The Scroll with Seven Seals
1 I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, closedandsealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel announcing with a loud voice, “Who is worthy [having the authority and virtue] to open the scroll and tobreak its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] was able to open the scroll or look into it.
4 And Ibeganto weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it.
5 Then one of the [twenty-four] elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcomeandconquered! He can open the scroll and [break] its seven seals.”
6 And therebetween the throne (with the four living creatures) and among the elders I saw a Lamb (Christ) standing, [bearing scars and wounds] as though it had been slain, with seven horns (complete power) and with seven eyes (complete knowledge), which arethe seven Spirits of God who have been sent [on duty] into all the earth.
7 And He came andtook the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat 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 (Christ), each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of fragrant incense, which are the prayers of the saints (God’s people).
9 And they sang a new song [of glorious redemption], saying,
“Worthyanddeserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchasedpeoplefor God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom [of royal subjects] and priests to our God; and they will reign on the earth.”
Angels Exalt the Lamb
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and [the voice] of the living creatures and the elders; and they numbered myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands (innumerable),
12 saying in a loud voice,
“Worthyanddeserving is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And I heard every created thing that is in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] or on the sea, and everything that is in them, saying [together],
“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Christ), be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped [Him who lives forever and ever].