Bible Commentaries

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.

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.

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)

four and twenty. See App-10and 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".

proceeded = proceed.

seven. See App-197.

lamps. App-130. See John 18:3.

burning. Greek. kaio. See John 5:55.

Spirits. App-101.

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 Rev. 13 and Rev. 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.

had = having, as the texts.

man. App-123.

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; Rev 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 Psalm 93; Psalm 97; Psalm 99, and Isaiah 6:3. Compare Numbers 6:24-26.

Almighty. See Revelation 1:8.

those = the.

give = shall give.

glory. See p. 1511.

That sat = the One sitting.

for ever, &c. App-151.

fall = shall fall.

worship = shall worship.

cast = shall cast.

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; Revelation 176:1.

hast created = didst create. Greek. ktizo. In Rev. only here and Revelation 10:6.

pleasure. App-102.

are. The texts read "were".