But two outstanding efforts from Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd turned the game on its head and another pair from Nacho Novo and Miller after the break sealed it.
It was an excellent victory for the visitors and their fifth in a row in the league has them in a commanding position going into Wednesday’s Dundee United clash.
They’ll feel confident of collecting another three points from that one after scoring an impressive 19 goals in that sequence and conceding just three.
Another thing’s for sure. The champions will go into the New Year derby with Celtic top of the league – and on this form they’ll believe they can stay there for some time to come.
Manager Walter Smith made two changes to his side at Easter Road, both of them enforced as injuries deprived him of Kevin Thomson and DaMarcus Beasley’s services.
Lee McCulloch stepped into central midfield as a result, with Kyle Lafferty given a chance to shine after his two goals against Motherwell.
Rangers have made a habit of starting games brightly lately and have scored early against St Mirren, Kilmarnock, St Johnstone and the Steelmen.
But on this occasion they got off to the worst start possible and by the time they had their first touch of the ball, they were already a goal down.
Straight from kick off, Stokes fed Merouane Zemmama and he was given the space to work his way past Nacho Novo and into the penalty area.
The little Moroccan then fed Stokes and he slotted past Allan McGregor from a tight angle to spark delirium amongst the home supporters.
Gers looked shellshocked and they struggled to get going afterwards, with the hosts adapting far better to the wet conditions and consequent heavy pitch.
When they did catch sight of goal, Miller glanced Lafferty’s right-wing cross well wide while Zemmama did the same at the other end.
Back came the Light Blues, with Novo forcing a good stop from Yves Ma-Kalambay and eventually winning a corner which ultimately came to nothing.
The little Spaniard then blasted well over from long range when passing to Miller appeared a better option.
Although there was a fast tempo initially, the opening stages were a little disjointed as the weather made it difficult for both teams.
But that didn’t stop it from being an intriguing contest and Hibernian continued to have the better of it – until Miller pulled the sides level after 20 minutes.
Novo won possession then cut inside and his intelligent pass to Boyd was bettered by the striker’s reverse pass on to his attacking colleague.
Miller took one touch to steady himself and take the ball away from Sol Bamba before shooting early and curling low into the net from 20 yards.
Keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay seemed at fault as the effort rattled past him but it was a great effort from the Gers hitman and his fifth goal in just three games.
Now it was the home team’s turn to weather the storm and they seemed lucky to avoid a penalty being given against them just moments later.
Novo broke with pace once again and turned the ball on to Madjid Bougherra who then set Miller up.
He battered his way into the box but when Chris Hogg apparently tripped him, referee Iain Brines waved away claims for a spot kick.
Regardless, Rangers were settling at last and piling pressure on, with Bougherra heading Novo’s corner just over.
Hibs tried to respond through Stokes but his header flew yards past the post – and he was to rue that miss nine minutes before the break as Smith’s men went 2-1 up.
Riordan was brilliantly caught in possession by Kirk Broadfoot and Bougherra and when the Algerian crossed for Boyd, he stabbed high into the net to make it 2-1.
It was to stay that way until the break, when it was clear most of the talking needed done in the home dressing room.
But it seemed to have little effect as Rangers emerged from the bowels of the stadium to move 3-1 up seven minutes after the restart.
Miller played Novo down the left and he darted into the box in acres of space with Boyd waiting in the middle.
But with everyone anticipating a cross – including keeper Ma-Kalambay – the Spaniard shot inside the near post instead to put his team firmly in control.
As if that wasn’t good enough, the travelling support didn’t have to wait too long to see their team notch a fourth.
Boyd provided Miller, just as he did for the leveller, and he broke the offside trap to find himself one on one with Ma-Kalambay.
Although the finish wasn’t quite so emphatic this time, Miller still did enough to beat the Belgian and although the keeper got a touch on it, the shot trickled over the line.
With that, the game was dead as a contest and home boss John Hughes took off Riordan and Zemmama as he appeared to conceded defeat with quarter of the game still to go.
That allowed Smith to start making changes himself and Mo Edu came on for his first first-team appearance since he injured his knee in May.
Steven Whittaker also came on and with both managers playing out time, the match began to peter out.
That suited Rangers to a tee and as the final whistle blew, they trooped off the pitch safe in the knowledge they’d turned in their best performance of the campaign.