________________
CONFLUENCE OF OPPOSITES
317
But if the Books of the Old Testament only refer to Gods in the plural in a general way, the last book in the New Testament, namely, the Apocalypse or Revelation actually refers to the Tirthamkaras and also men. tions Their number as four and wenty. The fourth, the fifth and the sixth chapters of the Apocalypse deal with the subject and run somewhat as follows :Chapter iv. (1) A door was opened in heaven, and I, John,
the divine, beard a voice : 'come up bither; I
will show thee things which must be hereafter.' (2) John was immediately in spirit, and beheld &
throne set up in heaven, "and one sat on the throne.
(3) “And round about the throne were four and
twenty seats ; and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowńs of gold.
(4). "And out of the throne proceeded light
nings and thunderings and voices, and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the
throne which are the seven spirits of God. (5) " .........and in the midst of the throne, and
round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind."
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
