8.  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.

9.  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:  for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

    10.  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:  and we
    shall reign on the earth.

11.  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders:  and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

    12.  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
    to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and
    honor, and glory, and blessing.

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, heard it saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

    14.  And the four beasts said, Amen.  And the four and twenty
    elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and
    ever.

The vision of this chapter is but a continuation of the preceding one, being a sublime description of the exaltation and office-work of Christ in his two-fold character as the Lion of the tribe of Juda and as a sacrificial offering for the sins of the world.  The Apocalypse opens with the words, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him,” and it is fitting that his special prerogatives and characteristics, together with the true position he occupies, should first be revealed.  This was especially necessary in view of the fact to be revealed, that another would soon arise usurping the rights and prerogatives belonging to Christ alone, claiming to be supreme head of the church, sitting as God in the temple of God, and “showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thes. 2:4.

The attention of John was directed to an object “in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne”—­a book sealed with seven seals—­and to a mighty angel calling with a loud voice for some one to come forward and loose the seals and open the book.  No created intelligence of earth or heaven dared to step forward and declare himself able to accomplish the result required, and because of this John wept much.

The form of books in use when the Revelation was given was unlike those used now.  They consisted of strips of parchment or other material, longer or shorter, rolled up.  The book in the symbolic vision before us consisted of a roll containing seven pieces each one rolled and sealed separately, so that the outer seal could be broken and the contents of its strip read without disturbing the remaining ones.  Had the seals all been on the outside, nothing could have been read until they were all broken; whereas the loosing of each seal was followed by some discovery of the contents of the roll.