King James' Paraphrase of Revelation Ch. 4

By his majesty King James 1 of England; 6 of Scotland

Chap. 4. Argument. The ravishing of the Writer: The description of the Majesty of God in Heaven, compassed about with Angels and Saints, under the figure of Saints and Elders.

(1) And when this speech of Jesus was ended, I looked up and low, I did see a door open in Heaven, to the effect that I might see and hear therein, the figurative representing of those things that were to come after: And that first voice which spake unto me before, loud as a trumpet, and was the voice of JESUS CHRIST, spake unto me, and said, Mount up thither, for I am to show thee those things that are to be done hear after. (2) Then was I immediately bereft in spirit; for the eyes of my early and gross body, could not have seen and comprehended those heavenly and spiritual mysteries: And Low, I did see a Throne set in heaven, and did see one sit thereon, to wit, GOD the Father in all Glory and Majesty: (3) And he that sat thereon, was like in color to the Jasper and Sardine stones; green as the jasper, to represent his everlasting flourishing without decay; and fiery red as the Sardine, to signify his great brightness and consuming power, who is the trier and separater of the Elect from the reprobate: and the Rainbow, colored like the Emerald, did compass him round about, to testify thereby, that as after the deluge he made the Rainbow a Sacrament of the promises made to Noah so this Rainbow which now I did see compassing his Throne, should serve for a sure Sacrament, that he will never suffer his Elect to perish, but will always, and at all times be compassed, with a great care and watchfulness over them: Green it was as the Emerald, to signify the continuance without ceasing of his care: as the Emerald comforteth the fight, so is this Sacrament an unspeakable comfort unto the Elect in the troublesome days.

(4) And about his Throne were four and twenty other seats, and I saw four and twenty Elders or Ecclesiastical Rulers sitting thereupon, clothed with white garments, and having Crowns of Gold upon their heads: These are the twelve Patriarchs, and then the twelve Apostles, [who for that they have been the special teachers both of the old and the new Law, to the salvation, swell of Jews as of Gentiles, are set in seats about his Throne of glory, and clothed with white garments for their innocence and brightness] and crowned with crowns of gold in token of their victory over Satan and the flesh, and of their glorious reward therefor. (5) And from his Throne went forth thunder, lightening, and terrible voices, to represent the great severity and terribleness of his Judgements, denounced by the old Law, and executed on the wicked: And there were seven lamps of burning fire before his Throne, which is the infinite, mighty, and flaming bright holy Spirit, resembling the love and light of the new Law of the Gospel of Christ. (6) And there was a sea of glass like unto Chrystal before his Throne, for that as in a glass he clearly sees even all the secretest actions and cogitations of all in the world, described here by the Sea, which is ever before his face; for nothing can be hid from his presence and prescience: And though in luster and glance they be like the lively fountains of waters, which are the faithful, daily springing and flowing with good works by fruitful faith, yet is it indeed without motion or liquor, dead and like glass, whensoever, the Lord Jehovah doth thunder his Judgements upon it: And in the midst of the Throne, and about the same, were four beasts; their four hinder parts were in the midst of it, their shoulders bearing it up, and their head and wings without and about the same; and these beasts were full of eyes behind and before: These are the holy Cherubims, the highest degree of Angels, four in number, as well because of their four qualities to execute his will, (as ye shall hear hereafter) as for that the Lord directs them when it pleaseth him, to all the four corners of the world, are are as it were his four winds to blow, that is, to execute either favor or Justice, in whatsoever place he appointeth them; they are about his Throne, and as it were sustain the same; testifying thereby, that they are most excellent of all others, as per {Hebrew word} the pillars or footstools of his glory: Their number of eyes before and behind, signify their certain knowledge of things past, as to come, committed to their charge, together with their continual vigilance to execute GODS commandments: (7) And the first beast was like a Lion, the second like a Calf, the third was faced like a man, and the four was like a flying Eagle; hereby representing their excellent qualities in the execution of the Lords decrees, to wit, great power, courage, patience, and strength to travel, how oft and how much they should be commanded; great wisdom and a wonderful swiftness in the execution thereof.

(8) And every one of these beasts had six wings in circuit, (These are the six Esay speakers of:) two at their arms, to signify their great celerity in accomplishing Gods commandments; two to cover their faces with, to testify that the glory of God is so bright, and his Majesty so great, as the very Angels, his most excellent creatures, are not able to behold the same, and two at their feet, as well to wipe the filth of the earth off them, after they have been here below, (teaching us thereby, that although they be oft in the world, by the direction of their Creator, yet cannot the world infect them with her sinfulness and corruption) as also to let us know, that they are so far in glory above all men living in the earth, as it is impossible to us with corporeal eyes, to behold the least part of their glorious brightness without a vail, even as it is to them to behold the glory of the Almighty: And within they were all full of eyes, to represent their incessant love they bear unto him; which also they expressed in their continual singing of these words, Holy, Holy, Holy, is that threefold Lord God Almighty, wo ever was, now is , and shall come again, replenished with all fulness of glory and power: (9) And when these Beasts were giving all glory, honor, and thanks to him that sat on the Throne, to him (I say) who lives eternally; (10) The four and twenty Elders, as next in rank, fell down upon their faces before him that sat on the Throne, and adored Him who lives for ever, and cast down their Crowns of gold at his feet, in token that they received them only of him, saying, (11) Thou are only worthy, O Lord, to be accounted glorious, honorable, and powerful, for that thou hast created all things, and for thy will and pleasure have they had their being, and were created. This glance did I see of the glory that is in heaven, at the receiving of my Commission, contained in the following Visions which I did see of the things present and to come, in the general Church militant.