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No one found worthy to open the scroll 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals. 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? 3 And no man was able, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it. 5:1 book: This is the most wise memory of God in which, according to David, all people are recorded, as well as the depths of the divine judgments. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) That the sealed book means all Scripture;—is the opinion of Gregory, Rupert of Deutz, and Richard of St. Victor. That it means the Old and New Testaments;—is the interpretation of Tyconius, Pseudo-Ambrose, Bede, and Haimo. That it means either the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, or rather the dispensation of man's redemption as contained in them;—is the notion of Primasius, St. Ambrosius Autpertus, the authors of the Glossa Ordinaria, Hugo, Albert, and Aquinas. seven seals: The seven seals unveil the sevenfold distinctions of the revealed will of God in seven revelations, or what is to take place in seven periods of history. (Nicholas of Lyra) Cornelius a Lapide refers the seals to the things which were to happen in future times in the church, especially under Antichrist; to the end of the world and to the last judgment. 5:2 strong angel: This seems to have been Gabrial who is interpreted as God’s might. (Nicholas of Lyra) or when he says a strong angel he does not mean some certain specific angel, since the word angel is in the Greek put without the article; which both the Greeks and John himself always do when no certain and definite person is indicated. (Francisco Ribera) 5:3 under the earth: namely the souls in Hades. (St. Thomas Aquinas Sum Theo) The Lamb opens the scroll 5 And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not; behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, has prevailed 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 living creatures, and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. 8 And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures, and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints: 5:5 lion of the tribe of Juda: He is called a Lion, not as a devourer of men, but indicating as it were by the title His kingly. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem Lec 10.3) root of David: on account of his humanity. (St. Andrew Of Caesarea) 5:6 lamb standing as it were slain: He truly is a lamb on account of his meekness and the fact that He sacrificed himself as a holy sacrifice on our behalf. (Bulus al-Bushi) or the lamb means the humanity united to the divinity. (Richard of St. Victor) seven: The sevenfold Spirit in Christ is compared with horns, because of the excellency of power; and with eyes, because of the illumination of grace, (St. Bede) or signifies the sevenfold operation of the septiform Spirit. (St. Ambrosius Autpertus) 5:7 Since the Father , the Holy Spirit, and the Son are of one substance in the Deity, why does he say that the Lamb took the book out of the right hand of him that sat? For this reason; because He who was made a Lamb as it had been slain, the very Man assumed by the Word of God, took it not only from the Father and the Holy Spirit, but also from the divinity of the Word himself, buy which He took it. Moreover He took the book when He actually completed the things which had been foretold concerning Himself. (Haimo of Auxerre) Or He takes it from Himself indeed, who is the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. That is, the Son of Man takes it from His own divinity. (St. Ambrosius Autpertus) 5:8 The harps signify the perfect harmony of faith and works, but the bowls full of odours signify the prayers and supplications of the just. (Cassiodorus Exp Rev) prayers of the saints: The Christian prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and is never out of their holy keeping; and though he prays alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him in prayer. (St. Clement of Alexandria Misc 7.12) The three songs of praise: adoration of the living creatures and elders 9 And they sung 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 on the earth. 5:9-10 new canticle: The song is about He who died and promised the salvation of all, and conferred priesthood in a general manner, and promised the kingdom of heaven to the faithful. (Cassiodorus Exp Rev) kingdom and priests: That is, participants of a kingdom. and priests: The sacrifices of praise being offered to God. (Nicholas of Lyra) shall reign on earth: This is because all shall be of one will with God, and God shall will what the Saints will, and the Saints shall will whatsoever God wills; so, in the will of God shall their will be done. All, therefore, shall reign, because the will of all shall be done. (St. Thomas Aquinas On Pat Nost) Adoration of the Angels 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the living creatures, and the ancients; 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 honour, and glory, and benediction. 5:12 Worthy is the Lamb to receive power, so that the same power and strength which is in the Word is also in the Manhood assumed; so that God and Man can do all things: ' and divinity,' because in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ' and wisdom,' that like as the Word begotten from the Father before all ages knows all things, so also the Man himself knows, as being conjoined with the Word in unity of person. (Haimo of Auxerre) Understand that the human nature in Christ so merited to be united in the divinity to the power and wisdom of God, as that God and man should be one power, God and man one person, God and man one wisdom of God. (St. Ambrosius Autpertus) Adoration of all creation 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: I heard all saying: To him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, benediction, and honour, and glory, and power, for ever and ever. 14 And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their faces, and adored him that lives for ever and ever. 5:13 The mention of Heaven means that all Heavenly things must praise Him, the mention of earth all earthly things, the mention of the sea all things that swim. (Cassiodorus Ex Ps 68.35) Bible Cross Reference
11: Daniel 7:10.
Key Words
2 angel 3 man heaven 5 tribe of Juda David 6 Lamb God 8 prayers saints. 9 redeemed 10 priests 14 Amen
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