Revelation Chapter 5

From The Open Bible Project

5:1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.

• (1) A passing to the second principal cause, which is the Son of God, God and man, the mediator of all, as the eternal word of God the Father, manifest in the flesh. This chapter has two parts: one that prepares the way to the revelation, by rehearsal of the occasions that occurred in the first four verses (Revelation 5:2-5). Another, the history of the revelation of Christ, from there to the end of the chapter (Revelation 5:6-14).
• (2) That is, in the very right hand of God.
• (3) Here are shown the occasions for which the principal cause, and this revelation was also necessary: the same are three, the first a present vision of the book of the counsels of God, concerning the government of this whole world, which book is said to be laid up with the Father as it were in his hand: but shut up and unknown to all creature, in this verse. The second is a religious desire of the angels of God to understand the mysteries of this book (1 Peter 1:12) (Revelation 5:2). The third is a lamentation of John and all the godly, moved by the same desire (Revelation 5:4) when they saw that it was an impossible thing for any creature to do: which is declared in (Revelation 5:3).

5:2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?"

5:3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.

• (4) Thus neither of them that are in heaven, nor of them who are in the earth. Now this counting of parts, is sufficient to the denying of the whole; For of the creatures, one sort is in heaven, above the earth: another in the earth, and another under the earth in the sea, as is later declared in (Revelation 5:13).

5:4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.

5:5 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; he who opens the book and its seven seals."

• (5) The second part of this chapter, in which is set down the revelation of the Son, as was said before. This part contains first a history of the way God prepared John to understand this revelation, in this verse. Secondly, the revelation of the Son himself, to (Revelation 5:6,7). Thirdly, the events of this revelation in the rest of the chapter. The manner now, is here described in two parts: one from outside him, by speech, in this verse: another within, by opening the eyes of John (which before were shut) that he might see, in the verse following.
• (6) That is, most mighty and most approved Prince: according to the use of the Hebrew speech.

5:6 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 out into all the earth.

• (7) The sum of this revelation: Christ the mediator takes and opens the book (Revelation 5:6,7). Therefore this revelation describes the person of Christ. The person is described this way: Christ the mediator between God, angels and men, as the eternal word of God, and our redeemer: as the Lamb of God, standing as slain and making intercession for us by the power and merit of his everlasting sacrifice, is armed with the Spirit of God, that is, with the power and wisdom of God effectually to the government of this whole world.

5:7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

• (8) The fact of Christ the Mediator: that he comes to open it. That he opened it is first expressed (Revelation 6:1).

5:8 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) Now follows the end, the events of the revelation previously spoken of: that all the holy angels and men sang to him: both the chief (Revelation 5:9,10) and common order of angels (Revelation 5:11,12) and of all things created (Revelation 5:13) the princes of both sorts agreeing to it, (Revelation 5:14).
• (10) The symbols or signs of praise, sweet in savour and acceptable to God;
• (a) See (Revelation 8:3).

5:9 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,

• (b) No common song.
• (11) That is, composed according to the present matter, the Lamb having received the book as it were with his feet and opened it with his horns, as it is said in the Song of Solomon
• (12) The song of the nobles or princes standing by the throne, consisting of a publication of the praise of Christ and a confirmation of the same from his blessings, both which we have received from him (as are the suffering of his death, our redemption upon the cross by his blood, in this verse: and our communion with him in kingdom and priesthood which long ago he has granted to us with himself and which we hereafter hope to obtain, as our kingdom to come, in Christ, (Revelation 5:10).

5:10 and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on earth."

5:11 I saw, and I heard something like 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;

• (13) The consent of the common order of angels, answering in melody to their princes that stood by the throne.
• (14) A finite number, but almost infinite, as in (Daniel 7:10).
• (c) This means a great number.

5:12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!"

• (d) To have all praise given to him, as to the mightest and wisest

5:13 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! [17] Amen! [See Revelation Footnotes 17]"

• (15) The consent of all the common multitude of the creatures.

5:14 The four living creatures said, "Amen!" The [18]elders fell down and worshiped.[19]

• (16) A confirmation of the praise given before, from the consent of the nobles, expressed in word and signs, as once or twice before this.