The Revelation of St. John the Divine
Revelation 5
Chapter V · Vol. IV, pp. 522–523
1 The book sealed with seven seals: 9 which only the Lamb that was slain is worthy to open. 12 Therefore the elders praise him, 9 and confess that he redeemed them with his blood.
1 And I saw in the aright hand of him that sat on the throne ba book1 written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals.
A.M. cir. 4100. A.D. cir. 96.
a ch.4.3;3.21. Ps.110.1;118.15,16. Ac.4.28. Is.46.10.
b Eze.2.9,10. ch.10.4,8,9. Jn.19.22. Is.8.16;29.11. Da.12.4,9;8.26. Mat.11.27. De.32.34.
1 Rather, as the scope requires, and as the custom of the age would lead us to expect, 'a roll.' It was written, not, as is usually the case, on one side merely, but upon both sides. When such a roll is folded up, it can be easily sealed. The Book is the book of future history in so far as the church of Christ is concerned.—P.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, cWho is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
c Is.29.11;41.22,23,26. Je.49.19.
2 The seals require to be 'loosed,' because the rolls were bound together with threads—a practice once common in Europe, and still existing in Asia.—C.
3 And dno man3 in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth,4 was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
d Is.40.13,14;41.28. Jn.1.18. Ro.11.34. ver.13.
3 No man. Rather 'no one,' no created being.—C.
4 Under the earth. Among the dead.—C.
4 And eI wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
e With ch.4.1. 2 Co.11.28. Je.9.1.
5 Andg one of the elders saith unto me, hWeep not: behold, ithe Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, jhath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, kin the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood la Lamb as it had been slain, having nseven horns and oseven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
k ch.3.21;7.17;4.6;1.20;2.1. Mat.28.20.
l Is.53.7,10. Jn.1.29,36. Ac.8.32. 1 Pe.1.19. He.9.14. ver.9,12; ch.7.14;12.11;13.8. Mat.20.28. Le.i.-v. xvi. Nu.xv. xxviii. xxix.
n Mat.28.18. Jn.17.2. Phi.2.9-11. Da.7.14. Ps.132.17. He.3.4,6. 1 Sa.2.10. Lu.1.69.
o Zec.3.9;4.10. ch.4.5;1.4. Jn.3.34. Col.2.3,9. 2 Ch.16.9. Ps.34.15.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 Andp when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials5 full of odours,6 which are the prayers of saints.
p ch.4.4-11;14.2;15.2;8.3,4. Ps.141.2.
A.M. cir. 4100. A.D. cir. 96.
5 Vials. Rather, 'cups,' 'basins,' or 'dishes,' used for holding certain sacrificial offerings.—C.
6 Or, incense.
9 And they sung a qnew song, saying, rThou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for sthou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;Cited in HC 54
10 Andt hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
t Ex.19.6. 1 Pe.2.5,9. ch.1.6;20.6;22.5. Ge.32.28. Ep.2.18. 1 Jn.5.4. Ro.8.37. Lu.19.17,19.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of manyu angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;Cited in WSC 107
12 Saying with a loud voice, vWorthy is the Lamb that was slain xto receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.Cited in WSC 107 · WCF 2.2
13 Andy every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,7 Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.Cited in WSC 107 · WCF 2.2
y Ps.96.11,12;xcviii. c. cxvii. cxlv. cxlviii. 1 Ch.29.11. Ro.9.5;11.36;16.27. Ga.1.5. Ep.3.21. Phi.2.10;4.20. Lu.2.14. 1 Ti.6.16. 2 Ti.4.18. He.13.21. 1 Pe.4.11. ch.7.10,12. 2 Pe.3.18.
7 And every creature, &c., heard I saying. That is, by prophetic anticipation—the Spirit calling up events that are yet to come, and exhibiting them as vividly as if they had already occurred.—C.
Notes
Ver. 5. Sprung from the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ is like a lion for strength, courage, and eminence, to maintain and defend his own property and tear asunder his enemies; and he is the Root of David, as in his divine nature, office, and character, he is the foundation and source of all the happiness and glory of his kingdom, typified by that of David. 6. His being represented as a slain Lamb, denotes him as an atoning Priest, the sacrifice for the sins of his people, and the food of their souls. His seven horns represent his full authority and almighty power, as a King to execute God's will, protecting and supporting his church, and pushing down their enemies. His seven eyes denote his infinite wisdom and knowledge, and his unmeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost in all his gifts and graces, and his disposing of them to men, as the Prophet of his church. 8. Their harps denote the melody of their hearts and the charming notes of their praise. Their golden vials, cups, or censers, full of odours, are their prayers, proceeding from sanctified hearts, and acceptable to God through Christ's merits and intercession.
Ver. 1. A book written, &c. 'A book written within,—and, on the backside, sealed with seven seals.' This punctuation is adopted by Grotius, &c., and seems entitled to preference.—Sealed with seven seals. This book is to be understood as composed of seven successive sealed rolls, so that the loosing of each seal allowed a separate prophecy to be read. C.
Ver. 6. He 'that sat on the throne,' ch. 4. 2, was evidently Christ in glory. See ver. 9, 11. As such he held 'the book' of prophetic revelation in his 'right hand,' ch. 5. 1; but as 'the Lamb slain,' ch. 5. 6, he comes to 'take the book;' that is, the one is the emblem of Christ as Lord and King, the other the emblem of Christ as Priest and Prophet. C.
Reflections.—The events of providence, and the manifestations of God's favour, have and will take place in their orderly course. And it is a privilege and pleasure to have a proper acquaintance with the purposes of God here, to support us under our trials, till our happiness be perfected in eternal salvation. Very incapable are created beings to penetrate into them; and it is highly daring to pretend or attempt it. But comfortable is it to reflect that our promised Messiah has interposed between his Father and his church, and has applied himself to manifest and fulfil them. Transcendently wonderful and glorious is his person and character—at once infinitely majestic, awful, and mighty; and yet endearingly meek, and marked with an atoning death for our sins! Extensive are his power and authority, his wisdom and knowledge; and unbounded his fulness of the Holy Ghost, and his power of sending him to men. And ministers, saints, and even angels, delightfully triumph in and praise him for his work of redemption, equally as his Father. God forbid that my soul should be silent when so many are engaged in his praise.