Revelation 4
DOYLY— were four beasts &c.] Rather, ‘were four living creatures.’ A beast is infarious in intelligence to man, but these living creatures are far superior. By comparing the description of these living creatures, here given, with the description given at Isai. vi.; Ezek. i. 10; it sufficiently appears, that the same are intended in all the passages; and, as Ezekiel has expressly declared that he knew them to be cherubim, it is evident that cherubim are here designated; meaning angelick beings of the highest order, who are nearest to the throne of God, and who cannot be distinctly conceived by human apprehensions. Lowman, Dean Woodhouse.
— full of eyes] Denoting their knowledge, wisdom, prudence, and foresight. Vitringa.
Revelation 4:8
- — and they rest not day and night.] That is, they praise God without ceasing, or at all stated and fit times. Heavenly things are spoken of after a human manner. Abp. Newcome.
— saying, Holy, holy, &c.] The cherubim, whose office it was incessantly to sing praise, begin the adoration; then ’the four and twenty elders’ begin their hymn, ver. 10, 11. It is in unison with that of the cherubim, and is a creation hymn, simple and sublime. We have here presented before us a splendid exhibition of the Deity, attended by His ministering spirits. But the scene is not here complete. In chap. v. the Lamb, the Son of God, in His gracious character of a Redeemer, takes His station ‘in the midst of the throne;’ and an innumerable company of angels are seen to encompass the surrounding body of the elders, and the living creatures, and are added to the chorus: which receives a further increase, when (chap. xiv. 1; xv. 2) the innumerable company of the redeemed on earth are presented to their Redeemer, and sing the new song before the throne. The whole representation is wonderfully sublime, and must tend to exalt religious feeling. One of the finest parts of our church service, the beginning of the Te Deum, seems to have been formed principally upon it. Dean Woodhouse.
The six wings of these living creatures denote their zeal and readiness to propagate the Gospel, while the number of their eyes denote their wisdom and foresight. And they are indefatigable in giving honour to the
Blessed Trinity of Persons in the unity of the one omnipotent and eternal Godhead. These angels and blessed spirits, who are here represented as paying their constant attendance about the throne of the Majesty on high, and acknowledging with most awful and profound reverence the three Holies, which are one eternal and Almighty Lord God, furnish a fit example for the church militant here to follow; because, in so doing, they not only copy after, but, as it were, anticipate the constant employment of the church triumphant in heaven. Dean Stanhope.
Revelation 4:10
- — cast their crowns] In token of homage. Dr. Hales. They cast their crowns, the emblems of their borrowed and derived glories, before the throne, the seat of infinite and eternal majesty. Bp. Pearson.
Chap. V. ver. 1. — a book written within &c.] The books of the ancients were rolled up. See Isai. viii. 1. The Egyptian papyrus was generally used for writing, the brittle nature of which made it proper to roll that which they wrote. Harmer. The circumstance of its being written within and without shews the abundance of the matter: it was the same in the roll of the book spread before Ezekiel, ii. 10. Bp. Newton.
— sealed with seven seals.] It was sealed, to shew that the decrees of God are inscrutable; and sealed ‘with seven seals,’ with reference to so many signal periods of prophecy. We are to conceive of this book, as consisting of seven rolls, so that the opening of one seal only laid open the contents of one roll. Bp. Newton.
The prophecies delivered to Daniel concerning Christ’s kingdom, which were then dark, and only to be unfolded by additional prophecy, (such as is contained in this Revelation,) are said to be ‘sealed,’ Dan. viii. 26, 27; ix. 24; xii. 4, 9; or, which has the same meaning, to be closed, shut up, for many days. And in chap. x. 4. of this book, the prophet is commanded not to write certain predictions which were uttered, but to seal them up; which evidently means that they were not to be disclosed at that time. Dean Woodhouse.