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The Scroll and the Lamb

Then I saw [a]in the right hand of Him who (A)sits on the throne a (B)scroll written inside and on the back, (C)sealed up with seven seals. Then I saw a (D)strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” And no one (E)in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Then I was crying greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop crying! Behold, the (F)Lion that is (G)from the tribe of Judah, the (H)Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and in the midst of (I)the elders a (J)Lamb standing, as if (K)slain, having seven (L)horns and (M)seven eyes, which are (N)the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took (O)the scroll out of the right hand of Him who (P)sits on the throne. And when He had taken the scroll, the (Q)four living creatures and the (R)twenty-four elders (S)fell down before the (T)Lamb, each one having a (U)harp and (V)golden bowls full of incense, which are the (W)prayers of the [b]saints. And they *sang a (X)new song, saying,

(Y)Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were (Z)slain and (AA)purchased for God with Your blood people from (AB)every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 And You made them to be a (AC)kingdom and (AD)priests to our God, and they will (AE)reign upon the earth.”

Angels Worship the Lamb

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels (AF)around the throne and the (AG)living creatures and the (AH)elders; and the number of them was (AI)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

(AJ)Worthy is the (AK)Lamb that was (AL)slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”

13 And (AM)every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,

“To Him who (AN)sits on the throne, and to the (AO)Lamb, (AP)be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.”

14 And the (AQ)four living creatures kept saying, “(AR)Amen.” And the (AS)elders (AT)fell down and worshiped.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 5:1 Lit upon
  2. Revelation 5:8 Or holy ones

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides and was ·kept closed [L sealed] with seven seals [C a wax stamp that sealed a document shut]. And I saw a ·powerful [mighty] angel ·calling [proclaiming] in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or look inside it. I cried ·bitterly [L much] because there was no one who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not cry! [L Look; T Behold] The Lion from the tribe of Judah [C a messianic title; Gen. 49:9–10], ·David’s descendant [L the root of David; C a messianic title applied to Christ; Is. 11:10], has ·won the victory [overcome; conquered] so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb [C Jesus] standing ·in the center of the throne and in the middle of the four living creatures and the elders [or between the throne and the living creatures and among the elders]. The Lamb looked as if he had been ·killed [slaughtered; slain]. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God [C either angels or the “sevenfold Spirit”; see 1:4] that were sent into all the world. The Lamb came and ·took [received] the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders [4:4] ·bowed down [fell] before the Lamb. Each one of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s holy people [Ps. 141:2]. And they all sang a new song [Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 98:1] to the Lamb:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were ·killed [slaughtered; slain],
    and with ·the blood of your death [L your blood] you ·bought [ransomed; purchased; redeemed] people for God
    from every tribe, language, people, and nation.
10 You made them to be a kingdom ·of priests [or and priests; Ex. 19:6] for our God,
    and they will ·rule [reign; C other manuscripts have “they reign” (present tense)] on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the four living creatures, and the elders. There were ·thousands and thousands [L myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands; C a myriad can mean either ten thousand or many thousands; here means “countless”] of angels, 12 saying in a loud voice:

“The Lamb who was ·killed [slaughtered; slain] is worthy
to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength,
honor, glory, and ·praise [or blessing]!”

13 Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying:

“To the One who sits on the throne
    and to the Lamb
be ·praise [or blessing] and honor and glory and power
    forever and ever.”

14 The four living creatures said, “Amen [C Hebrew for “so be it”],” and the elders ·bowed down [fell] and worshiped.