Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
After these things (meta tauta). Change in the panorama, not chronology (Revelation 7:1, Revelation 7:9; Revelation 15:5; Revelation 18:1; Revelation 19:1). This vision is of heaven, not of earth as was true of chapters Rev. 1, 2. The first vision of Christ and the messages to the seven churches began in Revelation 1:12 f. This new vision of the throne in heaven (Revelation 4:1-11) succeeds that to which it here alludes.
I saw (eidon). Second aorist active indicative of oraw.
Behold (idou). Exclamation of vivid emotion as John looked. No effect on the structure and nominative case qura (door) follows it.
Opened (hnewgmenh). Perfect (triple reduplication) passive participle of anoigw as in Revelation 3:8 (door of opportunity) and Revelation 3:20 (door of the heart), here the door of revelation (Swete).
In heaven (en tw ouranw). As in Ezekiel 1:1; Mark 1:10; John 1:51. In Revelation always in singular except Revelation 12:12.
The first (h prwth). Reference is to Revelation 1:10.
Speaking (laloushv). From lalew, rather legoushv of Revelation 1:10 from legw, both agreeing with salpiggov (trumpet).
Saying (legwn). Present active participle of legw repeating the idea of laloushv, but in the nominative masculine singular construed with fwnh (feminine singular), construction according to sense because of the person behind the voice as in Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:14.
Come up (anaba). Short Koin‚ form for anabhqi (second aorist active imperative second person singular of anabainw).
Hither (wde). Originally "here," but vernacular use (John 6:25; John 10:27).
I will show (deicw). Future active of deiknumi in same sense in Revelation 1:1.
Hereafter (meta tauta). Some editors (Westcott and Hort) connect these words with the beginning of verse Revelation 4:2.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Revelation 4:1:
Revelation 1:10
Revelation 3:8
Revelation 4:1
Revelation 4:2
Revelation 4:4
Revelation 6:1
Revelation 6:2
Revelation 8:2
Revelation 9:14
Revelation 10:8
Revelation 10:9
Revelation 12:3
Revelation 14:6
Revelation 14:14
Revelation 19:10
Revelation 19:11
Revelation 21:10
Revelation 22:1
Revelation 22:8
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