羔羊与封印的书卷

接着,我看见坐在宝座上的那位右手拿着一卷内外写着字、用七个印封住的书。 有一位大力天使高声问道:“谁有资格揭开那七个封印,打开那卷书?” 可是,天上、地上、甚至地底下都没有人有资格揭开并阅读那卷书。 我见无人有资格揭开并阅读那卷书,便放声大哭。 有一位长老对我说:“不要哭。你看,犹大支派的狮子、大卫的根已经得胜了!祂能揭开那七个封印,打开那卷书。”

我又看到宝座、四个活物和众长老之间站着一只好像是被宰杀过的羔羊。祂身上的七只角和七只眼睛代表奉差遣到普天下去的上帝的七灵。 那羔羊走上前去,从坐在宝座上的那位右手中接过书卷。 祂拿过书卷后,四个活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前,各拿着竖琴和盛满了香的金香炉。那些香就是众圣徒的祈祷。 他们唱着一首新歌:

“你配拿书卷并揭开封印,
因你曾被杀,
用你的血从各部落、各语言族群、各民族、各国家,
将人买赎回来归给上帝。
10 你又使他们成为上帝的国度和祭司,
他们要在地上执掌王权。”

11 我看见宝座、四个活物和众长老的周围有千千万万的天使,又听见他们高声呼喊: 12 “那被杀的羔羊配得权柄、财富、智慧、能力、尊贵、荣耀和颂赞!”

13 我又听到天上、地上、地底下和海洋中一切被造之物同声说:“愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀和权柄都归于坐在宝座上的那位和羔羊,直到永永远远!” 14 四个活物就说:“阿们!”众长老也俯伏敬拜。

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

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.

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

And I saw lying on the [a]open hand of Him Who was seated on the throne a scroll (book) written within and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals;(A)

And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll? And [who is entitled and deserves and is morally fit] to break its seals?

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in the realm of the dead, Hades] was able to open the scroll or to take a [single] look at its contents.

And I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it.

Then one of the elders [[b]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!(B)

And there between the throne and the four living creatures (beings) and among the elders [[c]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [[d]the sevenfold Holy Spirit] Who have been sent [on duty far and wide] into all the earth.(C)

He then went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne.

And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [[e]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each was holding a harp (lute or guitar), and they had golden bowls full of incense (fragrant spices and gums for burning), which are the prayers of God’s people (the saints).

And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.(D)

10 And You have made them a kingdom (royal race) and priests to our God, and they shall reign [as kings] over the earth!(E)

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels on every side of the throne and of the living creatures and the elders [[f]of the heavenly Sanhedrin], and they numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands,(F)

12 Saying in a loud voice, Deserving is the Lamb, Who was sacrificed, to receive all the power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and majesty (glory, splendor) and blessing!

13 And I heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth [in Hades, the place of departed spirits] and on the sea and all that is in it, crying out together, To Him Who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed the blessing and the honor and the majesty (glory, splendor) and the power (might and dominion) forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities)!(G)

14 Then the four living creatures (beings) said, Amen (so be it)! And the elders [[g]of the heavenly Sanhedrin] prostrated themselves and worshiped Him Who lives forever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 5:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  2. Revelation 5:5 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
  3. Revelation 5:6 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
  4. Revelation 5:6 Richard of St. Victor, cited by Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
  5. Revelation 5:8 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
  6. Revelation 5:11 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.
  7. Revelation 5:14 George R. Berry, Greek-English New Testament Lexicon.