Revelation 4:8 - James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

Bible Comments

THE SUPER-SUPERLATIVE SONG

‘Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Which was, and Which is, and Which is to come.’

Revelation 4:8

Hebrew grammarians call this Trisagion, the super-superlative. It is an ascription of praise to the Triune God.

I. The Thrice Holy in the Temple of Heaven.

(a) It is the heavenly song of praise to the God of all ages.

(b) It is the heavenly song of the Seraphim before the Throne in which saints and angels join.

II. The Thrice Holy in the Temple at Jerusalem (Isaiah 6).

III. The Thrice Holy in the Temple of the Christian Church.—So for the Church now it is:—

(a) A song of (i) praise; (ii) confession; (iii) devotion.

(b) A song to the Holy Trinity, to God the Father, the Eternal Creator; to God the Son, the Eternal Redeemer; to God the Holy Ghost, the Divine Illuminator.

Thus heaven and earth join in hymning His praise.

Revelation 4:8

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they resta not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.