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Apocalypse v.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. A
book written within and without.[1] Books were then skins, membranes, or parchments, and when written on both sides part
of the writing appeared, though they were rolled up. --- Sealed with seven seals, as containing mysteries and secrets
of high importance. (Witham)
Ver. 3. No
man was able,[2] &c. As to the contents, some understand the prophecies and mysteries both of the Old and New Testament;
others, the events that should afterwards happen to the Church of Christ, as various persecutions against Christians. Alcazar
would have the sense of these words to be, that only Christ and his Spirit could open the book to others, and make them believe
and know the punishments prepared for the wicked, and the reward reserved for God's faithful servants. (Witham)
Ver. 5. Behold
the lion, of the tribe of Juda, &c. viz. Jesus Christ, who was descended from that tribe, denominated a lion
on account of his great power, by which title we find him designated also in the prophecy of Jacob. (Genesis xlix. 9.) (Calmet)
-- It is he who has merited by his triple victory over death, sin, and hell, the great honour of opening the book, and revealing
the secrets therein contained.
Ver. 6. I
saw....a Lamb standing as it were slain, with the prints and marks of its wounds. It was of this lamb (i.e. of our Saviour
Jesus Christ) that St. John the Baptist said: "Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world." (John i. 29.)
(Witham) --- Here again Jesus Christ is plainly marked out, the Lamb of God, the victim of expiation, who by his death has
reconciled us with his Father; and who, even in heaven, bears the marks of his passion, and by the wounds therein received
continually inclines his Father to shew us mercy. He has seven horns, as so many crowns and marks of his omnipotence; and
seven eyes, to represent his infinite knowledge and wisdom. (Calmet) --- Having seven horns and seven eyes, (to signify
his power and his knowledge,) which are the seven spirits subject to Christ. See Chap. i. 4. It is observed that in
the Revelation of St. John, the number seven is divers times applied to signify a multitude, and a number implying perfection,
and three and a half for a small number. Thus are represented the seven candlesticks, seven churches, seven spirits, seven
seals, seven trumpets, seven vials, &c. (Witham)
Ver. 7-8. He....took
the book,[3]...and when he had opened it, or was about to open it, (in the Greek is only, he took it: which was
a sign that he would open it)...the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, to adore him, as appears by
what follows, ver. 13. --- Having every one of them harps to celebrate his praise, and golden vials full of odours,
which are the prayers of the saints: which shews that the saints in heaven offer up before the throne of the Divine Majesty
the prayers of the faithful. (Witham) --- Harps, &c. These harps are symbols of the praise which good men render
to God; and the vials full of odours represent the prayers of the saints. In conformity with this idea, St. John wishes to
represent these four and twenty ancients as so many senators, who present to the Almighty the prayers and homages of good
men on earth. (Estius; Clement of Alexandria) --- This also is an imitation of what was practised in the temple, in which
were always around the altar, in times of sacrifice, Levites with musical instruments, priests with vials to contain the wine
and blood, and censers to hold the incense (Calmet) --- The prayers of the saints. Here we see that the saints in heaven
offer up to Christ the prayers of the faithful upon earth. (Challoner)
Ver. 9. They
sung a new canticle, &c. called new, as belonging to the New Testament, or alliance of the new law of Christ.
(Witham) --- Canticle; that is, excellent. The Scripture generally attaches the epithet new to canticles.
New canticles are always more agreeable, says Pindar. (Grotius) --- And hast redeemed, &c. The twenty-four ancients
here may well represent all, who are in possession of beatitude. They all acknowledge it is to Jesus Christ they are indebted
for the felicity they enjoy; it is he that has assembled at the foot of God's throne all the nations of the world, faithful
souls from every tribe and tongue, and people and nation, by his blood. (Calmet)
Ver. 10. And
hast made us to our God, &c. See 1 Peter ii. 5, 9. (Witham) --- All Christians may justly be styled kings and priests
of God, by the spiritual empire they possess over their passions and the world; and by the continual offering they make on
the altar of their hearts, by means of the prayers they daily offer up to God. (Origen) --- Thus they say, we shall reign
on the earth by the empire we shall exercise over our passions; and by the union we shall have with Jesus Christ and his Church,
triumph over all who have persecuted us. (Estius; Andrĉas.)
Ver. 11. The
number of them was thousands of thousands.[4] In the Greek also, ten thousand times ten thousand. (Witham)
Ver. 12. The
Lamb is worthy....to receive power and divinity,[5] &c. The Socinians and new Arians from hence pretend that the Lamb,
Jesus Christ, is not the same true God with the Father, but only deserved divinity, or to be made God in an inferior and an
improper sense. The argument is of no force at all in the ordinary Greek, where for divinity is read riches. The sense
is, thou art worthy to have thy power and divinity acknowledged and praised by all creatures both in heaven and earth:
and the following words are a confutation of the Socinians, "I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne, and to
the Lamb, benediction, and honour, and glory, and power, forever and ever," where the same divine power is attributed to the
Father and to the Son of God, Jesus, true God and true man. (Witham)
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[1] Ver. 1. Intus et foris, esothen kai opisthen; on
the back side.
[2] Ver. 3. Aperire librum, neque videre illum, blepein kai
anagnonai, legere.
[3] Ver. 7-8. Cum aperuisset: in the present Greek only, ote
elabe; and in one or two manuscripts of the Marquis de Velez, enoixe.
[4] Ver. 11. Millia millium, muriades muriadon, kai chiliades
chiliadon.
[5] Ver. 12. Accipere virtutem et divinitatem: in the Greek, instead
of divinitatem, plouton. In one or two manuscripts of the Marquis de Velez, theoteta.
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Bible Text & Cross-references:
The book sealed with seven seals is opened by the Lamb,
who thereupon receives adoration and praise from all.
1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written
within and without, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong Angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy
to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man was able neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the
earth, to open the book, nor to look on it.
4 And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor
to see it.
5 And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not: behold the lion of the
tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath conquered to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I saw: and behold in the midst of the throne, and of the four animals,
and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven
spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came: and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat
on the throne.
8 And when he had opened the book, the four animals, and the four and
twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the
prayers of the saints:
9 And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take
the book, and to open the seals thereof: because thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every
tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation:
10 And hast made us to our God a kingdom, and priests: and we shall reign
on the earth.
11 And I saw, and I heard the voice of many Angels round about the throne,
and the living creatures and the ancients: and the number of them was *thousands of thousands,
12 Saying, with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive
power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and benediction.
13 And every creature, which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under
the earth, and such as are in the sea, and the things that are therein, I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne,
and to the Lamb, benediction, and honour, and glory, and power for ever and ever.
14 And the four animals said: Amen: And the four and twenty ancients
fell down on their faces, and adored him that liveth for ever and ever.
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*
11: Daniel vii. 10.
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