Revelation 4:2 NIV,NKJV

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Revelation 4:2

(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. 2 Corinthians 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 set (i.e., not that the seer saw the throne being set, but when he saw it was already set) in heaven, and one... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Revelation 4:1-11

Elevation and Vision Revelation 4:1 It is a serious error to suppose that we can rightly apprehend the highest truths whilst we live on a low plane of thought and conduct, and yet it is a very common error. Those who grovel in the dust, nay, who wallow in the sensual mire, yet believe themselves competent to discuss the most solemn problems of existence and destiny: they conclude that the truths concerning God His existence, laws, government, revelation and purpose are apprehended and... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:1-11

CHAPTER III.ANTICIPATIONS OF THE CHURCH’S VICTORY.Revelation 4:1-11; Revelation 5:1-14.WE have seen in considering the first chapter of the Apocalypse that the book as a whole is to be occupied with the Church’s struggle in the world; and in the second and third chapters the Church herself has been placed before us as she occupies her position upon the field of history. But the struggle has not yet begun, nor will it begin until we reach the sixth chapter. Rev. 4 and 5 are therefore still to be... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Revelation 4:1-11

III. THE THINGS WHICH ARE AFTER THESE, THE END OF THE AGE, THE CONSUMMATION, AND FINAL MESSAGES (4-22) CHAPTERS 4-5 1. The open door and the vision of the throne (Revelation 4:1-3 ) 2. The twenty-four elders and the throne (Revelation 4:4-5 ). 3. The four living creatures and the worship (Revelation 4:6-11 ) 4. Who is worthy to open the book? (Revelation 5:1-3 ) 5. The answer (Revelation 5:4-5 ) 6. The vision of the Lamb (Revelation 5:6-7 ) 7. Worship and praise (Revelation 5:8-14 )... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Revelation 4:2

4:2 And {2} immediately I was {a} in the spirit: {3} and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne.(2) The manner of revelation:(a) See Revelation 1:10 .(3) A description of God the Father, and of his glory in the heavens, explained to men by his office, nature, attending company, effect, instruments and events that follow afterwards. In this verse he is presented in office as a judge as Abraham said; Genesis 18:25 which is declared by his throne as sign of judgment, and... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:1-11

A Door Opened in Heaven From this point in Revelation the Church is never again seen on earth, but always in heaven or coming as the armies in heaven with her Lord to judge the earth (Revelation 19:11-14). The indication of her being raptured to glory is seen in the first verse, for John himself plainly represents the Church, and a door is opened in heaven for him to enter. A number of times in Scripture we read of heaven being opened, always indicating a public event of great significance,... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:1-11

THE SEVEN SEALS This section might also be entitled “The things which shall be hereafter.” It is assumed that the true church is not upon the earth at the beginning of chapter 4, but that the translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 has taken place. Christendom is here, but the church is with the Lord in the air. To some this may seem a bold assumption, but not to those who have pursued the study of the earlier books in this commentary. To them it will appear natural and proper that the church... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Revelation 4:1-3

(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. (2) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (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. Here is the... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Revelation 4:2

I was in the spirit, rapt as it were in an ecstacy into heaven, and saw a throne, and one sitting, representing God the Father. (Witham) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 4:1-8

1-8 After the Lord Jesus had instructed the apostle to write to the churches "the things that are," there was another vision. The apostle saw a throne set in heaven, an emblem of the universal dominion of Jehovah. 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... read more