Revelation 5
CHAPTER 5
Opening the scroll
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice: Who is worthy to open the scroll and to undo the seals of it? 3 And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the scroll, or to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll, or to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders said to me: Do not weep. Behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered; he can open the scroll and the seven seals of it.
6 And 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 just been slain. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and he took the scroll out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sing a new song, saying: Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open the seals of it. For you once were slain, and did purchase for God a people with your blood, people of every tribe, tongue and nation, 10 and made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they shall reign upon the earth.
Praise to the Lamb
11 And I looked, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. 12 They were saying with a great voice: Worthy is the Lamb that has been slain to receive the power, riches, wisdom, might, honour, glory and blessing. 13 And I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be blessing, honour, glory and might, for ever and ever. 14 And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Commentary
5:1 This scroll is the book of life; the opening of the possibility of eternity for those written in it was made possible by the death of Christ (v. 9).
5:4 John’s weeping suggests our frustration at not being able to enter eternity by our own merits. Hence his and our extreme gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ.
5:10 Our hope is to be the future King-priests in God’s Kingdom upon earth- no mention is made of eternity in Heaven after death.
5:11 This may be a vision of the Angels welcoming the resurrected Jesus into Heaven after His ascension.
