Revelation 4:1-2

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 4:1

4:1 After this I saw, and, behold, a door in heaven was standing open, and there came to me the voice that I had heard before, speaking to me like the sound of a trumpet, and the speaker said: "Come up here, and I will show you the events which must follow these things." In Revelation 2:1-29 ; Revelation 3:1-22 we saw the Risen Christ walking amidst his churches upon earth. Now the scene changes to the court of heaven. A door was opened in heaven for the seer. There are two... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Revelation 4:2-3

4:2-3 Immediately, I fell under the influence of the Spirit; and, behold, a throne stood in heaven, and there was One seated on it. And he who was seated on the throne was like a jasper stone and a sardian to look at; and there was a rainbow circling round the throne, like an emerald to look at. When the seer entered the door into heaven, he fell into an ecstasy. In heaven he saw a throne and God on the throne. The throne of God is a common Old Testament picture. The prophet said: "I saw... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:1

After this I looked ,.... After John had seen the vision of Christ, in the midst of the golden candlesticks, with seven stars in his right hand; after he was bid to write what he had seen, and what were, and should be hereafter; and after he had by order written the seven epistles to the seven churches, he looked about him to see what else he could, having his desires and expectations raised of seeing more, and other things, for the eye is never satisfied with seeing; though this is to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:2

And immediately I was in the Spirit ,.... As he had been before, Revelation 1:10 ; it seems he had been some little time out of his ecstasy, how long cannot be said, and now, upon this new scene of things, returned to it; upon the opening of the door in heaven, and hearing the former voice, and the things it said, the Spirit of God at once possessed and filled him, in an extraordinary manner; and his soul or spirit was immediately taken from the consideration of all sensible objects, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:1

A door was opened in heaven - This appears to have been a visible aperture in the sky over his head. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:2

I was in the Spirit - Rapt up in an ecstasy. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 4:1

After this ; or, after these things ( μετὰ ταῦτα ). There is no good ground for supposing, as some do, that, after the events narrated in Revelation 3:1-22 ., an interval occurred in the visions, during which St. John possibly wrote down the matter contained in the first three chapters. Nor is there any justification for assigning what follows to a time after this world. It would be pressing ταῦτα very far to make it apply to these present things of the world; and μετὰ ταῦτα ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 4:1

Things which must be hereafter. However nearly expositors may approximate in their interpretation of the Book of Revelation up to the close of the third chapter, yet, when the "things which must be hereafter" begin to be unfolded, they part company, and diverge into so many different paths and bypaths, that it will not be possible for us to trace out all of them. Nor is it desirable. Our purpose is a purely homiletic one, viz. to unfold the principles of the Divine method and government,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 4:1

Man's higher sphere of being: (1) Humanly accessible. "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." Disrobe this chapter of its strange metaphorical costume, brush away all the symbols, and there appears a supermundane world, here called heaven—man's higher sphere of being; a world this, unseen by the outward eye,... read more

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