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Expanded Comments |
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| 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 show thee things which must be hereafter. |
After this – After the events of the preceding chapter. R528:6*
I looked – John, personally, symbolizes the beloved disciples--the faithful in the Church who are alive at the time required by the events described. R528:3*
A door was opened – The entrance to the third heaven. (2 Cor. 12:2) R529:2*
In heaven – The third heaven, the new heavens, under the rule of Christ and his saints. R529:1*
Of a trumpet – The seventh trumpet. R529:2*
Come up – We are "caught up" in the spirit of our minds, and see spiritual things from an exalted position. R529:1*
Every new truth received and cherished has been a stepping-stone upward. R529:2*
Things which must be hereafter – Rev. 20:11-15 is a recapitulation of the whole scene from this setting of the judgment. HG42:4
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| 2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. |
A throne – "The throne of God and of the Lamb." (Rev. 22:3) R156:3*
The throne of God is not a material one, but refers to his supreme authority and rulership. A92
Was set in heaven – The throne of the heavenly city is established first. R156:3*
At the time of the establishment of the throne, or rather perhaps the exaltation of the Little Flock, or those who are ready for it. R156:6*
The throne is first established, and it becomes the nucleus around which the Church will gather, until all that fear God's name are made up as jewels for his Kingdom. R82:1*
And one sat – This is the Father, the "Ancient of days." (Dan. 7:9) R529:3*
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| 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. |
Like a jasper – Supposed to mean a diamond, described as most precious and "clear as crystal" (Rev. 21:11; 22:1); being the most brilliant of all gems it fittingly symbolizes the glory of God. R529:3*
A sardine stone – A red colored stone, symbolizing God's love. R529:3*
A rainbow – The "token" of a covenant. (Gen. 9:12-17) R529:3*
An emerald – Probably symbolizes freshness and vigor. R529:3*
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| 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
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Four and twenty elders – Personifications of the testimonies of twenty-four prophets who foretold things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. R529:4*
Being symbolic, they cannot be individual saints; nor the Church of the firstborn, as they appear under another symbol. R529:3*
In white raiment – Denoting purity. R529:4*
Crowns of gold – Symbolizing their divine authority. R529:4*
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| 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. |
The throne – Of God. R529:4*
Lightnings – See comments on Psalms 97:4. And thunderings -- Judgments. R168:5*
The thunderings and lightnings are making all the earth to tremble as did Israel at Mt. Sinai. (Exodus 19:1-25) R5900:1
And voices – The mutterings of the tempest which is already gathering over the Church and the world. R529:4*
Lamps of fire – Channels through which God is about to manifest his power. R529:4*
The Church of the first-born. R529:4*
The seven congregations (Rev. 1:20). The Church complete. The Little Flock. R170:2,4*
Like fire, as all spirit beings are described in Scripture. (Ezek. 1:13,14; Dan. 7:9) R2350:1
Which are the seven – Perfect or complete. T47, T115; R529:4*
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| 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. |
Before the throne – Authority, rulership. A92
Notice, these are before the throne--not on it, as in Rev. 15. This is likely the position referred to in Luke 20:36. R168:5*
The position of the Great Multitude who are protected from the plagues. (Rev. 7:9-15) R156:4*
Place of the Great Company. R81:6*
A sea – The unfettered, irreligious masses of the people. R529:5*
Of glass – The internal forces that control the irreligious masses of the people are as clear as crystal from the standpoint of those who are walking in the light. R529:5*
Like unto crystal – It is not mingled with fire as in Rev. 15:2. R156:4*
Four beasts – Cherubim or living ones. R529:5*
These strange creatures are first brought to view in Gen. 3:24, where they appear with flaming swords. They are next seen at each end of the Mercy Seat on the Ark. (Exod. 25:18) R529:5*
Personifying the attributes of God--power, wisdom, justice and love. R529:6*
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| 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. |
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| 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. |
Holy, holy, holy – Thus it will be when the night of sin and death are past and the glorious Millennial morning shall have ushered into the world the light of the Sun of Righteousness, the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the whole earth. (Isa. 6:3) NS463:2[NS463]
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| 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, |
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| 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, |
Fall down – John hears the cherubim "give glory" (vs. 9), and immediately the twenty four elders fall down before him. R530:5
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| 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. |
Thou art worthy – When we can hear the power, wisdom, justice, and love of God, then indeed his twenty four witnesses ring out his praise as never before. R530:5*
Created all things – All things, both good and evil, exist by his permission. R530:5*
That our Lord Jesus existed prior to his incarnation, and in a more exalted nature and condition, is clearly stated in Scripture. R1673:3[R1673:11]
For thy pleasure – The pleasure of dispensing his blessings and exercising the attributes of his glorious being. A118
He created them in his own likeness--with the same mental and moral attributes, so that he might have communion and fellowship with them as sons, and they with him as a Father. R1833:1
Ultimately. R530:5*
The great architect of the universe and author of all life, first counted the cost, and reckoned that all should culminate to his honor and glory. R421:2, 338:1
God endowed his intelligent creature with this element of character (gratitude), being responsive to his own goodness, institutes a delightful fellowship with himself, which is the chief end of human existence. R2031:3
"I have created him for my glory." (Isa. 43:7) Man's true peace can be found only in harmony with his Creator. R1840:3
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