COME UP COME UP

HERE!HERE!

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

Revelation 5:1-14Revelation 5:1-14

The Scroll The Scroll of Seven Sealsof Seven Seals

All the Book of Revelation from All the Book of Revelation from Chapter 6 to 19 is contained in the Chapter 6 to 19 is contained in the

seven sealsseven seals

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both on the throne a scroll with writing on both

sides and sealed with seven seals. 5:1 sides and sealed with seven seals. 5:1

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals

and open the scroll?” 5:2and open the scroll?” 5:2

I wept and wept because no one was found I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look who was worthy to open the scroll or look

inside. 4:5inside. 4:5

MosesMoses

ElijahElijah JoshuaJoshua

King DavidKing David

DanielDanielPaulPaul

WesleyWesley

George WhitfieldGeorge WhitfieldCharles Charles FinneyFinney

Billy Billy GrahamGraham

Billy Billy SundaySunday

Even our Phil wasn’t Even our Phil wasn’t worthyworthy

Then one of the Then one of the elders said to me, elders said to me, "Do not weep! "Do not weep! See, the Lion of See, the Lion of the tribe of the tribe of Judah, the Root Judah, the Root of David, has of David, has triumphed. triumphed.

He is able to He is able to open the scroll open the scroll and its seven and its seven seals." 5:5seals." 5:5

encircled by the four living creatures and the encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.into all the earth.

Then I saw a Then I saw a Lamb, looking Lamb, looking as if it had as if it had been slain, been slain, standing in standing in the center of the center of the throne,the throne,

He came and took the scroll from the right He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 4:7 hand of him who sat on the throne. 4:7

And when he had taken it, the four living And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell creatures and the twenty-four elders fell

down before the Lamb. 5:8a down before the Lamb. 5:8a

Each oneEach one had a harphad a harp

and they were holding and they were holding golden bowls full of golden bowls full of incense, which are the incense, which are the prayers of the saints.prayers of the saints. 5:8b5:8b

The New SongThe New Song

of the of the

RedeemedRedeemed

And they sang a new song: 5:9aAnd they sang a new song: 5:9a

"You are worthy to take the scroll and to "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, 5:9bopen its seals, 5:9b

because you were slain,because you were slain, 5:9c 5:9c

and with your blood you purchased us to and with your blood you purchased us to God by Your bloodGod by Your blood

from every tribe and language and people from every tribe and language and people and nation.and nation. 5:9d5:9d

You have made us to God, kings and priests, You have made us to God, kings and priests,

and we will reign on the earth." 5:10and we will reign on the earth." 5:10

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Purchasing PowerPurchasing Power

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A Textual ProblemA Textual Problem And they sung a new song, saying, And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and wast slain, and hast redeemed ushast redeemed us to to God by thy blood out of every kindred, God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 10 And hast made usAnd hast made us unto our God unto our God kings and priests: kings and priests: and we shall reign and we shall reign on the earthon the earth. Rev. 5:9,10 King James. Rev. 5:9,10 King James"… And didst purchase for God with thy blood "… And didst purchase for God with thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And thou has made nation. And thou has made themthem to be a kingdom to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and and priests to our God; and they they will reign upon will reign upon the earth.“ New American/NIVthe earth.“ New American/NIV

George Eldon Ladd George Eldon Ladd AA Commentary on the Revelation of Commentary on the Revelation of JohnJohn - page 92,   - page 92,  

This is very important for determining the identity This is very important for determining the identity of the elders. If the King James Version is right, the elders of the elders. If the King James Version is right, the elders are identified with the redeemed, but if the Revised are identified with the redeemed, but if the Revised Standard Version is right, the elders are sharply and Standard Version is right, the elders are sharply and clearly distinguished from the redeemed. In terms of our clearly distinguished from the redeemed. In terms of our knowledge of the history of the text, there is hardly anyknowledge of the history of the text, there is hardly any

question as to which reading is correct, for this is one of question as to which reading is correct, for this is one of several places where the King James Version is clearly several places where the King James Version is clearly incorrect because it was based upon a late inferior Greek incorrect because it was based upon a late inferior Greek text. It is surprising to find any modern commentary still text. It is surprising to find any modern commentary still following the incorrect King James Version. The elders following the incorrect King James Version. The elders sing praise to the Lamb not for their own redemption but sing praise to the Lamb not for their own redemption but for the redemption of the church.for the redemption of the church.

Exactly what are the facts behind Exactly what are the facts behind this textual variation? this textual variation?

•There are 5,000 extant Greek There are 5,000 extant Greek manuscripts today?manuscripts today?

•Of the 5,000 only 95 contain the Of the 5,000 only 95 contain the book of Revelation in part or whole.book of Revelation in part or whole.

•Of the 95 only 24 contain Rev. 5Of the 95 only 24 contain Rev. 5

• In In Revelation 5:9Revelation 5:9 , the removal of the word , the removal of the word "us" after the word "redeemed," is only "us" after the word "redeemed," is only found in found in Codex AlexandrinusCodex Alexandrinus. The majority . The majority of the manuscript readings, whether early or of the manuscript readings, whether early or late, contain the word "us."late, contain the word "us."

•The Latin Vulgate translation of Jerome The Latin Vulgate translation of Jerome reads "us" in both verses as does the King reads "us" in both verses as does the King James Version of A.D. 1634.James Version of A.D. 1634.

•The earliest versions of the Syrian, Coptic, The earliest versions of the Syrian, Coptic, and Armenian manuscripts all have “us”.and Armenian manuscripts all have “us”.

• The obvious connection with The obvious connection with Revelation 1:4-6Revelation 1:4-6 where the remarks are given "to the seven where the remarks are given "to the seven churches" and the pronouns are first person plural churches" and the pronouns are first person plural ("us") seems to settle the issue in favor of the King ("us") seems to settle the issue in favor of the King James Version.James Version.

John to the seven churches which are in John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 1:5 And from Jesus are before his throne; 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 1:6 And hath made us kings and blood, 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.Amen.

What about the four living creatures What about the four living creatures and the elders both having bowls and and the elders both having bowls and

harps?harps?

And when he had taken it, the four living And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell creatures and the twenty-four elders fell

down before the Lamb. down before the Lamb. Each oneEach one had a harp had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

5:85:8

Each one – Gr. Masc. Each one – Gr. Masc. 4LC – Gr. Neut.4LC – Gr. Neut.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon angels, numbering thousands upon

thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the thousand. They encircled the throne and the

living creatures and the elders. 5:11living creatures and the elders. 5:11

"Worthy "Worthy is the is the Lamb, Lamb, who was who was slain, to slain, to receive receive power power and and

In a loud voice they said: In a loud voice they said:

wealth and wisdom and strength and honor wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" 5:12and glory and praise!" 5:12

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits all that is in them, saying: "To him who sits

on the throne and to the Lamb on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power, be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" 5:13for ever and ever!" 5:13

The four living creatures said, "Amen," and The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. 5:14the elders fell down and worshiped. 5:14