---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Revelation 4:1. A door was opened in heaven — This appears to have been a visible aperture in the sky over his head. Verse Revelation 4:2. I was in"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/revelation/4"
---

Verse [Revelation 4:1](../../../kjv/revelation/4/1). ***A door was opened in heaven*** — This appears to have been a visible aperture in the sky over his head.

Verse [Revelation 4:2](../../../kjv/revelation/4/2). ***I was in the Spirit*** — Rapt up in an ecstasy.

Verse [Revelation 4:3](../../../kjv/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](../../../kjv/numbers/24/10), &c., and the notes there.

Verse [Revelation 4:4](../../../kjv/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 the body, each is taken by an angel into paradise, where it sees the righteous sitting in glory with crowns upon their heads. *Rab. Tanchum*, fol. 39, 4.

Verse [Revelation 4:5](../../../kjv/revelation/4/5). ***Seven lamps of fire*** — Seven angels, the attendants and ministers of the supreme King. See [Revelation 1:4](../../../kjv/revelation/1/4), and the note there.

Verse [Revelation 4:6](../../../kjv/revelation/4/6). ***Four beasts*** — τεσσαρα ζωα *Four living creatures* or *four animals*. The word *beast* is very improperly used here and elsewhere in this description. *Wiclif* first used it, and translators in general have followed him in this uncouth rendering. A *beast* before the throne of God in heaven sounds oddly.

Verse [Revelation 4:7](../../../kjv/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 *Benjamin*. The third, with the *face* of a *man*, which, according to the rabbins, was the standard of REUBEN who pitched on the *south*, with the two tribes of *Simeon* and *Gad*. The fourth which was like a *flying* (spread) *eagle*, was, according to the same writers, the emblem on the ensign of DAN who pitched on the *north*, with the two tribes of *Asher* and *Naphtali*. This traditionary description agrees with the *four faces* of the cherub in Ezekiel's vision. See my *notes* and *diagrams* on [Numbers 2](../../../kjv/numbers/2).
*Christian tradition* has given these creatures as emblems of the *four* evangelists. To *John* is attributed the EAGLE; to *Luke* the OX, to *Mark* the LION, and to *Matthew* the MAN, or *angel* in *human* form. As the former represented the *whole Jewish Church* or *congregation*, so the latter is intended to represent the *whole* *Christian Church*.

Verse [Revelation 4:8](../../../kjv/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. [Revelation 4](../../../kjv/revelation/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 *Raphael*, behind him. The *shechinah* of the holy, blessed God is *in the midst*, and he himself *sits upon a throne* high and elevated, hanging in the air; and his magnificence is as *amber* חשמל , (chashmal,) *in the midst of the fire*, [Ezekiel 1:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/1/4), On his head is placed a *crown* and a *diadem*, with the incommunicable name (יהוה *Yehovah*) inscribed on the front of it. His *eyes* go throughout the whole earth; a part of them is *fire*, and a part of them *hail*. At his right hand stands *Life*, and at his left hand *Death*; and he has a fiery sceptre in his hand. Before him is the *veil* spread, that *veil* which is between the *temple* and the *holy* *of holies*; and *seven angels* minister before him within that *veil*: the veil and his footstool are like *fire* and *lightning*; and *under* *the throne of glory* there is a shining like fire and *sapphire*, and *about his throne are justice* and *judgment*.
"The place of the throne are the *seven clouds of glory*; and the *chariot wheels*, and the *cherub*, and the *living creatures* which *give glory* before his face. The throne is in similitude like *sapphire*; and at the four feet of it are *four living creatures*, each of which has *four faces* and *four wings*. When God speaks from the *east*, then it is from between the two cherubim with the *face* *of a MAN*; when he speaks from the *south*, then it is from between the two cherubim with the *face of a LION*; when from the *west*, then it is from between the two cherubim with the *face of an OX*; and when from the *north*, then it is from between the two cherubim with the *face of an EAGLE*.
"And the *living creatures stand before the throne of glory*; and they stand in fear, in trembling, in horror, and in great agitation; and from this agitation a *stream of fire* flows before them. Of the two *seraphim* one stands at the right hand of the holy blessed God, and one stands at the left; and each has *six wings*: with *two they cover their face* lest they should see the face of the *shechina; with two they cover their feet* lest they should find out the footstool of the shechinah; and *with two they fly*, and sanctify his great name. And they answer each other, saying *Holy,* *holy, holy, Lord God of hosts*; the whole earth is full of his glory. And the *living creatures* stand near his glory, yet they do not know the place of his glory; but wheresoever his glory is, they cry out and say, *Blessed be the glory of the Lord in his* *place*."
In *Shemoth Rabba*, sec. 23, fol. 122, 4, Rabbi Abin says: "There are *four* which have principality in this world: among *intellectual* *creatures*, MAN; among *birds*, the EAGLE; among *cattle*, the OX; and among *wild beasts*, the LION: each of these has a kingdom and a certain magnificence, and they are placed *under the throne of* *glory*, [Ezekiel 1:10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/1/10), to show that no creature is to exalt itself in this world, and that the kingdom of God is over all." These creatures may be considered the representatives of the whole creation.

Verse [Revelation 4:10](../../../kjv/revelation/4/10). ***Cast their crowns before the throne*** — Acknowledge the infinite supremacy of God, and that they have derived their being and their blessings from him alone. This is an allusion to the custom of prostrations in the east, and to the homage of petty kings acknowledging the supremacy of the emperor.

Verse [Revelation 4:11](../../../kjv/revelation/4/11). ***Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive*** — Thus all creation acknowledges the supremacy of God; and we learn from this song that he *made all things for his pleasure*; and through the same motive he *preserves*. Hence it is most evident, that he hateth nothing that he has made, and could have made no intelligent creature with the design to make it eternally miserable. It is strange that a contrary supposition has ever entered into the heart of man; and it is high time that the benevolent nature of the Supreme God should be fully vindicated from aspersions of this kind.

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