1John seeth the throne of God in heaven, 4surrounded by four and twenty elders, 6and four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 8The continual adoration and worship offered by the beasts and elders before him that sat on the throne.
1AFTER1 this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice 2which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which 3must be 4hereafter.
1 That is, after this first vision was finished.
2 Namely, Rev. 1:10; which was the voice of Christ, Whose glory is described there, and Whose words here do agree with those explained in Rev. 1:1.
3 Namely, in regard to God’s Providence, as in the world in general, so especially in the church of God, for a punishment to the bad, and for trial and comfort of the godly ones, as Rev. 1:1; 22:6.
4 That is, from henceforth unto the end of the world, as is made plain afterwards by the revelation itself.
2And immediately I 5was in the spirit: and, behold, 6a throne was set in heaven, and one 7sat 8on the throne.
5 That is, into a new trance or rapture of senses through the Spirit, as in Rev. 1:10.
6 Many compare this vision with that which Isaiah saw, Isa. 6:1, and Ezekiel, Ezek. 1:4, of the majesty of God in heaven. There are doubtless several things in this vision, which are found also in those others. Only this should be noted with it, that this vision as well as the others have borrowed many things from the tabernacle or temple of the Old Testament, which Moses was charged to make according to the pattern shown him on the mount, as this is seen in Exod. 25:8, 9, 40; Heb. 8:5; 9:24. Whereby many parts and properties of this and the following visions can be the better understood, as will appear further by the sequel.
7 Namely, God the Father, Who gave this revelation to Christ Jesus, as is expressed in Rev. 1:1, from which appears also the comparison with the sixth and seventh verse of the next chapter, where Christ takes the book out of the hands of Him Who sat on the throne.
8 Namely, as a Judge of all, but especially as King and Protector of His church. Yet here it is to be noted that this throne, from which issued forth the thunders, is said to be in the temple of heaven, Rev. 16:17, 18; as also that the altar is said to stand before this throne of God, Rev. 8:3; 9:13, in which is seen the ark of the testimony, Rev. 11:19, and from which the angels are sent forth as cherubims from the presence of God, Rev. 14:15, 17, 18; which all, and the other like things, have respect to the type of the temple and tabernacle, though here they are seen in heaven.
3And he that sat was 9to look upon like a jasper and a sardinea stone: and there was 10a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
9 By these three precious stones mentioned in this verse, of which the first is of various colors, the second of a bright carnation, and the third of a lively green, are aptly represented here the manifold glory, and yet withal the unchangeableness of God’s Being, Which also illuminates all things with His glory, and supports with His strength. Yet, here it is to be remarked that there is no similitude or shape of God’s countenance being described, that men might not take occasion to make from this His image, as Moses expressly shows of the appearance of God on mount Horeb in the fire, Deut. 4:15, and wherefore in the appearance in Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1; 10, and Daniel 7, there is no peculiar shape of the face expressed. The Israelites in the Old Testament also never dared, under the pretense of any such appearance exhibited unto the prophets, to make any image or portrait of God, as likewise such has never existed in the time of the apostles and the first evangelical church, since it contradicts so directly God’s express commands, Deut. 4:15, 23; Isa. 40:18; Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:23.
a a red stone from Sardius
10 Hereby is appropriately represented God’s covenant of grace over His church, that namely, notwithstanding all the storms and tempests of persecution and other troubles they encounter within this turbulent world, yet He will never suffer them to perish, as God spoke once of the waters of the deluge, Gen. 9:12, etc.
4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: 11and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed 12in white raiment; and they had on their heads 13crowns of gold.
11 These twenty-four elders some suppose them to be the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles, as leaders of the entire church of the Old and New Testament. But, John, as one of the apostles being himself alive yet, and this vision being represented in heaven, others do here understand all the leaders of the Old Testament; a similitude taken from the priest and Levites who ministered in the tabernacle, and were divided into twenty-four orders, and had therefore twenty-four governors, who were leaders of the entire church of Israel, as we read in 1 Chronicles 24.
12 These signify their holy and priestly attire, and their victory.
13 Whereby is signified their royal dignity, which they have obtained in Christ and from Christ, as conquerors over Satan and the world, Rev. 1:6.
5And out of the throne proceeded 14lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were 15seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are 16the seven Spirits of God.
14 Hereby is typified the powerful working of God and of His Word, which is said to come forth out of the temple of heaven, Rev. 16:17.
15 Namely, as there were seven lamps on the candlestick in the tabernacle, which were always to be supplied with oil and light, whereof see the signification for this in Rev. 1:4.
16 That is, the Holy Spirit with the variety of His gifts in the church of Christ. See Rev. 1:4.
6And before the throne there was 17a seab of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were 18four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
17 This comparison is likewise taken from the structure of the temple, in which there was a large copper vessel filled with water, called the brasen or molten sea, 1 Kings 7:23, which is said here to be of crystal, because it was altogether visible and transparent before the throne of God; and it signifies the multitude of nations in the world, which are often stirred this way and that way, but continue always in the presence and under the power of God, and may easily be broken or calmed. Thus the word waters, out of which the sea exists, is explained hereafter by the angel in Rev. 17:15.
b Rev. 15:2.
18 Some do understand hereby the four beasts, of which Ezekiel treats in Ezek. 1:10 in the similar vision, whereby the angels of God are signified there. Yet, it plainly appears from Rev. 5:9, that here are to be understood people, who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, out of all people, languages and nations, as also the twenty-four elders before mentioned, both which are plainly distinguished from all the angels; Rev. 7:11. Therefore others refer this to the four evangelists, who were full of eyes by reason of their great knowledge in the matters of Christ; and had six wings, having diligently searched from all sides into the life, death and glory of Christ, and have imparted the same unto us, in order that we might obtain everlasting life by it through Christ. Of whom Matthew is said to have a face as a man, since he begins with the incarnation of Christ; Mark that of a lion, since he begins with the call of John the Baptist in the wilderness; Luke that of a calf or bullock, since he begins with the narrative of Zacharias, who offered in the temple and John, as an eagle, begins with the high and transcendent birth of the Son of God out the Person of the Father. This opinion is very ancient in the Christian church. Nevertheless, since John was still living then on earth and they also, sing in Rev. 5:8 that they are redeemed with the blood of Christ out of all tongues and nations, and whereas the four evangelists were only of the Jews, therefore others take it as suitably for the pastors and leaders of the New Testament in general, which are said to be four, because the Gospel was spread by them towards the four corners of the world, and that the apostle Paul expresses their four orders in Eph. 4:11, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors or teachers, who in their office in the matter of Christ ought to be endued with the courage of a lion, the patience and perseverance of an ox or calf, the prudence of a man, and the searching of an eagle in all things; wherefore also many eyes and wings are here ascribed unto them.
7And 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.
8And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they 19rest not 20day and night, saying, Holy,c holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, whichd was, and is, and is to come.
19 Namely, thanking and praising God before His throne.
20 That is, always and perpetual; for, in the heavenly Jerusalem there is no night at all, but an everlasting day, enlightened by God and the Lamb, Rev. 21:23, 25.
c Isa. 6:3.
d Rev. 1:4, 8; 11:17; 16:5.
9And when those beasts give 21glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth 22for ever and ever,
21 That is, acknowledged His glory and honor with a thankful heart, as Joshua 7:19.
22 Gr. in the eternities of eternities; as also in the next verse.
10The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and 23cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
23 Not to deprive themselves of them, but to show their acknowledgment, that their victory came not from themselves, but from Him Who sat upon the throne, which they testified by this their falling down, and casting off their crowns.
11Thoue art 24worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and 25for thy pleasure they are and were created.
e Rev. 5:12.
24 That is, that all the world acknowledge Thy glory, and worship Thee as God, and fear Thy power as an almighty power.
25 That is, they still exist, as they were created, Rom. 11:36.