Chapter 5 (Thursday of the First Week of Advent)

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’

Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll
   and to open its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
   saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;
you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God,
   and they will reign on earth.’

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,
‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honour and glory and blessing!’
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might
for ever and ever!’
And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped.

Commentary

The seven seals are first, the incarnation; second, the nativity; third, the passion; fourth, the death; fifth, the resurrection; sixth, the glory; and seventh, the kingdom. Therefore, Christ fulfilled all these things through his humanity. All Scriptures that were closed and sealed, he opened and unsealed. (Apringius of Beja)

Neither angels nor human beings, those in the flesh, nor the saints who had departed from the flesh are able to understand the knowledge of the divine judgments, except the lamb of God, by His presence releasing the obscurity of the things prophesied about him. (Andreas of Caesarea)

 The death of Christ marked the defeat and the triumph over the demons. In fact, our Lion had captured all the prey that the hostile lion had conquered after destroying and crushing the human being. Then, by coming back from the underworld and ascending on high, he made slavery his captive. Therefore in his sleep the Lion won and defeated every evil and destroyed the one who had the power of death. (Rufinus of Aquileia)

Musical Selections

Ecce vicit leo de trubu Juda, radix David, aperire librum, et solvere septem signacula ejus: Alleluia, alleluia.  Dignus est Agnus, qui occisus est, accipere virtutem, et divinitatem, et sapientiam, et fortitudinem, et honorem, et gloriam, et benedictionem. Alleluia.

See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals: alleluia, alleluia.  ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!’ Alleluia.

Redemísti nos,Dómine, in sánguine tuo, ex omni tribu et lingua et pópulo et natióne: et fecísti nos Deo nostro regnum.

You have redeemed us, O Lord, with Your Blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us for our God a kingdom.

Dignus est Agnus, qui occisus est, accipere virtutem, et divinitatem, et sapientiam, et fortitudinem, et honorem. Ipsi gloria et imperium in saecula saeculorum. Ps. Deus, judicium tuum Regi da: et justitiam tuam Filio Regis. 

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honor. Glory and dominion be to him until the ages of ages. Ps. Give the king your justice, O God, and righteousness to a king’s son. 

COLLECT

Stir up your power, O Lord,
and come to our help with mighty strength,
that what our sins impede
the grace of your mercy may hasten.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.