Revelation 4

Revelation 4:1-7

In this chapter the prepolitical same begins; and as the epithery part opened with a vision of Christ, chap. 1. In this part is introduced with a glorious appearance of the great God, which throes it in heaven, compelled about with the heavenly best. John, 1. Revered the heavenly fight he saw, from ver. 1—8. And then, 2. The heavenly seeing is heard, from ver. 8, to the end.

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 hereafter. 2. And immediately I was in the spirit: and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3. 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. 4. And round about the throne were four and twenty feats: and upon the feats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. And the first beasts was like a lion, and the second beasts like a calf, and the third beasts had a face as a man, and the fourth beasts was like a flying eagle.

Prepared by what he had seen for further discoveries, a door is opened to him in heaven, and the voice of Jesus, which he had heard before, loud and solemn as the trumpet which was heard of old from Sinai’s top, calls him to come up thither, that he might be informed of the great events of providence relative to the church. Instantly a formal capture issued his spirit, and a glorious vision presents itself to his view.

8. He saw a throne of majesty and judgment, compelled with a shadow beautiful as the enmold, the emblem of that everlasting continent which God hath established with his people, on which no deluge of wrath shall ever descend. (See Gen. ix. 13, 6v.)

9. Upon the throne sat the eternal Jehovah, the antient of days, the Creator, Governor, and Judge of all; shining like the jasper and sardine stone, with brightness infinitely surpassing those precious stones which glittered in the high-prest’s breath-plant, inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and every divine perfection.

10. Around the throne were four and twenty elders seated, clothed with white raiment, and on their heads they had crowns of gold; the representatives of the whole body of the faithful, now perfected in holiness, admitted to their eternal rest, brought into God’s immediate presence, enjoying that beatle vision, and crowned with glory, honour, and immortality.

11. Out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices, signifying the mighty and powerful energy of the gospel-word, which spread like lightning through the world, or those tremendous judgments which he executes on the earth.

12. There were seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God, the emblem of the variety and perfection of the gifts and graces which the Holy Ghost bestows.

13. Before the throne was a sea of glass, like unto chrystal, in allusion, as is supposed, to the molten sea, where the priest’s washed, (Exod. xxx. 18, 19.) the figure of Christ’s blood, which cleanseth from all sin.

14. In the midst of the throne, and round about it, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind; the first like a lion, the second like an ox, the third with the face of a man, and the fourth like a flying eagle; the same as Exod. 1. 5. and seem to represent the mindless of grace, who are immediate alive to God by his Spirit; the happy instruments of quickening others; standing between God and the people, to speak in his name; full of light and spiritual understanding; bold in the cause of truth as lions; indefatigable in labour as the ox; possessed of all prudence and compassion as men; faring high as the eagle in the knowledge of divine mysteries, and winging their slight heavenward, with unremitting zeal and ardor.

15. 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, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9. And when those beasts give glory, and honour, and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and call their crowns before the throne, saying, 11. 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.

Revelation 4:8-11

The four living creatures, like the seraphim, (Ise. vi. 2.) had six wings, and they were full of eyes within, deep-read in the knowledge of their own hearts, and attending to the notices of God’s Spirit in their souls; and with ceaseless adorations they worship the eternal, unchangeable, holy, and trine Jehovah.

When these representatives of the gospel ministers thus led the song of heaven, the elders, who represented the church of the redeemed, joined in their adorations, calling their crowns before the throne, and, humbly prostrate, ascribed eternal glory, honour, and power to the ever-living Jehovah, the Creator and Ruler of all, by whose forerings plucked every creature easter, and is designed to shew forth his praise. Note, (1.) All things are of God, and for God: his own glory is the end of all his works, and should be the design of ours. (2.) God’s feists on earth are called upon to join the services of heaven, and to unite in the same sacred adorations of pride to him that liveth for ever and ever. (3.) The highest are the humblest beings: they who approach nearest to the throne, are most deeply sensible, that to sovereign grace alone they owe their unutterable bliss, and therefore call down their golden crowns before their Lord, and say, Thou, and thou alone, art worthy to receive the glory.