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.

And I saw on the right hand of him that sat on the throne, &c.] Of this throne, and who it was that sat upon it, (See Gill on Rev. 4:2); and who had “in” his right hand, or “at”, or “upon” his right hand, as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, lying by, or near his right hand; though…

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice This was not the uncreated angel, Jesus Christ; for he is after spoken of as the lion of the tribe of Judah, and as the Lamb in the midst of the throne, but a created one; though who he was, whether Gabriel, as some say, because his name…

And no man in heaven Or “no one in heaven”, whether angels, or the souls of departed saints; neither the one nor the other know anything of what is to come, until it is revealed unto them: nor in earth: among all the men on earth, even those of the greatest sagacity and penetration, the wise, the…

And I wept much Not so much on his own account, because he feared his curiosity would not be gratified, and that strong desire answered, which were raised in him upon sight of the book, and increased by the angel’s proclamation; but for the sake of the church of God, whose representative he was,…

And one of the elders said unto me The Ethiopic version reads, “one of these elders”; that is, one of the four and twenty elders that were round about the throne; not the first of the four and twenty books of the Old Testament; nor the patriarch Jacob, because of the prophecy concerning Shiloh,…

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts These words, “in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts”, are left out in the Syriac version: and in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb; John, upon the intimation given him by the elder, lift up his eyes, and with…

And he came He drew nigh to the throne of God, he engaged his heart to approach unto him, and came up even to his seat, which a mere creature, without a Mediator, cannot do: and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne; (See Gill on Rev.

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 (Rev. 6:1, Rev. 6:3, Rev. 6:5, Rev. 6:7, Rev. 6:9, Rev.

And they sung a new song Upon a new occasion and subject, redemption by the blood of the Lamb, and his worthiness to open the sealed book; and in distinction from the old song of Moses and the children of Israel at the Red sea; and this was a most famous and excellent song, an unheard of one, and…

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests (See Gill on Rev. 1:6). The Alexandrian copy, and Complutensian edition, and the Syriac, Arabic, and the Ethiopic versions, read “them”, instead of “us”: and we shall reign on the earth; meaning not merely in a spiritual sense, through grace reigning…

And I beheld, and heard the voice of many angels Immaterial spirits, made by Christ, and worshippers of him, and ministering spirits to him and his, the holy and elect angels, who are confirmed in their state by Christ; these John beheld in a visionary way, and heard the voices and articulate…

Saying with a loud voice To signify their zeal, fervour, and affection for Christ, and to make a free, open, and public acknowledgment of him, and that all might hear of his worthiness, and of the praise and glory that were due unto him: worthy is the Lamb that was slain; they address him as the…

And every creature which is in heaven Animate or inanimate, angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect, sun, moon, and stars, and the fowls of the air: and on the earth; men and beasts, and every creeping thing, mountains, hills, fruitful trees, and all cedars: and under the earth: in the…

And the four beasts said, Amen Giving their assent to what the angels and every creature said, and expressing their desires and wishes that so it might be, and also their faith, that so it was, and would be: and the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever;…