Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Straightway I was in the Spirit (euqewv egenomhn en pneumati). But John had already "come to be in the Spirit" (Revelation 1:10, the very same phrase). Perhaps here effective aorist middle indicative while ingressive aorist in Revelation 1:10 (sequel or result, not entrance), "At once I found myself in the Spirit" (Swete), not "I came to be in the Spirit" as in Revelation 1:10.
Was set (ekeito). Imperfect middle of keimai, old verb, used as passive of tiqhmi. As the vision opens John sees the throne already in place as the first thing in heaven. This bold imagery comes chiefly from I Kings 22:19; Isaiah 6:1 ff.; Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9 f. One should not forget that this language is glorious imagery, not actual objects in heaven. God is spirit. The picture of God on the throne is common in the O.T. and the N.T. (Matthew 5:34 f.; Matthew 23:22; Hebrews 1:3 and in nearly every chapter in the Revelation, Revelation 1:4, etc.). The use of kaqhmenov (sitting) for the name of God is like the Hebrew avoidance of the name Jahweh and is distinguished from the Son in Revelation 6:16; Revelation 7:10.
Upon the throne (epi ton qronon). Epi with the accusative, as in Revelation 4:4; Revelation 6:2, Revelation 6:4 f.; Revelation 11:16; Revelation 20:4, but in verses Revelation 4:9-10, Revelation 4:1, Revelation 4:7, 4:13; Revelation 6:16; Revelation 7:15 we have epi tou qronou (genitive), while in Revelation 7:10; Revelation 19:14; Revelation 21:5 we have epi tw qronw (locative) with no great distinction in the resultant idea.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 4:2:
Revelation 4:1
Revelation 4:1
Revelation 17:3
Revelation 20:11
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