Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Revelation 4

Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

a door was opened

Luk 23:45; cf. Heb 10:19-20.

trumpet

Rev 1:10.

Come up hither

This call seems clearly to indicate the fulfilment of 1Th 4:14-17. The word "church" does not again occur in the Revelation till all is fulfilled.

hereafter

after these.

Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

was

became.

a throne was set in heaven

Rev 3:21; cf. Rev 22:3.

Rev 4:3 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.

like a jasper and a sardine stone

Rev 21:11; cf. Eze 1:26-27.

a rainbow

Eze 1:28; cf. Gen 9:13-17.

Rev 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

seats

thrones.

white raiment

Rev 3:4-5; cf. 19:8, 14.

crowns

Rev 2:10; cf. 2Ti 4:8.

Rev 4:5 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.

Spirits

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Rev 4:2, 5; 11:11. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Rev 4:6 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.

a sea of glass

Rev 15:2.

beasts [See also Rev 4:7-9.]

living creatures. See Scofield Ezekiel 1:5, note.

Rev 4:8 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.

within

around and within.

God Almighty

Jehovah of hosts. Isaiah 6:3

Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

sat

sitteth.

Rev 4:10 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,

elders

Elders. Rev 4:4-5, 9-11; 5:5-6, 8, 11, 14. (Act 11:30; Tit 1:5-9.)

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.

O Lord

O, our Lord and God.

thou hast created all things

Gen 1:1; cf. Jhn 1:3.

for thy pleasure they are and were created

Cf. Col 1:16; cf. Psa 19:1