The coming of the Lamb
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written on both sides, sealed with seven seals.
2 A mighty angel exclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open this and break the seals?”
3 But no one in heaven or on earth or in the netherworld was found able to open the book and read it.
4 I wept much when I saw that no one was found worthy to open the book and read it.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Shoot of David, has conquered; he will open the book of the seven seals.”
6 And I saw next to the throne with its four living creatures and the twenty-four elders a Lamb standing, although it had been slain. I saw him with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out to all the earth.
7 The Lamb moved forward and took the book from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
8 When he took it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed before the Lamb. They all held in their hands harps and golden cups full of incense which are the prayers of the holy ones.
9 This is the new song they sang:
You are worthy to take the book
and open its seals,
for you were slain
and by your blood you purchased for God
people of every race, language and nation;
10 and you made them a kingdom and priests for our God
and they shall reign over the land.
11 I went on looking; I heard the noise of a multitude of angels gathered around the throne, the living creatures and the elders, num bering millions of millions, crying out with a loud voice:
12 Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive
power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor, glory and praise.
13 Then I heard the voice of the whole universe, heaven, earth, sea and the place of the dead; every creature cried out:
To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb
be praise, honor, glory and power for ever and ever.
14 And the four living creatures said, Amen, while the elders bowed down and worshiped.
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Comments Revelation, Chapter 5
• 5.1 The vision continues with the ap pearance of two new elements: the sealed Book and the Lamb. The history of Israel (which can be read in the Bible) and Christ.
John’s readers had a book, the Old Testa ment. For those among them of Jewish origins, it was the history of their people. It was also to be with the New Testament) the book of all the Christians, and in some way it contains the meaning of universal history, since this history was preparing for the salvation of all humankind.
Jerusalem had been destroyed some twenty years before, according to Jesus’ prophecy (Mk 13), and Christians of Jewish descent were asking themselves: If Christ is the promised Savior, why did the history of Israel end in such disasters? Why did the Jewish people, instructed by the Bible, not recognize their Savior?
Here we are told that though the events are in the Book, the Book is sealed. No one was found able to understand God’s plan for his peo ple, or able to call God to account. Only Christ reveals the mystery of death and resurrection which is being realized in history, and only he can do so, since he himself surrendered to death for all: you are worthy to take the Book (v. 9).
Now, Christ can read the Book of the history and destiny of humankind (power, riches and wisdom: v. 12). Still more, he is now the owner of this Book, and in being rejected by Israel, a priestly people (Ex 19:6), he formed his own kingdom and priests, the Church (1 P 2:9), as is said in verse 10.
A Lamb standing, although it had been slain (v. 6). The vision brings us to the moment of the resurrection. While the Gospels relate the resurrection of Jesus, as his disciples knew it on earth, here we are in heaven to contemplate the risen Christ entering a glorious world. He is standing after being sacrificed, glorious, but forever marked by his Passion.
The seven horns and the seven eyes express the fullness of power and knowledge in the risen Christ. Before all the powers of the world and of heaven, on that day, he comes with authority to take the Book from the hands of the Father.
Let us note how on the day of the resurrection, the same praise previously addressed to God now goes to the Lamb: in being raised up, Christ appears with the glory befitting him: that of God.