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The Lamb Opens the Scroll

Then I saw a scroll[a] in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne,[b] has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit[c] of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song with these words:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 And you have caused them to become
    a Kingdom of priests for our God.
    And they will reign[d] on the earth.”

11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
    to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and blessing.”

13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
    belong to the one sitting on the throne
    and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Or book; also in 5:2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9.
  2. 5:5 Greek the root of David. See Isa 11:10.
  3. 5:6 Greek which are the seven spirits.
  4. 5:10 Some manuscripts read they are reigning.

The Scroll with Seven Seals

I saw [a]in the right hand of Him who (A)sat on the throne a [b](B)scroll written inside and on the back, (C)sealed up with seven seals. And 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 began to weep 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 weeping; behold, the (F)Lion that is (G)from the tribe of Judah, the (H)Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

And I saw [c]between the throne (with the four living creatures) and (I)the elders a (J)Lamb standing, as if (K)slaughtered, having seven (L)horns and (M)seven eyes, which are [d](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)sat on the throne. 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 holding a (U)harp and (V)golden bowls full of incense, which are the (W)prayers of the [e]saints. And they *sang a (X)new song, saying,

(Y)Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were (Z)slaughtered, and You (AA)purchased people for God with Your blood from (AB)every tribe, language, people, and nation.

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

Angels Exalt the Lamb

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

(AJ)Worthy is the (AK)Lamb that was (AL)slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”

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

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

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

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 5:1 Lit upon
  2. Revelation 5:1 Or book, and so throughout the ch
  3. Revelation 5:6 Lit in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders
  4. Revelation 5:6 Possibly a symbolic reference to the Holy Spirit in His fullness, or to seven key angels
  5. Revelation 5:8 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  6. Revelation 5:11 Gr for 10,000s of 10,000s