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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Revelation 4:2 - 4:2
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Straightway I was in the Spirit (eutheōs egenomēn en pneumati). But John had already “come to be in the Spirit” (Rev 1:10, the very same phrase). Perhaps here effective aorist middle indicative while ingressive aorist in Rev 1:10 (sequel or result, not entrance), “At once I found myself in the Spirit” (Swete), not “I came to be in the Spirit” as in Rev 1:10.
Was set (ekeito). Imperfect middle of keimai, old verb, used as passive of tithēmi. As the vision opens John sees the throne already in place as the first thing in heaven. This bold imagery comes chiefly from 1Ki 22:19; Isa 6:1.; Eze 1:26-28; Dan 7:9. One should not forget that this language is glorious imagery, not actual objects in heaven. God is spirit. The picture of God on the throne is common in the O.T. and the N.T. (Mat 5:34.; Mat 23:22; Heb 1:3 and in nearly every chapter in the Revelation, Rev 1:4, etc.). The use of kathēmenos (sitting) for the name of God is like the Hebrew avoidance of the name Jahweh and is distinguished from the Son in Rev 6:16; Rev 7:10.
Upon the throne (epi ton thronon). Epi with the accusative, as in Rev 4:4; Rev 6:2, Rev 6:4.; Rev 11:16; Rev 20:4, but in Rev 4:9, Rev 4:10; Rev 5:1, Rev 5:7; Rev 6:16; Rev 7:15 we have epi tou thronou (genitive), while in Rev 7:10; Rev 19:4; Rev 21:5 we have epi tōi thronōi (locative) with no great distinction in the resultant idea.