Revelation 4

Revelation 4:1-11 . VISION OF GOD'S THRONE IN HEAVEN; THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS; THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES.

Here begins the Revelation proper; and first, the fourth and fifth chapters set before us the heavenly scenery of the succeeding visions, and God on His throne, as the covenant God of His Church, the Revealer of them to His apostle through Jesus Christ. The first great portion comprises the opening of the seals and the sounding of the trumpets (fourth to eleventh chapters). As the communication respecting the seven churches opened with a suitable vision of the Lord Jesus as Head of the Church, so the second part opens with a vision suitable to the matter to be revealed. The scene is changed from earth to heaven.

1. After this--Greek, "After these things," marking the opening of the next vision in the succession. Here is the transition from "the things which are" ( Revelation 1:19 ), the existing state of the seven churches, as a type of the Church in general, in John's time, to "the things which shall be hereafter," namely, in relation to the time when John wrote.
I looked--rather as Greek, "I saw" in vision; not as English Version means, I directed my look that way.
was--Omit, as not being in the Greek.
opened--"standing open"; not as though John saw it in the act of being opened. Compare Ezekiel 1:1 , Matthew 3:16 , Acts 7:56 , 10:11 . But in those visions the heavens opened, disclosing the visions to those below on earth. Whereas here, heaven, the temple of God, remains closed to those on earth, but John is transported in vision through an open door up into heaven, whence he can see things passing on earth or in heaven, according as the scenes of the several visions require.
the first voice which I heard--the voice which I heard at first, namely, in Revelation 1:10 ; the former voice.
was as it were--Omit was, it not being in the Greek. "Behold" governs in sense both "a door," &c. and "the first voice," &c.
Come up hither--through the "open door."
be--come to pass.
hereafter--Greek, "after these things": after the present time ( Revelation 1:19 ).

2. And--omitted in the two oldest manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac.
I was, &c.--Greek, "I became in the Spirit" I was completely rapt in vision into the heavenly world.
was set--not was placed, but was situated, literally, "lay."
one sat on the throne--the Eternal Father: the Creator ( Revelation 4:11 ): also compare Revelation 4:8 with Revelation 1:4 , where also the Father is designated, "which is, and was, and is to come." When the Son, "the Lamb," is introduced, Revelation 5:5-9 , a new song is sung which distinguishes the Sitter on the throne from the Lamb, "Thou hast redeemed us to God," and Revelation 5:13 , "Unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." So also in Revelation 5:7 , as in Daniel 7:13 , the Son of man brought before the Ancient of days is distinguished from Him. The Father in essence is invisible, but in Scripture at times is represented as assuming a visible form.