Revelation 5:10

10. Hast made Rather, didst make; coordinate with didst redeem, in Revelation 5:9. Us Them, as said in our note on Revelation 5:9.

Kings and priests The true reading seems to be, Thou didst make them, unto God, a kingdom, instead of kings and priests. We shall reign should read, and they reign on the earth. Not that we shall reign, in the future, but they, the redeemed, do now reign on earth.

The important changes made by textual criticisms in this song, suggest its reproduction thus: Thou art worthy to take the roll, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and didst redeem to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And didst make them unto our God a kingdom and priests, and they reign on earth.

These changes are important, as showing that the kingdom and the reign of the saints on earth are truly now already begun and existing, and waiting future enlargements, confirmations, and developments.

To this song of the cherubic beasts and the elders, there now comes, by a sublime surprise, a reenforcement of an innumerable company of angels. It begins to dawn upon us that we have at this great hour a fivefold song. It begins, first, with the trisagion, Revelation 4:8, by the cherubim, which, second, is responded to by the elders. Third, the elders have just now celebrated the opening of the roll; and, fourth, peals the angelic anthem, and their peal wakens every creature in all parts of creation to a fifth and last reverberation.