Daniel 5 KJV |
Commentary |
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1And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. |
5:1 A wax seal was used to secure and authenticate important documents. |
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2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. |
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5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. |
5:5-6 The question is asked, “Who is worthy to open the book.” And the answer comes back, “The Lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed.” The phrase “Hath prevailed” is the same word as the “overcometh” addressed to each of the seven churches. Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21. Because Christ has overcome sin, when He dwells in us, we too will overcome. Hebrews 2:18. Christ is called the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” representing His victory and kingly strength; but He appears as a sacrificial lamb. This mighty Lion conquered sin in our behalf by humbling Himself to become the Lamb that was slain for our sins. Romans 8:3; Philippians 2:5-8. That is why He alone is worthy to open the seals. To those who seek His mercy with repentance and confession, He is still the Lamb who takes away our sin. To those who persistently refuse Him, He will one day appear as a lion. “Seven” is the number of perfection, and “horns” represents power. Genesis 2:1, 2; 2 Kings 5:14, 2 Samuel 22:3; Luke 1:69. Thus, the “seven horns” are a symbol of Christ’s perfect power to save and deliver. There are none who are too sinful or apparently hopeless for Jesus’ power to save. The “seven eyes” represent the Holy Spirit and the all-knowing vision of God. Proverbs 15:3. In all that we endure Jesus sees and understands. He promises that He will make all circumstances result in good for those who love Him. Romans 8:28. |
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7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. |
5:7 Jesus as the Son of God has access to the Father’s throne. We can boldly approach the throne of grace. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. |
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8And 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. 9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. |
5:8-10 Jesus has the right to open the seals because by His blood he has redeemed His people and has called them out of every “kindred,” “tongue,” “people” and “nation” to “reign” as “kings” with Him in the earth made new, and as “priests” to minister to others and to offer to the Lord sacrifices of praise. Hebrews 13:15. |
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11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; |
5:11 In response, the hosts of heaven join in acclaiming the worthiness of the Lamb. The song of praise swells out in space and time to the grand climax when every knee on earth and under the earth (even the powers of evil) shall bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11. |
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12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. |
5:12 The doxology of the heavenly host (“power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing”) is sevenfold, signifying that the praise of heaven is complete and perfect. This is the attitude of heaven toward the son of God and His work since the cross of Calvary, an attitude that rises to a crescendo as the great controversy comes to a victorious close. |
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13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. |
Ahead to Revelation 6
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An Era of Spiritual Darkness The Waldenses
John Wycliffe Huss and Jerome
Luther's Separation From Rome
Luther Before the Diet The Swiss Reformer
Progress of Reform in Germany
Protest of the Princes The French Reformation
The Netherlands and Scandinavia
Later English Reformers
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A Great Religious Awakening A Warning Rejected
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Enmity Between Man and Satan
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The Impending Conflict
The Scriptures a Safeguard The Final Warning
The Time of Trouble God's People Delivered
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Revelation 2-3: Letters to Seven Churches
Revelation 2 Commentary: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira
Revelation 3 Commentary: Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea
Revelation 4 Commentary: The Throne in Heaven
The Lamb and the Sealed Book
Revelation 5 Commentary: The Scroll and the Lamb
Revelation 6 Commentary: The Vision of Seven Seals
Revelation 7 Commentary: The 144,000
Revelation 8 Commentary: Seven Trumpets
Revelation 9 Commentary: The Bottomless Pit
Revelation 10 Commentary: A Little Book
Revelation 11 Commentary: Two Witnesses
Revelation 12 Commentary: The Woman and the Dragon
Revelation 13 Commentary: Two Beasts
Revelation 14 Commentary: Three Angels' Messages
Revelation 15 Commentary: Seven Angels, Seven Plagues
Revelation 16 Commentary: Seven Bowls of God's Anger
Revelation 17 Commentary: A Woman Rides the Beast
Revelation 18 Commentary: Babylon Falls
Revelation 19 Commentary: The Rider on the White Horse
Revelation 20 Commentary: Millennium and the Judgment
Revelation 21 Commentary: The New Jerusalem
Revelation 22 Commentary: Invitation and Warning