Rev 4:4, 8, 10 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 4. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats . Or rather thrones --θρονοι--the same word being used as that which is rendered throne --θρονος. The word, indeed, properly denotes a seat , but it came to be employed to denote particularly the seat on which a monarch sat, and is properly translated thus in . So it is rendered in ; and uniformly elsewhere in the New Testament, (fifty-three places in all,) except in where it is rendered seat and seats . It should have been rendered thrones here, and is so translated by Professor Stuart. Coverdale and Tyndale render the word seat in each place in verses 2-5. It was undoubtedly the design of the writer to represent those who sat on those seats as, in some sense, kings -- for they have on their heads crowns of gold--and that idea should have been retained in the translation of this word. And upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting . Very various opinions have been entertained in respect to those who thus appeared sitting around the throne, and to the question why the number twenty-four is mentioned. 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. 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. This is apparent (a) because they are represented as sitting on "thrones," and (b) because they have on their heads "crowns of gold." (2.) They are emblematic. They are designed to symbolize or represent some class of persons. 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 (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. (3.) They are human beings, and are designed to have some relation to the race of man, and somehow to connect the human race with the worship of heaven. The four living creatures have another design; the angels (chapter 5) have another; but these are manifestly of our race--persons from this world before the throne. (4.) They are designed in some way to be symbolic of the church as redeemed. Thus they say, ( ) "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood." (5.) They are designed to represent the whole church in every land and every age of the world. Thus they say, ( ) "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue , and people, and nation ." This shows, further, that the whole representation is emblematic; for otherwise in so small a number-- twenty-four--there could not be a representation out of every nation. (6.) They represent the church triumphant; the church victorious. Thus they have crowns on their heads; they have harps in their hands, ( ) they say that they are "kings and priests," and that they will "reign on the earth," . (7.) The design, therefore, is to represent the church triumphant-- redeemed--saved--as rendering praise and honour 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, ( ) to ascribe powers and dominion to God. (8.) As to the reason why the number "twenty-four" is mentioned, perhaps nothing certain can be determined. Ezekiel, in his vision, ( ) saw twenty-five men between the porch and the altar, with their backs toward the temple, and their faces toward the earth--supposed to be representations of the twenty-four "courses" into which the body of priests was divided, ( ) with the high priest among them, making up the number twenty-five. It is possible that John in this vision may have designed to refer to the church considered as a priesthood, ( ) and to have alluded to the fact that the priesthood under the Jewish economy was divided into twenty-four courses, each with a presiding officer, and who was a representative of that portion of the priesthood over which he presided. If so, then the ideas which enter into the representation are these: (a.) that the whole church may be represented as a priesthood, or a community of priests--an idea which frequently occurs in the New Testament. (b.) That the church, as such a community of priests, is employed in the praise and worship of God--an idea, also, which finds abundant countenance in the New Testament. (c.) That, in a series of visions having a designed reference to the church, it was natural to introduce some symbol or emblem representing the church, and representing the fact that this is its office and employment. And (d.) that this would be well expressed by an allusion derived from the ancient dispensation--the division of the priesthood into classes, over each one of which there presided an individual who might be considered as the representative of his class. It is to be observed, indeed, that in one respect they are represented as "kings," but still this does not forbid the supposition that there might have been intermingled also another idea, that they were also "priests." Thus the two ideas are blended by these same elders in : "And hath made us unto our God kings and priests ." Thus understood, the vision is designed to denote the fact that the representatives of the church, ultimately to be triumphant, are properly engaged in ascribing praise to God. The word elders here seems to be used in the sense of aged and venerable men, rather than as denoting office. They were such as by their age were qualified to preside over the different divisions of the priesthood. Clothed in white raiment . Emblem of purity, and appropriate therefore to the representatives of the sanctified church. Compare . And they had on their heads crowns of gold . Emblematic of the fact that they sustained a kingly office. There was blended in the representation the idea that they were both "kings and priests." Thus the idea is expressed by Peter, ( ) " a royal priesthood " --βασιλειονιερατευμα. (d) "four and twenty" (e) "white raiment" (f) "crowns"

Revelation of John 4:4

Verse 4. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats. Or rather thrones--θρονοι--the same word being used as that which is rendered throne--θρονος. The word, indeed, properly denotes a seat, but it came to be employed to denote particularly the seat on which a monarch sat, and is properly translated thus in Rev 4:2-3. So it is rendered in Mt 5:34, 19:28, 23:22, 25:31, Lk 1:32; and uniformly elsewhere in the New Testament, (fifty-three places in all,) except in Lk 1:52, Rev 2:13, 4:4, 11:16, 16:10 where it is rendered seat and seats. It should have been rendered thrones here, and is so translated by Professor Stuart. Coverdale and Tyndale render the word seat in each place in verses 2-5. It was undoubtedly the design of the writer to represent those who sat on those seats as, in some sense, kings-- for they have on their heads crowns of gold--and that idea should have been retained in the translation of this word.

And upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting. Very various opinions have been entertained in respect to those who thus appeared sitting around the throne, and to the question why the number twenty-four is mentioned. 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. 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. This is apparent

(a) because they are represented as sitting on "thrones," and

(b) because they have on their heads "crowns of gold."

(2.) They are emblematic. They are designed to symbolize or represent some class of persons. 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

(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.

(3.) They are human beings, and are designed to have some relation to the race of man, and somehow to connect the human race with the worship of heaven. The four living creatures have another design; the angels (chapter 5) have another; but these are manifestly of our race--persons from this world before the throne.

(4.) They are designed in some way to be symbolic of the church as redeemed. Thus they say, (Rev 5:9) "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood."

(5.) They are designed to represent the whole church in every land and every age of the world. Thus they say, (Rev 5:9) "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." This shows, further, that the whole representation is emblematic; for otherwise in so small a number-- twenty-four--there could not be a representation out of every nation.

(6.) They represent the church triumphant; the church victorious. Thus they have crowns on their heads; they have harps in their hands, (Rev 5:8) they say that they are "kings and priests," and that they will "reign on the earth," Rev 5:10.

(7.) The design, therefore, is to represent the church triumphant-- redeemed--saved--as rendering praise and honour 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, (Rev 5:13) to ascribe powers and dominion to God.

(8.) As to the reason why the number "twenty-four" is mentioned, perhaps nothing certain can be determined. Ezekiel, in his vision, (Eze 8:16, 11:1) saw twenty-five men between the porch and the altar, with their backs toward the temple, and their faces toward the earth--supposed to be representations of the twenty-four "courses" into which the body of priests was divided, (1Chr 24:3-19) with the high priest among them, making up the number twenty-five. It is possible that John in this vision may have designed to refer to the church considered as a priesthood, (1Pet 2:9) and to have alluded to the fact that the priesthood under the Jewish economy was divided into twenty-four courses, each with a presiding officer, and who was a representative of that portion of the priesthood over which he presided. If so, then the ideas which enter into the representation are these:

(a.) that the whole church may be represented as a priesthood, or a community of priests--an idea which frequently occurs in the New Testament.

(b.) That the church, as such a community of priests, is employed in the praise and worship of God--an idea, also, which finds abundant countenance in the New Testament.

(c.) That, in a series of visions having a designed reference to the church, it was natural to introduce some symbol or emblem representing the church, and representing the fact that this is its office and employment. And

(d.) that this would be well expressed by an allusion derived from the ancient dispensation--the division of the priesthood into classes, over each one of which there presided an individual who might be considered as the representative of his class. It is to be observed, indeed, that in one respect they are represented as "kings," but still this does not forbid the supposition that there might have been intermingled also another idea, that they were also "priests." Thus the two ideas are blended by these same elders in Rev 5:10: "And hath made us unto our God kings and priests." Thus understood, the vision is designed to denote the fact that the representatives of the church, ultimately to be triumphant, are properly engaged in ascribing praise to God. The word elders here seems to be used in the sense of aged and venerable men, rather than as denoting office. They were such as by their age were qualified to preside over the different divisions of the priesthood.

Clothed in white raiment. Emblem of purity, and appropriate therefore to the representatives of the sanctified church. Compare Rev 3:4, 6:11, 7:9.

And they had on their heads crowns of gold. Emblematic of the fact that they sustained a kingly office. There was blended in the representation the idea that they were both "kings and priests." Thus the idea is expressed by Peter, (1Pet 2:9) "a royal priesthood" --βασιλειονιερατευμα.

(d) "four and twenty" Rev 11:16 (e) "white raiment" Rev 3:4,5 (f) "crowns" Rev 4:10

Revelation of John 4:8

Verse 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him. An emblem common to them all, denoting that, in reference to each and all the things here symbolized, there was one common characteristic --that in heaven there is the utmost promptness in executing the Divine commands. Compare Isa 6:2, Ps 18:10, 104:3, Jer 48:40. No mention is made of the manner in which these wings were arranged, and conjecture in regard to that is vain. The Seraphim, as seen by Isaiah, had each one six wings, with two of which the face was covered, to denote profound reverence; with two the feet, or lower parts-- emblematic of modesty; and with two they flew--emblematic of their celerity in executing the commands of God, Isa 6:2. Perhaps without impropriety we may suppose that, in regard to these living beings seen by John, two of the wings of each were employed, as in Isaiah, to cover the face--token of profound reverence; and that the remainder were employed in flight--denoting the rapidity with which the Divine commands are executed. Mercury, the messenger of Jupiter among the heathen, was represented with wings, and nothing is more common in the paintings and bas-reliefs of antiquity than such representations.

And they were full of eyes within. Professor Stuart more correctly renders this, "around and within are full of eyes;" connecting the word "around" ["about"], not with the wings, as in our version, but with the eyes. The meaning is, that the portions of the beasts that were visible from the outside of the throne, and the portions under or within the throne, were covered with eyes. The obvious design of this is to mark the universal vigilance of Divine Providence.

And they rest not. Marg., have no rest. That is, they are constantly employed; there is no intermission. The meaning, as above explained, is, that the works and ways of God are constantly bringing praise to him.

Day and night. Continually. They who are employed day and night fill up the whole time--for this is all.

Saying, Holy, holy, holy. For the meaning of this, Isa 6:3.

Lord God Almighty. Isaiah (Isa 6:3) expresses it, "Jehovah of hosts." The reference is to the true God, and the epithet Almighty is one that is often given him. It is peculiarly appropriate here, as there were to be, as the sequel shows, remarkable exhibitions of power in executing the purposes described in this book.

Which was, and is, and is to come. Who is eternal--existing in all past time; existing now; and to continue to exist for ever. Rev 1:4.

(a) "six wings" isa 6:2 (1) "rest not" "have no rest"

Revelation of John 4:10

Verse 10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him, etc. The representatives of the redeemed church in heaven (Rev 4:4) also unite in the praise. The meaning, if the explanation of the symbol be correct, is, that the church universal unites in praise to God for all that characterizes his administration. In the connexion in which this stands here, the sense would be, that as often as there is any new manifestation of the principles of the Divine government, the church ascribes new praise to God. Whatever may be thought of this explanation of the meaning of the symbols, of the fact here stated there can, be no doubt. The church of God always rejoices when there is any new manifestation of the principles of the Divine administration. As all these acts, in reality, bring glory and honour to God, the church, as often as there is any new manifestation of the Divine character and purposes, renders praise anew. Nor can it be doubted that the view here taken is one that is every way appropriate to the general character of this book. The great design was to disclose what God was to do in future times, in the various revolutions that were to take place on the earth, until his government should be firmly established, and the principles of his administration should everywhere prevail; and there was a propriety, therefore, in describing the representatives of the church as taking part in this universal praise, and as casting every crown at the feet of Him who sits upon the throne.

And cast their crowns before the throne. They are described as "crowned," (Rev 4:4) that is, as triumphant, and as kings, (compare Rev 5:10) and they are here represented as casting their crowns at his feet in token that they owe their triumph to Him. To his providential dealings, to his wise and merciful government, they owe it that they are crowned at all; and there is, therefore, a propriety that they should acknowledge this in a proper manner by placing their crowns at his feet.