REVELATION CHAPTER 4 REVELATION 4:1 John seeth the throne of God in
heaven, REVELATION 4:4,5 encompassed with four and twenty elders,
REVELATION 4:6,7 and four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
REVELATION 4:8 The continual adoration and worship offered by the
beasts and elders before him that s... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SPIRIT; in an ecstasy, as Paul, 2 CORINTHIANS 12:2, and Peter,
ACTS 10:10, and Ezekiel, EZEKIEL 3:12, and himself was both before and
after this, REVELATION 1:10, REVELATION 17:3 21:10. A THRONE WAS SET
IN HEAVEN, AND ONE SAT ON THE THRONE: God is constantly described, in
the prophetical visi... [ Continue Reading ]
This is all but a description of the glory of God, as he appeared to
John in this vision. The JASPER _stone_ is famous for its
transparency, and variety of colours it offereth to the eye, and may
signify the various and infinite perfections of God. The SARDINE STONE
is red, and of a bloody colour, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Some think (and not improbably) that here is an allusion to the
twenty-four courses of the priests and Levites, established by God for
his service in the sanctuary and temple of old, 1 CHRONICLES 24:18, 1
CHRONICLES 25:31; and that these twenty-four elders either typified
the whole church under the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUT OF THE THRONE PROCEEDED LIGHTNINGS AND THUNDERINGS AND VOICES:
these words denote a very glorious and terrible appearance of God,
denoting his majesty, and power over his enemies. There is, possibly,
an allusion to God's appearance at the giving of the law, EXODUS
19:16; only we read there b... [ Continue Reading ]
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AND BEFORE THE THRONE; the throne mentioned before, REVELATION 4:2,3,
upon which _one sat, _ & c. A SEA OF GLASS LIKE UNTO CRYSTAL; another
allusion to the tabernacle or temple, in which was a sea, that is, a
large vessel full of water; it was for Aaron and his sons to wash
their hands, and... [ Continue Reading ]
It is observed concerning these four living creatures, (for so they
were, not beasts in a strict sense, as it is opposed to flying things,
for the fourth was a fowl):
1. That they were the same mentioned in Ezekiel's vision, EZEKIEL
1:10; only each one there is said to have had the four faces of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOUR BEASTS HAD EACH OF THEM SIX WINGS ABOUT HIM: the
seraphims in Isaiah's vision, REVELATION 6:2, had so; there their use
is declared, _with twain he covered his face, with twain his feet, and
with twain he did fly._ If we understand all the wings here for
flight, they signify the readines... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THOSE BEASTS, the living creatures before expressed,
signifying the ministers of the gospel, GIVE GLORY, &C.; when they
praise God who is eternal.... [ Continue Reading ]
The whole church also paid an homage of reverence and adoration to the
same God; acknowledging all the good done to them, or wrought in them,
to proceed from God, and the glory of it to be due unto God alone. The
ministers of the gospel are, by their preaching unto people their
duty, an occasion, or... [ Continue Reading ]
All the praises, homages, and acknowledgments of all the creatures is
thy due; as then art he who gavest the first being to all creatures,
and therefore gavest it them, that they might praise, honour, serve,
and obey thee.... [ Continue Reading ]