Revelation 4

Notes

Ver. 3. God's being like the whitish transparent jasper denotes his infinite holiness and glory; the marvellously-mingled display of his perfections in his works of providence and grace; and his gracious regard to his people. His likeness to the bloody-coloured sardine denotes his justice and fiery indignation against his enemies. The greenish rainbow round about the throne represents the covenant of grace as ever in God's eye, and the perpetual rule of all that he does in the government of the world or the church. 4. The twenty-four crowned elders, represent the saints of the Old and New Testaments enjoying fixed and familiar fellowship with God by virtue of their faith in Christ; and they are called twenty-four, in allusion to the courses of the Hebrew priests; or the twelve patriarchs of the Jewish church, and twelve apostolic founders of the Christian. 5. The seven lamps of fire before the throne represent the Holy Ghost in the variety and perfection of his gifts and graces, which he distributes for enlightening, purifying, and warming the souls of his ministers and people. 6. The clear sea of glass before the throne is Jesus' blood, in which all the redeemed worshippers must be washed from their iniquities. 6-8. The four living creatures, full of eyes before, behind, and within, denote gospel ministers, sent to preach the gospel to all the ends of the earth, remarkable for spiritual knowledge, prudence, and exact observation and attention to receive direction and influences from God, and to watch over and feed their people, and to look well into and keep their own hearts. Their having six wings each denotes their readiness, alacrity, and diligence in their work. Their being likened to lions, oxen, men, eagles, denotes their undaunted boldness and courage; patience and fitness for labour; wisdom, prudence, and compassion; deep penetration into the mysteries of God; sublime sentiments and devotion; together with their eminent zeal, activity, and vigour in the service of God. 10. The elders falling down and casting their crowns before the throne, denotes their deep humility, holy reverence, and profound adoration; and their professing themselves unworthy of any honour in God's presence, and that all their honour proceeds from him.

Ver. 1. 'From this point begins the Revelation proper, extending to the end of the book. And herein we have a first great portion, embracing ch. iv.-xi., the opening of the seals and the sounding of the trumpets. But preparatory to both these series of revelations, we have described to us, in ch. iv. v., the heavenly scenery which furnishes the local ground for these visions. Of these, ch. iv. is properly the scene itself—ch.v. being a farther unfolding of its details with a view to the vision of the seals which is to follow. So that we have in ch. iv. 1-14 the vision of God's presence in heaven' (Alford). The apostle is now introduced to the immediate presence of God, that he may there have developed before and to him the future history of the church. P.—After this. Literally, 'After these things;' that is, after the vision, ch. 1 10-20, and the messages, ch. ii. iii.—And the first voice. Rather, 'and the voice, the first which I had heard;' to wit, in ch. 1. 10. C.

Ver. 3. The jasper was the symbol of Naphtali (comp. Ex. 28. 20 with Nu. 2. 29); the sardine was the emblem of Judah, the first tribe, while Naphtali was the last in the Mosaic camp (comp. Ex. 28. 17 with Nu. 2. 3); the amethyst was the emblem of Benjamin (comp. Ex. 28. 19 with Nu. 2. 22); and the emerald the emblem of Reuben (comp. Ex. 28. 19 with Nu. 2. 10). Now, the jasper being interpreted by 'Naphtali,' signifies 'the fighting' of the enthroned one against his enemies. The sardine, being interpreted by 'Judah,' signifies 'the praise of the Lord' about to be proclaimed. The amethyst, being interpreted by 'Benjamin,' signifies 'the son of the right hand;' and the emerald, being interpreted by 'Reuben,' signifies 'a vision of the Son.' All which things seem exactly descriptive of the exalted Saviour, who appears crowned with a rainbow diadem, the emblem of the covenant of promise, of the curse reversed, of a world baptized and renovated, and guaranteed by its Creator against any return of destruction.—Note, This view, though unsupported by the authority of expositors, is humbly submitted as apparently coincident with the nature of Scripture emblems, and authorized by the interpretation of Scripture names. See, for example, He. 7. 2. C.

Ver. 9. He 'that sat on the throne' was the 'Lord God of hosts,' whom Isaiah saw, ch. 6. 1-5, who, as appears from Jn. 12. 41, was Christ manifested in glory. Comp. also ver. 11 with Jn. 1. 2; Col. 1. 16. C.

Reflections.—Great is the mercy that an abundant entrance into heaven is opened by Jesus' blood for every one washed in it. Happy are they who, directed and drawn by the Holy Ghost, now enter by faith as a pledge and earnest of their personal admission hereafter! With what awful majesty and grandeur, new-covenant faithfulness and grace towards his people, and just terribleness to his enemies, nay, with all-adorable perfections, does God manifest himself on his imperial throne! Yea, high are the honours to which his servants and people are exalted in connection with him, and profound their holy reverence and cordial their adoration of him. Faithful ministers ought to be filled with spiritual knowledge; and should be prudent, vigilant, courageous, laborious, compassionate, and active in the discharge of their office, and in the exercise of their gifts and graces, under the direction and assistance of the Holy Ghost. With diligent care should they lead the religion and worship of the churches, and unweariedly ascribe to God alone all the glories of Godhead, and of the works of creation, providence, and redemption.