提要
約翰看到「一卷書」在上帝的右手，而上帝坐在寶座上（1節）。書卷兩面都寫了字，但用七印封嚴了。書中的信息是如此的重大，天上地下竟沒有一人能開封讀它（3節）。當約翰正為此哀嘆時，聽見有一長老說道：「猶大支派中的獅子，大衛的根，祂已得勝，能以展開那書卷，揭開那七印。」（5節）
但約翰所看到的並非是獅子而是羔羊，「像是被殺過的」，站立「在長老之中」（6節）。在這裡顯示了上帝的三位一體，因為「坐寶座的」（1、7節下）和羔羊同時在寶座之中。祂的「七角和七眼」代表上帝「奉差遣往普天下去」的七靈（6節）。這七靈也是從前所說的七燈，但在這裡如此說，反應了撒迦利亞四章十節所說的，上帝的七眼乃為「遍察全地。」
七角代表能力－－表示上帝的全能；七眼代表知識－－表示上帝的全知。上帝的羔羊就是那一位全知全能的上帝。只有祂配開那書卷（9節）。祂與那「坐寶座的」原為一。所以，天上眾軍會唱說：「但願頌讚、尊貴、榮耀、權勢都歸給坐寶座的和羔羊，直到永永遠遠。」（13節）因為羊羔是配得的。
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Overview
John now sees a "scroll" in "the right hand of Him who sat on the throne" (v.l). It has writing on both sides and is sealed with seven seals. The value of its message is so great that no one "in heaven or on earth" can break the seals and read it (v.3). John laments, but then hears one of the elders say, "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals" (v.5).
But, rather than a Lion, John sees a Lamb, "looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne" (v.6). The multidimensional factor is very evident here, in that "the one who sat on the throne" (v.l, 7b) is still sitting there even while the Lamb is at the "center of the throne". His "seven horns and seven eyes" represent "the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth" (v.6). The "seven spirits" were previously described as seven lamps, but in this instance there may be a reflection of the seven eyes of God in Zechariah 4:10, "which range throughout the earth".
The seven horns speak of power — omnipotence. The seven eyes speak of knowledge — omniscience. The Lamb of God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He is, in every way, very God. He is the only one "worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals" (v.9). He and the one "who sits on the throne" are one. The hosts of heaven sing, "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!" (v.13). The Lamb is worthy.
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Prayer
Lord God, our hearts rejoice with the hosts of heaven, singing, "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour, glory and power, forever and ever!" |
