Revelation 5 - Introduction
_THE BOOK SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS; WHICH ONLY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN IS WORTHY TO OPEN. THEREFORE THE ELDERS PRAISE HIM, AND CONFESS THAT HE REDEEMED THEM WITH HIS BLOOD._ _Anno Domini 96._... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE BOOK SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS; WHICH ONLY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN IS WORTHY TO OPEN. THEREFORE THE ELDERS PRAISE HIM, AND CONFESS THAT HE REDEEMED THEM WITH HIS BLOOD._ _Anno Domini 96._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW IN THE RIGHT HAND, &C.— Future events are supposed by St. John, as well as by Daniel and other prophets, in a beautiful figure, to be registered in a _book,_ for the greater certainty of them. This book is in the right hand of God, to denote that as he alone directs the affairs of futurity... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WEPT MUCH— "And as I had an earnest desire to know the contents, and had pleased myself with a secret expectation that some extraordinary discovery was to be made to me and to the church from thence, it grieved me exceedingly, insomuch that I wept abundantly, because no one was found worthy to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THE ELDERS SAITH, &C.— This might well be translated, _And the first of the elders;_ the first speaking in the name of all the rest. The following expression shews, that the prophesy in Genesis 49:9 concerning Judea, was fulfilled in a more sublime sense in Christ the Son of God; and, at... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD A LAMB, AS IT HAD BEEN SLAIN,— _As having been slain,_ or _who had been slain_ for sacrifice, and wore the recent marks of slaughter. Our Saviour is declared by the Baptist to be _the Lamb of God,_ because to be sacrificed to him as _a Lamb,_ to take away the sins of the world. Christ is repre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAME AND TOOK THE BOOK,— Daubuz understands the delivering of this book into the hands of Christ, as an act of inauguration or investiture into his regal power and authority, as mediatorial King; and shews that many of the expressions here used, are taken from the ceremonies of solemn investi... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING EVERY ONE OF THEM HARPS, AND GOLDEN VIALS,— _Harps_ were a principal part of the temple music: _vials_ were also of common use in the temple service; but they were not like those small bottles which we now call _vials,_ but like _cups,_ or _little bowls,_ on a plate, in allusion to the censer... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SUNG A NEW SONG,— Excellent in its kind, and composed on a much greater occasion, and in much sublimer strains of divine harmony, than those which the priests and Levites sung in the temple of Jerusalem; saying, Worthy art thou to take the book from the hand, as it were, of God the Father;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HAST MADE US—KINGS AND PRIESTS,— "We are robed in purity and majesty; we are crowned with gold; (ch. Revelation 4:4.) and here we appear in those priestly offices which we perform with the splendor of princes; and we shall reign on earth. The Christian cause shall prevail through all ages; while... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SUCH AS ARE IN THE SEA,— As the inhabitants of the watery element are necessarily mute, we are not to understand by this, that they seemed to grow vocal in the praises of Christ upon this occasion; but rather that _heaven, earth, and sea_ are used to signify, that all nature in its different way... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FOUR BEASTS SAID, AMEN,— It was the custom in the temple worship for the singers to make pauses. "In every Psalm, (say the Talmudists,) the music made three intermissions. At these intermissions the trumpets sounded, and the people worshipped!" _INFERENCES.—_It should fill us with unutterabl... [ Continue Reading ]