| WORTHY IS THE LAMB |
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| 1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written within and on the back, sealed shut with seven seals. 2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 3 No one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it. 4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it. |
| Rev 5:1 In the right hand of Him – this is more properly translated “on” or “at the right hand.” seven seals – which shall be broken one by one. The number seven is throughout the Book of Revelation, and represents completeness: seven horns, seven eyes, seven churches, etc. God’s relationship with man on the earth is completed in seven thousand years, and God made seven days for a week. The sixth seal, sixth trumpet and sixth bowl of wrath, all describe the battle of Armageddon that ends man’s existence. The seventh seal, trumpet, and bowl of wrath describe our resurrection to eternal rest, just as God also rested on the Sabbath. The relationship between seven thousand years of man, and the seventh Day, as representing the last thousand years, the Lord’s Day, is also described in the Epistle of Barnabas, written by the Gentiles in about 100 AD. |
| 5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome to open the book and its seven seals.” 6 I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. |
| Rev 5:6 seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven Spirits out God sent out into all the earth – the seven eyes are the seven spirits of God described in Zech 4:10. A horn generally symbolizes power; see 1 Sam 2:1, Rev 13:1, etc. Seven means perfection, or completeness. The meaning here is the same as Rev 1:16; and Rev 1:20: the Spirit of Christ as the Ruler of the Angels, and the Son of Man, holds seven Angels in His right hand. Dan 8:11 and Rev 12:9 tell us that the Spirit of Christ became the “Captain of the captains” when He became our Lord [Prince and Captain are the same Hebrew word]. Therefore, the seven horns also represent complete authority over the Angels. |
| 7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. |
| Rev 5:7 He took the book out of the right hand – this scene really defeats any modalistic view of God and Christ. Here, we are after the Judgment Day (Rev 5:13) and there are definitely two beings portrayed here. The Bible does not support the idea that Christ and God are the same person, or being. Here God gives Christ the Revelation, as described in Rev 1:1. |
| 8 Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, And to open its seals: For you were killed, And bought us for God with your blood, Out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, 10 And made them kings and priests to our God, And they reign on earth.” |
| Rev 5:8 each holding a harp – meaning they have received the spirit of truth, which will abide with us forever, and causes the tongue to emit sound when one prays. Paul compared speaking in tongues, to the sound of a harp in 1 Cor 14:7. They pray in the holy spirit on behalf of all the saints. The prayers of the saints – which are still remembered after the Judgment Day. |
| 11 I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing!” |
| Rev 5:11 myriads – 10,000’s; this is from Dan 7:10, which says “myriads and myriads standing before him” and “thousands and thousands attending to him.” The Catholic liturgy corrupted this to call the thousands of angels: “archangels.” |
| 13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever. Amen.” |
| Rev 5:13 every created thing in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth and on the sea – we can see the meaning of this as: all creatures, spiritual beings and men; the dead in hades, and the saved (on the sea), who receive eternal life, will worship God. |
