Autobiography commentary on revelation 4

He saw a glorious One upon the throne, not described by human features, so as to be represented by a likeness or image, but only by his surpassing brightness. These seem emblems of the excellence of the Divine nature, and of God's awful justice. The rainbow is a fit emblem of that covenant of promise which God has made with Christ, as the Head of the church, and with all his people in him.

The prevailing colour was a pleasant green, showing the reviving and refreshing nature of the new covenant. Four-and-twenty seats around the throne, were filled with four-and-twenty elders, representing, probably, the whole church of God. He saw a glorious one upon the throne. This throne was not empty; there was one in it who filled it, and that was God, who is here described by those things that are most pleasant and precious in our world: His countenance was like a jasper and a sardine-stone; he is not described by any human features, so as to be represented by an image, but only by his transcendent brightness.

This jasper is a transparent stone, which yet offers to the eye a variety of the most vivid colours, signifying the glorious perfections of God; the sardine-stone is red, signifying the justice of God, that essential attribute of which he never divests himself in favour of any, but gloriously exerts it in the government of the world, and especially of the church, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This attribute is displayed in pardoning as well as in punishing, in saving as well as in destroying sinners. He saw a rainbow about the throne, like unto an emerald, v. The rainbow was the seal and token of the covenant of the providence that God made with Noah and his posterity with him, and is a fit emblem of that covenant of promise that God has made with Christ as the head of the church, and all his people in him, which covenant is as the waters of Noah unto God, an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.

This rainbow looked like the emerald; the most prevailing colour was a pleasant green, to show the reviving and refreshing nature of the new covenant. He saw four-and-twenty seats round about the throne, not empty, but filled with four-and-twenty elders, presbyters, representing, very probably, the whole church of God, both in the Old-Testament and in the New-Testament state; not the ministers of the church, but rather the representatives of the people.

Their sitting denotes their honour, rest, and satisfaction; their sitting about the throne signifies their relation to God, their nearness to him, the sight and enjoyment they have of him. They are clothed in white raiment, the righteousness of the saints, both imputed and inherent; they had on their heads crowns of gold, signifying the honour and authority given them of God, and the glory they have with him.

All these may in a lower sense be applied to the gospel church on earth, in its worshipping assemblies; and, in the higher sense, to the church triumphant in heaven. He perceived lightnings and voices proceeding out of the throne; that is, the awful declarations that God makes to his church of his sovereign will and pleasure. Thus he gave forth the law on mount Sinai; and the gospel has not less glory and authority than the law, though it be of a more spiritual nature.

He saw seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are explained to be the seven Spirits of God v. He saw before the throne a sea of glass, like unto crystal. As in the temple there was a great vessel of brass filled with water, in which the priests were to wash when they went to minister before the Lord and this was called a sea , so in the gospel church the sea or laver for purification is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, who cleanses from all sin, even from sanctuary-sins.

In this all those must be washed that are admitted into the gracious presence of God on earth or his glorious presence in heaven. He saw four animals, living creatures, between the throne and the circle of elders as seems most probable , standing between God and the people; these seem to signify the ministers of the gospel, not only because of this their situation nearer to God, and between him and the elders or representatives of the Christian people, and because fewer in number than the people, but as they are here described, 1.

By their many eyes, denoting sagacity, vigilance, and circumspection. By their lion-like courage, their great labour and diligence in which they resemble the ox , their prudence and discretion becoming men, and their sublime affections and speculations, by which they mount up with wings like eagles towards heaven v. By their continual employment, and that is, praising God, and not ceasing to do so night and day.

The elders sit and are ministered unto; these stand and minister: they rest not night nor day. This now leads to the other part of the representation. The rainbow is a fit emblem of that covenant of promise which God has made with Christ, as the Head of the church, and with all his people in him. The prevailing colour was a pleasant green, showing the reviving and refreshing nature of the new covenant.

Four-and-twenty seats around the throne, were filled with four-and-twenty elders, representing, probably, the whole church of God. Their sitting denotes honour, rest, and satisfaction; their sitting about the throne signifies nearness to God, the sight and enjoyment they have of him. They were clothed in white raiment; the imputed righteousness of the saints and their holiness: they had on their heads crowns of gold, signifying the glory they have with him.

Lightnings and voices came from the throne; the awful declarations God makes to his church, of his sovereign will and pleasure. From comparison with Ezekiel , we can see that each of the cherubim have four faces , and at the moment, John saw each one of the four different faces pointed in his direction. The significance of these four faces has been interpreted in many ways.

The four faces have been said to represent the elements, the cardinal virtues, the faculties and powers of the human soul, the patriarchal churches, the great apostles, the orders of churchmen, the principal angels, and so forth.

Autobiography commentary on revelation 4

Some commentators say these four creatures speak of the ensigns of the head tribes as Israel camped in four groups around the tabernacle in the wilderness. This the learned Mede proves from the Rabbins, who, though fabulous enough, yet in such a thing may be credited. The four different faces of the cherubim are often taken as symbols of Jesus as represented in each gospel.

Because there is no specific connection between the four faces of the cherubim and a particular gospel, different traditions have connected these four faces of the cherubim in different ways. Still, this approach also has other interpretations. Perhaps it is safest to say that the four faces are important because they represent all of animate creation, in its utmost excellence.

The lion is the mightiest of wild animals, the ox strongest of domesticated animals, the eagle king of all birds, and man is highest of all creation. As well, it is significant to see that the Bible associates a face with the idea of person 1 Chronicles ; 2 Chronicles ; Isaiah , Here we have singular beings with four faces. Apparently, there are beings that can be more than one person — as our God is One God in three Persons.

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:. Whenever the living creatures give glory… the twenty-four elders fall down before Him : The worship of the twenty-four elders is prompted by the cherubim.

Since the cherubim worship God day and night, so do the elders. Knowing angels should worship God should prompt our worship also. Do we have any less to praise Him or thank Him for? Yet what have birds to sing about, compared with us? Do we sing as much as the angels do? Yet they were never redeemed by the blood of Christ. Birds of the air, shall you excel me?

Angels, shall you exceed me? You have done so, but I intend to emulate you, and day by day, and night by night, pour forth my soul in sacred song. The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him : The twenty-four elders worship which means to credit worth or worthiness to God. The elders credited God for their own work and reward, and they did this as they cast their crowns before the throne.

They recognized that the worth, the worthiness belonged to God, not to themselves. Casting the crowns simply acted out their declaration, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power. If God was worthy of the glory and honor and power , then He should get the crown. There is also an allusion to a practice in the Roman Empire. The Emperor of Rome ruled over many lesser kings, and these kings were at times commanded to come before the Emperor and lay their crowns down before him in homage.

Then he would give them back, as a demonstration that their crowns, their right to rule, their victory, came from him. The crowns mentioned in Revelation are the stephanos crowns , the crowns of victory , not royalty. These are the crowns of achievement that a winning athlete would receive at the ancient Olympian Games. The twenty-four elders — representing all the redeemed of God — threw every achievement reward they had back to God, because they knew and proclaimed that He was worthy… to receive glory and honor and power.

There are no divided opinions in heaven, no sects and parties, no schisms there. They are all in perfect harmony and sweet accord. What one does, all do. They cast their crowns, without exception, before the throne. Let us begin to practice that unanimity here.