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5:6 Gen 49:9 5:10 1Pet 2. 'kings' 5:11 Dan 7:10 5:12 riches 5:13 Apoc 4:11

4. St. John weeping, because no man could open the book sealed with seven seals; and the Lamb that was slain, opened it, which being done, the four beasts and twenty four seniors, with an innumerable multitude of Angels and all creatures, did glorify him exceedingly. 1 AND I saw in the right hand of him that sat upon the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong Angel, preaching with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man was able neither in heaven nor in earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor look on it. 4 And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it. 5 And one of the seniors said to me, Weep not: behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has won, to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I saw, and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts and in the midst of the seniors, a *Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven spirits of God, sent into all the earth. 7 And he came, and received the book out of the right hand of him that sat in the throne. 8 And when he had opened the book, the four beasts and the four and twenty seniors fell before the Lamb, having every one harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints: 9 and they sang a new canticle, saying, You are worthy O Lord to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: because you was slain, and have redeemed us to God in your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and *have made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth. 11 And I looked, and heard the voice of many Angels round about the throne, and of the beasts and of the seniors: and the number of them was *thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, The Lamb that was slain, is worthy to receive power, and *divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and benediction. 13 And every creature that is in heaven, and upon the earth, and under the earth, and that are in the sea, and that are therein: all did I hear saying, *To him that sits in the throne, and to the Lamb, benediction and honor and glory and power for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty seniors fell on their faces: and adored him that lives for ever and ever.

THE 3rd VISION 5:1 a book written: St. Gregory takes it to be the book of holy Scripture. (4.Dialog.) 5:3 under the earth: He speaks not of the damned in Hell, of whom there could be no question, but of the faithful in Abraham's bosom, and in Purgatory. 5:5 lion of the tribe of Judah: So did Jacob (Gen 49) call Christ, for his kingly fortitude in subduing the world unto him. 5:6 And I saw: The Epistle upon All Hallows' Eve.  A Lamb: So Christ is called for that he is the immaculate host or sacrifice for our sins. 5:9 because you was slain: This makes against the Calvinists who are not content to say that we merit not, but that Christ merited not for himself. (Calv. Pbi.lip.2.v.9) 5:11 The Epistle in a Votive Mass of the holy Angels. 5:13 and to the Lamb: All the creatures mentioned are bound to give honor, not only to God, but to Christ as man, and our Redeemer: and so they here do.

COMMENTARY (The Saints in heaven offer our prayers to God) 8. The prayers of Saints. Hereby it is plain that the saints in heaven offer up the prayers of faithful and holy persons in earth (called here saints and in Scripture often) unto Christ.  And among to many divine and unsearchable mysteries set down without exposition, it pleased God yet, that the Apostle himself should open this one point unto us, that these odors be the praise and prayers of the faithful, ascending and offered up to God as incense, by the Saints in heaven, that so the Protestants may have no excuse of their error, as if the Saints have no knowledge of our affairs or desires. (Spiritual kings and priests) 10. A kingdom and priests. To serve God and subdue vices and sins, is to reign or to be a king spiritually, likewise to offer unto him the sacrifices of good works, is to be a priest after a sort: though neither the one nor the other in proper speech.  See commentary before Chapter 1:6. (Limbo of the Fathers and Purgatory) 13. Every creature. He means the creatures in heaven, as Angels and Saints.  The holy persons in earth, and those that were in Limbo, or be in Purgatory (for of the damned in hell he can not speak in his case) lastly, of the peoples in islands (here called sea) which the Prophets use often, when they foretell the spreading of Christ's glory through the world, as Isa. 49. Here you islands and you people afar of etc.