Revelation 4:11

11. Hast created As response to the creational representatives; it is the creation that the elders now celebrate.

For thy pleasure A decidedly incorrect translation. The Greek signifies, on account of thy will. The creation is the consequence of the divine volition.

They are They now exist.

Were created Were brought into existence at first. This verse is quoted in Dr. Hodge’s Theology to prove that God’s end in creation was solely his own good pleasure and glory. But, whether that doctrine is true or not, it is not contained in these words. The text only traces the creation to the divine volition, without explicitly declaring what was the end or motive of the volition. But the thanks rendered certainly imply that a moving influence was the divine goodness, and a moving end was the happiness of the created.

SCENERY AND SCOPE OF THE APOCALYPTIC VISION. For a clear understanding of the movements of the book, it is all important to keep in mind the following view of the visional world into which John now enters.

The door in heaven admits John into the symbolic heaven, or region and scene of Apocalyptic evolutions. The divine throne and state were on an ideal plain of vision from which a wide range on all sides can be seen.

Above is the firmament, or firmamental heaven, in which the dragon is first seen, Revelation 12:2; and from which the angel of chap. 10, and Christ in Revelation 19:11, descend; and a midheaven where the birds fly. See note Revelation 19:17; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 14:6. Above the firmament is the highest heaven, whence the New Jerusalem comes down, Revelation 21:2. Below, in more or less distant view, are the earth and sea, and even the crater of the bottomless pit, (Revelation 9:1; Revelation 20:3,) and lake of fire, Revelation 20:10. Near at hand are Mount Zion, Revelation 9:1, and the temple, Revelation 9:10, with its court, sanctuary, and altar, 11. This divine throne in regal state maintains its permanent position through the whole Apocalypse. Even when the old heaven and earth disappear, and the great white throne of judgment (Revelation 20:11) and the new earth appear, (Revelation 21:1,) this throne of Revelation remains in its moveless, ideal position. And St. John is supposed to stand permanently in its front, at due distance to command, with his observant eye, the whole scene. We imagine the throne to be in the Holy of Holies, yet so as to be usually unconcealed by curtain or wall from the seer’s eye. But once does our seer leave the presence of the Apocalyptic throne; namely, when he visits the wilderness of the harlot, 17. Perhaps, also, a second time, when he scales the top of a high mountain to survey the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:10.

In the following passages John’s symbolic or scenic heaven is meant: Revelation 4:1-2; Revelation 8:1; Revelation 14:17; Revelation 15:5; Revelation 16:17.

In the following, the astronomic, firmamental, or atmospheric heaven: Revelation 5:3; Revelation 5:13; Revelation 6:13-14; Revelation 8:10; Revelation 9:1; Revelation 10:1; Revelation 10:4-6; Revelation 10:8; Revelation 11:6; Revelation 11:12-13; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 12:1; Revelation 12:3-4; Revelation 12:7-8; Revelation 12:10; Revelation 12:12; Revelation 13:6; Revelation 13:13; Revelation 15:1; Revelation 16:11; Revelation 16:21; Revelation 18:1; Revelation 18:4-5; Revelation 18:20; Revelation 19:1; Revelation 19:11; Revelation 19:14; Revelation 19:17; Revelation 20:1; Revelation 20:9; Revelation 20:11; Revelation 21:1. On this heaven, as a place of superhuman beings, see Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 4:9-10. Highest heavens, God’s residence, Revelation 21:2-3; Revelation 21:10. God’s throne, Revelation 12:5.