新约 - 启示录(Revelation)第4章

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.
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
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.
And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
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,
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.
启示录第四章   启 4:1> 天门开了!我神的荣耀!── 

  4:1 第四、五章让我们略略看到基督的荣耀。世界仍然由神掌管;基督开始了与邪恶势力的最后战争,创造万物的神要继续推行祂的计划。约翰先让我们看到天上的情况,再显明地上的事,好让我们不用为未来的事震惊。 

  启 4:1> 吹号的声音,是…… 

  4:1 约翰初次听见好像吹号的声音,就是基督的声音( 1:10-11 )。 

  启示录中的事件与其他经文对照 

  启 4:2> 多次提到自己被圣灵感动,约翰是有其用意的吧…… 

  4:2 约翰在启示录中四次提到“被圣灵感动”( 1:10 ; 4:2 ; 17:3 ; 21:10 )。意思是说,圣灵给他一个异象──向他显明单凭肉眼不能见到的境界和事件。一切真实的预言都是神藉着圣灵而来的(参彼后 1:20-21 )。 

  启 4:4> 圣经中的数字真别致,这二十四又是什么意思? 

  4:4 这二十四位长老是谁呢?由于旧约里有十二个支派,新约里有十二位使徒,因此这二十四位长老可能代表神在所有时代里所救赎的所有人,包括新约时代和旧约时代的人。他们象征一切属神的人──包括犹太人和外邦人,都已是神家里的一分子。这二十四位长老向我们显明,一切蒙主救赎的人都在敬拜祂。 

  启 4:5> 闪电、雷轰,每当看到,你会联想起什么? 

  4:5 在启示录里,闪电、雷轰与天上的一些特殊事件有关,使我们想起在西奈山上的闪电、雷轰。那时候,神把律法颁给祂的子民(参出 19:16 )。旧约常常用这些意象来显示神的大能和威严(参诗 77:18 )。 %5 

  启 4:5> “神的七灵”,神的圣灵? 

  4:5 “神的七灵”是圣灵的另一种称呼。(参亚 4:2-6 ) 

  启 4:6> 玻璃,没什么特别吧──真是有一点不同?是…… 

  4:6 在约翰的时代,玻璃是很罕有的,如同水晶的玻璃更是不可能有的(参林前 13:12 )。“玻璃海”突出了神的伟大和圣洁。 

  启 4:6-7> 四活物看上去难以接受,其实其意义却极深…… 

  4:6-7 四活物代表神的不同属性,这些活物并不是真正的动物,好像基路伯(最高级的天使)那样,他们守护着神的宝座,引导人敬拜和宣告神的圣洁。这四活物有好似动物的外表,他们象征了神四方面的属性:威严和大能(狮子),信实可靠(牛犊),智慧(人),和王权(鹰)。旧约的先知以西结在他的一个异象中也曾看到了四个同样的活物(参结 1:5-10 )。 

  启 4:11> 当天上地下的受造物都称颂神,那景况会是…… 

  4:11 这是全章的总结:天上地下所有的受造物,都称颂神,将尊贵荣耀归给祂,因为神创造并统管着万物。──《灵修版圣经注释》