The Throne in Heaven
4 After this, I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits [That is, the sevenfold Spirit] of God. 6 Also in front of the throne, there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front, and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“‘Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,’[ Isaiah 6:3]
who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
NOTES:
4:1–11 The seer now describes a vision of the heavenly court
in worship of God enthroned. He reverently avoids naming or describing God but
pictures twenty-four elders in priestly and regal attire (Rev 4:4) and God’s
throne and its surroundings made of precious gems and other symbols that
traditionally express the majesty of God (Rev 4:5–6). Universal creation is
represented by the four living creatures (Rev 4:6–7). Along with the
twenty-four elders, they praise God unceasingly in humble adoration (Rev
4:8–11).
4:1 The ancients viewed heaven as a solid vault, entered by
way of actual doors.
4:2–8 Much of the imagery here is taken from Ez 1 and 10.
4:4 Twenty-four elders: these represent the twelve tribes of
Israel and the twelve apostles; cf. Rev 21:12–14.
4:5 Flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder:
as in other descriptions of God’s appearance or activity; cf. Rev 8:5; 11:19;
16:18; Ex 19:16; Ez 1:4, 13. The seven spirits of God: the seven “angels of the
presence” as in Rev 8:2 and Tb 12:15.
4:6 A sea of glass like crystal: an image adapted from Ez
1:22–26. Four living creatures: these are symbols taken from Ez 1:5–21; they
are identified as cherubim in Ez 10:20. Covered with eyes: these suggest God’s
knowledge and concern.
4:7 Lion…calf…human being…eagle: these symbolize,
respectively, what is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in creation.
Calf: traditionally translated “ox,” the Greek word refers to a heifer or young
bull. Since the second century, these four creatures have been used as symbols
of the evangelists Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John, respectively.
4:8 Six wings: like the seraphim of Is 6:2.
Copyright © 2020 by Ekklesia Katholes (Acts 9:31)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher.
No comments:
Post a Comment