Bible Commentaries
Revelation 4

Verse 1

After. App-104 .

this = these things, as Revelation 1:19 .

looked. App-133 .

behold. App-133 .

was opened. i.e. already opened.

heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .

first. Greek."former". See Revelation 1:10 .

it were. Omit.

things = what things.

which. Omit.

be = come to pass.

hereafter = after (Greek. meta, above) these things.

Verse 2

was = became, came to be. See Revelation 1:9 , Revelation 1:10 .

in the Spirit. i.e. in or by the power of the Spirit, as Revelation 1:10 .

Spirit. App-101 .

sat = sitting.

Verse 3

look upon. Compare App-133 .

jasper = jasper stone. According to Pliny, this stone was translucent.

sardine stone = sardius stone. A precious stone from Sardis, red in color.

rainbow. Greek. iris. Only here and Revelation 10:1 . In Genesis 9:13 ; Ezekiel 1:28 , &c, the Septuagint uses toxon, bow, for the Hebrew kesheth.

insight. Same words as "to look upon", above.

unto = to.

emerald. Only here. A kindred word in Revelation 21:19 , and in Exodus 28:18 with Exodus 39:8 (Septuagint)

Verse 4

four and twenty. See App-10 and App-197 .

seats = thrones, as Revelation 4:2 . See Revelation 1:4 .

saw. The texts omit.

elders. Greek. presbuteros. These are evidently heavenly beings, "a pattern" after which David arranged his twenty-four courses of the sons of Aaron (1 Chronicles 24:3-5 ).

they had. The texts omit.

crowns of gold. The only other wearer is the Son of Man (Revelation 14:14 ), a fact which proves the exalted station of these "elders".

Verse 5

proceeded = proceed.

seven. See App-197 .

lamps. App-130 . See John 18:3 .

burning. Greek. kaio. See Joh 5:55 .

Spirits. App-101 .

Verse 6

there was . glass. The texts read "as it were a glassy sea".

unto = to.

round about. Greek. kuklo. In Rev. only here and Revelation 7:11 . Occurs: Mark 3:34 .

were. Omit.

beasts = living ones, or living creatures (as Hebrews 13:11 , first occurance). Greek. zoon. Occurs twenty times ( App-10 ). Not the word in Revelation 13:0 and Revelation 17:0 . These zoa are the cherubim of Genesis 3:24 .Ezekiel 1:5-14 . Compare Ezekiel 10:20 . They are distinguished from angels (Revelation 5:8 ; Revelation 5:11 ). These zoa speak of creation and of redemption also.

eyes. See Ezekiel 1:8 ; Ezekiel 10:12 .

Verse 7

had = having, as the texts.

man. App-123 .

Verse 8

and they were = are.

Holy, &c. The first of the seventeen ( App-10 ) heavenly utterances in Rev. Here, Revelation 4:8 ; Revelation 4:11 ; Revelation 5:9 , Revelation 5:10 ; Revelation 5:12 ; Revelation 5:13 ; Revelation 5:5 . -14- (Amen); Revelation 7:10 ; Revelation 7:12 ; Revelation 11:15 ; Revelation 11:17 ; Revelation 12:10-12 ; Revelation 14:13 ; Revelation 15:3 ; Revelation 19:1-3 ; Revelation 19:4 ; Revelation 19:5 ; Revelation 19:6 , Revelation 19:7 .

Holy . . . holy. God's holiness proclaimed, prior to judgment. See Psalms 93:0 ; Psalms 97:0 ; Psalms 99:0 , and Isaiah 6:3 . Compare Numbers 6:24-26 .

Almighty. See Revelation 1:8 .

Verse 9

those = the.

give = shall give.

glory. See p. 1511.

That sat = the One sitting.

for ever, &c. App-151 .

Verse 10

fall = shall fall.

worship = shall worship.

cast = shall cast.

Verse 11

O LORD. The texts read "our LORD and our God" ( App-98 .)

glory, honour, power. The texts place article "the" before each.

glory , as Revelation 4:9 .

power. App-172 .1; Rev 176:1 .

hast created = didst create. Greek. ktizo. In Rev. only here and Revelation 10:6 .

pleasure. App-102 .

are. The texts read "were".