Ver. 1. A door was opened in heaven] That is, preparation was made for the manifestation of more heavenly mysteries. Was as it were of a trumpet] To reuse and raise up his attention. For it might fare with him as with a drowsy person, who though awaked, and set to work, is ready to sleep at it. Compare Zechariah 4:1. Come up hither] Not by local motion, but by mental illumination. I will show thee] That thou mayest show the Church, that they have a most glorious and almighty deliverer.
Ver. 2. I was in the spirit] See Revelation 1:10. That is, I was ravished into a spiritual ecstasy. And behold a throne] So Isaiah was prepared for his prophecy by such a sight, Revelation 6:1. And Ezekiel (besides that stupendous vision, Ezekiel 1:4-28) heard behind him a voice of great rushing, saying, “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place,” Ezekiel 3:12. Sat on the throne] As judge of heaven and earth, Genesis 18:25.
Ver. 3. Like a jasper and a sardine] God is here resembled (saith Mr Cotton) by three precious stones, holding forth the three persons in Trinity. A jasper having (as they say) a white circle round about it, representing the eternity of the Father. A sardine stone of a fleshy colour representing Jesus Christ, who took our flesh upon him. An emerald, being of a green colour, refreshing the eyes of them that look upon it, representing the Spirit, who is (as the rainbow) a token of fair weather, and is a comfortable refresher, wheresoever he cometh. And there was a rainbow] Which is signum gratiae et foederis, a sign of grace and of the covenant of mercy, which is always fresh and green about Christ’s throne of grace.
Ver. 4. And round about] The saints are round about God, Psalms 76:11, a people near unto him, Psalms 148:14. Four and twenty elders] A full senate, a stately amphitheatre of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven, clothed as priests, crowned as kings and conquerors.
Ver. 5. Lightnings and thunderings] Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to persecutors? Job 31:3. Who ever hardened himself against God’s Church and prospered? Job 9:4. Have these workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up God’s people as they eat bread? Psalms 14:4. Surely, if they had but so much wit for themselves as Pilate’s wife had in a dream, they would take heed of having anything to do with just men. If any man will hurt God’s witnesses, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies, Revelation 11:5. It was therefore no ill counsel that a martyr gave his persecutors, If thou wilt not spare us, yet spare thyself. It is a fearful thing to fall into the punishing hands of the living God. The seven spirits] See Revelation 1:4.
Ver. 6. A sea of glass] The word, say some; the world, others. The word is to us a crystal glass, giving us a clear sight of God and of ourselves, 2 Corinthians 3:18 Jas 1:23. The world is to God a sea of glass, corpus diaphanum, a clear transparent body, he sees through it. Four beasts] ζωα, or living wights; not angels, but ministers, those earthly angels, who are set forth, 1. Full of eyes for their perspicacity and vigilancy. 2. Furnished with six wings apiece for their pernicity and promptitude to scour about for the people’s benefit. 3. Qualified with all necessary endowments, for the discharge of their duties, being bold as lions, painful as oxen, prudent as men, delighted in high flying, as eagles. A living being in general; a creature. Obs. OED
Ver. 8. Full of eyes within] To look to themselves also as well as to the flock, Acts 20:28, lest while they preach to others, &c., 1 Corinthians 9:27. They rest not] Gr. They have no rest, and yet they have no unrest either, the sweet content they take in their continual employment is fitter to be believed than possible to be discoursed. Holy, holy] This they double, treble, and warble upon, nine times over.
Ver. 9. And when those beasts] When the preachers are performing their office, as heralds of God’s praises.
Ver. 10. The four and twenty elders] The people yield their assent, and say, Amen; the want whereof St Paul accounts no small loss, 1 Corinthians 14:16. And cast their crowns] Canute, king of England, set his crown upon the crucifix, and proclaimed, saying, Let all the inhabitants of the world know that there is no mortal man worthy the name of a king, but he to whose beck, heaven, earth, and sea, by his laws eternal are obedient. (Hen. Huntington.) When the Great Turk cometh into his temple, he lays by all his state, and hath none to attend him all the while. Solomon’s mother set the crown upon his head (so doth the Church upon Christ’s head) in the day of his espousals, Song of Solomon 3:11.
Ver. 11. Thou art worthy] If we would have our souls set as a pearl in that fair ring of heavenly courtiers that compass the Lamb’s throne, let us praise God as they do. For thou hast created] Our service must not be rash but reasonable, Romans 12:1, such as whereof we can render a reason. God hates a blind sacrifice, a Samaritan’s service, when men worship they know not what nor why, John 4:22. And were created] God’s power put forth in the creation and administration of the world is twice here mentioned; as that which can never be sufficiently admired and adored. [See Trapp on “Ge 1:1”]