Revelation 5:6 Study Bible: I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

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◄ Revelation 5:6 ►

Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Study Bible

Then I saw
The phrase "Then I saw" indicates a continuation of John's visionary experience. The Greek word for "saw" is "eidon," which implies not just a physical sight but a deeper, spiritual perception. This vision is a divine revelation, emphasizing the importance of spiritual insight in understanding God's mysteries.

a Lamb
The "Lamb" is a central figure in Revelation, symbolizing Jesus Christ. The Greek word "arnion" is used here, which specifically refers to a young lamb. This imagery is deeply rooted in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where a lamb without blemish was offered for atonement. It highlights Christ's innocence and His role as the ultimate sacrifice for humanity's sins.

who appeared to have been slain
This phrase underscores the paradox of the Lamb's power through apparent weakness. The Greek word "esphagmenon" means "slain" or "slaughtered," evoking the image of a sacrificial offering. Despite bearing the marks of death, the Lamb stands alive, symbolizing Christ's victory over death and His redemptive work.

standing in the center of the throne
The Lamb's position "in the center of the throne" signifies His divine authority and centrality in God's plan. The throne is a symbol of God's sovereign rule, and the Lamb's presence there indicates His co-regency with God the Father. This imagery affirms the deity of Christ and His rightful place in the heavenly realm.

encircled by the four living creatures and the elders
The "four living creatures" and "elders" represent all of creation and the redeemed, respectively. Their encirclement of the Lamb signifies worship and acknowledgment of His supremacy. This scene reflects the heavenly order and the universal recognition of Christ's lordship.

The Lamb had seven horns
In biblical symbolism, "horns" represent power and authority. The number "seven" denotes completeness and perfection. Thus, the "seven horns" of the Lamb signify His perfect and complete power, underscoring His omnipotence as the risen Savior.

and seven eyes
The "seven eyes" symbolize perfect knowledge and insight. In Zechariah 4:10, eyes are associated with the omniscience of God. Here, they represent the Lamb's ability to see and understand all things, affirming His divine wisdom and awareness.

which represent the seven Spirits of God
The "seven Spirits of God" is a reference to the fullness of the Holy Spirit. This phrase echoes Isaiah 11:2, which describes the Spirit of the Lord resting upon the Messiah. It highlights the complete and perfect presence of the Holy Spirit in Christ's ministry and His ongoing work in the world.

sent out into all the earth
This phrase emphasizes the universal scope of the Lamb's mission. The Greek word "apostellō" means "sent out," indicating a purposeful and authoritative sending. It reflects the global reach of the Gospel and the active presence of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling God's redemptive plan across the earth.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Lamb
Represents Jesus Christ, symbolizing His sacrificial death and victory over sin. The Lamb "appeared to have been slain," indicating His crucifixion and resurrection.

2. The Throne
The central place of God's authority and power in heaven, where the Lamb stands, signifying His divine authority and role in God's redemptive plan.

3. The Four Living Creatures
Heavenly beings that surround the throne, often interpreted as cherubim or seraphim, representing all of creation worshiping God.

4. The Elders
Twenty-four elders who represent the redeemed people of God, possibly symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, indicating the unity of the Old and New Covenants.

5. The Seven Spirits of God
Symbolic of the fullness and completeness of the Holy Spirit, sent out into all the earth, indicating God's omnipresence and omniscience.

Teaching Points

The Sacrificial Lamb
Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His death and resurrection are central to our faith and salvation.

Divine Authority
The Lamb standing at the center of the throne signifies Jesus' authority and His role in God's plan. We are called to recognize and submit to His lordship in our lives.

The Completeness of the Spirit
The seven Spirits of God represent the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We should seek the Spirit's guidance and presence in our daily walk.

Unity of Believers
The presence of the elders signifies the unity of all believers. We are part of a larger community that spans both the Old and New Testaments.

Worship and Reverence
The scene in heaven is one of worship. We are reminded to live lives of worship, acknowledging God's holiness and sovereignty.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the imagery of the Lamb in Revelation 5:6 deepen your understanding of Jesus' role in salvation history?

2. In what ways can recognizing Jesus' authority as depicted in this passage influence your daily decisions and actions?

3. How does the concept of the "seven Spirits of God" challenge or encourage you in your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

4. What can we learn from the unity of the elders and the living creatures in their worship of God, and how can this be applied in our church communities today?

5. How do the connections between Revelation 5:6 and other scriptures like Isaiah 53 and John 1:29 enhance your understanding of the Bible's unified message about Jesus?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Isaiah 53
The prophecy of the suffering servant, which is fulfilled in Jesus as the Lamb who was slain.

John 1:29
John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," connecting to the sacrificial imagery in Revelation.

Zechariah 4:10
The "seven eyes" are mentioned, symbolizing God's all-seeing nature and His Spirit's presence throughout the earth.

Hebrews 9:14
Discusses Christ's sacrificial death and His role as the mediator of the new covenant, aligning with the imagery of the Lamb.

Sermons

The Goings Forth of the Holy Ghost	S. Conway	Revelation 5:6
The Sealed Book	R. Green	Revelation 5:1-7
The Adoration of the Lamb	S. Conway	Revelation 5:1-14
Christ in Heaven	R. Culbertson.	Revelation 5:6-7
Christ the Expounder of the Mystery	Homilist	Revelation 5:6-7
The Appearance of the Mediator in Heaven	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Atonement	Bp. Stevens.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Lamb and the Book	B. D. Johns.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Lamb in Glory	C. H. Spurgeon.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Lamb in the Midst of the Throne	Expository Outlines	Revelation 5:6-7
The Lamb in the Midst of the Throne	G. Rogers.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Lamb in the Midst of the Throne	John Walker.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Lamb in the Midst of the Throne	J. McCosh.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Lamb on the Throne	George Matheson, D. D.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Seven Eyes of the Slain Lamb	A. Maclaren, D. D.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Sevenfold Offices of the Holy Spirit	J. Vaughan, M. A.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Slain Lamb, Beheld in Heaven by the Redeemed	J. Parsons.	Revelation 5:6-7
The Zion -- the Lamb	Lyman Abbott, D. D.	Revelation 5:6-7
Union with Christ by the Spirit	H. C. G. Moule, M. A.	Revelation 5:6-7
Christ the Expounder of the Mystery	D. Thomas	Revelation 5:6-10

People

David, John

Places

Patmos

Topics

Beasts, Beheld, Beings, Center, Creatures, Death, Elders, Encircled, Forth, Horns, Lamb, Last-named, Middle, Midst, Midway, Offered, Rulers, Sacrifice, Seat, Seemed, Seven, Slain, Spirits, Standing, Stood, Though, Throne, Wide

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Revelation 5:6

     1652   numbers, 3-5
     1653   numbers, 6-10
     1670   symbols
     2312   Christ, as king
     2315   Christ, as Lamb
     2345   Christ, kingdom of
     4150   cherubim
     4195   spirits
     4654   horn
     5281   crucifixion
     6617   atonement, in NT
     8201   blamelessness

Revelation 5:1-7

1270 right hand of God

Revelation 5:5-6

7406 Passover

Revelation 5:6-8

2051 Christ, majesty of

Revelation 5:6-14

     2336   Christ, exaltation
     4627   creatures
     8444   honouring God

Library

The Chorus of Angels
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing! I t was a good report which the queen of Sheba heard, in her own land, of the wisdom and glory of Solomon. It lessened her attachment to home, and prompted her to undertake a long journey to visit this greater King, of whom she had heard so much. She went, and she was not disappointed. Great as the expectations were, which she had formed from the relation made her by others, …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Universal Chorus
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 I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that stteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. M en have generally agreed to dignify their presumptuous and arrogant ^* disquisitions on the works and ways of God, with the name of wisdom ; though the principles upon which they proceed, and the conclusions which they draw from …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Song of the Redeemed
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou ... hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ... T he extent, variety, and order of the creation, proclaim the glory of God. He is likewise, ^* Maximus in Minimis . The smallest of the works, that we are capable of examining, such for instance as the eye or the wing of a little insect, the creature of a day, are stamped with an inimitable impression of His wisdom and power. Thus in His written Word, there …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

April the Twelfth the Lamb on the Throne
"In the midst of the throne stood a Lamb as it had been slain!" --REVELATION v. 6-14. How strange and unexpected is the figure! A lamb--the supreme type of gentleness! A throne, the supreme symbol of power! And the one is in the very midst of the other. The sacrificial has become the sovereign: the Cross is the principal part of the throne. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me." Yes, this sovereign sacrificial Lord is to receive universal homage and worship. "Every creature which …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. Chap. v. 3 and 8, "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit:" Etc. , but Especially on That, "Blessed are The
1. By the return of the commemoration of a holy virgin, who gave her testimony to Christ, and was found worthy [1881] of a testimony from Christ, who was put to death openly, and crowned invisibly, I am reminded to speak to you, beloved, on that exhortation which the Lord hath just now uttered out of the Gospel, [1882] assuring us that there are many sources of a blessed life, which there is not a man that does not wish for. There is not a man surely can be found, who does not wish to be blessed. …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Departed Saints Fellow Servants with those yet on Earth.
"I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets." That the saints do not remain insensible, while their bodies are in the dull, but become angels, * see and serve God and bear his messages, and minister to the heirs of salvation, hath been argued from several considerations, in the preceding discourse; but we chiefly depend on revelation. The text and several other scriptures, we conceive to be our purpose, and sufficient to establish our theory, and that the same is illustrated and confirmed …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Kingly Priesthood of the Saints
"Hark! how they sing before the throne!" and I have sometimes thought I could "hark! how they sing before the throne." I have imagined that I could hear the full burst of the swell of the chorus, when it pealed from heaven like mighty thunders, and the sound of many waters, and have almost heard those full-toned strains, when the harpers harped with their harps be fore the throne of God; alas, it was but imagination. We cannot hear it now; these ears are not fitted for such music; these souls could …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

The Angel's Message and Song
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD . And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

My Life in Christ
"This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."--St. John xvii. 3. "MAY the living water of the Holy Ghost fill my heart, and may rivers of living water flow from my heart to the glory of God, and for the salvation of God's people." To the Glory of the Holy Trinity. Amen. Lord! I am--a miracle of Thy goodness, wisdom, and omnipotence, inasmuch as I was brought by Thee from non-existence into existence; inasmuch as I am preserved until now …
John Calvin—My Life in Christ

Set Me as a Seal Upon Thy Heart, as a Seal Upon Thine Arm; for Love is Strong as Death, Jealousy is Cruel as Hell; the Lights Thereof are Lights of Fire and Flames.
The Bridegroom invites the Spouse to set Him as a seal upon her heart; for as He is the source of her life, He ought also to be its seal. It is He who hinders her from ever leaving so blessed a state; she is then the fountain sealed, which none but Himself can either open or shut. He desires also that she should set Him as a seal upon her exterior and her works, so that everything may be reserved for Him and nothing may move without His directions. She is then a garden enclosed for her Bridegroom, …
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon

Prayer and Sacrifice Explained by the Similitude of a Perfume --Our Annihilation in this Sacrifice --Solidity and Fruitfulness of this Prayer as Set Forth in The
Prayer ought to be both petition and sacrifice. Prayer, according to the testimony of St John, is an incense, whose perfume rises to God. Therefore it is said in the Revelation (chap. viii. 3), that an angel held a censer, which contained the incense of the prayers of saints. Prayer is an outpouring of the heart in the presence of God. "I have poured out my soul before the Lord," said the mother of Samuel (1 Sam. i. 15). Thus the prayers of the Magi at the feet of the infant Jesus in the stable of …
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents

Touching Jacob, However, that which He did at his Mother's Bidding...
24. Touching Jacob, however, that which he did at his mother's bidding, so as to seem to deceive his father, if with diligence and in faith it be attended to, is no lie, but a mystery. The which if we shall call lies, all parables also, and figures designed for the signifying of any things soever, which are not to be taken according to their proper meaning, but in them is one thing to be understood from another, shall be said to be lies: which be far from us altogether. For he who thinks this, may …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

The First Wall.
Let us, in the first place, attack the first wall. It has been devised, that the Pope, bishops, priests and monks are called the Spiritual Estate; Princes, lords, artificers and peasants, are the Temporal Estate; which is a very fine, hypocritical device. But let no one be made afraid by it; and that for this reason: That all Christians are truly of the Spiritual Estate, and there is no difference among them, save of office alone. As St. Paul says (1 Cor. xii.), we are all one body, though each member …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The Source of Power
'And the Angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, 2. And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold, a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the top thereof: 3. And two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 4. So I answered and spake to the Angel that talked with …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon then hath the light shined. C ontrasts are suited to illustrate and strengthen the impression of each other. The happiness of those, who by faith in MESSIAH, are brought into a state of peace, liberty, and comfort, is greatly enhanced and heightened by the consideration of that previous state of misery in which they once lived, and of the greater misery to which they were justly exposed. …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Of Self-Annihilation
Of Self-Annihilation Supplication and sacrifice are comprehended in prayer, which, according to S. John, is "an incense, the smoke whereof ascendeth unto God;" therefore it is said in the Apocalypse that "unto the Angel was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all Saints'' (Chap. viii. 3). Prayer is the effusion of the heart in the Presence of God: "I have poured out my soul before God" saith the mother of Samuel. (1 Sam. i. 15) The prayer of the wise men at the feet of …
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

The Glory of Jesus and Mary.
Before entering upon the contemplation of the excellent glory which surrounds the blessed in heaven, we must endeavor to form a correct idea of God's grace, which enabled them to perform the great and noble actions we are now to consider. They were all, except Jesus and Mary, conceived in sin, and, therefore, subject to the same temptations that daily assail us. They never could have triumphed and reached the supernatural glory which now surrounds them, had they been left to their own natural strength, …
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven

Notes on the Second Century
Page 94. Line 9. The Book of ---- The reference here is to the apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon xiii. 1-5. Page 104. Med. 33. As originally written this Meditation commenced thus: Whether the sufferings of an. Angel would have been meritorious or no I will not dispute: but'---- And the following sentence, which comes after the first, has also been crossedout: So that it was an honour and no injury to be called to it: And so great an honour that it was an ornament to God himself, and an honour even to …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

Of the Prerogatives which the Elect Shall Enjoy in Heaven.
By reason of this communion with God, the elect in heaven shall have four superexcellent prerogatives:-- 1. They shall have the kingdom of heaven for their inheritance (Matt. xxv.; 1 Pet. i. 4), and they shall be free denizens of the heavenly Jerusalem (Eph. ii. 19; Heb. xii. 22.) St. Paul, by being a free citizen of Rome (Acts xxi. 26), escaped whipping; but they who are once free citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, shall ever be freed from the whips of eternal torments. For this freedom was bought …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Christ's Kingly Office
Q-26: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A KING? A: In subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Let us consider now Christ's regal office. And he has on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name written, "King of kings, and Lord of lords", Rev 19:16. Jesus Christ is of mighty renown, he is a king; (1.) he has a kingly title. High and Lofty.' Isa 57:15. (2.) He has his insignia regalia, his ensigns of royalty; corona est insigne …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Messiah Worshipped by Angels
Let all the angels of God worship Him. M any of the Lord's true servants, have been in a situation so nearly similar to that of Elijah, that like him they have been tempted to think they were left to serve the Lord alone (I Kings 19:10) . But God had then a faithful people, and He has so in every age. The preaching of the Gospel may be compared to a standard erected, to which they repair, and thereby become known to each other, and more exposed to the notice and observation of the world. But we hope …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Seven Sanctified Thoughts and Mournful Sighs of a Sick Man Ready to Die.
Now, forasmuch as God of his infinite mercy doth so temper our pain and sickness, that we are not always oppressed with extremity, but gives us in the midst of our extremities some respite, to ease and refresh ourselves, thou must have an especial care, considering how short a time thou hast either for ever to lose or to obtain heaven, to make use of every breathing time which God affords thee; and during that little time of ease to gather strength against the fits of greater anguish. Therefore, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

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