Analysis Of The Chapter This chapter Revelation 5:1 introduces the disclosure of future events. It is done in a manner eminently suited to impress the mind with a sense of the importance of the revelations about to be made. The proper state of mind for appreciating this chapter is that when we look... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW IN THE RIGHT HAND OF HIM THAT SAT ON THE THRONE - Of God, Revelation 4:3. His form is not described there, nor is there any intimation of it here except the mention of his.” right hand.” The book or roll seems to have been so held in his hand that John could see its shape, and see distinct... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW A STRONG ANGEL - An angel endowed with great strength, as if such strength was necessary to enable him to give utterance to the loud voice of the inquiry. “Homer represents his heralds as powerful, robust men, in order consistently to attribute to them deep-toned and powerful voices” (Prof... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NO MAN IN HEAVEN - No one - οὐδεὶς oudeis. There is no limitation in the original to man. The idea is, that there was no one in heaven - evidently alluding to the created beings there - who could open the volume. Is it not taught here that angels cannot penetrate the future, and disclose what... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WEPT MUCH, BECAUSE NO MAN WAS FOUND WORTHY ... - Greek, as in Revelation 5:3, no one. It would seem as if there was a pause to see if there were any response to the proclamation of the angel. There being none, John gave way to his deep emotions in a flood of tears. The tears of the apostle her... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THE ELDERS SAITH UNTO ME - See the notes on Revelation 4:4. No particular reason is assigned why this message was delivered by one of the elders rather than by an angel. If the elders were, however (see the notes on Revelation 4:4), the representatives of the church, there was a propriety... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I BEHELD, AND, LO, IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE - We are not to suppose that he was in the center of the throne itself, but he was a conspicuous object when the throne and the elders and the living beings were seen. He was so placed as to seem to be in the midst of the group made up of the throne,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAME AND TOOK THE BOOK OUT OF THE RIGHT HAND ... - As if it pertained to him by virtue of rank or office. There is a difficulty here, arising from the incongruity of what is said of a lamb, which it is not easy to solve. The difficulty is in conceiving how a lamb could take the book from the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE BOOK, THE FOUR BEASTS ... - The acts of adoration here described as rendered by the four living creatures and the elders are, according to the explanation given in Revelation 4:4, emblematic of the honor done to the Redeemer by the church, and by the course of providential... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SUNG A NEW SONG - Compare Revelation 14:3. New in the sense that it is a song consequent on redemption, and distinguished therefore from the songs sung in heaven before the work of redemption was consummated. We may suppose that songs of adoration have always been sung m heaven; we know tha... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAST MADE US UNTO OUR GOD KINGS AND PRIESTS - See the notes on Revelation 1:6. AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH - The redeemed, of whom we are the representatives. The idea clearly is, in accordance with what is so frequently said in the Scriptures, that the dominion on the earth will be given to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I BEHELD - And I looked again. AND I HEARD THE VOICE OF MANY ANGELS - The inhabitants of heaven uniting with the representatives of the redeemed church in ascribing honor to the Lamb of God. The design is to show that there is universal sympathy and harmony in heaven, and that all worlds will u... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING WITH A LOUD VOICE, WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN - See the notes on Revelation 5:2, Revelation 5:9. The idea here is, that the fact that he was slain, or was made a sacrifice for sin, was the ground or reason for what is here ascribed to him. Compare the notes on Revelation 5:5. TO RECEIV... [ Continue Reading ]
AND EVERY CREATURE WHICH IS IN HEAVEN - The meaning of this verse is, that all created things seemed to unite in rendering honor to Him who sat on the throne, and to the Lamb. in the previous verse a certain number - a vast host - of angels are designated as rendering praise as they stood round the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOUR BEASTS SAID, AMEN - The voice of universal praise came to them from abroad, and they accorded with it, and ascribed honor to God. AND THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FELL DOWN, ... - The living creatures and the elders began the work of praise Revelation 5:8, and it was proper that it shoul... [ Continue Reading ]