Offenbarung 4:5

5 Und von dem Stuhl gingen aus Blitze, Donner und Stimmen; und sieben Fackeln mit Feuer brannten vor dem Stuhl, welches sind die sieben Geister Gottes.

Offenbarung 4:5 Meaning and Commentary

Revelation 4:5

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings,
and voices
Which may be understood either of the doctrines of the Gospel which come out of Zion, and out of Jerusalem, the church of God, where he has his throne; and which are comparable to "lightning", both for the light and knowledge they give, and for the swiftness with which they were spread over the world, by the apostles of Christ; and to "thunderings", for the awfulness, authority, and majesty of them, especially as they were delivered out by the Boanergeses, or sons of thunder; and as the prophesies of the prophets are called "the voices" of the prophets, ( Acts 13:27 ) ; so may the doctrines of the Gospel be called "voices", as they are the voice of God, and of Christ, and of his ministers; and are voices of love, grace, mercy, peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life. The allusion is to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, when such things were seen and heard, ( Exodus 19:16 ) or else the judgments of God, and the punishments inflicted upon his enemies, and the enemies of his church and people, and his awful threatenings of them, may be designed; see ( Psalms 18:13 Psalms 18:14 ) ( Joel 3:16 ) ; with which compare ( Revelation 8:5 ) .

And [there were] seven lamps of burning fire before the throne,
which are the seven spirits of God;
in allusion to the seven lamps in the tabernacle and temple, which were trimmed by the priests, and always kept burning, and are expressive of the Spirit, and his gifts; and these being signified by the number "seven", denote the fulness and perfection of them; and being said to be "before the throne", show that there is always a sufficiency of them for the supply of the churches in all ages, to fit and qualify proper persons to minister the word, and administer ordinances; and these being called "lamps of burning fire", point at the light the Spirit of God in his gifts communicates to the churches; and that warmth and heat, comfort and refreshment; conveyed to them, through the preaching of the Gospel, and the dispensation of the ordinances of it, under his illuminating and quickening influences.

Offenbarung 4:5 In-Context

3 und der dasaß, war gleich anzusehen wie der Stein Jaspis und Sarder; und ein Regenbogen war um den Stuhl, gleich anzusehen wie ein Smaragd.

4 Und um den Stuhl waren vierundzwanzig Stühle, und auf den Stühlen saßen vierundzwanzig Älteste, mit weißen Kleidern angetan, und hatten auf ihren Häuptern goldene Kronen.

5 Und von dem Stuhl gingen aus Blitze, Donner und Stimmen; und sieben Fackeln mit Feuer brannten vor dem Stuhl, welches sind die sieben Geister Gottes.

6 Und vor dem Stuhl war ein gläsernes Meer gleich dem Kristall, und mitten am Stuhl und um den Stuhl vier Tiere, voll Augen vorn und hinten.

7 Und das erste Tier war gleich einem Löwen, und das andere Tier war gleich einem Kalbe, das dritte hatte ein Antlitz wie ein Mensch, und das vierte Tier war gleich einem fliegenden Adler.