New Testament Commentary - Revelation 4

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 4 John sees the celestial earth, the throne of God, and all created things worshipping the Lord.
1 AFTER this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will ^ashew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a ^arainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4 ^aAnd round about the throne were four and twenty ^bseats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty ^celders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, ^awhich are the seven ^bSpirits of God.
6 And before the throne there was a ^asea of glass like unto crystal^a: ^band in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four ^cbeasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, ^aLord God ^bAlmighty, which was, and is, and is to come.	6^a there was a sea of glass like unto crystal The celestial earth is as a sea of glass, this is what D&C 77:1, Revelation 21:1, Isaiah 65:17 and D&C 130:7 point to as the new celestial earth or the earth renewed. As such one cannot but help to see the plant earth as seen from the perspective of outerspace. The blue marble like plant of life.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast ^acreated all things, and ^bfor thy pleasure they are and were created.