An Exposition of Revelation, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Viſion 2.
Verſ. 1. After theſe things I ſaw].
AFter I had ſeen the firſt Viſion.
Behold a doore opened in heaven]. The heavens appeared opened to John, wherein as a Theatre he ſaw this Viſion. Some by heaven underſtand the Church, and the opened doore to be the ſenſe of Scripture interpreted.
The firſt voice which I heard &c.] Meaning Chriſts voice, who had formerly promiſed to ſhew to his ſervants things that muſt ſhortly come to paſſe, to wit, hidden things of Gods ſecret counſel concerning the condition of his Church in this world.
Verſ. 2. And immediately I was in the ſpirit] He was in a Trance the ſecond time and ſo aſcended into heaven by Chriſts Commandement from Patmos, where the holy Spirit repreſented theſe things to his underſtanding, and revealed the myſteries thereof to him, theſe kind of Viſions are called intellectuall.
And behold a throne was ſet] Hereby is repreſented the dominion and judgement of God over all things.
Verſ. 3. And he which ſate on the throne] He is not named, yet doubtleſſe it was God, for it is called Gods throne, chap. 7.15.
Was like a Jaſper] This ſtone is green and cleare, though there be of other colours; ſome ſay the Jaſper (refreſhing the eyes) repreſents Chriſts divinity; and the Sardine, which is red, Chriſts humanity, bloud-red in his paſſion, who came from Bozra in red garmens, Eſay 63.1. The Emrauld and this Jaſper are alike much, and repreſent his divine Majeſty. But I ſeek for no myſtery, the preciouſneſſe of the Stones ſet forth the condition, and of him on the Throne—The Rainbow notes his mercy, for in Geneſis he ſets the Rainbow in the cloud promiſing not to deſtroy the world any more.
It was round about the throne] Becauſe he is cloathed with mercy, let him look which way he will, there is the Rainbow like the delightſome Emrauld, to ſhew how he delights in Covenant-keeping, in Promiſe-keeping, and in mercy. You ſee then here was God the Father repreſented ſitting and reigning in the perſon of his Son, ſo he that formerly appeared to John walking among the ſeven golden Candleſticks, now appeares ſitting on a throne, ſometimes under one figure Chriſt is repreſented, ſometimes under another.
Verſ. 4. And round about the throne 24. Seats, and upon the Seats foure and twenty Elders ſitting] An honourable Seſſion of Elders: hereby are repreſented the company of Patriarks, Prophets, godly Kings and Judges, nay, all the Saints under the Law, who now triumph with Chriſt in heaven; but certain here is a finite number put for an indefinite, by the number is noted a perfect Senate. They ſit on thrones, becauſe with Chriſt they ſhall judge the world: They be ſaid to be Elders becauſe of their wiſdome.
Cloathed in white raiments] Here is the Prieſtly dignity of Saints ſhadowed out (as by crownes on their heads, the Kingly is) white, undefiled robes become Prieſts, alſo the purity of Saints in heaven is hereby ſignified, their Garments being waſhed in the blood of the Lamb. Crownes note their reigning with Chriſt; this is the crown of life and glory.
Verſ 5. Out of the Throne proceeded lightnings, and thundrings, and voices] By Lightnings, and thundrings, and voices, to wit of thunder and lightning, for thunder is the voice of the Lord; by it is noted the Majeſty and power of him that ſits upon the Throne, who ſends forth judgements againſt the wicked.
And ſeven Lamps of fire burning before the Throne] To wit, chiefe Angels, who are his eyes and feet, &c. by which he executes his pleaſure.
Verſ 6. Alſo before the throne] The Sea of glaſſe like Chryſtal is the world; very fraile; a ſea, becauſe inſtable and tumultuous: as Chryſtal cleare, becauſe all the counſels and actions of men are before God and the Throne, he clearly diſcerning every thing Bulling.
And in the midſt of the Throne, and round about the Throne were foure beaſts] Neare the Throne and cloſe by it; as, I ſend ye as Lambs in the midſt of Wolves; So here, theſe foure beaſts were neare the Throne; though ſome think the foure Evangeliſts are here meant, as Matthew in likeneſſe of a man, becauſe he begins with the generation of Chriſt as man; Mark of a Lyon, becauſe he begins as roaring the Law, The voice of one crying in the wilderneſſe. Luke of an Oxe, becauſe of the ſacrificing of the Prieſt, which he begins with. John of an Eagle becauſe ſoaring aloft, In the beginning was the word— and the word was God; ſuch high divinity Iohn begins with, that one of the Ancients ſaid, had he flown a little higher he had flew quite out of ſight, we being not able to comprehend him. But how can this be well underſtood of the foure Evangeliſts; ſince Iohn was yet alive? I underſtand the State of the Chriſtian Church triumphant, who are of divers forms becauſe divers Nations and peoples are now under the Goſpel received, but the 24. Elders, or Jewiſh Church was more uniforme in the Law; Foure, perchance alluding to the foure Evangeliſts, or a finite number put for an indefinite. Beaſts, becauſe of their great paines and difficulty to enter into the kingdome of heaven—
Full of eyes] As the former notes the paines and labour of Teachers to gaine ſoules to Chriſt: So this latter notes the watchfulneſſe and ſingular wiſdom and inſight of Teachers; we ſhould all be thus quick-ſighted to underſtand Scripture.
Verſ. 7. The first was like a Lyon &c.] The Church is deſcribed from her gifts, a Lyon notes fortitude, a Man wiſdom, an Oxe labour and induſtry, an Eagle ſharp ſight, as in knowledge.
Verſ. 8. And the foure beaſts had each of them ſix wings about him] Alluding to Eſay 6. with two they flie, noting their quickneſſe and readineſſe to ſerve God; with two they cover their face, not being able to behold the Majeſty of God, with two they cover their feet, not knowing when Chriſt ſhall come to judgement, or that nothing unbeſeeming the Divine Majeſty might appeare about them. Thus the Seraphims. In that their wings are full of eyes, it denotes that full and perfect light or knowledge which the Church enjoyeth with God in heaven.
And they reſt not day and night, ſaying, Holy, Holy, Holy &c] But inceſſantly praiſe God (for they are never weary.) Now note both Beaſts and Elders praiſe God; here is the excellent conſent and harmony of Prophets in the Law, and Apoſtles in the Goſpel, acknowledging Chriſts holineſſe, power, and Godhead.
Verſ. 10. The 24. Elders fell down before him that ſate on the throne &c.] Roſe from their ſeat, and fell down before the throne, giving due worſhip and reverence to him that ſate thereon.
And caſt their crowns before the Throne] Attributing their victory and reward to God the Author, Greg. The reſt is eaſie.