My voice. Christ not only knocks but speaks. “ The voice very often will interpret and make intelligible the purpose of the knock ” (Trench).
Hear—open the door. No irresistible grace.
Will sup (Seurvijow). See on Luke xiv.12. For the image, compare Cant. v. 2-6; iv. 16; ii. 8. Christ is the Bread of Life, and invites to the great feast. See Matt. viii. 11; xxv. 1 sqq. The consummation will be at the marriage-supper of the Lamb (Mark xiv. 25; Apoce. xix. 7-9).
He with me. It is characteristic of John to note the say- ings of Christ which express the reciprocal relations of Himself and His followers. See John vi. 56; x. 88; xiv. 20; xv. 4, 55 xvii. 21, 26. Compare John xiv. 23.
21. He that overcometh. See on ch. ii. 7.
CHAPTER IV. Tur Revelation proper now begins.
1. After this (wera tadra). Rev., literally, after these things. Not indicating a break in the eestatic state of the seer, but only a succession of separate visions.
I looked (efdov). Rev., better, saw. Not of the directing of attention, but of the simple reception of the vision.
A door was opened (Supa avewypévn). Rev., rightly, omits was. A door set open. The A. V. implies that the seer wit- nessed the opening of the door.
In Heaven. Compare Ezek. i. 1; Matt. iii. 16; Acts vil 56; x. 11. In all these heaven itself is opened.
Was. Omit. Render, as Rev., “a voice as of a trumpet.”