King James Version
Revelation 4
11 verses with commentary
The Throne in Heaven
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 .
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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 wh...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(1) **After this **(better, *these things)* **I looked **(literally, *I saw;* not “I looked,” as though the prophet turned his gaze then towards it), **and, behold a door was opened **(or, *set open)* **in heaven.—**He did not look and see a door opening; he saw, and lo! the door stood open. There are differences as well as similarities between this vision and others where glimpses into heaven wer...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16. was rebuked--**Greek, "had a rebuke," or conviction; an exposure of his specious wickedness on his being tested (the root verb of the Greek noun means to "convict on testing").
**his--**Greek, "his own": his own beast convicted him of his own iniquity.
**ass--**literally, "beast of burden"; the ass was the ordinary animal used in riding in Palestine.
**dumb--**Greek, "voiceless-speakin...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
The consideration of Christ's sufferings is urged for purity and holiness.(1-6)
And the approaching end of the Jewish state, as a reason for sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer.(7-11)
Believers encouraged to rejoice and glory in reproaches and sufferings for Christ, and to commit their souls to the care of a faithful God.(12-19)
**Verses 1-6**
The str...
Read full commentary →And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language characteristic of Jewish prophetic liter...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **And immediately I was in the spirit.— **Comp. Revelation 1:10. The mind and soul were absorbed in the vision of things celestial. (See. 2Corinthians 12:1-4.)
“Words may not tell of that transhuman change;
If I were only what Thou didst create,
Then newly, Love ! by whom the heaven is ruled,
Thou know’st, who by Thy light didst bear me up.” *—
Paradiso,* i. 68-73.
**And, behold, a throne was ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
17. (Jude 12, 13.)
**wells--**"clouds" in Jude; both promising (compare 2Pe 2:19) water, but yielding none; so their "great swelling words" are found on trial to be but "vanity" (2Pe 2:18).
**clouds--**The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "mists," dark, and not transparent and bright as "clouds" often are, whence the latter term is applied sometimes to the saints; fit emblem of the childr...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
The consideration of Christ's sufferings is urged for purity and holiness.(1-6)
And the approaching end of the Jewish state, as a reason for sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer.(7-11)
Believers encouraged to rejoice and glory in reproaches and sufferings for Christ, and to commit their souls to the care of a faithful God.(12-19)
**Verses 1-6**
The str...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic languag...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone.—**In determining the significance of these emblems we must be guided partly by the analogy of Bible imagery elsewhere, and partly by our knowledge of precious stones. The sardian, or sardine, is admitted to be a stone of fiery red colour; the emerald, to which the bow round the throne is compared, is almost certainly a brigh...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**18. allure--**Greek, "lay baits for."
**through--**Greek, "in"; the lusts of the flesh being the element IN which they lay their baits.
**much wantonness--**Greek, "by licentiousness"; the bait which they lay.
**clean escaped--**Greek, "really escaped." But the oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "scarcely," or "for but a little time"; scarcely have they escaped from them who live in erro...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
The consideration of Christ's sufferings is urged for purity and holiness.(1-6)
And the approaching end of the Jewish state, as a reason for sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer.(7-11)
Believers encouraged to rejoice and glory in reproaches and sufferings for Christ, and to commit their souls to the care of a faithful God.(12-19)
**Verses 1-6**
The str...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4)**And round about the throne were four and twenty seats **(or, *thrones*), **and upon the seats **(or, *thrones)* **I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.—**Perhaps the wish to give its due pre-eminence to the thought of Him who sat on the throne caused our translators to describe the elders as sitting on seats; but the same w...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**19. promise ... liberty--**(Christian)--These promises are instances of their "great swelling words" (2Pe 2:18). The liberty which they propose is such as fears not Satan, nor loathes the flesh. Pauline language, adopted by Peter here, and 1Pe 2:16; see on 1Pe 2:16; (compare 2Pe 3:15; Ro 6:16-22; 8:15, 21; Ga 5:1, 13; compare Joh 8:34).
**corruption--**(See on 2Pe 2:12); "destroyed ... perish ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
The consideration of Christ's sufferings is urged for purity and holiness.(1-6)
And the approaching end of the Jewish state, as a reason for sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer.(7-11)
Believers encouraged to rejoice and glory in reproaches and sufferings for Christ, and to commit their souls to the care of a faithful God.(12-19)
**Verses 1-6**
The str...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses viv...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5) **And out of the throne proceeded **(rather, *proceed;* there is a change in the tense used) **lightnings and thunderings and voices.—**These are viewed by some as the indications of approaching judgments. Perhaps it is better to view them as the tokens of God’s power of judgment than as hints of immediately approaching judgments. The scene at Sinai (Exodus 19:16) was no doubt in the prophet’s...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**20. after they--**the seducers "themselves" have escaped (2Pe 2:19; see on He 6:4-6).
**pollutions--**which bring "corruption" (2Pe 2:19).
**through--**Greek, "in."
**knowledge--**Greek, "full and accurate knowledge."
**the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ--**solemnly expressing in full the great and gracious One from whom they fall.
**latter end is worse ... than the beginning--**Peter r...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
The consideration of Christ's sufferings is urged for purity and holiness.(1-6)
And the approaching end of the Jewish state, as a reason for sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer.(7-11)
Believers encouraged to rejoice and glory in reproaches and sufferings for Christ, and to commit their souls to the care of a faithful God.(12-19)
**Verses 1-6**
The str...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text us...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(6) **And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal.—**There is a sea before the throne of God. The woman apparelled in purple splendour sits upon many waters (Revelation 17:1). The waters are explained (Revelation 17:15) to be “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Her throne rests on the fickle and stormy sea of world- opinion, fashion, and passion. The waters re...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**21. the way of righteousness--**"the way of truth" (2Pe 2:2). Christian doctrine, and "the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour."
**turn--**back again; so the Greek.
**from the holy commandment--**the Gospel which enjoins holiness; in opposition to their corruption. "Holy," not that it makes holy, but because it ought to be kept inviolate [Tittmann].
**delivered--**once for all; admitting no ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 4
Chapter Outline
The consideration of Christ's sufferings is urged for purity and holiness.(1-6)
And the approaching end of the Jewish state, as a reason for sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer.(7-11)
Believers encouraged to rejoice and glory in reproaches and sufferings for Christ, and to commit their souls to the care of a faithful God.(12-19)
**Verses 1-6**
The str...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyp...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **And the first beast **(better, in each case, *living being)* **was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf **(comp. Ezekiel 1:7; Ezekiel 1:10), **and the third beast had a face as a man **(or, *its countenance as of a man),* **and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.**—These are *living beings*, not “beasts,” as in the Authorised version. The rendering “beasts” introduces confusio...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**22. But--**You need not wonder at the event; for dogs and swine they were before, and dogs and swine they will continue. They "scarcely" (2Pe 2:18) have escaped from their filthy folly, when they again are entangled in it. Then they seduce others who have in like manner "for a little time escaped from them that live in error" (2Pe 2:18). Peter often quoted Proverbs in his First Epistle (1Pe 1:7;...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-13**
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's ...
Read full commentary →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 . rest: Gr. have no rest
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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 ...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **And the four beasts **(or, *living beings)* **had each of them **(literally, *one by one of them)* **six wings about him; and they were full of **(or, *teeming with)* **eyes.**—The last verse spoke of the living beings teeming with eyes; this tells us that neither the dropping nor the raising of their wings hindered their view.
**And they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lor...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 7-13**
The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's ...
Read full commentary →And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language characteristic of Jewish prop...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9, 10) **And when those beasts . . .**—Better, *And whensoever the living beings shall give* (the future is used) *glory and honour and thanks to Him who sitteth upon the throne, to Him who liveth to the ages of ages, the four-and-twenty elders shall* (as is their wont) *fall down before Him who sitteth on the throne, and worship Him that liveth unto the ages of ages, and shall* (as is their wont...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 3
2Pe 3:1-18. Sureness of Christ's Coming, and Its Accompaniments, Declared in Opposition to Scoffers about to Arise. God's Long Suffering a Motive to Repentance, as Paul's Epistles Set Forth; Concluding Exhortation to Growth in the Knowledge of Christ.
**1. now--**"This now a second Epistle I write." Therefore he had lately written the former Epistle. The seven Catholic Epistles were ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 9-11**
All true believers wholly ascribe their redemption and conversion, their present privileges and future hopes, to the eternal and most holy God. Thus rise the for-ever harmonious, thankful songs of the redeemed in heaven. Would we on earth do like them, let our praises be constant, not interrupted; united, not divided; thankful, not cold and formal; humble, not self-confident.
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,
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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,...</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivi...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**2. prophets--**of the Old Testament.
**of us--**The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "And of the commandment of the Lord and Saviour (declared) by YOUR apostles" (so "apostle of the Gentiles," Ro 11:13)--the apostles who live among you in the present time, in contrast to the Old Testament "prophets."
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 9-11**
All true believers wholly ascribe their redemption and conversion, their present privileges and future hopes, to the eternal and most holy God. Thus rise the for-ever harmonious, thankful songs of the redeemed in heaven. Would we on earth do like them, let our praises be constant, not interrupted; united, not divided; thankful, not cold and formal; humble, not self-confident.
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.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>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....</strong> This verse from Revelation's vision of throne room of heaven - god's sovereignty, holiness, and worship employs apocalyptic imagery rich with Old Testament allusions and symbolic meaning. The Greek text uses vivid apocalyptic language...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(11) The doxology is three-fold. (See Note on Revelation 1:6.) It should run—
“Worthy art Thou, O Lord, and our God,
To receive the glory, and the honour, and the power,
Because Thou didst create all things,
And through (or, *owing to—i.e.*, because of) Thy will they *were* (not ‘ are’) and were created.”
The existence of all things was owing to the will of God, as also was the creation of all thi...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. Knowing this first--**from the word of the apostles.
**shall come--**Their very scoffing shall confirm the truth of the prediction.
**scoffers--**The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate add, "(scoffers) in (that is, 'with') scoffing." As Re 14:2, "harping with harps."
**walking after their own lusts--**(2Pe 2:10; Jude 16, 18). Their own pleasure is their sole law, unrestrained by reverence f...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**Verses 9-11**
All true believers wholly ascribe their redemption and conversion, their present privileges and future hopes, to the eternal and most holy God. Thus rise the for-ever harmonious, thankful songs of the redeemed in heaven. Would we on earth do like them, let our praises be constant, not interrupted; united, not divided; thankful, not cold and formal; humble, not self-confident.