Albert Barnes

And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne who lives forever and ever,

“And when those beasts give glory ... - As often as those living beings ascribe glory to God. They did this continually Rev 4:8; and, if the above explanation be correct, then the idea is that the ways and acts of God in his providential…”

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.

“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne - Of God, Rev 4:3-4. His form is not described there, nor is there any intimation of it here except the mention of his.” right hand.””

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.

“And no man in heaven - No one - οὐδεὶς oudeis. There is no limitation in the original to man. The idea is, that there was no one in heaven - evidently alluding to the created beings there - who could open the volume.”

And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

“And I wept much, because no man was found worthy ... - Greek, as in Rev 5:3, no one. It would seem as if there was a pause to see if there were any response to the proclamation of the angel.”

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and…

“And one of the elders saith unto me - See the notes on Rev 4:4. No particular reason is assigned why this message was delivered by one of the elders rather than by an angel.”

And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

“And he came and took the book out of the right hand ... - As if it pertained to him by virtue of rank or office.”

And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those…

“And they sung a new song - Compare Rev 14:3. New in the sense that it is a song consequent on redemption, and distinguished therefore from the songs sung in heaven before the work of redemption was consummated.”

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

“And hast made us unto our God kings and priests - See the notes on Rev 1:6. And we shall reign on the earth - The redeemed, of whom we are the representatives.”

Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.

“And I beheld - And I looked again. And I heard the voice of many angels - The inhabitants of heaven uniting with the representatives of the redeemed church in ascribing honor to the Lamb of God.”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on…

“And every creature which is in heaven - The meaning of this verse is, that all created things seemed to unite in rendering honor to Him who sat on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a thunderous voice, “Come!”

“And I saw - Or, I looked. He fixed his eye attentively on what was passing, as promising important disclosures.”

And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”

“And when he had opened the second seal - So as to disclose another portion of the volume. See the notes at Rev 5:1. I heard the second beast say - The second beast was like a calf or an ox.”

And when the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”

“And when he had opened the fourth seal - See the notes at Rev 5:1. I heard the voice of the fourth beast say - The flying eagle. See the notes at Rev 15:7.”

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or…

“And after these things - After the vision of the things referred to in the opening of the sixth seal.”

After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

“After this - Greek,” After these things” - Μετὰ ταῦτα Meta tauta: that is, after I saw these things thus represented I had another vision.”

And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,

“And all the angels stood round about the throne - notes on Rev 5:11. And about the elders - notes on Rev 4:4. And the four beasts - notes on Rev 4:6.”

Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”

“And one of the elders - See the notes on Rev 4:4. That is, as there understood, one of the representatives of the church before the throne.”

For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle…

“Therefore are they before the throne of God - The reason why they are there is to be traced to the fact that the Lamb shed his blood to make expiation for sin.”

For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd.

“For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne - notes on Rev 5:6. He is still the great agent in promoting the happiness of the redeemed in heaven.”

Then another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.

“And another angel came - Who this angel was is not mentioned, nor have we any means of determining. Of course a great variety of opinion has been entertained on the subject (see Poole’s Synopsis) - some referring it to angels in general; others to…”

Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; and there were peals of thunder, and rumblings, and flashes of…

“And the angel took the censer - Rev 8:3. This is a new symbol, designed to furnish a new representation of future events.”

a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

“And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died - The effect was as if one-third of all the fish in the sea were cut off. Of course this is not to be taken literally.”

The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters.

“And the name of the star is called Wormwood - Is appropriately so called. The writer does not say that it would be actually so called, but that this name would be properly descriptive of its qualities. Such expressions are common in allegorical writings.”

And as I observed, I heard an eagle flying overhead, calling in a loud voice, “Woe! Woe!

“And I beheld - My attention was attracted by a new vision. And heard an angel flying, ... - I heard the voice of an angel making this proclamation. Woe, woe, woe - That is, there will be great woe.”

Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and it was given the key to the pit of the…

“And the fifth angel sounded - See the notes on Rev 8:6-7. And I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth - This denotes, as was shown in the notes on Rev 8:10, a leader, a military chieftain, a warrior.”