Revelation 4:1-3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:3

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper ,.... For the brightness, glory, and majesty of his countenance, and for his being light itself, clothed with it, and dwelling in it; see Revelation 21:11 ; and for the various perfections of his nature, as eternity, infinity, immutability, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, wisdom, power, goodness, truth, love, grace, and mercy; for the jasper, at least one sort of them, is of various colours, and spotted with divers spots; that which is... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:3

And he that sat - There is here no description of the Divine Being, so as to point out any similitude, shape, or dimensions. The description rather aims to point out the surrounding glory and effulgence than the person of the almighty King. See a similar description Numbers 24:10 , etc., and the notes there. 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

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