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 shew thee things which must be hereafter.
After. App-104 .
this = these things, as Revelation 1:19 .
looked. App-133 .
behold. App-133 .
was opened. i.e. already opened.
heaven. See Revelation 3:12 .
first. Greek."former". See Revelation 1:10 .
it were. Omit.
things = what things.
which. Omit.
be = come to pass.
hereafter = after (Greek. meta, above) these things.
2.
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
was = became, came to be. See Revelation 1:9 , Revelation 1:10 .
in the Spirit. i.e. in or by the power of the Spirit, as Revelation 1:10 .
Spirit. App-101 .
sat = sitting.
3.
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
look upon. Compare App-133 .
jasper = jasper stone. According to Pliny, this stone was translucent.
sardine stone = sardius stone. A precious stone from Sardis, red in color.
rainbow. Greek. iris. Only here and Revelation 10:1 . In Genesis 9:13 ; Ezekiel 1:28 , &c, the Septuagint uses toxon, bow, for the Hebrew kesheth.
insight. Same words as "to look upon", above.
unto = to.
emerald. Only here. A kindred word in Revelation 21:19 , and in Exodus 28:18 with Exodus 39:8 (Septuagint)
4.
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
four and twenty. See App-10 and App-197 .
seats = thrones, as Revelation 4:2 . See Revelation 1:4 .
saw. The texts omit.
elders. Greek. presbuteros. These are evidently heavenly beings, "a pattern" after which David arranged his twenty-four courses of the sons of Aaron (1 Chronicles 24:3-5 ).
they had. The texts omit.
crowns of gold. The only other wearer is the Son of Man (Revelation 14:14 ), a fact which proves the exalted station of these "elders".
5.
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
proceeded = proceed.
seven. See App-197 .
lamps. App-130 . See John 18:3 .
burning. Greek. kaio. See Joh 5:55 .
Spirits. App-101 .
6.
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
there was . glass. The texts read "as it were a glassy sea".
unto = to.
round about. Greek. kuklo. In Rev. only here and Revelation 7:11 . Occurs: Mark 3:34 .
were. Omit.
beasts = living ones, or living creatures (as Hebrews 13:11 , first occurance). Greek. zoon. Occurs twenty times ( App-10 ). Not the word in Revelation 13 and Revelation 17 . These zoa are the cherubim of Genesis 3:24 .Ezekiel 1:5-14 . Compare Ezekiel 10:20 . They are distinguished from angels (Revelation 5:8 ; Revelation 5:11 ). These zoa speak of creation and of redemption also.
eyes. See Ezekiel 1:8 ; Ezekiel 10:12 .
7.
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
had = having, as the texts.
man. App-123 .
8.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
and they were = are.
Holy, &c. The first of the seventeen ( App-10 ) heavenly utterances in Rev. Here, Revelation 4:8 ; Revelation 4:11 ; Revelation 5:9 , Revelation 5:10 ; Revelation 5:12 ; Revelation 5:13 ; Revelation 5:5 . -14- (Amen); Revelation 7:10 ; Revelation 7:12 ; Revelation 11:15 ; Revelation 11:17 ; Revelation 12:10-12 ; Revelation 14:13 ; Revelation 15:3 ; Revelation 19:1-3 ; Revelation 19:4 ; Revelation 19:5 ; Revelation 19:6 , Revelation 19:7 .
Holy . . . holy. God's holiness proclaimed, prior to judgment. See Psalms 93 ; Psalms 97 ; Psalms 99 , and Isaiah 6:3 . Compare Numbers 6:24-26 .
Almighty. See Revelation 1:8 .
9.
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
those = the.
give = shall give.
glory. See p. 1511.
That sat = the One sitting.
for ever, &c. App-151 .
10.
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
fall = shall fall.
worship = shall worship.
cast = shall cast.
11.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
O LORD. The texts read "our LORD and our God" ( App-98 .)
glory, honour, power. The texts place article "the" before each.
glory , as Revelation 4:9 .
power. App-172 .1; Rev 176:1 .
hast created = didst create. Greek. ktizo. In Rev. only here and Revelation 10:6 .
pleasure. App-102 .
are. The texts read "were".