Volume 2

The twenty-four elders in the temple are a verification in symbol of these promises. The Lamb is there in the midst of them, and all tears are dried from their eyes. They are before the throne, and in the temple ready for service continually. The white garments with which they had been invested indicate the priestly office of the elders. They are “clothed with salvation” (Psa. 132:16), having been raised from among the dead, and invested with holy spirit nature consubstantially with the High Priest sitting upon the throne.

The symbolization presented in this verse is representative of the fulfilment of the promise contained in ch.

“And circling about the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw the twenty and four elders sitting, having been invested with white garments; and they had upon their heads golden coronal wreaths” — Ch. 4:4.

“And a Rainbow circled about the Throne in appearance like an emerald. ” — Ch. 4:3

“And upon the throne One sitting. And the One sitting was in appearance like a jasper and a sardine stone.” — Ch. 4:2

“I was in spirit: and behold A THRONE was established in the heaven. ” — 4:2

“Ascend hither, and I will exhibit to thee things which must come to pass after these. ” — Ch. 4:1.

A door being opened in the heaven when John was looking, a voice issued forth from the opening, and addressed him. He tells us that the voice was identical with “that first voice which he heard as of a trumpet speaking with him.” This first voice is noted in ch. 1:10. It was a loud trumpet-like voice, and he heard it when “in spirit.” In all this, John was a dramatic person; or, one through whom was represented in action certain things not narrated.

I need not here repeat what has already been said about “the heaven.” It will be sufficient to refer the reader to the captions on pages 139 and 146 of vol. 1. To the saints this aerial expanse is closed. At present they do not shine there as the sun, moon, constellations, and stars of the firmament. The luminaries of the heaven are the dignities, or glories, incarnated in the officials who figure as the civil and spiritual rulers of “the earth and habitable.” Although the saints are promised “power over the nations to rule them” (ch.

The chapters of this volume are numbered according to the numbers of the chapters of the Apocalypse; so that the fourth chapter of this work is an exposition of the fourth chapter of the Apocalypse, and so on to the eleventh inclusive.

THE THRONE COVENANTED TO THE SON OF DAVID
ESTABLISHED IN THE HOUR OF JUDGMENT