Revelation 4 He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. And He who sat there was like: As John described the occupant of the throne, he did not describe a distinct figure. Chapter four begins a heavenly perspective, looking down on the earth. "Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible". Angels are sometimes presented in white robes or garments (Mark 16:5; John 20:12; Acts 1:10), but saints also have white robes (Revelation 6:11, 7:9, 13-14) as a picture of their imputed righteousness (Isaiah 61:10, Revelation 3:5-18). Revelation Overview, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is from the most widely read and often quoted preacher in history, Charles Haddon Spurgeon I. Or, perhaps they are linked with the first and last gems in the high priest’s breastplate (Exodus 39:8-13).
Taking all things into consideration, the elders certainly seem to represent God’s people. d. Because they represent all the people of God, the worship, the crown, the robes, the heart of these twenty-four elders belongs to us also. The fact that God is Creator gives Him all right and every claim over everything – even as a potter has all rights and claims over the clay (Romans 9:21). Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. As a sovereign, he might leave you to perish, but he has said, ‘I will not leave thee nor forsake thee.’ As a sovereign, he might suffer you to be tempted beyond your strength, but he has promised that no temptation shall happen to you, but such as is common to man, and he will with the temptation make a way of escape.” (Spurgeon). Go to, To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use our convenient, Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible. c. Clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads: The white robes and crowns of the elders seem to indicate that they are indeed human beings – in glory, of course. Poetical Books
A sea of glass: Is this sea really made of glass, or did it just look like it?
The lion is the mightiest of wild animals, the ox strongest of domesticated animals, the eagle king of all birds, and man is highest of all creation.
6. Later John will mention their song of worship (Revelation 4:10-11).
Two different objects of worship, either co-ordinate or sub-ordinate, would confound the worship and divide the worshippers. To prepare for this vision, the apostle was in the Spirit. Which are the seven Spirits of God - Which represent, or are emblematic of, the seven Spirits of God. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point
And One sat on the throne: The throne is not empty. General Epistles 2. He was worthy to receive glory, but they were not worthy to praise, nor able to do it according to his infinite excellences.4. (3.) Minor Prophets The rainbow is a fit emblem of that covenant of promise which God has made with Christ, as the Head of the church, and with all his people in him. He is the Creator of all things, the first cause; and none but the Creator of all things should be adored; no made thing can be the object of religious worship.
Now, dear brothers and sisters, have you learnt to cast your crowns at the Savior’s feet already?” (Spurgeon), ©2013 David Guzik – No distribution beyond personal use without permission On lesser thrones, to be sure, but thrones none the less. Most have seen Matthew as the “Lion” gospel, showing Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Commentators debate whether they are glorified human beings or angelic beings. As a sovereign, he might cast you away, but he has promised that he never will, and never will he. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
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2. However, not everything is symbolic. These are the crowns of achievement that a winning athlete would receive at the ancient Olympian Games. i.
If these lamps are designed to be symbols of the Holy Spirit, according to the interpretation proposed in Revelation 1:4, it may be perhaps in the following respects: (1) They may represent the manifold influences of that Spirit in the world - as imparting light; giving consolation; creating the heart anew; sanctifying the soul, etc. (2.) There is also an allusion to a practice in the Roman Empire. -------------------- (Rev 4:8b) The living creatures constantly worship God. In the gospel church, the laver for purification is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which cleanses from all sin. He is the final cause of all things: For thy pleasure they are and were created.
Child of God! The apostle saw a throne set in heaven, an emblem of the universal dominion of Jehovah. This was yet a different experience, as John came to heaven and a heavenly perspective. -------------------- The heavenly songs he heard, Revelation 4:8-11. 2. The enthroned Sovereign, Revelation 4:2-11 a. It was his will and pleasure to create all things; he was not put upon it by the will of another; there is no such thing as a subordinate creator, that acts under and by the will and power of another; and, if there were, he ought not to be worshipped. The divine throne and the sealed book, Revelation 4:1-5:14 1. Yet what have birds to sing about, compared with us? The flaming presence purges the spirit from sin. This throne was not empty; there was one in it who filled it, and that was God, who is here described by those things that are most pleasant and precious in our world: His countenance was like a jasper and a sardine-stone; he is not described by any human features, so as to be represented by an image, but only by his transcendent brightness.
The enthroned Sovereign, Revelation 4:2-11 a. We must not intrude into the secret of God's presence, but stay till we are called up to it. Satan was once one of these high angelic beings, according to Ezekiel 28:14. i. Cherubim were also prominent in design of the tabernacle, particularly in the Most Holy Place (Exodus 25:17-22 and 26:1-31). The wonderful phrase and for thy pleasure they are and were created reminds us that we each exist to give glory and pleasure to God.