And no man - Ουδεις· No person or being. In heaven - Among all the angels of God. Nor in the earth - No human being. Neither under the earth - No disembodied spirit, nor any demon. Neither angels, men, nor devils, can fathom the decrees of God. Neither to look thereon - None can look into it unless it be opened, and none can open it unless the seals be unloosed. read more
I wept much - Because the world and the Church were likely to be deprived of the knowledge of the contents of the book. read more
The Lion of the tribe of Juda - Jesus Christ, who sprang from this tribe, as his genealogy proves; see on Matthew 1:2 ; (note), Matthew 1:3 ; (note) and Luke 3:23 ; (note). There is an allusion here to Genesis 49:9 , Judah is a lion's whelp; the lion was the emblem of this tribe, and was supposed to have been embroidered on its ensigns. The Root of David - See Isaiah 11:1 . Christ was the root of David as to his Divine nature; he was a branch out of the stem of Jesse as to his... read more
Stood a Lamb - Christ, so called because he was a sacrificial offering; αρνιον signifies a little or delicate lamb. As it had been slain - As if now in the act of being offered. This is very remarkable; so important is the sacrificial offering of Christ in the sight of God that he is still represented as being in the very act of pouring out his blood for the offenses of man. This gives great advantage to faith: when any soul comes to the throne of grace, he finds a sacrifice there... read more
The government of God. "And I saw," etc. Concerning the government of God, observe— I. THAT IT IS CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO A VAST PRECONCERTED PLAN . There was a book, seven pieces of parchment rolled together, and each one sealed, in the hand of him that "sat on the throne." The Almighty never acts from impulse or caprice, but ever from plan or law. And this plan is truly vast, wonderfully comprehensive. It is "written within" and on the "back side." This book... read more
The sealed book. The homily must be based upon the interpretation. For our guidance we take the view which regards this sealed book as a title deed, the background of the figure being found in Jeremiah 32:6-16 . It is the title deed of the purchased possession—the redeemed inheritance—which noone has a right to touch or open but him to whom it belongs; concerning whom it may be said, "The right of redemption is thine to buy it." Concerning "the Lamb," this is recognized by the song of... read more
Continuation of vision. In the preceding homily we noted that the apostle records five songs. We have already referred to two of them. We now have the three remaining ones before us. 1 . The third song is the new song—of redemption. Creation being effected, what is to be done with it? Of what events is earth to be the scene and the witness? and what are the developments which Providence has in store? See. In the right hand of him who sits upon the throne there is a book—a roll,... read more
The adoration of the Lamb. The theophany of Revelation 4:1-11 . is continued in this. We are permitted to see more of the high court of heaven, and to witness the purpose of its session, the centre of its adoration, and the transactions in which its members share. We have surveyed the throne and him that sat thereon, the rainbow above the throne, the crystal sea, the burning torches, the elders and the cherubim, and their worship of God. But now the vision is enlarged, and we behold the... read more
And I saw (see on Revelation 5:1 ). A strong angel ; ἰσχυρόν , rendered "mighty" in Revelation 10:1 . Possibly, as De Wette and others think, so called because of higher rank—De Lyra says Gabriel; but probably on account of the great voice, which sounded "as a lion roareth" ( Revelation 10:3 ). Proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? with a great voice. "Worthy" is ἄξιος , fit morally, as in John 1:27 . read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 5:2
A strong angel - One of the chief of the angelic host. Proclaiming - As the herald of God. To open the book, and to loose the seals - To loose the seals that he may open the book. Who can tell what this book contains? Who can open its mysteries? The book may mean the purposes and designs of God relative to his government of the world and the Church; but we, whose habitation is in the dust, know nothing of such things. We are, however, determined to guess. read more