I choose to believe.
Excerpts from Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith
Revelation 4 -
Verse 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 rainbow
round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the
throne were four and twenty seats: and
Page 408
upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders 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, which are the seven Spirits of
God.
In the Spirit.--
Once before in this book we have had the expression,
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day" (Revelation 1: 10), where it
was taken to express the fact that John had a vision upon the Sabbath, or true
Lord's day. If it there expressed the state of being in vision, it would denote
the same thing here. Consequently the first vision ended with Revelation 3, and
a new one is here introduced. Nor is it any objection to this view that
previous to this, as is learned from the first verse of this chapter, John was
in such a spiritual state as to be able to look up and see a door open in
heaven, and to hear a voice like the mighty sound of a trumpet calling him up
to a nearer prospect of heavenly things.
Stephen, also, full of the Holy Ghost, looked up and
saw the heavens open, and the Son of man on the right hand of God. To be in the
Spirit denotes a high state of spiritual elevation. On what day this vision was
given, we are not informed.
Being again in heavenly vision, John first beheld a
throne set in heaven, and the Divine Being seated upon it. The description of
the appearance of this personage, clothed in garments of mingled colors, is
such as at once to suggest to the mind a monarch vested with his royal robes.
About the throne there was a rainbow, which added grandeur to the scene, and
reminds us that though He who sits upon the throne is an almighty and absolute
ruler, He is nevertheless the covenant-keeping God.
The Four and Twenty Elders.--
Who are these beings who surround the throne of glory?
It will be observed that they are clothed in white raiment and have on their
heads crowns of gold, which are tokens of both a conflict completed and a
victory gained. From this we conclude that they were once participants in the
Christian warfare, they once trod the earthly way with all saints; but they
have been overcomers, and in
Page 409
advance of the great multitude of the redeemed, are
wearing their victor crowns in the heavenly world.
Indeed, they plainly tell us this in the song of
praise which they ascribe to the Lamb:
"They sung a new song, saying, Thou are 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." Revelation 5: 9.
This song is sung before any of the events in the
prophecy of the seven seals take place; for it is sung to set forth the
worthiness of the Lamb to take the book and to open the seals, on the ground of
what He had already accomplished--their redemption. It is not therefore thrown
in here by anticipation, having its application in the future, but it expresses
an absolute and finished fact in the history of those who sang it. These, then,
were a class of redeemed persons--redeemed from this earth, redeemed as all
others must be redeemed, by the precious blood of Christ.
Do we in any other place read of such a class of
redeemed ones? We think Paul refers to the same company when he writes to the
Ephesians thus: "Wherefore He saith, When He [Christ] ascended up on high,
He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." The marginal reading
is He led a "multitude of captives." Ephesians 4: 8. Going back to
the events that occurred in connection with the crucifixion and the
resurrection of Christ, we read: "The graves were opened; and many bodies
of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His
resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."
Matthew 27: 52, 53.
Thus the answer to our question comes unmistakably
from the sacred page. These are some of those who came out of their graves at
the resurrection of Christ, and who were numbered with the illustrious
multitude which Jesus led up from the captivity of Death's dark domain when He
ascended in triumph on high. Matthew records their resurrection, Paul their
ascension, and John beholds them in heaven, performing the sacred duties which
they were raised up to accomplish.
Page 410
In this view we are not alone. John Wesley spoke as
follows concerning the four and twenty elders: " 'Clothed in white
raiment'--This and their golden crowns show that they had already finished
their course, and taken their places among the citizens of heaven. They are
never termed souls, and hence it is probable that they had glorified bodies
already. Compare Matthew 27: 52." [1]
Particular attention must be given to the fact that
the four and twenty elders are said to be seated on thrones.
Our translation reads "seats;" but the Greek
is thronoi, thrones, the same word as is used three times in verses 2 and 3 and
once in verse 4 immediately preceding. Thus the Revised Version reads
"Round about the throne were four and twenty thrones, and upon the thrones
I saw four and twenty elders sitting." Consequently this passage throws
light on the expressions found in Daniel 7: 9, "I beheld till the thrones
were cast down." These are the same thrones, and as has been shown in
comments upon that passage, the meaning is not that the thrones were
overturned, or cast down, in the ordinary sense of that expression, but placed,
or set. The figure is taken from the Eastern custom of placing mats or divans
for distinguished guests to sit upon. These four and twenty elders (see
comments on Revelation 5) are evidently assistants of Christ in His mediatorial
work in the sanctuary on high. When the judgment scene described in Daniel 7: 9
began in the most holy place, their thrones were placed there, according to the
testimony of that passage.
The Seven Lamps of Fire.--
In these lamps of fire we have the antitype of the
golden candlestick of the typical sanctuary, with its seven ever-burning lamps.
This candlestick was placed by divine direction in the first apartment of the
earthly sanctuary. (Exodus 25: 31, 32, 37; 26: 35; 27: 20.) Now when John tells
us that a door was open in heaven, and in the apartment thus disclosed to view
he sees the antitype of the candlestick
Page 411
the earthly sanctuary, it is good proof that he is
looking into the first apartment of the sanctuary above.
*******
Verse 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass
like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne,
were four beasts 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, Lord God Almighty, which was,
and is, and is to come. 9 And when
those beasts give glory and honor 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 honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy
pleasure they are and were created.
The Sea of Glass.--
Not composed of glass, but a broad expanse resembling
glass--"glassy, i.e., transparent," as James Strong says in his Greek
Dictionary. This idea is further carried out by the likening of the sea to
crystal, which is defined to mean "anything concrete and pellucid, like
ice or glass." The position of this sea is such as to show that it bears
no analogy to the laver of the ancient typical service. It may extend under,
and be the foundation of, the throne and even of the city itself. It is again
brought to view in Revelation 15: 2, as the place where the overcomers, in the
ecstatic joy of final victory, will soon stand. There we shall praise Him who
has given us the victory.
The Four Living Creatures.--
It is an unhappy translation which has given us the
word "beasts" in this verse. The Greek word , zoon, denotes properly
"a living creature." Bloomfield says in his comment, " ' Four
living creatures' (not beasts). So Heinr. renders it. . . . The propriety of
this correction, is now, I believe, generally agreed upon by commentators. The
word is very different from [therion, wild beast], used to designate the
prophetic beasts in the 13th and following chapters. (Scholefield.) It may be
added, that Bulkeley adduces several examples of ?, to denote, not only
creature, but
Page 412
even a human being, especially one from Origen, who
uses it of our Lord Jesus." [2]
Similar imagery is used in the first chapter of
Ezekiel. The qualities which would seem to be signified by the emblems are
strength, perseverance, reason, and swiftness--strength of affection,
perseverance, in carrying out the requirements of duty, reason in comprehending
the divine will, and swiftness in obeying. These living beings are even more
intimately connected with the throne than are the four and twenty elders, being
represented as in the midst of it, and round about it. Like the elders, these in
their song to the Lamb ascribe to Him praise for having redeemed them from the
earth. They therefore belong to the same company, and represent a part of the
great multitude, who, as already described (see remarks on verse 4), have been
led up on high from the captivity of death. Concerning the object of their
redemption, see remarks on Revelation 5: 8.
They Rest Not.--
"O happy unrest!" beautifully exclaims John
Wesley. The theme of their constant worship is, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." No sublimer strain ever
issued from created lips. They repeat it "day and night," or
continually, these terms only denoting the manner in which time is reckoned
here, for there can be no night where the throne of god is. (Revelation 21: 23,
25.)
We mortals are likely to tire of the repetition of the
simple testimony we bear here to the goodness and mercy of God. We are
sometimes tempted to say nothing, because we cannot continually say something
new. But may we not learn a profitable lesson from the course of these holy
beings above, who never grow weary of the ceaseless repetition of these words,
"Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty;" and to whom these words never
grow old, because their hearts ever glow with a sense of His holiness,
goodness, and love? Praise does not be-
Page 413
come to them monotonous, for with every utterance they
gain a new view of the attributes of the Almighty. They reach a greater height
of comprehension in their vision of His perfections; the horizon expands before
them; their hearts enlarge; and the new emotions of adoration draw from them a
fresh utterance of their holy salutation, new even to themselves, "Holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!"
So, even with us here, though words are often repeated
concerning the goodness, the mercy, and the love of God, the value of His
truth, and the attractions of the world to come, these should not grow stale
upon the ear. We should all our lives be rising to new conceptions of the
blessings embraced in these glorious themes.
"Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honor and power." How worthy, we never shall be able to realize until,
like the holy beings who utter this language, changed to immortality, we are
presented "faultless before the presence of His glory." Jude 24.
"Thou Hast Created All Things."--
The works of creation furnish the foundation for the
honor, glory, and power ascribed to God. "For Thy pleasure [or through Thy
will they are, and were created." God willed, and all things came into
existence; and by the same power they are preserved and sustained.
*******
The beginning and the end.
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and
honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they
are and were created.
The CREATOR of ALL
THINGS.
ALL THINGS WERE
CREATED for the CREATOR'S PLEASURE.
We have this grand
misconception that our existence is one of instant entitlement. We exist
therefore we are all important, all deserving, we are the all in all. What a
LIE.
We ONLY exist because
we were CREATED.
We were CREATED for a
purpose.
The PURPOSE of our
CREATION was for the PLEASURE of our CREATOR.
It is by our CREATOR'S
discretion that we exist at all.
Our outlook upon our
world, upon our lives often determines our view of our CREATOR.
Some will say we have
no CREATOR.
Others will say we
have a sadistic CREATOR.
Still others will say
we have a loving CREATOR.
And there are those
who will say we have an indifferent CREATOR.
And all shades of gray
in between those four beliefs.
We have a CREATOR of
this I am positive beyond ANY doubt whatsoever.
I was created for my
CREATOR'S pleasure.
My CREATOR has
revealed true love in the plan of redemption.
My CREATOR created out
of LOVE.
My CREATOR is LOVE.
My CREATOR is WORTHY
to receive ALL glory, ALL honor, ALL power!
I choose to believe I
have a loving CREATOR who loves perfectly, who loves purposefully, who loves
and is desirous for us to know love, to love and be loved.
In heaven my CREATOR
reigns, my CREATOR works towards my end- redemption by HIM. I cannot FORGET, I cannot choose to IGNORE
this truth, my CREATOR, my SAVIOR is active on my behalf.
I choose to believe in
love, perfect love, in my Savior.
All honor, all glory,
all power unto HIM always!
AMEN.
No comments:
Post a Comment