I did notice the focus was heaven and thought it was those apostles and prophets in the time Paul's doctrine/mystery. I think what gets me, though, is that Paul tells us the "...mystery of Christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men..." and also "...unsearchable riches of Christ..." If what Paul tells us of his revelation of the mystery was kept secret from the foundation of the world is true and that we can't search it out, then this prophecy [the book of Revelation to John] shows we can search out some of that mystery. Unless the other ages and unsearchable riches is referring to past prophesies and not [future] prophesies such as John's…?? (thinking aloud here) Yet, other ages means at no other time but John's prophecy would be another time, right??
The "other ages" that Paul is talking about concerns those that came before his ministry. When Paul says in Ephesians 3 that in other ages was not made known, he can't be referencing the future because the future has not happened yet in the context. Paul is dealing with the past.
Ephesians 3:4-9
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
After God revealed it to Paul in ~31 A.D., it is now open to all men. We know this because Paul also defines the Mystery in Romans and Colossians...focusing on "since the world began (past)...but now (present) is made manifest"
Rom 16:25-26a
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now...
Colossians 1:26
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations [past], but now [present] is made manifest to his saints:
Notice that the other ages are not in reference to future ones, but to the past. “Hath been hid” is a past-tense phrase; “but now" is present tense! The future is not in view here.
Ephesians 2:11
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Again, part of bible study is to always remember the context of a book/passage. And the context of the book of Revelation is the future. So although the focus of the book of Revelation is on Israel/Prophecy/the Earth, it does not mean that God does not acknowledge His creatures in the heavenly places at that time, like the angels and the Church the Body of Christ. And that is not so unusual because He mentions it in Peter's prophetic book as well...
2 Peter 3:15
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
One more thing, even way back in Genesis, before Israel was in view, God gave glimpses of us, the Body of Christ in the Word. Like with Enoch being a type of the Body of Christ, being translated [caught up/raptured] into Heaven before the wrath of God was poured out in the earth.
Genesis 5:24
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!
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