After these things — As if he had said, After I had written these letters from the mouth of the Lord. By the particle and, the several parts of this prophecy are usually connected: by the expression, after these things, they are distinguished from each other, Revelation 7:9; Revelation 19:1. By that... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately I was in the spirit — Even in an higher degree than before, Revelation 1:10. And, behold, a throne was set in heaven — St. John is to write "things which shall be;" and, in order thereto, he is here shown, after an heavenly manner, how whatever "shall be," whether good or bad, flows... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that sat was in appearance — Shone with a visible lustre, like that of sparkling precious stones, such as those which were of old on the high priest's breastplate, and those placed as the foundations of the new Jerusalem, Revelation 21:19. If there is anything emblematical in the colours of t... [ Continue Reading ]
And round about the throne — In a circle, are four and twenty thrones, and on the thrones four and twenty elders — The most holy of all the former ages, Isaiah 24:23; Hebrews 12:1; representing the whole body of the saints. Sitting — In general; but falling down when they worship. Clothed in white r... [ Continue Reading ]
And out of the throne go forth lightnings — Which affect the sight. Voices — Which affect the hearing. Thunderings — Which cause the whole body to tremble. Weak men account all this terrible; but to the inhabitants of heaven it is a mere source of joy and pleasure, mixed with reverence to the Divine... [ Continue Reading ]
And before the throne is a sea as of glass, like crystal — Wide and deep, pure and clear, transparent and still. Both the "seven lamps of fire" and this sea are before the throne; and both may mean "the seven spirits of God," the Holy Ghost; whose powers and operations are frequently represented bot... [ Continue Reading ]
And the first — Just such were the four cherubim in Ezekiel, who supported the moving throne of God; whereas each of those that overshadowed the mercy — seat in the holy of holies had all these four faces: whence a late great man supposes them to have been emblematic of the Trinity, and the incarnat... [ Continue Reading ]
Each of them hath six wings — As had each of the seraphim in Isaiah's vision. "Two covered his face," in token of humility and reverence: "two his feet," perhaps in token of readiness and diligence for executing divine commissions. Round about and within they are full of eyes. Round about — To see e... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the living creatures give glory — the elders fall down — That is, as often as the living creatures give glory, immediately the elders fall down. The expression implies, that they did so at the same instant, and that they both did this frequently. The living creatures do not say directly, "H... [ Continue Reading ]
Worthy art thou to receive — This he receives not only when he is thus praised, but also when he destroys his enemies and glorifies himself anew. The glory and the honour and the power — Answering the thrice — holy of the living creatures, Revelation 4:9. For thou hast created all things — Creation... [ Continue Reading ]