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Selected Verse: Revelation 4:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Re 4:1	Strong Concordance	After [3326] this [5023] I looked [1492], and [2532], behold [2400], a door [2374] was opened [455] in [1722] heaven [3772]: and [2532] the first [4413] voice [5456] which [3739] I heard [191] was as it were of [5613] a trumpet [4536] talking [2980] with [3326] me [1700]; which said [3004], Come up [305] hither [5602], and [2532] I will shew [1166] thee [4671] things which [3739] must [1163] be [1096] hereafter [3326] [5023].
	King James	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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
VISION OF GOD'S THRONE IN HEAVEN; THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS; THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. (Rev 4:1-11) After this--Greek, "After these things," marking the opening of the next vision in the succession. Here is the transition from "the things which are" (Rev 1:19), the existing state of the seven churches, as a type of the Church in general, in John's time, to "the things which shall be hereafter," namely, in relation to the time when John wrote. I looked--rather as Greek, "I saw" in vision; not as English Version means, I directed my look that way. was--Omit, as not being in the Greek. opened--"standing open"; not as though John saw it in the act of being opened. Compare Eze 1:1; Mat 3:16; Act 7:56; Act 10:11. But in those visions the heavens opened, disclosing the visions to those below on earth. Whereas here, heaven, the temple of God, remains closed to those on earth, but John is transported in vision through an open door up into heaven, whence he can see things passing on earth or in heaven, according as the scenes of the several visions require. the first voice which I heard--the voice which I heard at first, namely, in Rev 1:10; the former voice. was as it were--Omit was, it not being in the Greek. "Behold" governs in sense both "a door," &c., and "the first voice," &c. Come up hither--through the "open door." be--come to pass. hereafter--Greek, "after these things": after the present time (Rev 1:19).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

VISION OF GOD'S THRONE IN HEAVEN; THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS; THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. (Rev 4:1-11)

After this--Greek, "After these things," marking the opening of the next vision in the succession. Here is the transition from "the things which are" (Rev 1:19), the existing state of the seven churches, as a type of the Church in general, in John's time, to "the things which shall be hereafter," namely, in relation to the time when John wrote.

I looked--rather as Greek, "I saw" in vision; not as English Version means, I directed my look that way.

was--Omit, as not being in the Greek.

opened--"standing open"; not as though John saw it in the act of being opened. Compare Eze 1:1; Mat 3:16; Act 7:56; Act 10:11. But in those visions the heavens opened, disclosing the visions to those below on earth. Whereas here, heaven, the temple of God, remains closed to those on earth, but John is transported in vision through an open door up into heaven, whence he can see things passing on earth or in heaven, according as the scenes of the several visions require.

the first voice which I heard--the voice which I heard at first, namely, in Rev 1:10; the former voice.

was as it were--Omit was, it not being in the Greek. "Behold" governs in sense both "a door," &c., and "the first voice," &c.

Come up hither--through the "open door."

be--come to pass.

hereafter--Greek, "after these things": after the present time (Rev 1:19).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
After this - Greek, "After these things"; that is, after what he had seen, and after what he had been directed to record in the preceding chapters. How long after these things this occurred, he does not say - whether on the same day, or at some subsequent time; and conjecture would be useless. The scene, however, is changed. Instead of seeing the Saviour standing before him Rev. 1, the scene is transferred to heaven, and he is permitted to look in upon the throne of God, and upon the worshippers there. I looked - Greek, "I saw" - εἶδον eidon. Our word "look" would rather indicate purpose or intentions, as if he had designedly directed his attention to heaven, to see what could be discovered there. The meaning, however, is simply that he saw a new vision, without intimating whether there was any design on his part, and without saying how his thoughts came to be directed to heaven. A door was opened - That is, there was apparently an opening in the sky like a door, so that he could look into heaven. In heaven - Or, rather, in the expanse above - in the visible heavens as they appear to spread out over the earth. So Eze 1:1, "The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." The Hebrews spoke of the sky above as a solid expanse; or as a curtain stretched out; or as an extended arch above the earth - describing it as it appears to the eye. In that expanse, or arch, the stars are set as gems (compare the notes on Isa 34:4); through apertures or windows in that expanse the rain comes down, Gen 7:11; and that is opened when a heavenly messenger comes down to the earth, Mat 3:16. Compare Luk 3:21; Act 7:56; Act 10:11. Of course, all this is figurative, but it is such language as all people naturally use. The simple meaning here is, that John had a vision of what is in heaven as if there had been such an opening made through the sky, and he had been permitted to look into the world above. And the first voice which I heard - That is, the first sound which he heard was a command to come up and see the glories of that world. He afterward heard other sounds - the sounds of praise; but the first notes that fell on his ear were a direction to come up there and receive a revelation respecting future things. This does not seem to me to mean, as Prof. Stuart, Lord, and others suppose, that he now recognized the voice which had first, or formerly spoken to him Rev 1:10, but that this was the first in contradistinction from other voices which he afterward heard. It resembled the former "voice" in this, that it was "like the sound of a trumpet," but besides that there does not seem to have been anything that would suggest to him that it came from the same source. It is certainly possible that the Greek would admit of that interpretation, but it is not the most obvious or probable. Was as it were of a trumpet - It resembled the sound of a trumpet, Rev 1:10. Talking with me - As of a trumpet that seemed to speak directly to me. Which said - That is, the voice said. Come up hither - To the place whence the voice seemed to proceed - heaven. And I will show thee things which must be hereafter - Greek, "after these things." The reference is to future events; and the meaning is, that there would be disclosed to him events that were to occur at some future period. There is no intimation here when they would occur, or what would be embraced in the period referred to. All that the words would properly convey would be, that there would be a disclosure of things that were to occur in some future time.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
Come up hither This call seems clearly to indicate the fulfilment of (Th1 4:14-17). The word "church" does not again occur in the Revelation till all is fulfilled.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
After this (μετὰ ταῦτα) Rev., literally, after these things. Not indicating a break in the ecstatic state of the seer, but only a succession of separate visions. I looked (εἶδον) Rev., better, I saw. Not of the directing of attention, but of the simple reception of the vision. A door was opened (θύρα ἀνεῳγμένη) Rev., rightly, omits was. A door set open. The A.V. implies that the seer witnessed the opening of the door. In Heaven Compare Eze 1:1; Mat 3:16; Act 7:56; Act 10:11. In all these heaven itself is opened. Was Omit. Render, as Rev., "a voice as of a trumpet." A trumpet (σάλπιγγος) See on Mat 24:31. Properly a war-trumpet, though the word was also used of a sacred trumpet, with the epithet ἱερά sacred. Speaking - saying (λαλούσης - λέγουσα) See on Mat 28:18. The former verb indicates the breaking of the silence, the latter the matter of the address. Hereafter (μετὰ ταῦτα) Some editors connect these words with the succeeding verse, substituting them for καὶ and at the beginning of that verse, and rendering, "I will show thee the things which must come to pass. After these things straightway I was," etc.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
After these things - As if he had said, After I had written these letters from the mouth of the Lord. By the particle and, the several parts of this prophecy are usually connected: by the expression, after these things, they are distinguished from each other, Rev 7:9; Rev 19:1. By that expression, and after these things, they are distinguished, and yet connected, Rev 7:1; Rev 15:5; Rev 18:1. St. John always saw and heard, and then immediately wrote down one part after another: and one part is constantly divided from another by some one of these expressions. I saw - Here begins the relation of the main vision, which is connected throughout; as it appears from "the throne, and him that sitteth thereon;" "the Lamb;" (who hitherto has appeared in the form of a man;) " the four living creatures;" and " the four and twenty elders," represented from this place to the end. From this place, it is absolutely necessary to keep in mind the genuine order of the texts, as it stands in the preceding table. A door opened in heaven - Several of these openings are successively mentioned. Here a door is opened; afterward, "the temple of God in heaven," Rev 11:19; Rev 15:5; and, at last, "heaven" itself, Rev 19:11. By each of these St. John gains a new and more extended prospect. And the first voice which I had heard - Namely, that of Christ: afterward, he heard the voices of many others. Said, Come up hither - Not in body, but in spirit; which was immediately done.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
A door was opened in heaven - This appears to have been a visible aperture in the sky over his head.

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¹⁹ Write [1125] the things which [3739] thou hast seen [1492], and [2532] the things which [3739] are [1526], and [2532] the things which [3739] shall [3195] be [1096] hereafter [3326] [5023];

¹⁰ I was [1096] in [1722] the Spirit [4151] on [1722] the Lord's [2960] day [2250], and [2532] heard [191] behind [3694] me [3450] a great [3173] voice [5456], as [5613] of a trumpet [4536],

¹¹ And [2532] saw [2334] heaven [3772] opened [455], and [2532] a certain [5100] vessel [4632] descending [2597] unto [1909] him [846], as [5613] it had been a great [3173] sheet [3607] knit [1210] at the four [5064] corners [746], and [2532] let down [2524] to [1909] the earth [1093]:

⁵⁶ And [2532] said [2036], Behold [2400], I see [2334] the heavens [3772] opened [455], and [2532] the Son [5207] of man [444] standing [2476] on [1537] the right hand [1188] of God [2316].

¹⁶ And [2532] Jesus [2424], when he was baptized [907], went up [305] straightway [2117] out of [575] the water [5204]: and [2532], lo [2400], the heavens [3772] were opened [455] unto him [846], and [2532] he saw [1492] the Spirit [4151] of God [2316] descending [2597] like [5616] a dove [4058], and [2532] lighting [2064] upon [1909] him [846]:

¹ Now it came to pass in the thirtieth [07970] year [08141], in the fourth [07243] month, in the fifth [02568] day of the month [02320], as I was among [08432] the captives [01473] by the river [05104] of Chebar [03529], that the heavens [08064] were opened [06605], and I saw [07200] visions [04759] of God [0430].

¹⁹ Write [1125] the things which [3739] thou hast seen [1492], and [2532] the things which [3739] are [1526], and [2532] the things which [3739] shall [3195] be [1096] hereafter [3326] [5023];

¹ After [3326] this [5023] I looked [1492], and [2532], behold [2400], a door [2374] was opened [455] in [1722] heaven [3772]: and [2532] the first [4413] voice [5456] which [3739] I heard [191] was as it were of [5613] a trumpet [4536] talking [2980] with [3326] me [1700]; which said [3004], Come up [305] hither [5602], and [2532] I will shew [1166] thee [4671] things which [3739] must [1163] be [1096] hereafter [3326] [5023].
² And [2532] immediately [2112] I was [1096] in [1722] the spirit [4151]: and [2532], behold [2400], a throne [2362] was set [2749] in [1722] heaven [3772], and [2532] one sat [2521] on [1909] the throne [2362].
³ And [2532] he that sat [2521] was [2258] to look upon [3706] like [3664] a jasper [2393] and [2532] a sardine [4555] stone [3037]: and [2532] there was a rainbow [2463] round about [2943] the throne [2362], in sight [3706] like [3664] unto an emerald [4664].
⁴ And [2532] round about [2943] the throne [2362] were four [5064] and [2532] twenty [1501] seats [2362]: and [2532] upon [1909] the seats [2362] I saw [1492] four [5064] and [2532] twenty [1501] elders [4245] sitting [2521], clothed [4016] in [1722] white [3022] raiment [2440]; and [2532] they had [2192] on [1909] their [846] heads [2776] crowns [4735] of gold [5552].
⁵ And [2532] out of [1537] the throne [2362] proceeded [1607] lightnings [796] and [2532] thunderings [1027] and [2532] voices [5456]: and [2532] there were seven [2033] lamps [2985] of fire [4442] burning [2545] before [1799] the throne [2362], which [3739] are [1526] the seven [2033] Spirits [4151] of God [2316].
⁶ And [2532] before [1799] the throne [2362] there was a sea [2281] of glass [5193] like [3664] unto crystal [2930]: and [2532] in [1722] the midst [3319] of the throne [2362], and [2532] round about [2945] the throne [2362], were four [5064] beasts [2226] full [1073] of eyes [3788] before [1715] and [2532] behind [3693].
⁷ And [2532] the first [4413] beast [2226] was like [3664] a lion [3023], and [2532] the second [1208] beast [2226] like [3664] a calf [3448], and [2532] the third [5154] beast [2226] had [2192] a face [4383] as [5613] a man [444], and [2532] the fourth [5067] beast [2226] was like [3664] a flying [4072] eagle [105].
⁸ And [2532] the four [5064] beasts [2226] had [2192] each [303] [1520] of them [2596] [1438] six [1803] wings [4420] about [2943] him; and [2532] they were full [1073] of eyes [3788] within [2081]: and [2532] they rest [372] not [3756] [2192] day [2250] and [2532] night [3571], saying [3004], Holy [40], holy [40], holy [40], Lord [2962] God [2316] Almighty [3841], which [3588] was [2258] [3801], and [2532] is [5607] [3801], and [2532] is to come [2064] [3801].
⁹ And [2532] when [3752] those beasts [2226] give [1325] glory [1391] and [2532] honour [5092] and [2532] thanks [2169] to him that sat [2521] on [1909] the throne [2362], who [3588] liveth [2198] for [1519] ever [165] and ever [165],
¹⁰ The four [5064] and [2532] twenty [1501] elders [4245] fall down [4098] before [1799] him that sat [2521] on [1909] the throne [2362], and [2532] worship [4352] him that liveth [2198] for [1519] ever [165] and ever [165], and [2532] cast [906] their [846] crowns [4735] before [1799] the throne [2362], saying [3004],
¹¹ Thou art [1488] worthy [514], O Lord [2962], to receive [2983] glory [1391] and [2532] honour [5092] and [2532] power [1411]: for [3754] thou [4771] hast created [2936] all things [3956], and [2532] for [1223] thy [4675] pleasure [2307] they are [1526] and [2532] were created [2936].

¹⁰ I was [1096] in [1722] the Spirit [4151] on [1722] the Lord's [2960] day [2250], and [2532] heard [191] behind [3694] me [3450] a great [3173] voice [5456], as [5613] of a trumpet [4536],

⁵⁶ And [2532] said [2036], Behold [2400], I see [2334] the heavens [3772] opened [455], and [2532] the Son [5207] of man [444] standing [2476] on [1537] the right hand [1188] of God [2316].

²¹ Now [1161] when all [537] the people [2992] were baptized [1722] [907], it came to pass [1096], that Jesus [2424] also [2532] being baptized [907], and [2532] praying [4336], the heaven [3772] was opened [455],

¹¹ In [08141] the six [08337] hundredth [03967] year [08141] of Noah's [05146] life [02416], in the second [08145] month [02320], the seventeenth [07651] [06240] day [03117] of the month [02320], the same [02088] day [03117] were all the fountains [04599] of the great [07227] deep [08415] broken up [01234], and the windows [0699] of heaven [08064] were opened [06605].

⁴ And all the host [06635] of heaven [08064] shall be dissolved [04743], and the heavens [08064] shall be rolled together [01556] as a scroll [05612]: and all their host [06635] shall fall down [05034], as the leaf [05929] falleth off [05034] from the vine [01612], and as a falling [05034] fig from the fig tree [08384].

¹⁴ For [1063] if [1487] we believe [4100] that [3754] Jesus [2424] died [599] and [2532] rose again [450], even so [3779] them also [2532] which sleep [2837] in [1223] Jesus [2424] will [71] God [2316] bring [71] with [4862] him [846].
¹⁵ For [1063] this [5124] we say [3004] unto you [5213] by [1722] the word [3056] of the Lord [2962], that [3754] we [2249] which [3588] are alive [2198] and remain [4035] unto [1519] the coming [3952] of the Lord [2962] shall [5348] not [3364] prevent [5348] them which [3588] are asleep [2837].
¹⁶ For [3754] the Lord [2962] himself [846] shall descend [2597] from [575] heaven [3772] with [1722] a shout [2752], with [1722] the voice [5456] of the archangel [743], and [2532] with [1722] the trump [4536] of God [2316]: and [2532] the dead [3498] in [1722] Christ [5547] shall rise [450] first [4412]:
¹⁷ Then [1899] we [2249] which [3588] are alive [2198] and remain [4035] shall be caught up [726] together [260] with [4862] them [846] in [1722] the clouds [3507], to [1519] meet [529] the Lord [2962] in [1519] the air [109]: and [2532] so [3779] shall we [2071] ever [3842] be [2071] with [4862] the Lord [2962].

¹⁸ And [2532] Jesus [2424] came [4334] and spake [2980] unto them [846], saying [3004], All [3956] power [1849] is given [1325] unto me [3427] in [1722] heaven [3772] and [2532] in [1909] earth [1093].

³¹ And [2532] he shall send [649] his [846] angels [32] with [3326] a great [3173] sound [5456] of a trumpet [4536], and [2532] they shall gather together [1996] his [846] elect [1588] from [1537] the four [5064] winds [417], from [575] one end [206] of heaven [3772] to [2193] the other [206] [846].

⁵⁶ And [2532] said [2036], Behold [2400], I see [2334] the heavens [3772] opened [455], and [2532] the Son [5207] of man [444] standing [2476] on [1537] the right hand [1188] of God [2316].

¹¹ And [2532] I saw [1492] heaven [3772] opened [455], and [2532] behold [2400] a white [3022] horse [2462]; and [2532] he that sat [2521] upon [1909] him [846] was called [2564] Faithful [4103] and [2532] True [228], and [2532] in [1722] righteousness [1343] he doth judge [2919] and [2532] make war [4170].

⁵ And [2532] after [3326] that [5023] I looked [1492], and [2532], behold [2400], the temple [3485] of the tabernacle [4633] of the testimony [3142] in [1722] heaven [3772] was opened [455]:

¹⁹ And [2532] the temple [3485] of God [2316] was opened [455] in [1722] heaven [3772], and [2532] there was seen [3700] in [1722] his [846] temple [3485] the ark [2787] of his [846] testament [1242]: and [2532] there were [1096] lightnings [796], and [2532] voices [5456], and [2532] thunderings [1027], and [2532] an earthquake [4578], and [2532] great [3173] hail [5464].

¹ And [2532] after [3326] these things [5023] I saw [1492] another [243] angel [32] come down [2597] from [1537] heaven [3772], having [2192] great [3173] power [1849]; and [2532] the earth [1093] was lightened [5461] with [1537] his [846] glory [1391].

⁵ And [2532] after [3326] that [5023] I looked [1492], and [2532], behold [2400], the temple [3485] of the tabernacle [4633] of the testimony [3142] in [1722] heaven [3772] was opened [455]:

¹ And [2532] after [3326] these things [5023] I saw [1492] four [5064] angels [32] standing [2476] on [1909] the four [5064] corners [1137] of the earth [1093], holding [2902] the four [5064] winds [417] of the earth [1093], that [3363] the wind [417] should [4154] not [3363] blow [4154] on [1909] the earth [1093], nor [3383] on [1909] the sea [2281], nor [3383] on [1909] any [3956] tree [1186].

¹ And [2532] after [3326] these things [5023] I heard [191] a great [3173] voice [5456] of much [4183] people [3793] in [1722] heaven [3772], saying [3004], Alleluia [239]; Salvation [4991], and [2532] glory [1391], and [2532] honour [5092], and [2532] power [1411], unto the Lord [2962] our [2257] God [2316]:

⁹ After [3326] this [5023] I beheld [1492], and [2532], lo [2400], a great [4183] multitude [3793], which [3739] no man [3762] could [1410] number [705] [846], of [1537] all [3956] nations [1484], and [2532] kindreds [5443], and [2532] people [2992], and [2532] tongues [1100], stood [2476] before [1799] the throne [2362], and [2532] before [1799] the Lamb [721], clothed [4016] with white [3022] robes [4749], and [2532] palms [5404] in [1722] their [846] hands [5495];