Revelation
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Revelation 4
Revelation 4
Commentary · verses 1-11
1After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.
1After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Commentary · verse 1
John heard a trumpet which said "Come up hither..." This was the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The trump called John up to heaven prior to the prophecy concerning the seven year Tribulation.
2Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne; 3and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.
2And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Commentary · verses 2-3
John stated straightway he was in the Spirit, and he saw (was in) heaven. The rainbow was a sign of Noah's Covenant (see Genesis 9:13).
4And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.
4And 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 crowns of gold.
Commentary · verse 4
These twenty-four elders represented the Church.
5And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;
5And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Commentary · verse 5
Again, the seven Spirits of God were listed in Isaiah 11:2.
6and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.
6And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Commentary · verse 6
In the Bible, when water was described generically (without name) it represented people, meaning "a sea of glass like a crystal" was a mass of people: the Church.
7And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
8And the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.
7And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
8And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Commentary · verses 7-8
Isaiah 6:2-3 also described six winged seraphim saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy."
Doctrines on this passage
9And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever, 10the 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, 11Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.
9And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Commentary · verses 9-11
The twenty-four elders worshipped God and cast their crowns before His throne recognizing God's glory, honor, and power. Revelation 4 covered the events at the beginning of the Tribulation, which is why the number "4" is on the hash mark denoting the beginning of the Tribulation.
This chapter presented the perspective from heaven of the beginning of the Tribulation.