Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Revelation
Book: Revelation
Chapter: 5
Overview:
A
Book sealed with
Seven seals, which could be opened
By none
but
Christ, who took the
Book to open it.
(1-7) Upon which all
honour is ascribed to him, as worthy to open it.
(8-14)
1-7 The
Apostle saw in the
Hand of Him that sat upon the
Throne, a
Roll of parchments in the form usual in those times,
and sealed with
Seven seals. This represented the secret
purposes of
God about to be revealed. The designs and methods of
Divine
Providence, toward the
Church and the world, are stated,
fixed, and made a matter of record. The counsels of
God are
altogether hidden from the
Eye and understanding of the
Creature. The several parts are not unsealed and opened at once,
but after each other, till the whole
Mystery of
God's counsel
and conduct is finished in the world. The creatures cannot open
it, nor read it; the
Lord only can do
So. Those who see most of
God, are most desirous to see more; and those who have seen his
Glory, desire to know his will. But even good men may be too
eager and hasty to look into the mysteries of the Divine
conduct. Such desires, if not soon answered, turn to grief and
sorrow. If
John wept much because he could not look into the
Book of
God's decrees, what reason have many to shed floods of
tears for their ignorance of the
Gospel of
Christ! of that
On
which
Everlasting Salvation depends! We need not weep that we
cannot foresee future events respecting ourselves in this world;
the eager expectation of future prospects, or the foresight of
future calamities, would alike unfit us for present duties and
conflicts, or render our prosperous days distressing. Yet we may
desire to learn, from the promises and prophecies of
Scripture,
what will be the final event to believers and to the
Church; and
the Incarnate Son has prevailed, that we should learn all that
we need to know.
Christ stands as
Mediator between
God and both
ministers and people. He is called a Lion, but he appears as a
Lamb slain. He appears with the marks of his sufferings, to show
that he pleads for us in
Heaven, in virtue of his satisfaction.
He appears as a
Lamb, having
Seven horns and
Seven eyes; perfect
power to execute all the will of
God, and perfect
Wisdom to
understand it, and to do it in the most effectual manner. The
Father Put the
Book of his eternal counsels into the
Hand of
Christ, and
Christ readily and gladly took it into his
Hand; for
he delights to make known the will of his
Father; and the Holy
Spirit is given
By him to reveal the
Truth and will of
God.
8-14 It is matter of joy to all the world, to see that
God
deals with men in
Grace and
Mercy through the
Redeemer. He
governs the world, not merely as a Creator, but as our
Saviour.
The harps were instruments of praise; the vials were full of
odours, or
Incense, which signify the prayers of the saints:
Prayer and praise should always go together.
Christ has redeemed
his people from the
Bondage of
Sin, guilt, and
Satan. He has not
only purchased liberty for them, but the highest honour and
preferment; he made them
Kings and priests;
Kings, to rule over
their own spirits, and to overcome the world, and the evil one;
and he makes them priests; giving them access to himself, and
liberty to offer up spiritual sacrifices. What words can more
fully declare that
Christ is, and ought to be worshipped,
equally with the
Father,
By all creatures, to all eternity!
Happy those who shall
Adore and praise in
Heaven, and who shall
for ever
Bless the
Lamb, who delivered and set them apart for
himself
By his
Blood. How worthy art thou, O
God,
Father, Son,
and
Holy Ghost, of our highest praises! All creatures should
proclaim thy greatness, and
Adore thy majesty.