Revelation 5

Revelation 5:1

The vision of the sealed Book, and of the Lamb that was found worthy to open it, and on that accclamation of the whole choir of angels and throughout.

REVELATION V. 1.

AND, having observed the particulars mentioned above, I saw on the right hand of him who sat on the glorious throne already described, the volume of a book, or scrole, written on both sides, within and without; for though I saw only the outside, perceiving it inscribed with characters, I naturally concluded the inside was full; and, as it was rolled up, it was sealed with seven strong seals, each of which belonged to a distinct leaf. And I saw a mighty angel, who wore, in his appearance, the evident marks of dignity and power, proclaiming with a great voice, and saying, Who is worthy to open the mysterious book, which is in the hand of God, and to loose its seals, and so to disclose its wonderful contents? And upon this I saw an universal blank confusion upon every countenance; so that it plainly appeared, that no one, among all the creatures of God, in heaven, or upon earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into it: 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 open and read the book; nor, indeed, so much as to look into it. And as the grand act of adoration, in which the elders

• Written on both sides, within and without.] Mr. Lowman, after Grotius, hath observed, that there ought to be a stop after the word within, (1750,) and that it should be rendered, written within, and sealed on the back side. But the learned Dr Hammond hath very well defended the sense given in the paraphrase; observing, that it appears in the process, that

the opening of every single seal brings forth some new representation; which could not be the case, if all the seals were on the back side; for then they must all be opened, before any part of the book could be discovered, &c. And therefore it must be concluded, that each seal belonged to a distinct leaf.

and the Lamb only was worthy to open the seals of it.

had joined with the living creatures, to him that sat on the throne, was over, one of the elders said to me, Weep not; behold, the Lion, who is of the tribe of Judah, (that excellent Person to whom that oracle relating to Judah, in which he was described under the token of a lion, to represent his invincible strength, by which he shall triumph over all his enemies, (Gen. xlix. 9, 10,) principally referred;) he hath conquered this great difficulty: He, who is the Root, that was to spring from the stock of David, when it seemed to be withered in the earth, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose its seven seals; so that thou shalt soon hear its contents; for he is appointed by God to penetrate and discover those secret decrees, which are concealed from every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth. And I beheld, and lo, to my great astonishment, in the middle space between the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, who made a kind of semicircle about them, there stood this illustrious Person, whose title I had just been hearing; and, though he was spoken of by the name of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, to express the terrors of his wrath against his implacable enemies, the symbol of his Person, in this mysterious vision, was very different; for he appeared as a Lamb, who had been slain for sacrifice, and wore the recent marks of slaughter, in the blood on his throat and breast; and this Lamb was of a very uncommon form, having seven horns and seven eyes, instead of two of each; and this I understood as a mysterious representation of extraordinary power and knowledge, and of the wonderful degree in which the Spirit of God was poured out upon the Person whom this visionary Lamb represented; for these are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth; they

b Seven Spirits of God.] Comparing this text with chap. viii. 2, I must acknowledge, that this is indeed to be understood of seven angels. Mr. Mede infers from hence, that there are, in fact, seven archangels, who perside over all the rest. But I cannot allow the consequence to be certain. We sometimes read of four

spirits, sent forth as these are said to be. (Zech. vi. 5;) and, I think, the whole it amounts to, is, that there are many celestial spirits, who are the instruments of that Providence which Christ exercises over the earth, who bring to him an account of what passes, and receive and execute his commands. But, by the way,

he elders and the living creatures sung his

represent that Divine energy, which operates every where ; and of exerting which, the most illustrious angels have often the honour to be the ministers. And he came near to the seat of Majesty, and took the book out of the right hand of him who sate upon the throne ; which I understood as a symbol, to intimate that the Lord Jesus Christ, whom I knew to be represented by this slaughtered Lamb, was appointed to reveal the secret decrees of God, and to give me those discoveries which I so much desired to receive. And when he received the Book in the manner I have described, the four living creatures, and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, in token of humble reverence and adoration ; and these elders appeared as a choir of humble worshippers in the temple of God, having every one harps of gold, with which they played in sweet harmony, to aid the music of their voices ; and they had also golden vials, or censers, full of perfumes, which are the prayers of the saints ; for, as I understood these elders to be the representatives of the church, I apprehended that, in allusion to the incense offered in the temple while the people were praying, this circumstance had a reference to prayer, and was intended to shew how acceptable it is to God, when it proceeds from a holy and an upright heart. And they sang 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 sang in the temple at Jerusalem ; saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, from the hand of God, and to open the seals thereof ; for thou, O blessed Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, thou wast slain to expiate our guilt, and thou hast redeemed us to God by thy precious blood,

his will no more prove, that he is under necessity of receiving intelligence from him, or of using their assistance, than the parallel passage of Zechariah will prove it of God the Father, Zech. iv. 2, 10. But Dr. Scott very justly argues, that as they are called the seven eyes of the Lord in that text, and here of the Lamb, it is an argument for the exaltation of the Man

Christ Jesus, above the highest angel in heaven.

Vials, or censers.] These, (as Mr. Lowman observes,) were not small bottles, such as are now called vials ; but cups on a plate, like a teacup and saucer, in allusion to the censers of gold in which the priests offered incense in the temple

as did likewise a great multitude of angels.

by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; from the dominion of sin, the tyranny of sa- sanct. viii. tant, the curse of the law, and the wrath of a justly incensed Deity; whose servants and fa- rev. vourites we are now become, in consequence of thy kind and gracious interposition. And we are now assembled round his throne, out of every tribe, and language, and people, and na- tion, near and afar off, sacred and profane, learned and barbarous; wherever we were dis- v. 9

ersed, thou hast found us, and into whatever bondage and misery we were sunk, thy power and thy mercy have rescued us; And thou hast made us to our God, kings and priests; we are robed in purity and majesty, we are crown- ed with gold; and here we appear in these priestly offices, which we perform with the splendour of princes; and we shall reign on earth: the Christian cause shall prevail through all ages; while the happy souls who have passed courageously through their trials upon earth, come hither in their appointed seasons, and share the honours of thy triumphant king- dom. And I beheld this glorious scene with: inexpressible pleasure; and while my soul was all attention, I also heard the voice of many an- gels round about the throne, and of the living creatures, which betokened in general the an- gelic nature, and of the elders which represent- ed the church. And a multitude appeared joining the choir, so exceeding great, that the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands; I was ready to appre- hend that neither thousands nor millions were sufficient to express them. And there was not so much as a jarring voice, or a cold and languid heart in the whole assembly; but, with united ardour and harmony, they were saying, with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered, to receive power over universal na- ture, and all the riches it can boast. Worthy is he, to whom we should ascribe consummate and unsearchable wisdom, and resistless might, and peerless honour, and resplendent glory, and

d Of many angels, and of the living these animals which represented their creatures.] This plainly shews, that there nature; a circumstance, which I do not was an appearance of angels, as well as of remember in the vision of Ezekiel.

Re actions on the vision of the Lamb slave

immortal blessing; even he, who once appeared under a cloud of weakness and poverty, and under the imputation of folly, loaded with dishonour and infamy, with reproaches and curses: worthy is he, of all the dignity and glory, the benediction and homage of all the heavenly world, throughout the endless ages of eternity! And while the multitude of the heavenly hosts were singing this sublime anthem, every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, even all things that are in them, in every various form of nature, seemed to echo back the voice; and I heard them saying, To him who sits upon the throne, and to his Son the Lamb, the worthy Partaker of his throne and kingdom, [be] perpetual blessing, and the profoundest honour, and consummate glory, and almighty strength, ascribed for ever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen, to this hymn, to testify their hearty concurrence; and, at the same time, the twenty four elders fell down before the throne, and worshipped him who liveth for ever and ever; acknowledging him to be infinitely superior to all those services which the most exalted powers of created nature are capable of rendering.

IMPROVEMENT.

Er should fill us with unutterable joy, when we lift up our eyes to the throne of God, that we there discern the Lamb wearing the marks of slaughter. We should then gratefully remember his dying love; for it is his precious blood which cleanses us from all sin, and emboldens our addresses to God, conscious as we are, that our guilt is attended with great aggravations. Surely, had it been queried, with respect to the great atonement to be made for our transgressions, as it was with respect to the opening these seals, Who is worthy to complete this gracious undertaking? we should have seen with unspeakable anguish, that none in heaven, or on earth, would have been found equal to the task.

As the inhabitants of the ways, concurred in the praise; that is, that the whole constitution of it contributed to furnish out matter of praise; just as inanimate, as well as rational creatures, are called upon to praise God in several of the psalms, especially Psal. exhii.

On opening the first seal, a white horse appears :

But here likewise, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed. How divinely is he furnished for the high station he sustains, and for all the glorious services assigned to him! What amazing power, what adorable wisdom is implied in the seven horns, and seven eyes, with which he is here delineated? and O! what love, in submitting to be slain, that he might redeem us to God by his blood! With the prayers of the saints, which come up before God as incense, may they ever mingle their most ardent praises for this Divine condescension. And out of gratitude to their Redeemer, let them rejoice to see the glorious change in his condition, from his humiliation and sufferings on earth, to his exaltation and reward in heaven: and let them ardently long for the happy season, when the full choir of the redeemed, from every nation, and people, and tongue, shall unite in this joyful acclamation, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. In this world the disciples of Christ are only a little flock, but when they stand together upon the heavenly mountain, they shall appear ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; and all the harmony of their voices, and all the ardour of their souls, inconceivably improved as all their powers will be, shall be united on this happy occasion. Form us, O Lord, we entreat thee, for this Divine employment, and teach us, in some measure, to anticipate its pleasure, in these regions below. Even now, in spirit and intention, we prostrate ourselves before thee, and lay down the crowns, which faith, as it were, hath already received, at thy feet; giving glory to him who sitteth upon the throne, and celebrating the victories and honours of the Lamb.