✶

Important Note: The sealed book here is given to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and he then opens it. Then in Revelation ten, we see Jesus again with the voice of a Lion with an open book. That book in Revelation 10 is not the same book as this sealed one.

5And I saw in the right hand [r.0] of him that sat on the throne a book 5:1-9 written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals Daniel 12:4.
[r.0]

Re 1:16, Re 1:17, Re 1:20, Re 2:1, Re 5:1, Re 5:7, Re 13:16 — Right-hand references.

[r.1]

Re 5:1-9

[r.2]

Daniel 12:4

2 And I saw a strong messenger proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book 5:1-9, and to loose the seals thereof?
[r.3]

Re 5:1-9

[time]
Looking for Lamb
3 And none in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book 5:1-9, neither to look into it.
[r.4]

Re 5:1-9

4 And I wept much, because none was found worthy to open and to read the book 5:1-9, neither to look into it.
[r.5]

Re 5:1-9

5 And one of the elders said unto me [r.6], Weep not: behold, the Lion [r.7] of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David [r.8], has prevailed so as to open the book 5:1-9, and to open the seven seals thereof.
[r.6]

Re 5:5, Re 7:13

[r.7]

Re 5:5, Re 10:3

[r.8]

Re 3:7, Re 5:5, Re 22:16

[r.9]

Re 5:1-9

[art]
The Mighty Angel and the Scroll

Important Note: Keep an eye on "midst of the throne" or "around". We will see the key figures that appear there. The four beasts, 24 elders, the Lamb, and the saints as the great multitude with harps.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts [r.10], and in the midst of the elders [r.11], stood a Lamb as it had been slain [r.12], having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth [r.13].
[r.10]

Re 4:6, Re 4:8-9, Re 5:6, Re 5:8, Re 5:11, Re 5:14, Re 6:1, Re 6:6, Re 7:11, Re 14:3, Re 15:7, Re 19:4

[r.11]

Re 4:4, Re 4:10, Re 5:6, Re 5:8, Re 5:11, Re 5:14, Re 7:11, Re 11:16, Re 14:3, Re 19:4

[r.12]

Re 1:5, Re 1:18, Re 2:8, Re 5:6, Re 5:9, Re 5:12, Re 13:8

[r.13]

Re 1:4, Re 3:1, Re 4:5, Re 5:6

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand [r.14] of him that sat upon the throne.
[r.14]

Re 1:16, Re 1:17, Re 1:20, Re 2:1, Re 5:1, Re 5:7, Re 13:16 — Right-hand references.

8 And when he had taken the book 5:1-9, the four beasts [r.16] and four and twenty elders [r.17] fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps [r.18], and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints [r.19].
[fn]

Harps are not an identity marker beyond being used exclusively by those who sing. Thus, harps let us know who is singing a given song, and not much more.

[r.15]

Re 5:1-9

[r.16]

Re 4:6, Re 4:8-9, Re 5:6, Re 5:8, Re 5:11, Re 5:14, Re 6:1, Re 6:6, Re 7:11, Re 14:3, Re 15:7, Re 19:4

[r.17]

Re 4:4, Re 4:10, Re 5:6, Re 5:8, Re 5:11, Re 5:14, Re 7:11, Re 11:16, Re 14:3, Re 19:4

[r.18]

Re 5:8, Re 14:2, Re 15:2

[r.19]

Re 5:8, Re 8:4

[time]
Lamb takes scroll
9 And they sung a new song (s), saying, You are worthy to take the book 5:1-9, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain [r.21], and have redeemed (v) [people] to God by thy blood [r.22] out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation [r.23] (im);
[lex]

ESV used "ransomed" instead of "redeemed", in Greek these are the same in TR and CT ηγορασας.

[fn]

In verse 9, a new song is sung about a "redeemed" (KJV) group of people, and because the 144,000 are called "redeemed" multiple times in Revelation 14, we can understand how the TR/KJV might link us back to this moment in time, where we see a song "a new song" there. The ESV, however, breaks this link slightly in English by saying "ransomed" instead of "redeemed". This is important because it suggests a shared redemptive theme between this new song and the one in Revelation 14. The two songs are not identical, as the song in Revelation 14 remains hidden and its learning is restricted, but they belong to the same redemptive category: both are Lamb-centered, both involve harps, and both are connected to the redeemed. The thematic resonance suggests that these two distant texts share a common thread.

[lex]

ωδην καινην - "new song"

[r.20]

Re 5:1-9

[r.21]

Re 1:5, Re 1:18, Re 2:8, Re 5:6, Re 5:9, Re 5:12, Re 13:8

[r.22]

Re 1:5, Re 5:9, Re 7:14, Re 12:11

[r.23]

Re 5:9, Re 7:9, Re 10:11 — The diverse church

(s)

Re 5:9, Re 14:3 — "A new song" is sung about a redeemed group of people in both Chapter 5:9 and Revelation 14:3-5. In both cases, the song is set in the throne room of heaven with the 24 elders and 4 beasts. Both songs are Lamb-centered and connected to the redeemed. Both are "new". The thematic resonance suggests that these two distant texts share a common thread. This is important because it may suggest a parallel timing of events. The two songs are not identical, though; the words of the new song in Revelation 14:3 remain hidden, and we know the words to the new song in Revelation 5:9. The new song in Revelation 14:3 appears to be about the redeamed 144,000, and in Revelation 5:9 the new song is about "every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation". That division of the songs by their subject groups deeply mirrors Revelation 7, where the 144,000 are initially sealed and the "immense multitude, which none could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" is seen coming out of that great tribulation.

(v)

Re 5:9, Re 14:3, Re 14:4 — The object of each new song appears to be a redeemed group of people. Revelation 14, the 144,000. Revelation 5, "every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation".

(im)

Re 5:9, Re 7:9 — In both 5:9 and 7:9, all nations are mentioned before the 7 praises (x) come from the messengers around the throne. Note that this "immense multitude" is not countable and therefore not the 144,000.

[time]
New Song
10 And have made them a kingdom and priests unto our God [r.24]: and they shall reign on the earth.
[fn]

In verse 10, the KJV says, "made us unto our God kings and priests," whereas the ESV says, "you have made them a kingdom and priests," which further links us to Exodus 19:6 in particular and also Daniel 7:18, Daniel 7:27, and Romans 8:17 — other textual criticism points aside. Because Revelation is deeply linked to the Old Testament, the ESV and CT seem to have the right words here. The ESV, in the case of this study, is more accurate in terms of the manuscripts here, and we should see this as not being the saints who sing it based on the manuscripts we have. It appears the 4 beasts and 24 elders who sing as they have the harps, and they are not saints of "kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation".

[lex]

In the KJV/TR/Codex Sinaiticus/NA28 (βασιλεύσουσιν), "They 'shall reign'. Yet, in the reading of Codex Alexandrinus, it places the saints on the earth at present (βασιλεύουσιν). For the astute, the two Greek words here differ by only one letter. Based on the story of Revelation, it seems the reigning on earth would be a future prospect and not a current one before the seals of the scroll are opened.

[r.24]

Re 1:6, Re 4:4, Re 5:10

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many messengers round about the throne (x) [r.25] and the beasts and the elders [r.26]: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Daniel 7:9-10
[r.25]

Re 3:5, Re 5:11, Re 7:11, Re 12:7, Re 14:10

[r.26]

Re 4:4, Re 4:10, Re 5:6, Re 5:8, Re 5:11, Re 5:14, Re 7:11, Re 11:16, Re 14:3, Re 19:4

[r.27]

Daniel 7:9-10

(x)

Re 5:11, Re 5:12, Re 7:11, Re 7:12 — There are 7 praises to the Father and Jesus in their respective chapters. Angels/messengers around the throne. The proclamation of both cases is sevenfold, and here one is to the Father, and the first is to the Lamb in 5:12.

12 Saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain [r.28] to receive might, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing (x).
[r.28]

Re 1:5, Re 1:18, Re 2:8, Re 5:6, Re 5:9, Re 5:12, Re 13:8

(x)

Re 5:12, Re 5:11, Re 7:11, Re 7:12 — There are 7 praises to the Father and Jesus in their respective chapters. Angels/messengers around the throne. The proclamation of both cases is sevenfold, and here one is to the Father, and the first is to the Lamb in 5:12.

[time]
7 Praises
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them [r.29] [r.30] [r.31], heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and dominion, be unto him who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.
[lex]

τίσμα — creature, a created thing.

[r.29]

Re 4:11, Re 5:13

[r.30]

Re 5:13, Psalm 146

[r.31]

Re 5:13, Re 14:7

14 And the four beasts [r.32] said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders [r.33] fell down and worshipped him that lives forever and ever [r.34].
[r.32]

Re 4:6, Re 4:8-9, Re 5:6, Re 5:8, Re 5:11, Re 5:14, Re 6:1, Re 6:6, Re 7:11, Re 14:3, Re 15:7, Re 19:4

[r.33]

Re 4:4, Re 4:10, Re 5:6, Re 5:8, Re 5:11, Re 5:14, Re 7:11, Re 11:16, Re 14:3, Re 19:4

[r.34]

Re 4:9-10, Re 5:14, Re 10:6, Re 15:7 — Speaking of the Father