals, trumpets, bowls and other events like sealing the 144,000 fit into this larger picture.
Living as a Christian in this World 