Revelation 4

Revelation 4:1

AFter this] Immediately after the first vision: for all the revelation was shewed to him in one day, being the Lords day, chap. 1. 10.

I looked] Desirous to see more of these glorious visions.

a door opened] The heavens so opened, as if the door of some stately palace were set open, by which might be discovered such glorious sights as within it were to be seen. So Ezekiel 1:1. Matthew 3:16. Acts 7:56. and Acts 10:11.

in heaven] Some take it for the Church on earth, which is as heaven, in comparison of the rest of the world, and in, or for which, these things are to be fulfilled; as chap. 12. 1. Others, for heaven it self, where God sitteth in majestie, and from whence these things were revealed to John; Psalms 115:3.

and the first voice, &c.] Or, and the former (as chap. 2. 4.) voice which I heard as it were of a trumpet, talking with me, said, Come up, &c. See chap. 1. 10.

Come up hither] That he might see and hear the better, and not mistake by reason of distance. The same words, but for another end, are used, chap. 11. 12.

which must be hereafter] He cometh to the third head mentioned, chap. 1. 19. See notes there.

Revelation 4:2

immediately I was in the Spirit] After some intermission, he was taken up into another spirituall rapture: or, spiritually carried up into heaven in a vision. See chap. 1. 10.

a throne was set in heaven] He seeth God sitting on a throne above, that the things to come might be with the more solemnity revealed.

one sat] God the Father appeareth to him in the form of a king on a throne, v. 8, 9, 10. Chap. 5. 1. and 22. 1. It may be a representation of Gods sitting in his Church on earth, as king over it. Thus God appeared, Isaiah 6:1. Ezekiel 1:26. and Ezekiel 11:22. Daniel 7:9.

Revelation 4:3

like a jasper, &c.] The Church is compared to gold, chap. 1. 20. God here, to some of the choisest gems in beauty and price, far beyond gold; Job 28. 15, 19, jasper. A precious stone so termed, of its eminency in Hebrew. The last stone in the high-priests brestplate, Exodus 21:28. the first in the foundation of the heavenly Jerusalem; chap. 21. 19.

sard ne] Or, sardius. A precious stone so called, by the Greeks, from the citie Sardis, about which plenty of them was: in Hebrew, odam, of its deep red and bloody colour: the first in the priests brest plate, Exodus 28:17. and the sixth in the foundation of the celestiall citie, chap. 21. 29.

round about the throne] Over the top of it. Ezekiel 1:28.

emerald] A precious stone of a deep green colour: the fourth both in the high-priests brest plate, Exodus 28:18. and in the foundation of the celestiall Jerisalem, chap. 21. 19.

Revelation 4:4

four and twenty seats] Twelve on the right hand, and twelve twelve on the left.

four and twenty elders] All Gods Saints of the old and new testament, comprehended under the twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles, chap. 5. 8, 10.

sitting] As reigning and judging together with Christ, Matthew 19:28. 1 Corinthians 6:2-3. Chap. 2. 21.

in white raiment] In token not of innocency onely, but honout also and triumph; chap. 3. 4. and 7. 14.

crowns] Tokens of royall state and glory; Psalms 21:3. Son 3:11. Chap. 1. 6.

Revelation 4:5

lightnings] Either to set out Gods power in confounding the enemies of his Church, Psalms 22:12. 14. and 97. 3, 4. Or, his majestie in the revealing his will. Princes can do it but with trumpets on earth, God with thunder from heaven; Exodus 19:16. So Ezek. 1 4, 13, 14. Psalms 81:7.

voices] An Hebraism, for loud sounds and cracks of thunder; Exod. 9. 23, 28. and 20. 18.

lamps of fire] To shew the illuminating works of the Spirit; Acts 2:3. Ephesians 1:18. So Ezekiel 1:13.

seven Spirits] See notes on chap. 1. 4.

Revelation 4:6

a sea of glasse] Whose water was clear, and transparent, as glasse. This seemeth to have been as a stately footstool beneath the throne: a sea here, as the earth, Isaiah 66:1. Or, as a curious pavement both under and before the throne, like crystal, as that like saphire, Exodus 24:10. of which kinde of stones some are blue or skie-coloured, some are white as crystal. By it, some understand the Scriptures, or the word of God, as being full of perspicuous truths, guiding us to Godward; Psal, 19. 8. and 119. 105, 130:

in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne] Two standing just against the midst of the throne, and one at each corner. Or else their bodies were underneath the throne, and their heads appeared without. Or, as some read it; Between the throne, and those things that were about the throne. And then the order is this: God the Father sitting on the throne: next, the Lamb, chap. 5. 6, 7. then, the Spirit of God, like lamps: then, the sea of the Scriptures: then, the four beasts or wights: after that, the four and twenty elders: lastly, the angels, compassing them in; chap. 5. 11. This was the majesticall vision that John now saw.

four beasts] Or, living wights. These represent the ministers of the Gospel, comprehended as it were in the four euangelists, chap. 5. 8, 10.

full of eyes before and behinde] To shew the vigilant care of the pastour; Acts 20:26; Acts 20:28. Or, his looking forward to God sitting on the throne, and backward to his people, Habakkuk 2:1-2.

Revelation 4:7

And the first beast, &c.] Or, living wight. Under those representations, are set out the eminent gifts of the ministers of the new testament. Some are like lions, for courage; 2 Samuel 17:20. Others, like oxen, for labour; Psalms 144:14. Others, like men, for prudence in government; Job 35:11. Proverbs 30:2. Others, like eagles, for deep insight into divine mysteries; Job 39. 28, 29.

Revelation 4:8

six wings] To shew how ready Gods ministers ought to be to help every man committed to their charge: for the wings are just so many as the elders. See Isaiah 6:2.

full of eyes within] As before, to look toward God, and behinde, toward their people; so within, to look to themselves, Acts 20:28. 1 Timothy 4:16. Or, full of heavenly knowledge, and spirituall grace; Matthew 13:52.

rest not day and night, saying] Gr. have no rest, &c. They continually praise God, and set out the trinity of persons in the Godhead, and the supreme authority, unity of essence, omnipotency and eternity of God.

Holy] Isaiah 6:3.

which was] Chap. 1. 4.

Revelation 4:9

give glory] Acknowledge that glory and honour that is in God, Psal. 29. 1, 2.

Revelation 4:10

fall down before him] As unworthy to sit in his presence; Psalms 95:6. and Psalms 99:5.

and worship him] Do as it were kisse his feet. The word originally is taken from dogs, that couch down when the master cometh in, and lick his feet. They shew the lowest signes of humility to God. See chap. 3. 9.

cast their crowns] Not that they slight their glory conferred on them by God; but, whatsoever honour they have, they confesse they had it from God, and are content to lay it down at his feet, and devest themselves of it, to do honour to him; John 3:30. 2 Samuel 6:21-22. A reall Amen to the words of the ministers, v. 8. Chap. 5. 13.

Revelation 4:11

to receive glory, and honour, and power] Chap. 5. 12. To receive the praise of thy power.

for thou hast] The people must praise God understandingly, and give a reason why they do it.

for thy pleasure] As they were made by thee, so to do thy will, and to bring glory to thy Name; Proverbs 16:4. Romans 11:36. Or, by thy will they are; as chap. 12. 11. that is, by thee alone all things are preserved, or kept in being, and were created; therefore all glory belongeth to thee; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; 1 Chronicles 29:14.