Revelation 4:1. AFTER THESE THINGS denotes succession of visions, not of time; and the rest of the verse is preparatory to the vision rather than strictly speaking a part of it. The apostle must be understood to be still ‘in the spirit,' for that is the state in which at chap. Revelation 1:10 he hea... [ Continue Reading ]
Chaps. 4 and 5 form the third section of the Apocalypse; but the struggle of the Church, which it is the main object of the book to describe, does not yet begin. These two Chapter s are preparatory to the struggle, presenting us with such pictures of the glory of the heavenly Guardians of the Church... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:2. As the closing expression of Revelation 4:1 in the Authorised Version, after THESE THINGS, is not necessary to complete the meaning of the clause to which it is at present added, it seems better to connect it with what follows at the beginning of the second verse. It thus constitutes... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:3. The description of Him that sat upon the throne is given: He was LIKE UNTO A JASPER STONE AND A SARDINE. It has been noticed that the two stones here mentioned are the first and the last in the ‘breastplate of judgment' (Exodus 28:17; Exodus 28:20); but it is difficult to attach any... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:4. In the next part of the description we are told that there were round about the throne twenty-four thrones, and upon the thrones twenty-four elders. It is important to observe the word ‘thrones' (not as in the Authorised Version, ‘seats') here used by St. John, for there can be no do... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:5. The description is continued with the mention of lightnings and voices and thunders which proceed out of the throne. These represent neither the ‘outpouring of the Holy Spirit' nor the ‘agency of the Gospel,' but the fact that the throne of God is a throne of judgment (Psalms 9:7). T... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:6. AND BEFORE THE THRONE AS IT WERE A GLASSY SEA LIKE UNTO CRYSTAL. The most various opinions have been entertained regarding the ‘glassy sea' here spoken of, some of which may at once be set aside. It can hardly be intended to signify ‘the will and law of God in constituting the kingdo... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:7-8 a. AND THE FIRST LIVING CREATURE WAS LIKE A LION, AND THE SECOND LIVING CREATURE LIKE A BULL-CALF, AND THE THIRD LIVING CREATURE HAD ITS FACE AS OF A MAN, AND THE FOURTH LIVING CREATURE WAS LIKE A FLYING EAGLE. AND THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES, HAVING EACH ONE OF THEM SEVERALLY SIX WIN... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:8 b. AND THEY HAVE NO REST DAY AND NIGHT, SAYING, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD, WHO ART GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, HE WHICH WAS AND WHICH IS, AND WHICH IS TO COME. The _Trisagion_ thus sung by the living creatures is found also in Isaiah 6:3, in a passage which we have already seen lies largely at th... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:9. AND WHEN THE LIVING CREATURES SHALL GIVE GLORY AND HONOUR AND THANKS TO HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE, TO HIM THAT LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER. IN THESE WORDS WE HAVE a description of the _Trisagion_ which has just been sung, and the description introduces the fact that the four-and-tw... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:10. THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS SHALL FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE, AND SHALL WORSHIP HIM THAT LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER, AND SHALL CAST THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE, SAYING. Three acts of worship and homage on the part of the elders are described, ‘falling down,' ‘wo... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 4:11. WORTHY ART THOU, OUR LORD AND OUR GOD, TO TAKE THE GLORY, AND THE HONOUR, AND THE POWER, FOR THOU DIDST CREATE ALL THINGS, AND BECAUSE OF THY WILL THEY WERE, AND THEY WERE CREATED. In the response thus proceeding from the Church, we mark a higher tone than in the song of the four li... [ Continue Reading ]