The Revelation Series
Commentary from 12 scholars
OTY: The Revelation (7)C -Revelation Commentary
Previous Section: Chapter Three - The Seven Churches, Part 2
CHAPTER FOUR - HEAVEN
Revelation 4:4
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw (1) twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads.
1. Twenty-four elders sitting = around the throne. They form a complete circle. Twenty-four thrones encircle the throne of God. They face God’s throne.
The identity of these individuals is tortured. Few pay attention to the textual details, but focus on wide speculations that feed the fires of non-literal interpretations of the Revelation. What does the Revelation say about these beings? Taken in order of fact:
a. They form the first circle around the throne of God, 4:4a
b. They are called elders, 4:4b
c. They are twenty-four seated on twenty-four thrones, 4:4c
d. They wear white garments and gold crowns, 4:4d
e. They fall down and worship God, 4:10
f. They sing hymns to God, 4:11
g. They make comments to John, 5:5
h. They have harps and censers full of incense that are said to represent the prayers of the saints, 5:8
i. They explain things to John, 7:14-17
The Jews would have readily understood the entity elders. Both the meaning and significance of the term would have been plain to John’s Jewish audience. However, John does not use the Greek article with this noun, which indicates that the readers were not familiar with this particular group of beings.
That the elders are angelic beings would not be questioned if it were not for a poor translation of Revelation 5:9-10 in the King James Version of the Bible.
King James translation of Revelation 5:9-10:
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth (Italics added).
New American Standard translation:
And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. "And Thou hast madethem to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth" (Italics added).
The difference is easily recognized:
KJV = "us, us and we" vs. NASB = "men, them, and they"
The central issue concerns the Greek manuscripts used as the basis for our English translation. In terms of the sheer number of manuscripts, a reading with us is favored in verse 9. This would support the King James translation. However, following this same reasoning results in a contradiction with the last part of verse 10. The verb "they shall reign" is clearly third person plural. In other words, "they shall reign" and not "we shall reign," which is a first person plural pronoun.
Now a good English student knows that subjective and objective pronouns must agree in number, i.e., singular with singular and plural with plural. Since we believe that John did not make mistakes when recording his prophecy and that Scripture does not contain contradictions, we support a harmony of the text.
There is very little debate that verse 10 should read "they," and not "we." A guiding principle of biblical interpretation is to interpret the difficult in light of the clear. Reasoning back to the first part of verse 10, we conclude that the phrase "You have made us" should read "You have made them." This would necessitate that verse 9 should read "You have redeemed them."
This is the only reading of verses 9-10 that removes any possible contradiction, which is reflected in the New American Standard translation. This interpretation also answers the question concerning the identity of the elders. At least we are able to say that they are heavenly beings and in no way can be identified with the "church."
Revelation 4:5a
(1) Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.
1. Out from the throne comes = John indicates that these storm indicators are a continual phenomenon. It is fitting that sights and sounds, which frighten all on-lookers, continually represent an invisible God.
Revelation 4:5b—8a
And there were seven lamps of fire burning (1) before the throne, which are the (2) seven Spirits of God; and before the throne there was something (3) like a sea of glass, like crystal; and (4) in the center and around the throne, (5) four living creatures (a) full of eyes in front and behind. (b) The first creature was like a lion, and the (c) second creature like a calf, and (d) the third creature had a face like that of a man, and (e) the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures, (f) each one of them having six wings, are full of (g) eyes around and within;
1. Before the throne = John’s description moves now to the scene before the throne of God.
2. Seven Spirits of God = See comments at Revelation 1:4d.
3. Like a sea of glass, like crystal = the floor of God’s throne-room.
4. In the center and around the throne = describes the location of the four living creatures. The phrase "in the center" is problematic. It is hard to understand how these creatures could be in the center of the throne. It is better to understand them as stationed in the four directions of the compass: east, north, south and west.
5. Four living creatures = Cherubim. These heavenly beings are described in similar language in Isaiah 6:2. Ezekiel 10:20 explicitly identifies "living creatures" as cherubim.
a. Full of eyes = the ability to see in all directions is necessary when one is charged with the responsibility to protect the holiness of God.
b. Like a lion = forthcoming
c. Like a calf = forthcoming
d. Like a man = forthcoming
e. Like a flying eagle = forthcoming
f. Six wings = forthcoming
g. Eyes around and inside = forthcoming
Revelation 4:8b
And day and night (1) they do not cease to say, " Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, (2) the Almighty, (3) who was and who is and who is to come."
1. They do not cease to say = Not only are the Cherubim everywhere watching, but they are always praising God. This is a fabulous job. Natural human response: it must get tiresome after a while. Angelic response: it’s never tiresome when God is the object of praise. Wait until you see Him.
2. The Almighty = panto (all) krator (powerful) = is the first self-designation God used for Himself in the Bible. Genesis 17:1 records, "Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am God Almighty…'"
Scholars are not sure of the basic meaning of the Hebrew term. It could refer to the breast or to a mountain. Regardless, the incomparability of God in power and might is foremost. The Cherubim constantly remind all who would approach Who it is they draw near unto.
3. See Revelation 1:4.
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