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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Revelation 4:2

Right then the Spirit took control of me, and there in heaven I saw a throne and someone sitting on it.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Throne;   Vision;   Thompson Chain Reference - God's;   Government;   Sovereignty of God;   Throne, God's;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Throne;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Holy Spirit;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Rainbow;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Satan;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ezekiel;   Revelation, the Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Fire;   Guilt (2);   Holy Spirit (2);   Revelation (2);   Throne ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Cherub;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Cherubim (1);   Heavens;   Isaiah;   Luke, the Evangelist;   Revelation of John:;   Seraphim;   Throne;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it.
King James Version (1611)
And immediatly I was in the spirit: and beholde, a Throne was set in heauen, and one sate on the Throne.
King James Version
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
New American Standard Bible
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and someone was sitting on the throne.
New Century Version
Immediately I was in the Spirit, and before me was a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it.
THE MESSAGE
I was caught up at once in deep worship and, oh!—a Throne set in Heaven with One Seated on the Throne, suffused in gem hues of amber and flame with a nimbus of emerald. Twenty-four thrones circled the Throne, with Twenty-four Elders seated, white-robed, gold-crowned. Lightning flash and thunder crash pulsed from the Throne. Seven fire-blazing torches fronted the Throne (these are the Sevenfold Spirit of God). Before the Throne it was like a clear crystal sea. Prowling around the Throne were Four Animals, all eyes. Eyes to look ahead, eyes to look behind. The first Animal like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with a human face, the fourth like an eagle in flight. The Four Animals were winged, each with six wings. They were all eyes, seeing around and within. And they chanted night and day, never taking a break: Holy, holy, holy Is God our Master, Sovereign-Strong, The Was, The Is, The Coming. Every time the Animals gave glory and honor and thanks to the One Seated on the Throne—the age-after-age Living One—the Twenty-four Elders would fall prostrate before the One Seated on the Throne. They worshiped the age-after-age Living One. They threw their crowns at the foot of the Throne, chanting, Worthy, O Master! Yes, our God! Take the glory! the honor! the power! You created it all; It was created because you wanted it.
English Standard Version
At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
Berean Standard Bible
At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it.
Complete Jewish Bible
Instantly I was in the Spirit, and there before me in heaven stood a throne, and on the throne Someone was sitting.
Darby Translation
Immediately I became in [the] Spirit; and behold, a throne stood in the heaven, and upon the throne one sitting,
Easy-to-Read Version
Immediately the Spirit took control of me, and there in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And immediatly I was rauished in the spirit, and behold, a throne was set in heauen, and one sate vpon the throne.
George Lamsa Translation
And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Good News Translation
At once the Spirit took control of me. There in heaven was a throne with someone sitting on it.
Lexham English Bible
Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one was seated on the throne.
Literal Translation
And at once I became in spirit. And, behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and One sitting on the throne.
Amplified Bible
At once I was in [special communication with] the Spirit; and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne.
American Standard Version
Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;
Bible in Basic English
Straight away I was in the Spirit: and I saw a high seat in heaven, and one was seated on it;
Hebrew Names Version
Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne
International Standard Version
Instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven with a person seated on the throne.Isaiah 6:1; Jeremiah 17:12; Ezekiel 1:26; 10:1; Daniel 7:9; Revelation 1:10; 17:3; 21:10;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
At once I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne [fn] placed in heaven, and upon the throne (One) sat.
Murdock Translation
Instantly, I was in the Spirit: and lo, a throne was placed in heaven; and there was [fn] seated on the throne.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And immediatly I was in the spirite, and behold, a throne was set in heauen, and one sate on the throne.
English Revised Version
Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;
World English Bible
Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold a throne was set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne.
Weymouth's New Testament
Immediately I found myself in the Spirit, and saw a throne in Heaven, and some One sitting on the throne.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Anoon Y was in spirit, and lo! a seete was sett in heuene, and vpon the seete oon sittynge.
Update Bible Version
Immediately I was in the Spirit: and look, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne;
Webster's Bible Translation
And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne.
New English Translation
Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it!
New King James Version
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
New Living Translation
And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.
New Life Bible
At once I was under the Spirit's power. See! The throne was in heaven, and One was sitting on it.
New Revised Standard
At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne!
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
straightway, I came to be in Spirit, and lo! a throne, stood in heaven, and, upon the throne, was one sitting;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And immediately I was in the spirit. And behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting.
Revised Standard Version
At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne!
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And immediatly I was in the sprete: and beholde a seate was put in heven and one sate on the seate.
Young's Literal Translation
and immediately I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne was set in the heaven, and upon the throne is [one] sitting,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And immediatly I was in the sprete: & beholde, a seate was set in heauen, and one sat on the seate.
Mace New Testament (1729)
Immediately I was in an extasy: and I saw a throne placed in heaven, and one sitting on the throne.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Then the Holy Ghost showed me someone sitting on the throne in heaven.

Contextual Overview

1 After this, I looked and saw a door that opened into heaven. Then the voice that had spoken to me at first and that sounded like a trumpet said, "Come up here! I will show you what must happen next." 2 Right then the Spirit took control of me, and there in heaven I saw a throne and someone sitting on it. 3 The one who was sitting there sparkled like precious stones of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. 4 Twenty-four other thrones were in a circle around that throne. And on each of these thrones there was an elder dressed in white clothes and wearing a gold crown. 5 Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder came out from the throne in the center of the circle. Seven torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne. 6 Also in front of the throne was something that looked like a glass sea, clear as crystal. Around the throne in the center were four living creatures covered front and back with eyes. 7 The first creature was like a lion, the second one was like a bull, the third one had the face of a human, and the fourth was like a flying eagle.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I was: Revelation 1:10, Revelation 17:3, Revelation 21:10, Ezekiel 3:12-14

a throne: Revelation 4:5, Revelation 20:11, Isaiah 6:1, Jeremiah 17:12, Ezekiel 1:26, Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel 10:1

and one: Revelation 4:9, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 5:1, Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:7, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 6:16, Revelation 7:9-17, Revelation 12:5, Revelation 19:4, Revelation 21:5, Revelation 22:1-3, Isaiah 6:1, Daniel 7:9, Hebrews 8:1

Reciprocal: Numbers 2:2 - about the 1 Kings 22:19 - I saw the Lord Psalms 11:4 - the Lord's Ezekiel 8:3 - the spirit Matthew 22:43 - General Matthew 23:22 - by the Acts 10:10 - he fell 2 Corinthians 12:2 - in the Revelation 7:10 - sitteth Revelation 14:3 - throne

Cross-References

Genesis 3:23
So the Lord God sent them out of the Garden of Eden, where they would have to work the ground from which the man had been made.
Genesis 4:25
Adam and his wife had another son. They named him Seth, because they said, "God has given us a son to take the place of Abel, who was killed by his brother Cain."
Genesis 4:26
Later, Seth had a son and named him Enosh. About this time people started worshiping the Lord .
Genesis 9:20
Noah farmed the land and was the first to plant a vineyard.
Genesis 37:13
his father Jacob said to him, "I want you to go to your brothers. They are with the sheep near Shechem." "Yes, sir," Joseph answered.
Genesis 47:3
who asked them, "What do you do for a living?" "Sir, we are shepherds," was their answer. "Our families have always raised sheep.
Exodus 3:1
One day, Moses was taking care of the sheep and goats of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and Moses decided to lead them across the desert to Sinai, the holy mountain.
Psalms 127:3
Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord .
Amos 7:15
But the Lord told me to leave my herds and preach to the people of Israel.
Luke 11:51
This includes every prophet from the time of Abel to the time of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the temple. You people will certainly be punished for all of this.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And immediately I was in the Spirit,.... As he had been before, Revelation 1:10; it seems he had been some little time out of his ecstasy, how long cannot be said, and now, upon this new scene of things, returned to it; upon the opening of the door in heaven, and hearing the former voice, and the things it said, the Spirit of God at once possessed and filled him, in an extraordinary manner; and his soul or spirit was immediately taken from the consideration of all sensible objects, and was fixed and intent upon the things presented to it in the vision, so that it was as if it was out of the body. The Arabic version reads, "then therefore I went in the Spirit"; in obedience to the voice that called him up, in which he was assisted by the Spirit of God, who lifted him up as he did Ezekiel, when he saw what follows:

and behold, a throne was set in heaven; not for the final judgment, on which the son of man will sit, when he comes to judge the quick and dead, for he is not the person that fills this but this is a symbol of the power, authority, and dominion now exercised by God, not over the world in general, who has prepared his throne in the heavens, and governs among the nations, according to his sovereign will and pleasure, but which he exercises in his church, signified by "heaven". The allusion is to the temple, and the throne of God in it, Isaiah 6:1. The temple was an emblem of the Gospel church, Jerusalem, or the Gospel church state, and was to be called the throne of the Lord, Jeremiah 3:17, and now his throne is set there. Here he exercises a jurisdiction and government; he is King and lawgiver in it; he has enacted laws, and he writes them on the hearts of his people, and puts his Spirit within them, and makes them both able and willing to obey them.

And [one] sat on the throne; not the trinity of persons in the Godhead, which some think are signified by the three precious stones in Revelation 4:3, the jasper, sardine, and emerald; for, as distinct from him that sat upon the throne, the Lamb is said to be in the midst of it, and the seven spirits of God are said to be before it: nor is Jesus Christ intended, and his two natures; his divine nature by the jasper, and his human nature by the red and blood coloured sardine; since he, the Lamb, is represented as in the midst of the throne, and is often distinguished from him that sat upon it; see Revelation 5:6; but God the Father is designed, who sits on the throne, though not to the exclusion of the Son and Spirit, yet in distinction from them. This clause is left out in the Ethiopic version.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 doubtless still in Patmos, and these things were made to pass before his mind as a reality; that is, they appeared as real to him as if he saw them, and they were in fact a real symbolical representation of things occurring in heaven.

And, behold, a throne was set in heaven - That is, a throne was placed there. The first thing that arrested his attention was a throne. Tiffs was “in heaven” - an expression which proves that the scene of the vision was not the temple in Jerusalem, as some have supposed. There is no allusion to the temple, and no imagery drawn from the temple. Isaiah had his vision Isaiah 6:1-13 in the holy of holies of the temple; Ezekiel Ezekiel 1:1, by the river Chebar; but John looked directly into heaven, and saw the throne of God, and the encircling worshippers there.

And one sat on the throne - It is remarkable that John gives no description of him who sat on the throne, nor does he indicate who he was by name. Neither do Isaiah or Ezekiel attempt to describe the appearance of the Deity, nor are there any intimations of that appearance given from which a picture or an image could be formed. So much do their representations accord with what is demanded by correct taste; and so sedulously have they guarded against any encouragement of idolatry.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Revelation 4:2. I was in the Spirit — Rapt up in an ecstasy.


 
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