Revelation 5:8

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. HAD TAKEN - `took.' FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB - who shares worship and the throne with the Father. HARPS - A B, Syriac, Coptic, read, 'a harp:' a guitar, played with the hand or a quill. VIALS - `bowls:' censers. ODOURS - `incense.' PRAYERS OF SAINTS - as the angel offers them (), with incense (cf. ): not the least sanction to Rome's dogma of praying to saints. Though they be employed by God in some way unknown to us to present our...

8-14 It is matter of joy to all the world, to see that God deals with men in grace and mercy through the Redeemer. He governs the world, not merely as a Creator, but as our Saviour. The harps were instruments of praise; the vials were full of odours, or incense, which signify the prayers of the saints: prayer and praise should always go together. Christ has redeemed his people from the bondage of sin, guilt, and Satan. He has not only purchased liberty for them, but the highest honour and preferment; he made them kings and priests; kings, to rule over their own spirits, and to overcome the world, and the evil one; and he makes them priests; giving them access to himself, and liberty to offer up spiritual sacrifices. What words can more fully declare that Christ is, and ought to be worshipped, equally with the Father, by all creatures, to all eternity! Happy those who shall adore and pra...

Verse Revelation 5:8. _THE FOUR BEASTS - FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB_] The whole Church of God, and all his children in heaven and earth, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is alone worthy and able to unfold and execute all the mysteries and counsels of God. Revelation 5:9. _HAVING EVERY ONE OF THEM HARPS_] There were _harps_ and _vials_; and each of the _elders_ and _living creatures_ had _one_. _ODOURS, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF SAINTS._] The frankincense and odours offered at the tabernacle were emblems of the prayers and praises of the Lord. That _prayers_ are compared to _incense_, see Psalms 141:2: Let my PRAYER be set f

AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE BOOK, THE FOUR BEASTS ... - The acts of adoration here described as rendered by the four living creatures and the elders are, according to the explanation given in Revelation 4:4, emblematic of the honor done to the Redeemer by the church, and by the course of providential events in the government of the world. FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB - The usual posture of profound worship. Usually in such worship there was entire prostration on the earth. See the Matthew 2:2 note; 1 Corinthians 14:25 note. HAVING EVERY ONE OF THEM HARPS - That is, as the construction, and the prop

EXPOSITION REVELATION 5:1 AND I SAW. As in Revelation 4:1, this phrase introduces a new incident in the vision. That which had been witnessed remained, but a further development now takes place. Revelation 4:1. relates the revelation of the glory of the Triune God (see on Revelation 4:2) surrounded by his Church and creation. The glory of Jesus Christ, the Lamb, is now set forth, since he is the only One worthy to receive and declare to his Church the mystery contained in the sealed book. IN THE RIGHT HAND; _upon the right hand _(ἐπί)_. _T

AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE BOOK,.... The Vulgate Latin version reads, "when he had opened the book", very wrongly; for the opening of it by unloosing the seals, one after another, is hereafter mentioned, in Revelation 6:1, but when it was observed, that the Lamb took the book, and his commission to open, unseal, and fulfil it, THE FOUR BEASTS, AND FOUR [AND] TWENTY ELDERS, FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB; by way of religious worship and adoration of him; which shows that he was not a mere creature, who assumed human nature, suffered, and died, and is the Mediator between God and men, but is truly God, and is the proper object of worship; and so he is regarded by all his faithful ministers, and true churches, which are here signified by the four living creatures, and four and twenty elders; who are represented as HAVING EVERYONE OF THEM HARPS; which were ins

BEASTS Living creatures. (_ See Scofield) - (Ezekiel 1:5). _...

Revelation 5:1 . Much has been written about the meaning of the book written within and on the back side, and sealed with seven seals. What the book contains is no secret whatever. Beginning with the sixth chapter the seals are opened and after they are all broken the contents of the book are made known. The book contains the judgments for this earth preceding His coming in power and glory and the beginning of His reign. It is, therefore, the book of the righteous judgments of God, preceding the glorious manifestation of the King of Kings. Revelation 5:4 . John receives the answer to the question the strong angel had proclaimed. One of the elders told him, “Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and the seven seals thereof.” No further co

REVELATION 5. THE VISION OF HEAVEN (_continued)._ Ch. 4 gives us the vision of the majesty and glory of God, ch. 5 the vision of the Lamb standing as though it had been slain. The theme of Revelation 4 is the creative power of God: the theme of Revelation 5 the redemptive power of Christ. REVELATION 5:1. A BOOK: _ i.e._ the book of destiny, containing the secrets of the future, probably in the form of a papyrus roll, sealed with seven seals for the sake of security. The imagery is taken from Ezekiel 2:9. [The view that the book is the book of destiny is probably correct. Huschke, followed by Zahn, J. Weiss, and Clemen, takes it to be a will. Seven witnesses would attest a will, each affixing his seal. Before the will could be executed the seals had to be broken; hence failure to break

WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE BOOK. The action of this chapter is wonderfully dramatic. Now the Lamb takes the sealed book and as soon as this is done the "Four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints (symbols of the prayers of the saints which it is their duty to record)," and then they burst forth in. grand doxology of praise....