Year of the Bible
Revelation 5
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Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Chapter 5:
The scene in God’s throne room continues. God holds a scroll with seven seals, indicating God Himself has impressed His stamp upon the contents. This scroll can only be opened by the Lion of Judah who is the Root of David, two images for Jewish kings from the Old Testament. John sees this Lion, but He appears in the New Testament image of a Lamb. The Lamb is standing, yet slain, recalling Jesus’ wounds of the Crucifixion. That sacrifice is what allows the Lamb to be worthy to take the scroll and to receive power, wealth, wisdom, honor, glory, and blessing – all attributes of God. The Lamb, with the Father, receives worship from those in the Throne Room of God, who now expand to include thousands upon thousands of angels and all creatures in Heaven and on earth. Those in Heaven bring the prayers of the saints on earth (e.g. the followers of Jesus) to God in golden bowls of incense.
The Book of Revelation, Chapter 5:
The Scroll and the Lamb
1 And I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals; 2 and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth; 7 and he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; 9 and they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed men for God
from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 and have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
"...by your blood you ransomed men for God" (v.9) What does it mean to be ransomed? Further, what does it mean to be ransomed for God? Sit with how this applies to you personally, and the ramifications it has for your life.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 También vi en la mano derecha del
que estaba sentado en el trono un libro
escrito por dentro y por fuera, sellado
con siete sellos. 2 Y vi a un ángel poderoso
proclamar con gran voz:
–¿Quién es digno de abrir el libro y
romper sus sellos?
3 Y nadie, ni en el cielo ni en la tierra,
ni debajo de la tierra, podía abrir
el libro ni mirarlo. 4 Yo lloraba mucho,
porque no se encontró a nadie digno de
abrir el libro ni de mirarlo. 5 Pero uno de
los ancianos me dice:
–No llores, porque el león de la tribu
de Judá, la raíz de David, ha vencido
y puede abrir el libro y sus siete sellos.
6 Entonces vi en medio del trono y de
los cuatro seres vivos y en medio de los
ancianos un Cordero erguido, como sacrificado,
con siete cuernos y siete ojos,
que son los siete espíritus de Dios enviados
a toda la tierra. 7 Se acercó y tomó el
libro de la mano derecha del que estaba
sentado en el trono. 8 Cuando recibió
el libro, los cuatro seres vivos y los veinticuatro
ancianos se postraron ante el
Cordero, con una cítara cada uno y con
copas de oro llenas de perfumes, que
son las oraciones de los santos. 9 Cantan
un cántico nuevo:
«Eres digno de recibir el libro
y de abrir sus sellos,
porque fuiste inmolado y con tu
sangre
compraste para Dios
gente de toda tribu, lengua, pueblo
y nación.
10 Y los hiciste un reino de sacerdotes
para nuestro Dios,
y reinarán sobre la tierra».
11 En la visión oí un clamor de muchos
ángeles que rodeaban el trono, a
los seres vivos y a los ancianos. Su número
era de miríadas de miríadas y millares
de millares, 12 que aclamaban con
gran voz:
«Digno es el Cordero inmolado
de recibir el poder, la riqueza, la sabiduría,
la fuerza, el honor, la gloria y la alabanza
».
13 Y a toda criatura que existe en el
cielo y en la tierra, por debajo de la tierra
y en el mar, y a todo cuanto existe en
ellos, les oí decir:
«Al que está sentado en el trono y al
Cordero,
la alabanza, el honor, la gloria y el
poder
por los siglos de los siglos».
14 Y los cuatro seres vivos respondían:
–Amén.
Y los ancianos se postraron y adoraron.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
"...con tu sangre rescataste a los hombres para Dios" (v.9) ¿Qué significa ser rescatado? Más aún, ¿qué significa ser rescatado para Dios? Piensa en cómo se aplica esto a ti personalmente, y en las derivaciones que tiene para tu vida.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).