Analysis Of The Chapter This chapter Revelation 4:1 properly commences the series of visions respecting future events, and introduces those remarkable symbolical descriptions which were designed to cheer the hearts of those to whom the book was first sent, in their trials, and the hearts of all bel... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THIS - Greek, “After these things”; that is, after what he had seen, and after what he had been directed to record in the preceding chapters. How long after these things this occurred, he does not say - whether on the same day, or at some subsequent time; and conjecture would be useless. The s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IMMEDIATELY I WAS IN THE SPIRIT - See the notes on Revelation 1:10. He does not affirm that he was caught up into heaven, nor does he say what impression was on his own mind, if any, as to the place where he was; but he was at once absorbed in the contemplation of the visions before him. He was... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THAT SAT WAS TO LOOK UPON - Was in appearance; or, as I looked upon him, this seemed to be his appearance. He does not describe his form, but his splendor. LIKE A JASPER - ἰάσπιδι iaspidi The jasper, properly, is “an opaque, impure variety of quartz, of red, yellow, and also of some dull co... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE WERE FOUR AND TWENTY SEATS - Or rather, “thrones” - θρόνοι thronoi - the same word being used as what is rendered “throne” - θρόνος thronos. The word, indeed, properly denotes a seat, but it came to be employed to denote particularly the seat on which a monarch sat, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE THRONE PROCEEDED LIGHTNINGS AND THUNDERINGS AND VOICES - Expressive of the majesty and glory of Him that sat upon it. We are at once reminded by this representation of the sublime scene that occurred at Sinai Exodus 19:16, where “there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud u... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEFORE THE THRONE THERE WAS A SEA OF GLASS - An expanse spread out like a sea composed of glass: that is, that was pellucid and transparent like glass. It is not uncommon to compare the sea with glass. See numerous examples in Wetstein, in loco. The point of the comparison here seems to be its t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FIRST BEAST WAS LIKE A LION - A general description has been given, applicable to all, denoting that in whatever form the divine government is administered, these things will be found; a particular description now follows, contemplating that government under particular aspects, as symbolized... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOUR BEASTS HAD EACH OF THEM SIX WINGS ABOUT HIM - An emblem common to them all, denoting that, in reference to each and all the things here symbolized, there was one common characteristic - that in heaven there is the utmost promptness in executing the divine commands. Compare Isaiah 6:2; P... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THOSE BEASTS GIVE GLORY ... - As often as those living beings ascribe glory to God. They did this continually Revelation 4:8; and, if the above explanation be correct, then the idea is that the ways and acts of God in his providential government are continually of such a nature as to honor... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM ... - The representatives of the redeemed church in heaven (see the notes at Revelation 4:4) also unite in the praise. The meaning, if the explanation of the symbol be correct, is, that the church universal unites in praise to God for all that characte... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART WORTHY, O LORD - In thy character, perfections, and government, there is what makes it proper that universal praise should be rendered. The feeling of all true worshippers is, that (God is worthy of the praise that is ascribed to him. No man worships him aright who does not feel that there... [ Continue Reading ]