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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 4:1-7

We have here an account of a second vision with which the apostle John was favoured: After this, that is, not only ?after I had seen the vision of Christ walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks,? but ?after I had taken his messages from his mouth, and written and sent them to the several churches, according to his command, after this I had another vision.? Those who well improve the discoveries they have had of God already are prepared thereby for more, and may expect them. Observe, I.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Revelation 4:8-11

We have considered the sights that the apostle saw in heaven: now let us observe the songs that he heard, for there is in heaven not only that to be seen which will highly please a sanctified eye, but there is that to be heard which will greatly delight a sanctified ear. This is true concerning the church of Christ here, which is a heaven upon earth, and it will be eminently so in the church made perfect in the heaven of heavens. I. He heard the song of the four living creatures, of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:7

And the first beast was like a lion ,.... And this figure expresses the strength of the ministers of the word, the lion being the strongest among beasts, Proverbs 30:30 , to do the work they are called to, to endure hardness, as good soldiers of Christ, and to bear the infirmities of the weak; and also it denotes their courage and boldness in preaching the Gospel of Christ, without fearing the faces of men, or of being afraid of their revilings: and the second beast like a calf ; or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:8

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him ,.... As the seraphim in Isaiah 6:2 with two of which they might cover their faces as they did, testifying thereby their reverence of God, when in his presence; and with the other two cover their feet, signifying their sense of their sinfulness, weakness, and imperfection, in their conversation, even in their best works, and in the ministry of the word; and with the other two fly about, as denoting their readiness to minister the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:7

The first beast was like a lion - It is supposed that there is a reference here to the four standards or ensigns of the four divisions of the tribes in the Israelitish camp, as they are described by Jewish writers. The first living creature was like a lion; this was, say the rabbins, the standard of Judah on the east, with the two tribes of Issachar and Zabulon. The second, like a calf or ox, which was the emblem of Ephraim who pitched on the west, with the two tribes of Manasseh and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:8

The four beasts had each of them six wings - I have already observed, in the preface to this book, that the phraseology is rabbinical; I might have added, and the imagery also. We have almost a counterpart of this description in Pirkey Elieser. chap. 4. I shall give the substance of this from Schoettgen. "Four troops of ministering angels praise the holy blessed God: the first is Michael, at the right hand; the next is Gabriel, at the left; the third is Uriel, before; and the fourth is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 4:1-11

The high court of heaven. If the portions of this book hitherto considered have had their difficulties, those on which we now enter are far more beset therewith. But the solemn sanctions given to the reading and study of this book send us, in spite of its difficulties, to the earnest examination of its sayings, certain that in them, even in the most mysterious of them, there lies a message from God to our souls. May he be pleased to make that message clear to us. This fourth chapter gives... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 4:2-11

Man's higher sphere of being: (2) Spiritually entered. "And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne," etc. We need not suppose that the supermundane world appeared to John's bodily eye in the forms in which it is here presented. It was a mental vision and nothing more, and a mental vision is often more real, more significant, more impressive, than a material. Commentators of this book have treated these objects as those which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 4:6-8

The song of the living creatures. Here is represented the praise of the Divine Name by the universal creature life. The highest, the cherubic forms, speak for all. It is a representative song. "All thy works praise thee, O God;" "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." I. THE SONG OF THE UNIVERSAL CREATURE - LIFE IS A CEASELESS SONG . "They have no rest day and night" That which is represented is that which should and which shall be. It is the ideal.... read more

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