Revelation 4:2
What does Revelation 4:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 4:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 4:2 means
John is immediately carried along by the Holy Spirit into a revelatory state. The first and central object he sees is a throne fixed in heaven. This is the governing image of the chapter: God’s sovereign rule is not shaky or in doubt; His seat is established. There is “one” seated, underscoring the unity and singularity of divine authority. Before we learn of judgments, songs, or creatures, we learn that Heaven is ordered around God’s kingship. The verse pastors fearful hearts: above earthly thrones stands a higher, permanent government, and the Spirit Himself must take us there to see it rightly.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Straight away I was in the Spirit: and I saw a high seat in heaven, and one was seated on it;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and immediately I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne was set in the heaven, and upon the throne is <FI>one<Fi> sitting,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And immediately I was in the spirit. And behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne one sitting.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Immediately I became in [the] Spirit; and behold, a throne stood in the heaven, and upon the throne one sitting,
Context
Following the call in verse 1, verse 2 delivers the promised vision. The Spirit’s action moves John from hearing to seeing. The throne is introduced before any other detail, so we read the rest of the chapter in that light. Immediately after this, the description will focus on the appearance of the One on the throne and the throne’s surroundings. The flow is from center to circumference—first the Ruler, then His radiance and retinue—so we keep the right focus.
v.1After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, a voiceas of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.
v.2This passage
v.3and he that sat was to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 5:13
And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.
- Ezekiel 1:28
As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
- Hebrews 8:1
Now in the things which we are saying the chief pointis this: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
- Revelation 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet
- Revelation 12:5
And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.
- Revelation 6:16
and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
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