Revelation 4:4 (C. H. Spurgeon.)
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven…
[King James Version]
The Throne in Heaven
4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
[CEV]
Worship in Heaven
4Twenty-four other thrones were in a circle around that throne. And on each of these thrones there was an elder dressed in white clothes and wearing a gold crown.
[NET]
The Amazing Scene in Heaven
4In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads.
[Korean]
4또 보좌에 둘려 이십 사 보좌들이 있고 그 보좌들 위에 이십사 장로들이 흰 옷을 입고 머리에 금면류관을 쓰고 앉았더라
12:1/13:1/14:1/15:1/16:1/17:1/18:1/19:1/20:1/21:1/22:1]
* [Before<--- ---> After]
*[click -> Music: 예술랑_Revelation]
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I. 왕좌 앞에 있는 영혼들의 상태와 즐거움.1. 먼저, 하늘에 있는 성도들이 "장로들"로 표현되어 있는데, 이는 단순히 우리 가운데서 행사되는 장로 직분만을 가리키는 것이 아니라 보좌 앞에서 신자들이 충만하게 성장하는 것을 가리키는 것으로 받아들입니다. 교회의 장로들은 오랜 세월에 걸쳐 감각을 발휘한 사람들로서, 숲의 묘목이 아니라 뿌리가 잘 박힌 나무이며, 돋아나는 옥수수 잎이 아니라 사신의 낫을 기다리는 이삭에 가득 찬 옥수수입니다. 숫자에 관해서는 - 스물 네. 성전 문에서 문지기 역할을 하는 레위인이 스물 네 코스, 제사를 드리는 제사장이 스물 네 코스가 있었던 것처럼, 스물 네라는 숫자는 하나님의 성전에서 하나님의 봉사가 완전하고, 신성한 봉사의 모든 부분이 차지할 것이며, 하나님 앞에서 영원히 연기 나는 제단 주위에는 그분 앞에 절하고 경배 할 사람들로 가득 차 있음을 보여주기 위해 사용되었다고 생각합니다.
3. 장로들은 "흰 옷을 입고" 있습니다. 이 점에서 그들은 우리에게 모범이 됩니다. 우리는 여기서 완전함을 바라서는 안 됩니다. 그러나 오, 우리는 그것을 목표로 삼아야 합니다.
4. 이 장로들은 신권을 행사했습니다. 사실, 그들이 흰 옷을 입은 것은 순결의 상징이기도 하지만, 그들이 하나님의 제사장임을 나타내는 것이기도 합니다. "주께서 우리를 우리 하나님에 대한 왕과 제사장으로 삼으셨나이다." 여러분도 알다시피, 그들은 기도와 찬양의 이중 제물로 제사장 직분을 수행합니다. 그들을 하나님의 제사장으로서 우러러보고 우리도 그분의 예배를 드리고 있는지 자문해 봅시다.
II. 이 영광스러운 사람들의 직업과 정신은 아래 우리가 본받아야 할 것입니다. 그들의 직업을 주목하십시오.
1. 우선 그것은 겸손입니다. "그들은 그분 앞에 엎드려"(10절). 더 거룩할수록 더 겸손합니다.
3. 이 장로들은 즐거운 노래로 시간을 보냈습니다. "당신은 책을 취하시기에 합당하시도다."
4. 이 성도들은 찬양만 드린 것이 아니라 기도도 드렸습니다.
I. THE STATE AND ENJOYMENTS OF THE SPIRITS BEFORE THE THRONE.
1. Mark, first, that the saints in heaven are represented as "elders," which we take to refer not merely to the office of the eldership as it is exercised among us, but rather to the fulness of growth of believers before the throne. The elders in the Church are those who by reason of years have had their senses exercised; they are not the saplings of the forest, but the well-rooted trees; they are not the blades of corn up-springing, but the full corn in the ear awaiting the reaper's sickle. As to the number — twenty-four. I think, as there were twenty-four courses of Levites, who were porters at the gate of the temple, and twenty-four courses of priests who offered sacrifice, so the number twenty-four is made use of to show that the service of God in His temple is complete, that every part of the Divine service will be taken up, and around that altar which smokes before God eternally there shall be a full complement of those who shall bow before Him, and do Him homage.
2. These elders are said to be around the throne. We suppose, as near as we can catch the thought of John, sitting in a semi-circle, as the Jewish Sanhedrin did around the Prince of Israel. "There is an equality among the saints." There shall not be some near the centre, and others far away on the verge of the wide circumference; but they shall all be near to Christ, all equally His favourites and His friends.
3. The elders are "clothed in white raiment." In this they are an example to us. Perfection we must not hope to see here; but oh, we must aim after it.
4. These elders exercised a priesthood. Indeed, their being clothed in white garments, while it is an emblem of their purity, also represents them as being priests unto God. "Thou hast made us unto our God kings and priests." They exercise the office of priesthood, as you perceive, by the double offering of prayer and praise. Let us look up to them as the priests of God, and then ask ourselves, are we celebrating His worship too?
5. They had on their heads crowns of gold. Now let us imitate them in this. "Oh!" say you, "but I cannot wear a crown as they do." Nevertheless, you are a king; for they who are Christ's are kings. Reign over thy sins. Reign over thy passions. Be as a king in the midst of all that would lead thee astray. In the world at large act a king's part. Let your Liberality of spirit be right royal. Let your actions never be mean, sneaking, cowardly, dastardly
II. THE OCCUPATION AND SPIRIT OF THESE GLORIFIED ONES, AS THEY SHOULD BE IMITATED BY US BELOW. Notice their occupation.
1. First of all it is one of humility. "They fall down before Him" (ver. 10). The more holy, the more humble.
2. But as they fall before the throne in humility, you will note that they express their gratitude. It is said they cast their crowns before the throne. They know where they got them from, and they know to whom to ascribe the praise.
3. These elders spent their time in joyous song. "Thou art worthy to take the book."
4. These saints not only offered praise, but prayer.
5. I must not forget, however, here, that these elders before the throne were ready not only for prayer and praise, but for all kinds of service. You remember there was one of them, when John wept, who said, "Weep not." Then there was another of the elders who said to John, for his instruction, "Who are these?" etc. Now those before the throne are willing to comfort the weeper or to instruct the ignorant. Let us do the same I and may it be ours to wipe the tear from many an eye, to chase the darkness of ignorance from many a young heart.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
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