4 about the throne in appearance like an emerald. And round about the throne were twenty-four thrones: and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceed lightnings, and thunderings, and voices. And seven lamps of fire were burning before his throne*; which are the seven spirits of God. 6 And there was before the throne as it were a lavert of glass, like crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of 7 eyes before and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a steer, and the third living creature had the face of a man ‡, and the fourth living creature was like a flying 8 eagle. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings, full of eyes round about and within and they rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty; that was, and is, and is to 9 come." And when those living creatures give glory, and honour, and thanks, to Him who sat on the throne, 10 who liveth for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sat on the throne, and worship Him who liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns 11 before the throne, saying, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and by thy will they were, and were created." CH. V. And I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a book, written within and without, sealed with 2 seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who [is] worthy to open the book, and 3 to loose the seals of it?" And none in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, the throne, R. T. and N. See Griesbach. ta face as a man, R. T. and N. See Griesbach. + Gr. sea. Or, are. MSS. and R. T. Or, on account of thy will they exist and were created. 4 and to look therein. And I wept much because none was found worthy to open the book*, and to look there5 in. Then one of the elders saith to me, "Weep not: behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed so as to open the book, and the seven seals 6 of it." And I beheld, [and lo,] in the midst between the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst between the elders, a lamb standing, as if it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes; which are the 7 seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the ‡ book out of the right hand of him 8 who sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders, fell down before the lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden phials || full of incense ¶, which 9 are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals of it: for thou wast slain, and hast bought us to God by thy blood, out of every tribe, and language, 10 and people, and nation; and thou hast made them kings and priests to our God; and they shall reign on the 11 earth tt." And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and round about the living creatures and the elders; (and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands ‡‡, and thousands of thou12 sands ;) saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the lamb that was slain, to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom, 13 and might, and honour, and glory, and blessing." And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and those that are on the sea, and all things that are in them, I heard, saying, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and dominion, be unto Him that to open and to read the book, R. T. † and to loose the seven seals of it. R. T. # Or, myriads of myriads. sitteth upon the throne, and unto the lamb, for ever and 14 ever*." And the four living creatures said, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshipped t. CH. VI. And I saw when the lamb opened one of the seven seals; and I heard, as it were the sound of thunder, the first of the four living creatures saying, "Come and see." 2 And I looked, and, behold, a white horse and he that sat thereon had a bow; and a crown was given to him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 3 : And when the lamb had opened the second seal, I heard 4 the second living creature saying, "Come ‡." And another horse, that was red, went forth; and power was given to him who sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that men should kill one another and a great sword was given to him. 5 And when the lamb had opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come ." [And I looked,] and, behold, a black horse: and he who sat on 6 him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, "A small measure of wheat for a denarius, and three small measures of barley for a denarius: but hurt thou not the oil and the wine." 7. And when the lamb had opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature saying, "Comett." 8 [And I looked,] and, behold, a pale horse; and his name Gr. ages of ages. + Him that liveth for ever and ever. R. T. and N. These words are wanting in the best copies. See Griesbach. This homage paid to a symbolical representation of Christ in a visionary scene, by symbolical persons represented as visibly present with him, cannot justify the actual worship of Christ, when he is not visible; and is in direct opposition to his own express precept, Luke xi. 1,2; John iv. 23, 24. Least of all can it be concluded, as Mr. Lindsey well observes, (Seq. p. 96,) “that equal honour and worship are to be given to Christ and to God, from their being thus joined in the same act of worship. Because, if so, it will follow, that equal honour and worship is to be given to David and to God; for it is expressly said (1 Chron. xxix. 20,) that all the congregation bowed down their heads and worshipped the Lord and the king.” Come and see. R. T. I heard the voice of the fourth, R, T. Come and see. R. T. and Griesbach. who sat thereon was Death, and Hades* followeth him. And powert was given him ‡ over the fourth part of the earth, to kill by the sword, and by famine, and by pestilence, and by the wild beasts of the earth. 9 And when the lamb had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they had 10 borne. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O sovereign Lord, holy and true, wilt thou not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the 11 earth?" And a white robe was given to every one of them and they were told to rest yet for a time ††, till the number of their fellow-servants also and of their brethren, who were about to be killed as they were, should be filled up. 12 And I looked when the lamb had opened the sixth seal, and there was ‡‡ a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon ‡‡‡ 13 became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig-tree casteth its untimely figs when it is shaken by 14 a mighty wind. And the heaven departed, as a parch ment when it is rolled together; and every mountain and 15 island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the commanders, and the rich, and the strong, and every slave, and [every] freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of 16 the mountains; and say to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and 'hide us from the face of Him who sitteth on the throne, and from the anger of the lamb: 17 for the great day of his anger is come; and who is able to stand? CH. VII. And after these things I saw four angels standing on i. e. the unseen world. Or, the grave. N. m. + for a little time, R. T. Or, shaking; N. m. Gr. death. Or, authority. ¶ white robes were given, R. T. #tand, behold, there was, etc. R. T. #t the moon, R. T. the four parts of the earth, restraining the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, 2 nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another an gel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, say3 ing, "Hurt not the earth, nor the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their fore4 heads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed and there were sealed a hundred and forty-four 5 thousand, of all the tribes of the sons of Israel. Of the tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of 6 Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. were sealed twelve thousand. 7 were sealed twelve thousand. were sealed twelve thousand. sealed twelve thousand. 8 sealed twelve thousand. sealed twelve thousand. sealed twelve thousand. sealed twelve thousand. 9 Of the tribe of Naphtali Of the tribe of Levi were After these things I looked, and, behold, a great multitude, which none could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed with white robes, 10 and palm-branches in their hands: and they cry with a loud voice, saying, "Our salvation be ascribed to our God who sitteth upon the throne, and to the lamb." 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders, and about the four living creatures, and fell on 12 their faces before the throne, and worshipped God, say. ⚫ people, N. |