Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:1-8

1-8 After the Lord Jesus had instructed the apostle to write to the churches "the things that are," there was another vision. The apostle saw a throne set in heaven, an emblem of the universal dominion of Jehovah. He saw a glorious One upon the throne, not described by human features, so as to be represented by a likeness or image, but only by his surpassing brightness. These seem emblems of the excellence of the Divine nature, and of God's awful justice. The rainbow is a fit emblem of that... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - Revelation 4:1-99

Revelation 4 THE FIRST verse of chapter 4 is, we judge, a very important one. It introduces the unveiling of “the things which must be hereafter;” that is, according to Rev_1:19 , the third section of the book. The vision now takes a fresh departure, and John sees a door opened in heaven and hears an authoritative call to come up into heavenly scenes. Being, as he tells us, “in the Spirit,” all that he experienced and saw had to him a vivid reality, and though a vision it conveys prophetic... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Revelation 4:1-5

The Vision of God's Throne of Majesty and Glory. Revelation 4:1-1 Kings : The throne and the seat of the elders: v. 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 show thee things which must be hereafter. v. 2. And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. v. 3. And He that sat was to look... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Revelation 4:1-11

SPECIAL DOCTRINO-ETHICAL AND HOMILETICAL NOTES (ADDENDUM)Section FourthSecond Grand Vision. Heaven-picture of the Seals. (Chs. 4, 5)General.—a. Translation of the Seer to Heaven. A vision within a vision, at the same time denoting a momentary translation into the light of the consummation.—The import of Heaven in the whole of Sacred Writ, from Genesis 1:1 throughout, is at once cosmical and spiritual. Heaven is, so to speak, the plastic symbol of religion, and especially of Christianity. God’s... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Revelation 4:1-11

“A Throne Set in Heaven” Revelation 4:1-11 The vision of the ascended Lord introduced the seven letters to the churches, so the visions of this and the next chapters introduce the seven seals. They resemble the frontispiece or illuminated capitals of the old missals. There is no form for the Divine Being. God is Spirit, and His glory can only be hinted at by appropriate imagery. His being should excite emotions in our spirit similar to those which these objects excite in our mind. The jasper... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Revelation 4:1-11

This chapter introduces us to the Revelation of Christ in His government of all world affairs in which a most remarkable vision of the heavenly order is presented to us. Everything is seen as surrounding the throne. Four and twenty elders are seated round about that throne. In an inner circle are four living creatures, symbolically described as, the first like a lion, the second like an ox, the third as a man, and the fourth like a flying eagle. The whole interest centers in Him who sits on... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Revelation 4:1-11

The Throne Preparing for Judgment Revelation 4:1-11 and Revelation 5:1-14 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We are now approaching the second division of the Book of Revelation. Chapter three concludes the message to the Seven Churches. Chapter four begins "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven." It seems to us that we are now passing into the story of the Tribulation, in its beginnings the first half of that time known as the Day of Jacob's trouble. 1. We are living in a solemn... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:4

‘And round about the throne were twenty four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and on their heads crowns of gold.’ These thrones might tie in with Daniel’s description in Daniel 7:0, although Daniel only mentions them in passing. They are an indication that this is a particularly important occasion. All Heaven is participating in what is to happen. The description of ‘elders’ shows the respect in which these figures were held. Their... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:1-11

Revelation 4. The Vision of Heaven.— In this chapter the real Apocalypse commences. A door is opened in heaven and the seer sees the throne of God, flashing like jewels, and surrounded by a rainbow. Twenty-four elders sit on thrones, and with four “ living beasts” offer continual praise and worship to God. Much of the imagery is traditional, and derived from similar descriptions of heaven and the Divine majesty in OT; cf. Isaiah 6:1-Numbers :, Ezekiel 12:4-Hosea :, Daniel 7:9 f. Revelation... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Revelation 4:4

Some think (and not improbably) that here is an allusion to the twenty-four courses of the priests and Levites, established by God for his service in the sanctuary and temple of old, 1 Chronicles 24:18; 1 Chronicles 25:31; and that these twenty-four elders either typified the whole church under the New Testament, the number of the tribes of Israel (which made up the church under the Old Testament) being doubled to show the increase of the church’s territories under the gospel, or the heads of... read more

Group of Brands