The angels holding back the four winds of chaos (and judgement) from blowing across the whole world and wrecking havoc - till all the Christians have been decided once and for all (Revelation 7:1-3; 22: 11, 12). The 144,000. (The tribe of Dan is left out for some reason, maybe because it would be 13 and 13 is a bad number). Praise from the great throng of believers in front of the Throne and before the Lamb.

Enemies oppose the rebuilding. When Satan hits us with mockery, insults and fear, we respond through confidence, prayer and courage in the Spirit.

The Lamb Breaks the First Six Seals. Who is the rider on the white horse? Christ, the anti-Christ, OR the nations of the world as they grapple for and against the message of Christ for the whole world against the devil's plots. Is the sixth seal the 2nd coming of Christ (Revelation 19:11) or is it the White Throne of Judgement at the bottom of the Millennium (Revelation 20: 14,15) or can it be both simultaneously. My opinion: Christ will reveal it to us in time as He wills for He is the one who is worthy to see ahead and determine how last-day events play out. We are to TRUST.

Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Starting at the Sheep Gate on the top of the North wall and swinging down - past the Hananeel Tower - to the Fish Gate and then along the West Wall through the Old Gate - passing the Furnaces Tower - and through to the Valley Gate - and then swinging up the South wall and the Dung Gate - and then rounding a corner to the Southeast wall and proceeding through the Fountain Gate and the Water Gate - and proceeding past those to the Horse Gate, the East Gate and the Inspection Gate...and then rounding a corner to land back at ... the Sheep Gate. 10 gates in the Old Jerusalem and 12 Gates in the New Jerusalem to come (Revelation 21, 22). The Gates were pictured in the Infographic Guide to the Bible: the Old Testament by Thompson, Duffy (Phd) and Dawson.

The Lamb opens the scroll. Jesus is worthy and capable to decipher the words and prophecies of God. He opens up the Word, and He makes the word transparent where before it was 'shut up' and a mystery (Daniel 12: 4)

Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem to repair the breach and replace the gates. Jesus goes to Jerusalem to repair the breach between us and God.

Worship in Heaven

Nehemiah, the king's cupbearer - hears the reports of the walls of Jerusalem being broken down and returns to the city to repair the breaches. Nehemiah is the cup-bearer/governor of the king and he is a symbol of the Christ: he acts on behalf of God the King.

Jesus' praise and criticisms to 3 churches: Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Dr. Henry Halley (Halley's Bible Handbook) writes that the 'seven churches may have been chosen as representing a fair cross section of churches of that generation' in his commentary on Revelation 3.

The pain of Idolatry and Ezra's remedy for stopping the increase of idolatry in Israel. Please see 2 Corinthians 6:14-18