Revelation 4:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

After this I looked, &c.— After these things I saw and beheld a door opened in heaven. Doddridge. After the vision in the former Chapter s, relating to the things which are, other visions succeed of the things which must be here-after. The scene is laid in heaven, and the scenery is drawn in allusion to the encampment of the children of Israel in the wilderness, Numbers 1:2 : The sounding of the trumpet probably alludes to the custom of the Jewish church, where, upon opening the gates of the temple, the priests sounded the trumpets, to call the Levites and stationary men to their attendance. God is represented (Revelation 4:2-3.) sitting on his throne, as in the tabernacle or temple, much in the same manner as the prophet Ezekiel has described him, ch. Ezekiel 1:26-28. Next to the tabernacle encamped the Priests and Levites; and next to the throne (Revelation 4:4.) were four and twenty elders sitting, answering to the princes of the four and twenty courses of the Jewish priests; cloathed in white raiment, as emblems of their purity and sanctity; and having on their heads crowns of gold; for Christ hath made them kings and priests unto God, ch. Revelation 5:10. 1 Peter 2:9. Out of the throne proceeded lightnings, &c. Revelation 4:5 the usual concomitants of the divine presence; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, answering to the golden candlestick with seven lamps, which was before the most holy place in the tabernacle. There was also before the throne, Revelation 4:6 a sea of glass like unto crystal, answering to the great molten sea or laver in the temple of Solomon; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, that is, before and behind the throne, and on each side of the throne, were four beasts, or rather four living creatures, (ζοα) representing the heads of the whole congregation in the four quarters of the world, and resembling the cherubim and seraphim in Ezekiel's and Isaiah's visions, (Ezekiel 1:10; Ezekiel 10:14. Isaiah 6:2-3.) or rather resembling the four standards or ensigns of the four divisions of tribes in the camp of Israel, according to the traditionary description of them bythe Jewish writers. The first living creature was like a lion, Revelation 4:7 which was the standard of Judah, with the two other tribes in the eastern division. The second like a calf or ox, which was the standard of Ephraim, with the two other tribes in the western division. The third had a face as a man, which was the standard of Reuben, with the two other tribes in the southern division. And the fourth was like a flying eagle, which was the standard of Dan, with the two other tribes in the northern division. And this traditionarydescription agrees also with the four faces of the cherub, in Ezekiel's vision. Of these living creatures, and of the elders, the constant employment is to celebrate, in hymns of praise and thanksgiving, the great and wonderful works of creation, grace, and providence, Revelation 4:8-11.