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4:8 Is. 6:3

1. A door being open in heaven, he saw one sitting in a throne.  4. And round about him twenty-four seniors sitting.  6. And the four beasts here described, 9. which with the twenty-four seniors continually glorified him that sat in the throne. 1 AFTER these things I looked, and behold a door open in heaven, and the first voice which I heard, was as it were of a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you the things which must be done quickly after these. 2 Immediately I was in spirit: and behold there was a seat set in heaven, and upon the seat one sitting. 3 And he that sat, was like in sight, to the Jasper stone, and the Sardine: and there was a rainbow round about the seat, like to the sight of an Emerald. 4 And round about the seat, four and twenty seats: and upon the thrones, four and twenty seniors sitting, clothed about in white garments, and on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders: and seven lamps burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And in the sight of the seat, as it were a sea of glass like to crystal: and in the middles of the seat and round about the seat four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast, like to a lion: and the second beast, like to a calf : and the third beast, having the face as it were of a man: and the fourth beast, like to an eagle flying. 8 And the four beasts, every one of them had six wings round about: and within they are full of eyes; and they had no rest day and night, saying, *Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Omnipotent, which was, and which is, and which shall come. 9 And when those beasts gave glory and honor and benediction to him that sits upon the throne, that lives for ever and ever: 10 the four and twenty seniors fell down before him that sits in the throne, and adored him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 You are worthy O Lord our God to receive glory and honor and power: because you have created all things, and for you will they were and have been created.

THE FIRST VISION In which is represented unto us the glory and majesty of God in heaven, and the incessant honor and praises of all angels and saints uplifting him.  Which is resembled in the daily honor done to him by orders and sorts of holy men in the Church militant also. 1:7 four beasts: These four beasts, and the like described in Ezekiel 1 by the judgement of the holy Doctors signifies the 4 Evangelists, and in them all true preachers.  The man, Matthew: the lion, Mark: the calf, Luke, the eagle, John:  See the causes hereof in the Summary of the four Evangelists. (St. Gregory in 1 Ezec.)

COMMENTARY 8. Holy, holy, holy. This word is repeated three times here, and Isaiah 6, and to the imitation thereof, in the service of the holy Church, at Te Deum, and at Mass, especially in the Preface next before the great mysteries, for the honor of the three persons in the Holy Trinity, and that the Church Militant may join with the Triumphant, and with all the orders of Angels, who also are present at the consecration, and do service there to our common Lord and Master, as St. John Chrysostom writes (li.6 de Sacerdtis and  he. 1.de verb. Isa. to.1)  The Greeks call it the hymn Τρισάγιον, that is, Thrise Holy.