np Esther.
We should remember, the apocalyptic visions don't necessarily reveal "a reality," they reveal a truth!
For example, the visions in Revelation are not intended to "reveal the fact" that Jesus Christ is some sort of weirdly mutant caprinae ovis (sheep) with seven eyes walking around on four hooves. In fact, it would be insulting, to say nothing of misleading, if someone were to assert this idea just because of the words in
Revelation 5:6.
We should also be wary of not falling for the less obvious pitfalls in interpreting this visions. Jesus Christ and God the Father are "two" in some senses of the word - see for example
John 8:17-18:
"It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me."
Someone might come away from reading just this passage and have the idea that the Father and Jesus are "two men" because of the words in verse 17. They would have a contradiction however when considering these verses:
Num 23:19 G
od is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
1Sa 15:29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for
he is not a man, that he should have regret."
Job 9:32 For
he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.
The point Jesus is making in
John 8, is that there are "two witnesses" - the Father in heaven and the Son of God standing there right in front of the people at that time.
However, being "two witnesses" is not the same as being two Beings or even Two Persons (see for example
1 Corinthians 13:1, where Paul all by himself constituted "three witnesses").
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