heaven of a Grecian sky; sometimes bright with its ‘white cloud’ (Apoe. xiv. 14), sometimes torn with ‘lightnings and thunderings,’ and darkened by ‘ great hail,’ or cheered with ‘a rainbow like unto an emerald’ (Apoc. iv. 33 vill. 7; xi. 19; xvi. 21). Over the high tops of Icaria, Samos, and Naxos rise the mountains of Asia Minor; amongst which would lie, to the north, the circle of the Seven Churches to which his addresses were to be sent. Around him stood the mountains and islands of the Archipelago (Apoe. vi. 14; xvi. 20). When he looked round, above or below, ‘ the sea’ would always occupy the fore- most place . . . the voices of heaven were like the sound of the waves beating on the shore, as ‘the sound of many wa- ters’ (Apoc. xiv. 2; xix. 6); the millstone was ‘cast into the sea’ (Apoc. xviii. 21); the sea was to ‘give up the dead which were in it’ (Apoc. xx. 13)” (Stanley, “Sermons in the East ”).
For the word of God (dva Tov Adyov Tod Oeod). For is be- cause of: on account of. The expression is commonly explained with reference to Jolin’s banishment as a martyr for Christian truth. Some, however, especially those who desire to over- throw John’s authorship of the book, explain that he was in Patmos jor the sake of preaching the word there, or in order to receive a communication of the word of God. Apart, however, from the general tone of John’s address, which implies a season of persecution, the phrase for the word of God occurs in two passages where the meaning cannot be doubtful; ch. vi. 9, and xx. 4.
Testimony (uaprupiav). See on John i. 7. Of Jesus Christ. Omit Christ.
10. I was (éyevounv). See on ver. 9.
In the Spirit (€v wvevparc). The phrase J was in the Spirit occurs only here and ch. iv. 2: in the Spirit, in ch. xvii. 3; xxl. 10. The phrase denotes a state of trance or spiritual ecstasy. Compare Acts x. 10; 2 Cor. xii. 2,4. “Connection with surrounding objects through the senses is suspended, and