Taking Revelation 1:19 as an outline of the book, chapter four begins the third section: the things which shall take place after this. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. Cushions were laid upon the seat, and over both seat and back carpets were spread. The apostle saw a throne set in heaven, an emblem of the universal dominion of Jehovah. 3. 3.
106. (5) they are designed to represent the whole church in every land and every age of the world. Plato uses it of a teacher's seat. 17. Proud member & Maimon. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. A seat or chair. (2) they are emblematic. The phrase is μετὰ ταῦτα [meta tauta] and indicates a transition from the things …
Hilchot Sanhedrin, c. 1. sect. 2. a.
The twenty-four elders are usually taken to represent the one Church of Christ, as at once the Church of the old and of the new Covenant, figured by the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles.
He also witnesses seven burning torches and a sea of glass in front of God's throne.
Used of the oracular seat of the priestess of Apollo. Revelation 4 & 5 is a vision showing that God does have a plan that was not to be revealed until Jesus faithfully finished his ransom sacrifice. See on Acts 14:23. Thus, they have crowns on their heads; they have harps in their hands Revelation 5:8; they say that they are "kings and priests," and that they will "reign on the earth," Revelation 5:10. fol. Revelation 4:1–6 describes the apostle John's experience of being in the Spirit and being transported to heaven. ((o) Zohar in Numb.
There, he sees the radiance of God described as precious jewels. Instead of examining those opinions at length, it will be better to present, in a summary manner, what seems to be probable in regard to the intended reference. Revelation 4:4-5.
(6) they represent the church triumphant - the church victorious.
Clothed in white raiment; in the pure and spotless robe of Christ's righteousness, which is comparable to fine linen, clean and white; and is the righteousness of the saints in common, of every true member of Christ's body. Caphtor, fol. Apollo, in the "Eumenides" of Aeschylus, says: "Never, when I sat in the diviner's seat (μαντικοῖσιν ἐν θρόνοις) did I speak aught else than Zeus the father of the Olympians bade me" (616-618). We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. There, he sees the radiance of God described as precious jewels. 3. 1. "The seven lamps of fire before the throne" (Re 4:5) are antitypical to the seven-branched candlestick also in the holiest, emblem of the manifold Spirit of God: "the sea of glass" (Re 4:6) corresponds to the molten sea before the sanctuary, wherein the priests washed themselves before entering on their holy service; so introduced here in connection with the redeemed "priests unto God" (compare Note, see on [2687]Re 15:2). It is a common saying with the Jews F15. He also witnesses seven burning torches and a sea of glass in front of God's throne.
Commentary on Revelation 4:1-8 (Read Revelation 4:1-8) After the Lord Jesus had instructed the apostle to write to the churches "the things that are," there was another vision. They are designed to symbolize or represent some class of persons.
96. Revelation 4 – Before the Throne of God A. September 18, 2015. Chicago Bible Students, The Herald of Christ's Kingdom - History Issue, After Armageddon...God's Kingdom - Booklet, “Highlights of the End Times” Free Newsletter, FREE booklet – God’s Grand Plan of the Ages. 2. They are not angels, for they have white robes and crowns of victory, implying a conflict and endurance, "Thou hast redeemed us": they represent the Heads of the Old and New Testament churches respectively, the Twelve Patriarchs (compare Re 7:5-8, not in their personal, but in their representative character), and Twelve Apostles. It is a common saying with the Jews (o), "that there is no eating and drinking in the world to come, but the righteous are "sitting", , "and their crowns upon their heads".''.
A royal throne.
(b) because there are other symbols there designed to represent something pertaining to the homage rendered to God, as the four living creatures and the angels, and this supposition is necessary in order to complete the symmetry and harmony of the representation. "Then saw I people, as behind their leaders. So the twenty-four throned and crowned elders are typified by the twenty-four chiefs of the twenty-four courses of priests, "Governors of the sanctuary, and governors of God" (1Ch 24:5; 25:1-31). The four living creatures have another design; the angels Revelation 5:1-14 have another; but these are manifestly of our race - persons from this world before the throne.
California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 2. fol. Abot R. Nathan, fol. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and on the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (7) the design, therefore, is to represent the church triumphant - redeemed - saved - as rendering praise and honor to God; as uniting with the hosts of heaven in adoring him for his perfections and for the wonders of his grace; As representatives of the church, they are admitted near to him; they encircle his throne; they appear victorious over every foe; and they come, in unison with the living creatures, and the angels, and the whole universe Revelation 5:13, to ascribe power and dominion to God. (5) By the company attending about him in that, as that most high Judge, he is accompanied with the most honourable attendance of prophets and apostles both of the old and new Church, whom Christ has made to be priests and kings; Re 1:6,5:10. But Tregelles translates, "Upon the twenty-four thrones (I saw: omitted in two oldest manuscripts) elders sitting": which is more probable, as the twenty-four elders were not mentioned before, whereas the twenty-four thrones were. ( Revelation 5:1-5) Chapter 4 opens with a vision which is a symbolic representation of God on his throne.
The following points, then, would appear to embrace all that can be known on this subject: (1) These elders have a regal character, or are of a kingly order.
and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting; by whom are not meant the twenty four books of the Old Testament, as some of the ancients thought, and also some of the modern writers, as Lord Napier and others; for the things said of them are such as cannot be applied to inanimate things, such as sitting on seats, being clothed with white raiment, having golden crowns on their heads, falling down before the throne, and worshipping him that sat on it; and besides, in Revelation 5:8, they are said to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, out of very kindred, tongue, people, and nation; for which last reason, angels also cannot be designed, and who, moreover, in the place referred to, are manifestly distinguished from these elders; nor are they to be understood as to the representatives of the Jewish church, or of the Jewish and Christian church together, as triumphant in heaven; and so be signified by the twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles, which together make up twenty four; but rather the members of the Gospel church state, throughout the whole of it, in every succession and period of time, are here meant; and are expressed by the number "twenty four", in allusion to the twenty four courses of the priests, into which they were divided by David, 1 Chronicles 24:1, and to the twenty four stations of the Levites, who in turn attended the service of the temple daily, and represented the whole body of the people of Israel, in putting their hands upon the sacrifices, and praying for them; of which See Gill on Luke 1:5; add to this, that in twenty four places the priests and Levites kept watch in the temple (n); so these twenty four elders before the throne of God, in his temple, represent the whole Israel of God, all the members of the Gospel church state, from the first to the last of it: and they are styled "elders", not on account of office, as pastors of the churches are called, but because of their senile gravity, prudence, and knowledge; they having a greater degree of spiritual knowledge of the manifold wisdom of God than the Jewish church, which was in a state of infancy, and under tutors and governors, had; but the Gospel church is in a state of manhood, and no longer under a schoolmaster, and so fitly expressed by "elders"; and these are represented as "sitting" on their seats, not only to hear the word of God, but as judging in cases that come before them, respecting the admission or exclusion of members, the laying on or taking off of censures, &c. and these, their seats being around and near unto the throne, denote their nearness to God, and their communion with him, in his house and ordinances, and his dwelling in the midst of them.
3. Middot, c. 1. sect. The tabernacle was a "pattern" of the heavenly antitype; the holy place, a figure of HEAVEN ITSELF. Salem Media Group. The "four living creatures" (Re 4:6, 7) answer to the cherubim over the mercy seat. This is clear: (a) because it cannot be supposed that so small a number would compose the whole of those who are in fact around the throne of God, and. If so, then the ideas which enter into the representation are these: four and twenty elders—Greek, "the four and twenty (or as one oldest manuscript, 'twenty-four') elders": the well-known elders [Alford]. Clothed in white raiment; in the pure and spotless robe of Christ's righteousness, which is comparable to fine linen, clean and white; and is the righteousness of the saints in common, of every true member of Christ's body. Hence the book was sealed.
& Nishmat Chayim, fol. After these things.