Offenbarung 5:8-14

8 Und als es das Buch nahm, fielen die vier lebendigen Wesen und die vierundzwanzig Ältesten nieder vor dem Lamme, und sie hatten ein jeder eine Harfe und goldene Schalen voll Räucherwerk, welches die Gebete der Heiligen sind.

9 Und sie singen ein neues Lied: Du bist würdig, das Buch zu nehmen und seine Siegel zu öffnen; denn du bist geschlachtet worden und hast für Gott erkauft, durch dein Blut, aus jedem Stamm und Sprache und Volk und Nation,

10 und hast sie unserem Gott zu Königen und Priestern gemacht, und sie werden über die Erde herrschen!

11 Und ich sah: und ich hörte eine Stimme vieler Engel um den Thron her und um die lebendigen Wesen und die Ältesten; und ihre Zahl war Zehntausende mal Zehntausende und Tausende mal Tausende,

12 die mit lauter Stimme sprachen: Würdig ist das Lamm, das geschlachtet worden ist, zu empfangen die Macht und Reichtum und Weisheit und Stärke und Ehre und Herrlichkeit und Segnung.

13 Und jedes Geschöpf, das in dem Himmel und auf der Erde und unter der Erde und auf dem Meere ist, und alles, was in ihnen ist, hörte ich sagen: Dem, der auf dem Throne sitzt und dem Lamme die Segnung und die Ehre und die Herrlichkeit und die Macht von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit!

14 Und die vier lebendigen Wesen sprachen: Amen! Und die Ältesten fielen nieder und beteten an.

Offenbarung 5:8-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVEALTION 5

This chapter contains the vision of the sealed book, and the opening of it by Christ, which occasions universal joy among all ranks and sorts of creatures. The book is described by the place where it was, in the right hand of God; by the uncommon manner in which it was written within and without; and by the seven seals it was sealed with, Re 5:1, next follows a proclamation made by a mighty angel, with a loud voice, to find out a person worthy and able to open this book, and loose its seals, Re 5:2, upon which a declaration is made, that none could be found in heaven, earth, or hell, Re 5:3, which had such an effect upon John, that it set him a weeping, Re 5:4, but was comforted by one of the elders suggesting, that there was a person that could, and would do it, when he calls the lion of the tribe of Judah, and the root of David, which are names of Christ, Re 5:5, of which he was assured by what he quickly saw, namely, the same person the elder spoke of, described by his position, standing between the throne, and the living creatures, and elders; and by his similitude and likeness, as a Lamb that had been lately slain, with seven horns and eyes in him; and by what he did, he went and took the book out of the right hand of God, his Father, Re 5:6,7. This occasioned a general joy among all kind of creatures; first among the four living creatures, and four and twenty elders, who are described by what they had, harps and golden vials, the one for praise, the other for prayer; and by what they did, they fell down in a worshipping posture before the Lamb, and sung the new song of redeeming love to him; in which they ascribe worthiness to him, to take the book and open its seals; declare their redemption unto God, by his blood, out of all nations of the earth; take notice of the honour done them by him, in making them kings and priests to God; and express their assurance that they shall reign with him on earth, Re 5:8-10, and next an innumerable company of angels join the living creatures and elders, in a doxology or ascription of glory to him, Re 5:11,12, yea, every creature in heaven and earth, upon it, and under it, and in the sea, are introduced as giving glory both to him that sat upon the throne, and to the Lamb, Re 5:13, and the whole is closed by the living creatures saying "Amen", to all, and by the elders prostrating themselves, and worshipping the living and eternal God, Re 5:14.