The Scroll and the Lamb
1Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides. It was sealed with seven seals. 2I saw a mighty angel calling out in a loud voice. He said, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll. No one could even look inside it. 4I cried and cried. That’s because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not cry! The Lion of the tribe of Judah has won the battle. He is the Root of David. He is able to break the seven seals and open the scroll.”
6Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if he had been put to death. He stood at the center of the area around the throne. The Lamb was surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes. The eyes stand for the seven spirits of God, which are sent out into all the earth. 7The Lamb went and took the scroll. He took it from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8Then the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down in front of the Lamb. Each one had a harp. They were holding golden bowls full of incense. They stand for the prayers of God’s people. 9Here is the new song they sang.
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and break open its seals.
You are worthy because you were put to death.
With your blood you bought people for God.
They come from every tribe, people and nation,
no matter what language they speak.
10You have made them members of a royal family.
You have made them priests to serve our God.
They will rule on the earth.”
11Then I looked and heard the voice of millions and millions of angels. They surrounded the throne. They surrounded the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they were saying,
“The Lamb, who was put to death, is worthy!
He is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength!
He is worthy to receive honor and glory and praise!”
13All creatures in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea were speaking. The whole creation was speaking. I heard all of them say,
“Praise and honor belong
to the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!
Glory and power belong to God for ever and ever!”
14The four living creatures said, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Bogrullen med de syv segl
1Derefter lagde jeg mærke til, at han, der sad på tronen, havde en bogrulle i sin åbne højre hånd. Der var skrevet både inden i den og uden på den, og den var forseglet med syv segl. 2Og jeg så en mægtig engel, som råbte: „Hvem er værdig til at bryde de syv segl og åbne bogrullen?” 3Men der var ingen i himlen eller på jorden eller under jorden, der var i stand til at åbne bogrullen eller se, hvad der stod i den. 4Jeg græd meget over, at ingen blev fundet værdig til at åbne bogrullen. 5Men en af medregenterne sagde til mig: „Du skal ikke græde. Løven af Judas stamme, rodskuddet5,5 Jf. Es. 11,1.10 og Åb. 22,16. fra Davids slægt, har sejret, og han er værdig til at bryde de syv segl og åbne bogrullen.”
Lovprisning af det slagtede Lam, Jesus Kristus
6Da så jeg en skikkelse som et lam, der stod ved tronen i midten, imellem de fire levende væsener og de 24 medregenter. Lammet så ud, som om det havde været slået ihjel. Det havde syv horn, og det havde syv øjne, der symboliserer Guds syv ånder, der er sendt ud over hele jorden. 7Lammet gik frem og tog bogrullen ud af hånden på ham, der sad på tronen.
8Idet Lammet tog bogrullen, udtrykte de fire levende væsener deres hyldest til det ved at kaste sig ned på knæ foran det. Det samme gjorde de 24 medregenter, og de havde hver en harpe og en guldskål fyldt med røgelse, som er Guds folks takoffer i form af bøn. 9De sang en ny sang, der lød således: „Du er værdig til at tage bogrullen og til at bryde dens segl. For du blev slået ihjel, og med dit blod løskøbte du mennesker fra alle sprog og folkeslag, for at de kunne tilhøre Gud. 10Du har gjort dem til præster og konger for vores Gud, og de skal regere på jorden.”
11Derefter hørte jeg en høj lyd, og jeg så tusindvis, ja millioner, af engle rundt om tronen og de fire levende væsener og de 24 medregenter. 12De sang med høj røst: „Det ofrede Lam er værdigt til at få magt og rigdom, visdom og styrke, ære, herlighed og lovprisning!”
13Samtidig hørte jeg alle levende skabninger i himlen, på jorden, under jorden og på havet synge: „Både han, der sidder på tronen, og Lammet, skal have lovprisning, ære, herlighed og magt i al evighed!”
14De fire levende væsener brød ud i et „Amen!”, og de 24 medregenter faldt igen på knæ og gav deres hyldest.
