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Revelation 4:8

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Revelation 4:8 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 4:8

Theological / Devotional

Six wings. The cherubim of Ezekiel’s vision each had four wings (Eze. 1:6; 10:21), whereas the seraphim of Isaiah had six (Isa. 6:2). Wings may be understood as indicating the speed with which God’s heavenly creatures execute their errands (cf. Heb. 1:14).

Full of eyes. See on v. 6.

Rest not. Men customarily work by day and rest by night, but “he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Ps. 121:4). The divine power upholding the universe never relaxes.

Day and night. Night brings an intermission to most human activities, but it has no effect on the ceaseless stream of praise to God that issues forth from the beings of heaven.

Holy, holy, holy. This is also the cry of the seraphim in Isaiah’s vision (see on Isa. 6:3). There is no valid reason for taking this triple ascription of praise as implying the Trinity, for it is directed to the presence on the throne, the Father. The second and third persons of the Godhead are here represented by other symbols (see Rev. 4:5 ; 5:6).

Lord God Almighty. See on ch. 1:8.

Was, and is, and is to come. See on ch. 1:4.

By SdaBc