The Scroll with Seven Seals

¹I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals. [Is 29:11; Ezek 2:9, 10; Dan 12:4]

²And I saw a strong angel announcing with a loud voice, “Who is worthy [having the authority and virtue] to open the scroll and to break its seals?”[#5:2 When the seals are broken, the consummation of history, focused in the judgments, is unveiled.]

³And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] was able to open the scroll or look into it.

⁴And I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it.

⁵Then one of the [twenty-four] elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and conquered! He can open the scroll and [break] its seven seals.” [Gen 49:9, 10; Is 11:1, 10; Rev 22:16]

⁶And there between the throne (with the four living creatures) and among the elders I saw a Lamb (Christ) standing, [bearing scars and wounds] as though it had been slain, with seven horns (complete power) and with seven eyes (complete knowledge), which are the seven Spirits of God who have been sent [on duty] into all the earth. [Is 53:7; Zech 3:8, 9; 4:10][#5:6 The Lamb is Jesus Christ, who stands “between,” in other words both as one with God upon the throne and as one with humanity around the throne.; #5:6 See note 1:4.]

⁷And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.[#5:7 Lit has taken . This is the Greek perfect tense, which John sometimes uses to emphasize the lasting significance of an action or event.]

⁸And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb (Christ), each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of fragrant incense, which are the prayers of the saints (God’s people).

⁹And they sang a new song [of glorious redemption], saying,

“Worthy and deserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. [Ps 33:3]

¹⁰“You have made them to be a kingdom [of royal subjects] and priests to our God; and they will reign on the earth.” [Ex 19:6; Is 61:6; Rev 20:6]

Angels Exalt the Lamb

¹¹Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and [the voice] of the living creatures and the elders; and they numbered myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands (innumerable), [Dan 7:10]

¹²saying in a loud voice,

“Worthy and deserving is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

¹³And I heard every created thing that is in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] or on the sea, and everything that is in them, saying [together],

“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Christ), be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” [Dan 7:13, 14]

¹⁴And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped [Him who lives forever and ever].