I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or to look in it. Then I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look in it. One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
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Revelation 5:2-5 sits inside this longer paragraph.
I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or to look in it. Then I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look in it. One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.” I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Parallel Translations
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I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”
No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or to look in it.
Then I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look in it.
One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
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And I sawe a stronge angell which cryed with a loude voyce: Who is worthy to open the boke and to loose the seales ther of.
And no man in heven ner in erth nether vnder the erth was able to open the boke nether to loke thereon.
And I wepte moche because no man was founde worthy to open and to rede the boke nether to loke thereon.
And one of the elders sayde unto me: wepe not: Beholde a lion beinge of the tribe of Iuda the rote of Dauid hath obtayned to open the boke and to lose the vii. seales ther of.
Show all 3 translations
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And I sawe a strong Angell which preached with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open ye booke, and to loose the seales thereof?
And no man in heauen, nor in earth, neither vnder the earth, was able to open the Booke, neither to looke thereon.
Then I wept much, because no man was foud worthy to open, and to reade the Booke, neither to looke thereon.
And one of the Elders saide vnto me, Weepe not: beholde, that Lion which is of the tribe of Iuda, that roote of Dauid, hath obteined to open the Booke, and to loose the seuen seales thereof.
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Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (31)
- Isaiah 11:1 (v5) A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.
- Jeremiah 23:5-6 (v5) “Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and he will reign as king and deal wisely, and will…
- Revelation 22:16 (v5) I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify these things to you for the assemblies. I am the root and the offspring of David, the Bright and…
- Romans 15:12 (v5) Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
- Isaiah 11:10 (v5) It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will…
Show all 31 cross-references
- Romans 1:3 (v5) concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh,
- Hebrews 7:14 (v5) For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
- Genesis 49:9-10 (v5) Judah is a lion’s cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him…
- Revelation 6:1 (v5) I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, “Come…
- Jeremiah 31:16 (v5) Yahweh says: “Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work will be rewarded,” says Yahweh. “They will come…
- Revelation 4:4 (v5) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold…
- Revelation 4:10 (v5) the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns…
- Revelation 7:13 (v5) One of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?”
- Isaiah 29:11-12 (v2) All vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is educated, saying, “Read this,…
- John 20:13 (v5) They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have…
- Revelation 1:1 (v5) This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and…
- Revelation 5:5 (v2) One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the…
- Numbers 24:9 (v5) He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is…
- Luke 7:13 (v5) When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.”
- Revelation 5:13 (v3) I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits…
- Isaiah 40:13-14 (v3) Who has directed Yahweh’s Spirit, or has taught him as his counselor? Who did he take counsel with, and who instructed him, and taught him…
- Romans 11:34 (v3) “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
- Revelation 10:1 (v2) I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet…
- Psalms 103:20 (v2) Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.
- Isaiah 41:22-23 (v2) “Let them announce and declare to us what will happen! Declare the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the…
- Isaiah 41:28 (v3) When I look, there is no man, even among them there is no counselor who, when I ask of them, can answer a word.
- Daniel 12:8-9 (v4) I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the…
- Luke 23:28 (v5) But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
- Luke 8:52 (v5) All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.”
- Revelation 18:21 (v2) A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city,…
- Revelation 4:1 (v4) After these things I looked and saw a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, like a trumpet speaking with me, was one…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (20 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv3, 5 Thus neither of them that are in heaven, nor…
Thus neither of them that are in heaven, nor of them which are in the earth, etc. And this I like better. Now this enumeration of parts is sufficient to the denying of the whole. For of the creatures one sort is in heaven above the earth: another in the earth: and another under the earth in the sea, as is after declared, verse 13.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv2–5 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with…
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Ver. 2. And I saw a strong angel] Angels are very desirous to know the mystery of Christ, 1Pe 1:12, and to profit daily in that knowledge, Eph 3:10.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv2–5 There were no weak angels, but possibly this angel…
There were no weak angels, but possibly this angel might, in appearance to John, look as if he were stronger than others; or rather, so judged from the great and
loud voice he used.
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Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? Not that he thought any was able, or worthy. We can only conclude from hence the impotency of men to search, and find out, and expound the deep things of God, and consequently the unlawfulness of too narrow a prying into his secret mysteries.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v2 Observe, 1. Here is a proclamation made by an…
Observe, 1. Here is a proclamation made by an extraordinary angel, like an herald or officer, inquiring who was worthy, either in regard of authority, or in respect of ability, to open this book, and unloose the seals, that is, to disclose the secret counsels of God, and to make them known unto the sons of men, implying, that every angel in heaven is not worthy or meet to be the expositor of God’s mind and mysteries unto man.
Observe, 2. The great silence which there was in heaven upon this proclamation, amounting to an absolute and peremptory denial, that not any one, either in heaven or earth, or under the earth; not any angel in heaven, nor any saint living upon earth; not any dead saint under the earth, nor any devil or infernal spirit; was either worthy to open the book, or able to foresee or foretell the least event concerning the church, farther than revealed to them.
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Learn hence, That neither angels nor devils do understand the mysterious counsels of God, or can reveal future things to man, any farther than as God is pleased to reveal the same unto them.
Observe, 3. St. John’s great and bitter lamentation, because no person was found worthy to open the book, and reveal unto the church the secret counsels of God concerning her, I wept much; fearing, no doubt, lest the church of God should be deprived of the benefit and comfort of this revelation. Such as are the true members of the church are greatly afflicted with all the providential dispensations of God which do befall her; but nothing goes so near them, as to have the mind and will of God hidden and concealed from her.
Observe, 4. A seasonable consolation given to St. John: one of the elders that were about the throne said to him, Weep not, for care is taken for the opening and revealing of the book. Christ, who is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Son of David, as man, and the root of David, as God, is found worthy, in regard of the divinity of his person, and the prevalency of his merits, to open unto the church all the mysteries of God, which are meet and convenient for her to understand and know.
Quest. Why is Christ called the Lion of the tribe of Judah?
Ans. In allusion to Jacob’s blessing, Genesis 49 where Judah is called a lion’s whelp, denoting the dignity and superiority of that tribe above the rest.
Now Christ descended of this tribe, and is called a lion, in regard of his kingly power and strength, in regard of his stoutness and courage, in regard of his mildness and clemency, and true nobleness of spirit, to them that submit and yield unto him, and in respect of his vigilancy and watchfulness over his church; all which are the known properties of the lion; and as that creature is the king of beasts, so is Christ King of kings, and Lord of lords, the only potentate; dominion and fear are with him.
Quest. But how could Christ be called David’s root, when we know that David did not spring from him, but he from David, according to the flesh?
Ans. In a natural sense, David was the root of David. David, as man, was the root of Christ: Christ, as Mediator and Godman, was the root of David. Thus he was both David’s lord, and David’s son, Psa 110:1.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv2–5 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a…
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice,.... This was not the uncreated angel, Jesus Christ; for he is after spoken of as the lion of the tribe of Judah, and as the Lamb in the midst of the throne, but a created one; though who he was, whether Gabriel, as some say, because his name signifies the strong or mighty One of God, is not material to be known; angels are said to be mighty, and to excel in strength: this is called so here, chiefly with respect to his voice, which he, by reason of his great strength, exerted so loudly, as to be heard by all the creatures in heaven, and in earth, and under the earth however, this was not John the Baptist, but if a minister of the Gospel, rather some one since, making the following proclamation:
who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? suggesting, that if there was any such person, that he was desired to come, and do it; and it seems, that he must not only be one of power and ability, but of dignity and authority, a person of greatness and worth, from whence his ability arises; as he ought to be that can engage his heart to draw nigh to God, and take a book out of his right hand, this mysterious book of the Revelation, as it was indeed while sealed; and open and explain it to others, unseal it or exhibit it, as it afterwards was in the following scenes and visions, and gave a view of all that is contained in it; and not only so, but fulfil and accomplish all the prophecies in it; and who can, or is worthy to do all this, but he that sits at the right hand of God, and who is God as well as man? and this proclamation was made to stir up an earnest desire in John, and all the saints he represents, to know what was in this book; and to show the impotence of all creatures to make any discovery of it; and to illustrate, and set off with a greater foil, the glory, excellency, ability, and worth of Jesus Christ. There seems to be an allusion to the president of the temple calling to the priests under him, to attend to the several parts of service assigned them, saying unto them, , "whosoever is worthy, let him" do so and so (c).
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(c) Misna Tamid, c. 1. sect. 4. & c. 5. sect. 4. 5.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv2–5 And I saw a strong angel - This proclamation…
And I saw a strong angel - This proclamation to every creature was too great for a man to make, and yet not becoming the Lamb himself. It was therefore made by an angel, and one of uncommon eminence.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv2–5 Verse 2. A strong angel] One of the chief…
Verse 2. A strong angel] One of the chief of the angelic host.
Proclaiming] As the herald of God.
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To open the book, and to loose the seals] To loose the seals that he may open the book. Who can tell what this book contains? Who can open its mysteries? The book may mean the purposes and designs of God relative to his government of the world and the Church; but we, whose habitation is in the dust, know nothing of such things. We are, however, determined to guess.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv2, 4 Rev 5:2-3. And I saw a strong angel, &c.…
Rev 5:2-3. And I saw a strong angel, &c. — I beheld in my vision an angel of chief power, as attendant upon the heavenly court, making proclamation, with a strong audible voice, to every creature; a proclamation too great for a man to make, and yet not becoming the Lamb himself, and therefore made by an angel, and one of uncommon eminence. Who is worthy to open the book, &c. — Is any being able and fit to reveal and make known the counsels of God registered in this book, and to bring them into execution? And no man — Greek, ουδεις, no one, no creature; no, not the Virgin Mary herself; in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth — That is, none in the universe; for these are the three great regions into which the whole creation is divided; was able to open the book — To declare the counsels of God; neither to look thereon — So as to understand any part of it.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv2–5 And I saw a strong angel - An angel…
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. Stuart). The inquiry to be made was one of vast importance; it was to be made of all in heaven, all on the earth, and all under the earth, and hence an angel is introduced so mighty that his voice could be heard in all those distant worlds.
Proclaiming with a loud voice - That is, as a herald or crier. He is rather introduced here as appointed to this office than as self-moved. The design undoubtedly is to impress the mind with a sense of the importance of the disclosures about to be made, and at the same time with a sense of the impossibility of penetrating the future by any created power. That one of the highest angels should make such a proclamation would sufficiently show its importance; that such an one, by the mere act of making such a proclamation, should practically confess his own inability, and consequently the inability of all of similar rank, to make the disclosures, would show that the revelations of the future were beyond mere created power.
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Who is worthy to open the book, ... - That is, who is “worthy” in the sense of having a rank so exalted, and attributes so comprehensive, as to authorize and enable him to do it. In other words, who has the requisite endowments of all kinds to enable him to do it? It would require moral qualities of an exalted character to justify him in approaching the seat of the holy God, to take the book from his hands; it would require an ability beyond that of any created being to penetrate the future, and disclose the meaning of the symbols which were employed. The fact that the book was held in the hand of him that was on the throne, and sealed in this manner, was in itself a sufficient proof that it was not his purpose to make the disclosure directly, and the natural inquiry arose whether there was anyone in the wide universe who, by rank, or character, or office, would be empowered to open the mysterious volume.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv3, 5 No man was able,[2] &c. As to the contents,…
No man was able,[2] &c. As to the contents, some understand the prophecies and mysteries both of the Old and New Testament; others, the events that should afterwards happen to the Church of Christ, as various persecutions against Christians. Alcazar would have the sense of these words to be, that only Christ and his Spirit could open the book to others, and make them believe and know the punishments prepared for the wicked, and the reward reserved for God’s faithful servants. (Witham)
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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]
Aperire librum, neque videre illum, Greek: blepein kai anagnonai, legere.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv2–5 strong-- (Psa 103:20). His voice penetrated heaven, earth, and…
strong-- (Psa 103:20). His voice penetrated heaven, earth, and Hades (Rev 10:1-3).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv2–5 2. Strong angel—Personal physical vigour is implied in the…
2. Strong angel—Personal physical vigour is implied in the word strong, as in Rev_10:1; Rev_18:21. The present angel is strong, as being herald and challenger for God. Who is competent to break the seals that Jehovah has stamped? Who may reveal the secrets of the future, “which the Father has reserved in his own power?” Act_1:7. Dusterdieck’s statement, that as the seven trumpets spring from the seventh seal, and the seven vials from the seventh trumpet, so the Apocalyptic revelation is at first all enclosed in the seals, is nearly true. But the sixth chapter is not in the real series, but a contrastive picture without, and over against, the seals. And as this strong angel is without the real series, so the parallel strong angel of chapter x is outside the series, both being one of the personal managers of the panorama. And as the challenging question of this verse dimly suggests Michael, so Gabriel seems suggested by Rev_10:1; where see note.
A loud voice—Which (next verse) was so loud and strong as to peal through heaven and earth.
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Who is— This may be an allusion to the name Michael, which signifies, Who is like God?
Worthy—If force could have torn up the divine seals, the strong angel who issues the challenge might, perhaps, have accepted the task. It was, however, the highest worthiness, desert, dignity, alone which could presume to open the divine seals of futurity.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. no man] Better, no one—the term includes others…
3. no man] Better, no one—the term includes others as well as men.
under the earth] i.e. in the world of the dead. In view of Rev_5:13, we can hardly make it mean “in the sea,” on the analogy of Exo_20:4 fin.
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neither to look thereon] Which would have enabled him to read some fragments of its contents, viz. as much as was written on the outer fold of the back of the roll.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv2–5 (2) And I saw a strong (better, mighty) angel…
(2) And I saw a strong (better, mighty) angel proclaiming with (or, in) a loud voice, Who is worthy . . .—We must not let the word “worthy” pass as though it were simply equivalent to “strong enough.” It seems to imply moral fitness (comp. Rom_1:4), which is the true strength in the heavenly world. It was not lack of intellectual capacity so much as the taint of moral unworthiness which hindered the reading of the book. This is in harmony with what we have noticed before. “To commune with God, there is need of no subtle thought, no foreign tongue, no newest philosophy: ‘ the pure in heart shall see Him:’ and Fox and Bunyan can more truly make Him known than ‘masters of sentences’ and ‘ angelic doctors.’” Those who are willing to do God’s will know of God’s doctrine. This thought corresponds, too, with the stress which is laid (in Rev_5:5) on the victory of Christ. It is not simply as divine Son of God, but also as victorious Saviour and King of His people, that He opens the book: His worthiness has been established in conflict and temptation (Joh_14:30; Heb_2:9; Heb_4:15).
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv2–5 And I saw (see on ver. 1). A strong…
And I saw (see on ver. 1). A strong angel; iscuron , rendered "mighty" in Rev_10:1. Possibly, as De Wette and others think, so called because of higher rank De Lyra says Gabriel; but probably on account of the great voice, which sounded "as a lion roareth". (Rev_10:3) Proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? with a great voice. "Worthy" is axiov , fit morally, as in Joh_1:27.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv3–5 3. And no one in the heaven, or on…
3. And no one in the heaven, or on the earth … was able to open the book. No one (the word man does not occur in the Greek) was found able to open the book, for no one can penetrate the future. It is held in the strong right hand of Him who sits on the throne, the omnipotent disposer of the future, who controls the destiny of churches, men, and nations. The sweep of the panorama, that has pictured forth upon its canvas the destiny of the Church and the world, cannot begin until the seals of this book are opened. Had no one been found able to open the seals, the closing book of the Bible would never have been written.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v2 (See Scofield "Heb 1:4")
angel
(See Scofield "Heb 1:4")
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v5 The Lamb that was slain:
The Lamb that was slain:
v. 5. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.
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v. 6. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
v. 7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.
The flood of tears which John’s love for the Church had caused him to weep was soon stopped: And one of the elders says to me, Do not weep; behold, the Lion out of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the Root of David, to open the scroll and its seven seals. One of the twenty-four elders that sat on twenty-four thrones about the central throne of the Lord comforted John with a wonderful word of consolation, bidding him not to weep. The Church at all times has the best, the most reliable comfort for all situations in life, from the Word of God’s grace. Lifting up his finger with impressive solemnity, the elder pointed out the true Comforter, who in His humiliation resembled a lamb, was the Lamb of God, but now, in His exaltation, is the victorious Lion Jesus Christ, the Lion out of the tribe of Judah, Gen 49:9-10, set out to conquer all the enemies of mankind, and He, the God-man, did overcome and vanquish them all. He, the Root of David, Isa 11:1-10, that grew up as a root out of dry ground, a shoot of a stem that had practically died, He had prevailed, He had gained the victory. And so the result was that He could loose the seals and unroll the scroll of the counsels of God. The only-begotten Son of God has revealed the Father to us, and He is still making known to us what we need to know for this short life, until we leave its trials and problems behind us and enter into the presence where all that we must know shall be revealed to us in glory. Note: in the great work of redemption and government of the Church the Lord, our heavenly Father, does not deal with us directly, but through His Son, Jesus Christ. Just as Christ wrought a complete vicarious redemption for us, so He is active as our Prophet to this day, making known to us the gracious and good will of the Father.
John having dashed away the tears of his weeping was gladdened by a wonderful sight: And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living beings and in the midst of the elders a Lamb standing as having been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth. The description is such as to concentrate the entire attention of the reader upon that wonderful Lamb: Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, is the center of all contemplation in the New Testament. The Lamb was in the very midst of elders and cherubs, it occupied the very throne of God. He bore the marks of having been slain, it was still to be noticed that He had been the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, and yet He stood forth in triumphant power. For He possessed seven horns and seven eyes, which the prophet himself explains as signifying the sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of wisdom and of knowledge, who searches all things, even the deep things of God. In Christ all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. The powers of Christ’s Holy Spirit go forth into the world and gain one victory after the other for the Lamb that was slain, as He wills it.
That Christ, He who was slain for the sins of the world, but has now been exalted to the right hand of the power of God, is immeasurably supreme over all creatures is shown by the action which is ascribed to Him: And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. That was Christ, the patient Lamb of God, but also Christ, the conquering Lion out of the tribe of Judah. He was worthy and fit, He had the right and the power to go to His heavenly Father and receive from Him the counsels concerning the Church. He alone is the proper interpreter of the divine counsel, for He Himself is the Ruler, to whom the Father has entrusted the Kingdom. As the eternal God. coordinated Kith the Father in majesty and power, also according to His human nature, Jesus is the Head of the congregation, over all, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all, Eph 1:23. Thus Jesus Christ is on the throne of the Father, but also in the midst of His Church, and therefore the fortunes of the believers are safe in His hands
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v3 in heaven or on the earth or under the…
in heaven or on the earth or under the earth
This means everywhere: the place where God and the angels live, the place where people and animals live, and the place where those who have died are. AT: "anywhere in heaven or on the earth or under the earth" (See: Merism)
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Look
"Listen" or "Pay attention to what I am about to tell you"
The Lion of the tribe of Judah
This is a title for the man from the tribe of Judah that God had promised would be the great king. AT: "The one who is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah" or "The king who is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah"
The Lion
The king is spoken of as if he were a lion because a lion is very strong. (See: Metaphor)
the Root of David
This is a title for the descendant of David that God had promised would be the great king. AT: "the one who is called the Root of David"
the Root of David
The descendant is spoken of as if David's family were a tree and he were a root of that tree. AT: "the Descendant of David" (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
heaven
scroll
worthy
elder
lions
tribe
Judah
David
seal
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv2, 4, 5 5:2-3 At first, no one in the entire universe…
5:2-3 At first, no one in the entire universe seemed to have the divine authority or power to answer the angel’s call.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.