THE SLAIN LAMB
CHAPTER 5
1. And I [the John Class] saw in the right hand
[place of power] of him that sat on the throne [the ruling authority in
the divine government] a book [scroll] written [a
prophetic record written] within [in some measure understandably] and
on the backside [in some measure obscurely], sealed with seven seals
[the obscure part was divided into seven parts, each part to be revealed when due].
2. And I [the John Class] saw a strong angel [the Law
which no man was able to keep] proclaiming, Who is worthy to open the book
[scrolls of prophetic record], and to loose the seals [reveal their
obscure meanings when due to be understood]
thereof?
3. And no man [one] in heaven, nor in earth [the
present society], [neither under the earth, omitted by Sinaitic], was able to open
the book [were authorized to make plain the obscure meanings], neither to
look thereon [none were justified to understand it even if it were made plain].
4. And I [the John Class] wept much [looking back in
retrospect sorrowed much], because no man [one] was found worthy
to open and to read [make plain or understand] the book [the
obscure prophecies], neither to look thereon [none were justified to
understand it if it were made plain].
5. And one of elders [the spokesman of the Royal Priesthood, namely
the Apostle Paul], saith unto me [the John Class], Weep not;
behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root [regenerator] of David,
hath prevailed to open the book [make plain the obscure prophecies], and
to loose the seven seals thereof [reveal their obscure meaning when due to be
understood]. 
6. And I [the John Class] beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne [the central figure in the divine government] and of the four
beasts [living creatures, the four attributes of God], and in the midst
of the elders [the foreordained Royal Priesthood], stood a Lamb
[the meek One who humbled himself] as it had been slain [who became
obedient unto sacrificial death], having seven horns [all power] and
seven eyes [all wisdom], which are the seven Spirits [the seven
promises to the churches—of the Father through the Son] of God sent forth into all
the earth [to ultimately reach the called out saints from society who will be
overcomers].
7. And he [the Lamb] came [was drawn closer into
God’s confidence] and took the book [received the prophetic record] out
of the right hand of him [from the power of God] that sat upon the throne
[the divine government].
8. And when he [the Lamb] had taken the book [the
prophetic record], the four beasts [living creatures, four attributes of
God] and the four and twenty elders [the foreordained Royal Priesthood] fell
down before the Lamb [acknowledged the meek humble One], having every one
of them [the Royal Priesthood] harps [the Old and New
Testaments], and golden vials [bowls, means of communication] full
of odors [psalms, hymns and spiritual songs],
which are the prayers of
saints.
9. And they sung a new song [which only the saints can sing],
saying, Thou art worthy to take the book [the prophetic record], and to
open the seals thereof [reveal its obscure meanings when due to be understood]:
for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed [will redeem] us
[men—
Alexandrian MS] to God by thy blood out
of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation [Westcott and Hort—"And they are singing song new (they)
saying worthy are you to receive the little book and to open up the seals of it, because
you were slaughtered and you bought to the God in the blood of you out of every tribe and
of tongue and of people and of nation"];
10. And hast made [foreordained] us
[them—Sinaitic
and Alexandrian] unto our God kings and priests: and we
[they—Sinaitic
and Alexandrian] shall reign on [over] the earth
[Wescott and Hort—"And you made them to the God of us kingdom and priests, and they
are reigning upon the earth"].
11. And I [the John Class] beheld, and I [they] heard
the voice of many angels [heavenly hosts] round about the throne
[the divine government] and the beasts [living creatures, attributes of
God] and the elders [foreordained divisions of the Royal Priesthood]:
and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands
[one-hundred million and thousands of thousands, indicating there are many heavenly
hosts];
12. Saying with a loud voice [proclamation], Worthy is the
Lamb [the meek and humble One] that was slain to receive power, and
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
13. And every creature which is
in heaven [which is in the spiritual
rulership], and on the earth [society], [and under the earth, omitted in
Sinaitic], and such as are in the sea [restless masses of society],
and all that are in them [heart, soul, strength, being], heard I [the
John Class] saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne [divine government], and unto the Lamb
[meek and humble One] for
ever and ever.
14. And the four beasts [living creatures, attributes of God] said,
Amen [So be it]. And the four and
twenty elders [foreordained
divisions of the Royal Priesthood] fell down and worshipped him that liveth
for ever and ever.
