In Chapter 4 we saw the vision of the throne of God. The indescribable majesty of the throne. Flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. The seven-fold glory of the Holy Spirit. The Cherubim and the 24 Elders. "And I saw" – Rev. 5:1 John uses this phrase 31 times in this book and the phrase, it is translated "and I saw" or "and I beheld." It marks the transition of things in this revelation and stresses his eyewitness account.
Rev. 5:2 — "And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?"
Rev. 5:6 — "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."
Rev. 5:11 — "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands."
Rev. 6:1-2 — "And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer."
What does John see in Revelation 5:1? There is book in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It is a scroll. A long piece of papyrus or animal skin rolled from both ends into the middle. It was sealed with seven seals. |
