AFTER THESE THINGS (μετα ταυτα). Change in the panorama, not chronology (Revelation 7:1; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 15:5; Revelation 18:1; Revelation 19:1). This vision is of heaven, not of earth as was true of Chapter s Revelation 4:1; Revelation 4:2. The first vision of Christ and the messages t... [ Continue Reading ]
STRAIGHTWAY I WAS IN THE SPIRIT (ευθεως εγενομην εν πνευματ). But John had already "come to be in the Spirit" (Revelation 1:10, the very same phrase). Perhaps here effective aorist middle indicative while ingressive aorist in Revelation 1:10 (sequel or result, not entrance), "At once I found myse... [ Continue Reading ]
TO LOOK UPON (ορασε). Locative case of ορασις, old word (from οραω, to see) for appearance (in appearance) as in Ezekiel 1:5; Ezekiel 1:26.LIKE A JASPER STONE (ομοιος ιασπιδ). Associative-instrumental case of ιασπις, old word (Persian), used for stones of different colors, one opaque like opal,... [ Continue Reading ]
ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE (κυκλοθεν του θρονου). Here as a preposition with the genitive, though only adverb in Revelation 4:8 (only N.T. examples save Textus Rec. in Revelation 5:11).FOUR AND TWENTY THRONES (θρονο εικοσ τεσσαρες). So P Q, but Aleph A have accusative θρονους (supply ειδον from Rev... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE THRONE (εκ του θρονου). Back to the throne itself. The imagery is kin to that in Exodus 19:16; Exodus 24:9; Ezekiel 1:22; Ezekiel 1:27.PROCEED (εκπορευοντα). Graphic historical present.LIGHTNINGS AND VOICES AND THUNDERS (αστραπα κα φωνα κα βροντα). So exactly in Revelation 11:19; Re... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT WERE A GLASSY SEA (ως θαλασσα υαλινη). Old adjective (from υαλος, glass, Revelation 21:18; Revelation 21:21), in N.T. only here and Revelation 15:2. Possibly from υε (it rains), like a raindrop. At any rate here it is the appearance, not the material. Glass was made in Egypt 4,000 years ago... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKE A LION (ομοιον λεοντ). Associative-instrumental case again. In Revelation 1:6; Revelation 1:10) each ζωον has four faces, but here each has a different face. "The four forms represent whatever is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in nature" (Swete). But it is not necessary to try to fi... [ Continue Reading ]
EACH ONE OF THEM (εν καθ' εν αυτων). "One by one of them," a vernacular idiom like εις κατα εις in Mark 14:19.HAVING (εχων). Masculine participle again as in verse Revelation 4:7, though ζωον neuter.SIX WINGS (ανα πτερυγας εξ). Distributive use of ανα, "six wings apiece" as in Luke 10:1 (ανα... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE LIVING CREATURES SHALL GIVE (οταν δωσουσιν τα ζωα). Indefinite temporal clause with οταν and the future active indicative (δωσουσιν) rather than the more common second aorist active subjunctive (δωσιν) with the notion of repetition rather than unbroken continuance, "whenever they give.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL FALL DOWN (πεσουντα, future middle of πιπτω),SHALL WORSHIP (προσκυνησουσιν, future active of προσκυνεω),SHALL CAST THEIR CROWNS (βαλουσιν τους στεφανους, future active of βαλλω). The two actions by the two groups (living creatures, elders) are coordinated (simultaneous in the repetition... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR LORD AND OUR GOD (ο κυριος κα ο θεος ημων). The nominative form here used as vocative as in John 20:28 and often.TO RECEIVE (λαβειν). Epexegetic second aorist active infinitive of λαμβανω with αξιος (worthy).THE GLORY (την δοξαν). The article referring to δοξαν in verse Revelation 4:9 and... [ Continue Reading ]