Revelation 4:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings— There is an observable difference in the several descriptions of the throne of God in the prophets: The glory, or Shechinah, in the temple, is represented as under the wings of the cherubim, 1 Kings 8:6-7. In Isaiah's vision, the glory of the Lord is represented as sitting on a throne, and above it stood the seraphim, (Isaiah 1:2.) that is, "above the place on which the throne was set, as attending ministers to him who sat upon the throne." In Ezekiel 1:22 there is the likeness of a firmament over the heads of the living creatures, whom the prophet elsewhere calls the cherubim; that is, the cherubim were represented as bearing up a crystal vault or seat, on which the throne of Jehovah was placed, over their heads, and which they supported with their wings. This different description will be explained by an easy observation, that the Shechinah, or glory of the God of Israel, is represented in the temple as the presence of a king in his palace; his throne is supposed seated in an apartment of state, and the cherubim are so placed as to form a canopy of state, under which he sits. In the vision of Isaiah, Jehovah is represented as sitting on his throne or bed of justice, held in open court, in the porch, or at the gate of his palace; then the cherubim appear as attending ministers of the court, to receive and execute the orders of it. In the vision of Ezekiel, Jehovah is represented as going forth in solemn procession, and having his throne or chair of state borne up on the wings of cherubim, as the great kings of the East were used to be borne on the shoulders of their servants. See on Revelation 4:1.