And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshiped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
4. And the four and twenty &c.] Cf. Rev 5:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts – See the notes on Rev 4:4, Rev 4:6-7. As representatives of the church, and as interested in its welfare, they are now introduced as rejoicing in its final triumph, and in the destruction of its last foe.
Fell down – Prostrated themselves – the usual posture of worship.
And worshipped God that sat on the throne – Rev 4:2-3, Rev 4:10. That is, they now adored him for what he had done in delivering the church from all its persecutions, and causing it to triumph in the world.
Saying, Amen – See the notes on Mat 6:13. The word here is expressive of approbation of what God had done; or of their solemn assent to all that had occurred in the destruction of the great enemy of the church.
Alleluia – See the notes on Rev 19:1. The repetition of this word so many times shows the intenseness of the joy of heaven in view of the final triumph of the church.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. The four and twenty elders] The true Church of the Lord Jesus converted from among the Jews. See Rev 4:10; Rev 5:14.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
See Poole on “Rev 4:1“, and following verses to Rev 4:11. All the heavenly choir praise God upon this account, desiring that the Lord would fulfil what he had begun.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. beastsrather, “livingcreatures.”
satGreek,“sitteth.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts,…. Mentioned in Re 4:4 and who represent the churches of Christ and ministers of the Gospel in the several periods of time, these join in the chorus, and praise the Lord on the account of the destruction of Rome, and ruin of antichrist; so they are often heard of in this book, when any remarkable thing is done, or when there is any breaking forth of the kingdom and glory of Christ; see Re 5:8 these
fell down; on their faces before God, as in Re 4:10 in great reverence of him, and of his righteous judgments:
and worshipped God that sat on the throne; described in Re 4:2 this refers to the public worship of God in the churches, by the ministers and members of them:
saying, Amen; Alleluia; they said “Amen”, and signified their assent to what the much people in heaven had said, Re 19:1 and joined in the same “hallelujah”, or expressions of praise to God, for this great appearance of his in the downfall of Babylon. Both these words are used together in Ps 106:48, see Re 5:14.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Fell down and worshipped God ( ). Precisely as in 7:11, which see. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures take up the antiphonal chorus of the angels.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts,” (kai hoi presbuteroi hoi eikosi tessares kai ta tessera zoa) “And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures,” The twenty-four (24) elders represent the redeemed twelve (12) of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve of the church – the twelve (12) apostles who are to sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, and the four living creatures represent the redeemed from among the four one world or all Gentile Empires, Luk 22:28-30; Rev 4:8-11; Rev 5:8-11; 1Co 10:32.
2) “Fell down,” (epesan) “Fell down,” before God upon his (central) throne, similar to what they had done when the seven seal book was given to the Lamb,
3) “And worshipped God,” (kai prosekunesan to theo) “And worshipped the true God,” and His Son, the Lamb, Rev 5:8-12.
4) “That sat on the throne,” (to kathemeno epi to throno) “Who sits upon the (central) throne,” Rev 4:2; Rev 4:4; Rev 4:8-11, with his Son at His own right hand, and in the midst of the throne, Eph 1:20; Heb 1:3; Rev 5:6-7; Rev 5:9-14.
5) “Saying, Amen, Alleluia,” (legontes amen hallelouia) “Repeatedly saying, amen, hallelujah,” So may his praise ever exist! This is the basis for the Hallelujah anthems, hymns, and choruses Christians sing today, and for the “Amens,” ending our songs and doxologies, Rev 5:14; 1Ch 16:36; Neh 5:13; Neh 8:6.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(4) And the four and twenty . . .The twenty-four elders, the representatives of the Church, and the four living beings, the representatives of nature, fell down and worshipped God who sitteth (not sat, as in the English version) on the throne. These, too, join in the chorus of praise.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. To the song in heaven there now comes a profound response. It is from the twenty-four elders and from the four living ones, who commenced their session at chapter 6. The elders rise from their seats and prostrate themselves before the throne. They give their responsive amen, and a third utterance, to the alleluias of the great voice in heaven.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Rev 19:4 . The twenty-four elders and the four beings, responding first of all by the , confirming the ascription of praise just proclaimed, then also, on their part, expressly continue the same: . [4032]
[4032] Cf. Rev 5:8 ; Rev 5:14 , Rev 4:11 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
(4) And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. (5) And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. (6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
I beg the Reader to notice what is said here of a voice, which came out of the throne, saying, praise our God all ye his servants. Now the right apprehension of this voice will serve to throw a light upon what follows hereafter. That this voice could not be the voice of God the Father, Son, or Spirit, is, I think, very evident, for if it had, the words would not have been, praise our God, but praise God. The word our could not upon this occasion have been proper, since it is calling upon others to praise with the voice that called. Moreover, it should seem to have been a voice from among the multitude which sung Alleluia, consequently not the voice of God. Add to these things, when it is said, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, this is plainly said of Christ, whose omnipotency hath been now proved in the destruction of the whore, and her total overthrow. And this hymn is but a continuation of the first hymn, at the opening of the chapter, and repeated again and again in those several verses, third and sixth. For whose is salvation but Christ? And to whom all along did John hear the hymn of salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, ascribed? Was it not to him, (said they,) that hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood? Rev 5:9Rev 5:9 .
So once more. What are all the ascriptions of honor which are said to be given to him, but to the Person of Christ, because that his marriage is come, and hence the gladness and rejoicing of his people? The very marriage is with Christ, who from everlasting betrothed his Church to himself from the Father’s gift, and Who, when from the time-state of the Adam-fall, hath restored her by redemption; he espouseth every individual to himself by regeneration, at their personal call, and here finally brings home his Church to the marriage supper in the Jerusalem church state in heaven. And with respect to the wife making herself ready, the following verse explains what is meant, when it is said, that to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, meaning, that the Lord, who provided the wedding garment of his righteousness, puts it on. So the Church, by the Prophet, sings: He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels, Isa 61:10 .
And, lastly, to add no more, the whole of this account is closed up by the speaker, whoever it was, in those very remarkable words: And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God. Consequently, it could not be God or Christ, or the Holy Ghost, but God’s messenger, as upon, many instances before, we find John taught by one o r another.
Now, from all these united considerations, nothing can be more plain, than that the words of the following verse is from the same speaker, an angel or messenger, and no more. And though John, for the time in the glorious intelligence he had just received, was so transported, as Cornelius was in the case of Peter, that he fell down to worship him, yet plain enough it is that this was from the Apostle’s state of mind, and nothing else. And that neither John took it to be the Person of Christ that was speaking to him, is as certain; for otherwise he would not have said, I have the testimony of Jesus, if he had been Jesus himself.
I have been the more particular than, perhaps, ninety-nine in an hundred would have thought necessary, because some few persons, untaught of God the Holy Ghost, and of a stamp disposed to doubt the Godhead of Christ, have thought this passage rather leans to that opinion. Than which, when attended to, in these striking particulars, nothing can be more foreign. Most evident it is, from beginning to end, that the whole of what we have gone over, hitherto, in this chapter, is an account John received from the ministry of a messenger or angel, and blessed account it is, to the truth as it is in Jesus.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Ver. 4. And the four and twenty elders ] The former Alleluiah was more private; every good heart being lifted up with joy and thankfulness, when first they hear the good news of Antichrist’s overthrow. Now is this the joint Alleluiah of the public congregation, praising and magnifying God. This may be a further means to move the Jews to come in.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 19:4 . After the long interlude of judgments on the earth, the and (incidentally mentioned in Rev 11:16 , Rev 14:3 ) re-appear upon the scene, though for the last time, to take part in the chorus of praise over Rome’s ruin. The cradle-song of the future is the dirge of Rome. The drama now centres mainly round the city of God, and the earlier temple-scenery of the Apocalypse (Rev 19:4-11 , Rev 15:5 to Rev 16:17 ) passes almost wholly out of sight. : the initial (and primitive) use of , social ( e.g. , 1Ki 1:36 ) as well as liturgical, which gravely assents to the preceding words of another speaker.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
elders. See Rev 4:4.
beasts. Greek. zoa, as Rev 4:6. Elders and beasts mentioned here for the last time.
worshipped. App-137.
That sat. Literally the (One) sitting. on. App-104. with texts.
Amen. See Rev 3:14 and p. 1511 (Verily).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
beasts
living creatures. (See Scofield “Eze 1:5”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the four: Rev 4:4-10, Rev 5:8-11, Rev 5:14, Rev 11:15, Rev 11:16, Rev 15:7
Amen: Rev 5:14, 1Ch 16:36, Neh 5:13, Neh 8:6, Psa 41:13, Psa 72:19, Psa 89:52, Psa 106:48, Jer 28:6, Mat 6:13, Mat 28:20, 1Co 14:16
Alleluia: Rev 19:1
Reciprocal: Psa 105:45 – Praise ye the Lord Isa 24:23 – when Isa 52:8 – with Luk 17:16 – fell 1Co 14:25 – falling 2Co 4:15 – the abundant Eph 1:10 – he Rev 4:2 – and one Rev 4:6 – four beasts Rev 4:10 – fall Rev 7:11 – all Rev 7:12 – Amen
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 19:4. The four beasts (living creatures) felt happy over the victory of Christ because it was through His blood that they had been redeemed from sin. And the four and twenty elders had the same motive for praising God, because they represented the two organized systems of salvation that had produced the four living creatures.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 4.
Among the heavenly worshippers were listed the four and twenty elders of verse four, a symbol based on the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles, representative of the whole and true Israel of God–the church; as discussed in chapters 5, 8, 14, and Rev 11:18. The song of praise was an anthem of victory for the whole church.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 19:4. The four and twenty elders and the four living creatures respond to the song of the heavenly host. The Elders we heard last at chap. Rev 11:16, at the moment when the seventh trumpet had sounded, and the great voices in heaven had declared, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. One of the four living creatures we saw last at chap. Rev 15:7, when it gave to the seven angels their seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God. With peculiar propriety, therefore, these beings first answer the hosts of heaven with their loud Amen, and then take up their song Hallelujah.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Note here, 1. How the whole heavenly choir praise God on the fore- mentioned account, acknowledging the justice of his proceeding against Babylon; and,
2. An invitation is here given to all the saints upon earth, both small and great, to fear upon earth, both small and great, to fear and praise him.
Whence note, How the church triumphant and militant, the saints in heaven and Christians on earth, jointly give praise to God, and glorify him for this great work, adoring his divine justice in destroying Babylon, the mother of idolatry, the nest of luxury, the seat of oppression and cruelty; it is a duty well becoming the saints, both small and great, to celebrate the praises of God for the equity of his judgments upon his church’s incorrigible and unreclaimable enemies; and here God himself, and his ministers, call upon the whole church to join in this solemn work of praise and thanksgiving: A voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, and the four and twenty elders, and the four beasts fell down and worshipped.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
The four creatures around the throne and 24 elders join in the praises of God.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
Rev 19:4-5. The four and twenty elders and the four living creatures After the preceding chorus had ended their hymn, the representatives of the Jewish and Christian Churches prostrated themselves before Jehovah, saying, Amen So be it: let God be ever praised for the displays now made of his infinite perfections. And a voice came out of the throne From the glory, or the oracle; this shows the great authority and solemnity with which this order was published; saying, Praise our God, &c. The occasion and matter of this song of praise seem to be somewhat different from those of the foregoing hymn: that hymn was to celebrate the praises of God principally on account of his faithfulness and justice manifested in the punishment of a persecuting power, that had long oppressed Christs faithful servants. But this, as appears by what follows, is principally to praise God for the happy and glorious state of his church, about to take place in consequence of this punishment of its enemies; even that state of it, as appears, wherein it is said to live and reign with Christ a thousand years, and which is more particularly spoken of in the following chapter: for which wonderful display of the divine goodness all the truly pious are prepared by this hymn for solemnly and devoutly praising God.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The 24 elders and the four living creatures echoed these sentiments in a third song of praise (cf. Rev 4:9-10; Rev 5:8; Rev 5:14; Rev 7:9-11; Rev 14:3). The one who sits on the throne is evidently God the Father. "Amen" voices the elders’ and creatures’ approval of the two previous expressions of praise (Rev 19:1-3), and "Hallelujah" expresses their own praise (cf. Rev 7:12).