He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 1 After 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 hereaf... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and _one_ sat on the throne. Ver. 2. _I was in the spirit_] SeeRevelation 1:10. That is, I was ravished into a spiritual ecstasy. _ And behold a throne_] So Isaiah was prepared for his prophecy by such a sight, Revelatio... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 3. _Like a jasper and a sardine_] God is here resembled (saith Mr Cotton) by three precious stones, holding forth the three persons in Trinity. A... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 4. _And round about_] The saints are round about God, Psalms 76:11, a people near unto him, Psalms 148:14 . _... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 5. _Lightnings and thunderings_] Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to persecutors? Job 31:3. Who e... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. Ver. 6. _A sea of glass_] The word, say some; the world, others. The word is to us a crystal glass, giving us a clear si... [ Continue Reading ]
And 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. 8 And 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, sayin... [ Continue Reading ]
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, Ver. 9. _And when those beasts_] When the preachers are performing their office, as heralds of God's praises.... [ Continue Reading ]
The 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, Ver. 10. _The four and twenty elders_] The people yield their assent, and say, Amen; the want whereof St Paul accounts no small los... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou 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. Ver. 11. _Thou art worthy_] If we would have our souls set as a pearl in that fair ring of heavenly courtiers that compass the Lamb's throne, let us prai... [ Continue Reading ]