Revelation 4:2-4 NLT,NIV,ESV

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 4:2-3

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

William Barclay

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

4:4 And in a circle round the throne I saw twenty-four thrones, and seated upon the thrones twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads. We now approach one of the difficult passages for which the Revelation is notorious. In it we meet twenty-four elders and then four living creatures; and we have to try to identify them. We find the twenty-four elders frequently appearing in the Revelation. Let us set down the facts about them. They sit around the... 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

John Gill

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

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats ,.... In a semicircular form, as the rainbow also was; the thrones in the above form, came to both ends, or sides of it; just as when the sanhedrim, or great court of judicature among the Jews say F13 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 4. sect. 3. & Maimon. Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 1. sect. 3. , the "Nasi", or prince, sat in the uppermost seat, at his right hand was "Ab beth din", or the father or the sanhedrim, and at his left hand a doctor or... 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

Adam Clarke

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

Four and twenty elders - Perhaps this is in reference to the smaller Sanhedrin at Jerusalem, which was composed of twenty-three elders; or to the princes of the twenty-four courses of the Jewish priests which ministered at the tabernacle and the temple, at first appointed by David. Clothed in white raiment - The garments of the priests. On their heads crowns of gold - An emblem of their dignity. The Jewish writers represent human souls as being created first; and before they enter... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 4:1-6

The Divine government symbolized. In the forms of earth the formless heavenly things are represented—the Divine government which in our thoughts is so often restricted to the conditions of human government. It is needful to remind ourselves that when we have conceived the most lofty notions of the Divine rule, we are infinitely below the real and actual. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." I. THE ... read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Revelation 4:1-6

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