@Re 5:1-14. THE BOOK WITH SEVEN SEALS: NONE WORTHY TO OPEN IT BUT THE LAMB: HE TAKES IT AMIDST THE PRAISES OF THE REDEEMED, AND OF THE WHOLE HEAVENLY HOST.
1. in, &c.--Greek, "(lying) upon the right hand." His right
hand was open and on it lay the book. On God's part there was no
withholding of His future purposes as contained in the book: the only
obstacle to unsealing it is stated in @Re 5:3 [ALFORD].
book--rather, as accords with the ancient form of books, and with
the writing on the backside, "a roll." The writing on the back
implies fulness and completeness, so that nothing more needs to be added
(@Re 22:18). The roll, or book, appears from the context to be
"the title-deed of man's inheritance" [DE
BURGH] redeemed by Christ,
and contains the successive steps by which He shall recover it from its
usurper and obtain actual possession of the kingdom already "purchased"
for Himself and His elect saints. However, no portion of the roll is
said to be unfolded and read; but simply the seals are
successively opened, giving final access to its contents being read
as a perfect whole, which shall not be until the events symbolized by
the seals shall have been past, when @Eph 3:10 shall receive its
complete accomplishment, and the Lamb shall reveal God's
providential plans in redemption in all their manifold beauties. Thus
the opening of the seals will mean the successive steps by which God in
Christ clears the way for the final opening and reading of the book at
the visible setting up of the kingdom of Christ. Compare, at the grand
consummation, @Re 20:12, "Another book was opened . . . the book of
life"; @Re 22:19. None is worthy to do so save the Lamb, for He
alone as such has redeemed man's forfeited inheritance, of which
the book is the title-deed. The question (@Re 5:2) is not
(as commonly supposed), Who should reveal the destinies of the Church
(for this any inspired prophet would be competent to do)? but, Who has the
WORTH to give man a new title to his lost inheritance?
[DE
BURGH].
sealed . . . seven seals--Greek, "sealed up," or "firmly sealed."
The number seven (divided into four, the world-wide number, and
three, the divine) abounds in Revelation and expresses completeness. Thus, the
seven seals, representing all power given to the Lamb; the
seven trumpets, by which the world kingdoms are shaken and
overthrown, and the Lamb's kingdom ushered in; and the seven vials,
by which the beast's kingdom is destroyed.
2. strong--(@Ps 103:20). His voice penetrated heaven, earth, and Hades (@Re 10:1-3).
3. no man--Greek, "no one." Not merely no man, but also
no one of any order of beings.
in earth--Greek, "upon the earth."
under the earth--namely, in Hades.
look thereon--to look upon the contents, so as to read them.
4. and to read--inserted in English Version Greek text without good authority. One oldest manuscript, ORIGEN, CYPRIAN, and HILARY omit the clause. "To read" would be awkward standing between "to open the book" and "to look thereon." John having been promised a revelation of "things which must be hereafter," weeps now at his earnest desire being apparently frustrated. He is a pattern to us to imitate, as an eager and teachable learner of the Apocalypse.
5. one of--Greek, "one from among." The "elder" meant is,
according to some (in LYRA), Matthew. With this accords the description
here given of Christ, "the Lion, which is (so the Greek) of the
tribe of Juda, the root of David"; the royal, David-descended,
lion-aspect of Christ being that prominent in Matthew, whence the lion
among the fourfold cherubim is commonly assigned to him. GERHARD in
BENGEL thought Jacob to be meant, being, doubtless, one of those who
rose with Christ and ascended to heaven (@Mt 27:52,53). The elders
in heaven round God's throne know better than John, still in the flesh,
the far-reaching power of Christ.
Root of David--(@Isa 11:1,10). Not merely "a sucker come up from
David's ancient root" (as ALFORD limits it), but also including the idea
of His being Himself the root and origin of David: compare these two
truths brought together, @Mt 22:42-45. Hence He is called not merely
Son of David, but also David. He is at once "the branch" of
David, and "the root" of David, David's Son and David's Lord, the
Lamb slain and therefore the Lion of Juda: about to reign over
Israel, and thence over the whole earth.
prevailed--Greek, "conquered": absolutely, as elsewhere
(@Re 3:21): gained the victory: His past victory over all the
powers of darkness entitles Him now to open the book.
to open--that is, so as to open. One oldest manuscript, B,
reads, "He that openeth," that is, whose office it is to open, but the
weight of oldest authorities is with English Version reading,
namely, A, Vulgate, Coptic, and ORIGEN.
6. I beheld, and, lo--One oldest manuscript, A, omits "and, lo."
Another, B, CYPRIAN, etc,. support, "and, lo," but omit, "and I beheld."
in the midst of the throne--that is, not on the throne
(compare @Re 5:7), but in the midst of the company
(@Re 4:4) which was "round about the throne."
Lamb--Greek, "arnion"; always found in Revelation exclusively,
except in @Joh 21:15 alone: it expresses endearment, namely, the
endearing relation in which Christ now stands to us, as the consequence
of His previous relation as the sacrificial Lamb. So also our
relation to Him: He the precious Lamb, we His dear lambs, one
with Him. BENGEL thinks there is in Greek, "arnion," the idea
of taking the lead of the flock. Another object of the form
Greek, "arnion," the Lamb, is to put Him in the more marked
contrast to Greek, "therion," the Beast. Elsewhere Greek, "amnos," is found, applying to Him as the
paschal, sacrificial Lamb (@Isa 53:7, Septuagint; @Joh 1:29,36 Ac 8:32 1Pe 1:19).
as it had been slain--bearing marks of His past death wounds. He was
standing, though bearing the marks of one slain. In the midst of
heavenly glory Christ crucified is still the prominent object.
seven horns--that is, perfect might, "seven" symbolizing
perfection; "horns," might, in contrast to the horns of the
Antichristian world powers, @Re 17:3; &c. @Da 7:7,20 8:3.
seven eyes . . . the seven Spirits . . . sent forth--So one oldest
manuscript, A. But B reads, "being sent forth." As the
seven lamps before the throne represent the Spirit of God immanent
in the Godhead, so the seven eyes of the Lamb represent the same
sevenfold Spirit profluent from the incarnate Redeemer in His world-wide
energy. The Greek for "sent forth," apostellomena, or else
apestalmenoi, is akin to the term "apostle," reminding us of the
Spirit-impelled labors of Christ's apostles and minister throughout the
world: if the present tense be read, as seems best, the idea will be
that of those labors continually going on unto the end. "Eyes"
symbolize His all-watchful and wise providence for His Church, and
against her foes.
7. The book lay on the open hand of Him that sat on the throne for any to take who was found worthy [ALFORD]. The Lamb takes it from the Father in token of formal investiture into His universal and everlasting dominion as Son of man. This introductory vision thus presents before us, in summary, the consummation to which all the events in the seals, trumpets, and vials converge, namely, the setting up of Christ's kingdom visibly. Prophecy ever hurries to the grand crisis or end, and dwells on intermediate events only in their typical relation to, and representation of, the end.
8. had taken--Greek, "took."
fell down before the Lamb--who shares worship and the throne with
the Father.
harps--Two oldest manuscripts, A, B, Syriac and Coptic read,
"a harp": a kind of guitar, played with the hand or a quill.
vials--"bowls" [TREGELLES]; censers.
odours--Greek, "incense."
prayers of saints--as the angel offers their prayers (@Re 8:3)
with incense (compare @Ps 141:2). This gives not the least sanction
to Rome's dogma of our praying to saints. Though they be employed by
God in some way unknown to us to present our prayers (nothing is said of
their interceding for us), yet we are told to pray only to Him
(@Re 19:10 22:8,9). Their own employment is praise
(whence they all have harps): ours is prayer.
9. sung--Greek, "sing": it is their blessed occupation continually.
The theme of redemption is ever new, ever suggesting fresh thoughts
of praise, embodied in the "new song."
us to God--So manuscript B, Coptic, Vulgate, and
CYPRIAN.
But A omits "us": and Aleph reads instead, "to our God."
out of--the present election-church gathered out of the world,
as distinguished from the peoples gathered to Christ as the subjects,
not of an election, but of a general and world-wide conversion of all
nations.
kindred . . . tongue . . . people . . . nation--The
number four marks world-wide extension: the four quarters of the world. For
"kindred," translate as Greek, "tribe." This term and "people" are
usually restricted to Israel: "tongue and nation" to the
Gentiles (@Re 7:9 11:9 13:7, the oldest reading; @Re 14:6).
Thus there is here marked the election-Church gathered from Jews and
Gentiles. In @Re 10:11, for "tribes," we find among the four terms
"kings"; in @Re 17:15, "multitudes."
10. made us--A, B, Aleph, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic read,
"them." The Hebrew construction of the third person for the first,
has a graphic relation to the redeemed, and also has a more modest
sound than us, priests [BENGEL].
unto our God--So B and Aleph read. But A omits the clause.
kings--So B reads. But A, Aleph, Vulgate, Coptic, and
CYPRIAN,
read, "A kingdom." Aleph reads also "a priesthood" for priests. They
who cast their crowns before the throne, do not call themselves
kings in the sight. of the great King (@Re 4:10,11); though
their priestly access has such dignity that their reigning on earth
cannot exceed it. So in @Re 20:6 they are not called "kings"
[BENGEL].
we shall reign on the earth--This is a new feature added to
@Re 1:6. Aleph, Vulgate, and Coptic read, "They shall
reign." A and B read, "They reign."
ALFORD takes this reading and
explains it of the Church EVEN NOW, in Christ her Head, reigning on the
earth: "all things are being put under her feet, as under His; her
kingly office and rank are asserted, even in the midst of persecution."
But even if we read (I think the weightiest authority is against it),
"They reign," still it is the prophetical present for the future:
the seer being transported into the future when the full number of the
redeemed (represented by the four living creatures) shall be
complete and the visible kingdom begins. The saints do spiritually
reign now; but certainly not as they shall when the prince of this world
shall be bound
(see on Re 20:2-6). So far from
reigning on the earth now, they are "made as the filth of the world
and the offscouring of all things." In @Re 11:15,18, the locality
and time of the kingdom are marked. KELLY translates, "reign over the earth"
(Greek, "epi tees gees"), which is justified by the
Greek (Septuagint, @Jud 9:8 Mt 2:22). The elders, though
ruling over the earth, shall not necessarily (according to this
passage) remain on the earth. But English Version is justified
by @Re 3:10. "The elders were meek, but the flock of the meek
independently is much larger" [BENGEL].
11. I beheld--the angels: who form the outer circle, while the
Church, the object of redemption, forms the inner circle nearest the
throne. The heavenly hosts ranged around gaze with intense love and
adoration at this crowning manifestation of God's love, wisdom, and
power.
ten thousand times ten thousand--Greek, "myriads of myriads."
12. to receive power--Greek, "the power." The remaining six
(the whole being seven, the number for perfection and
completeness) are all, as well as "power," ranged under the one
Greek article, to mark that they form one complete aggregate
belonging to God and His co-equal, the Lamb. Compare @Re 7:12, where
each of all seven has the article.
riches--both spiritual and earthly.
blessing--ascribed praise: the will on the creature's part, though
unaccompanied by the power, to return blessing for blessing conferred
[ALFORD].
13. The universal chorus of creation, including the outermost circles
as well as the inner (of saints and angels), winds up the doxology. The
full accomplishment of this is to be when Christ takes His great
power and reigns visibly.
every creature--"all His works in all places of His dominion"
(@Ps 103:22).
under the earth--the departed spirits in Hades.
such as are--So B and Vulgate. But A omits this.
in the sea--Greek, "upon the sea": the sea animals which are
regarded as being on the surface [ALFORD].
all that are in them--So Vulgate reads. A omits "all (things)"
here (Greek, "panta"), and reads, "I heard all
(Greek, "pantas") saying": implying the harmonious
concert of all in the four quarters of the universe.
Blessing, &c.--Greek, "the blessing, the honor, and
the glory, and the might to the ages of the ages." The
fourfold ascription indicates world-wide universality.
14. said--So A, Vulgate, and Syriac read. But B and Coptic read, "(I heard) saying."
Amen--So A reads. But B reads, "the (accustomed) Amen." As in
@Re 4:11, the four and twenty elders asserted God's worthiness to
receive the glory, as having created all things, so here the four
living creatures ratify by their "Amen" the whole creation's ascription of the glory to Him.
four and twenty--omitted in the oldest manuscripts: Vulgate supports it.
him that liveth for ever and ever--omitted in all the manuscripts:
inserted by commentators from @Re 4:9. But there, where the
thanksgiving is expressed, the words are appropriate; but here less
so, as their worship is that of silent prostration. "Worshipped"
(namely, God and the Lamb). So in @Re 11:1, "worship" is used
absolutely.