The Scroll and the Lamb
1Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “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 or even look inside it. 4I wept and wept 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 weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth. 7He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign5:10 Some manuscripts they reign on the earth.”
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Kitabu Na Mwana-Kondoo
15:1 Ufu 4:2, 9; Eze 2:9-10; Isa 29:11; Dan 12:4Kisha nikaona katika mkono wake wa kuume wa yule aliyeketi kwenye kile kiti cha enzi, kitabu kilichoandikwa ndani na upande wa nje, kikiwa kimefungwa kwa lakiri saba. 25:2 Ufu 10:1Nami nikamwona malaika mwenye nguvu akitangaza kwa sauti kuu, akisema, “Ni nani anayestahili kuzivunja hizo lakiri na kukifungua kitabu?” 35:3 Ufu 5:13Lakini hapakuwa na yeyote mbinguni wala duniani au chini ya dunia aliyeweza kukifungua hicho kitabu wala hata kutazama ndani yake. 4Nikalia sana sana kwa sababu hakuonekana yeyote anayestahili kukifungua hicho kitabu wala kutazama ndani yake. 55:5 Mwa 49:9; Isa 11:1, 10; Rum 15:12Kisha, mmoja wa wale wazee akaniambia, “Usilie! Tazama, Simba wa kabila la Yuda, wa Uzao wa Daudi, ameshinda. Yeye ndiye anayeweza kukifungua hicho kitabu na kuvunja hizo lakiri zake saba.”
65:6 Yn 1:29; Zek 4:10Ndipo nikaona katikati ya kile kiti cha enzi na wale viumbe wenye uhai wanne na miongoni mwa wale wazee, Mwana-Kondoo amesimama, akiwa kama amechinjwa. Alikuwa na pembe saba na macho saba, ambazo ndizo zile Roho saba5:6 Roho saba za Mungu hapa inamaanisha Roho wa Mungu katika ukamilifu wa utendaji wake. za Mungu zilizotumwa duniani pote. 75:7 Ufu 4:2Huyo Mwana-Kondoo akaja na kukitwaa kile kitabu kutoka kwenye mkono wa kuume wa yule aliyeketi kwenye kile kiti cha enzi. 85:8 Ufu 14:2; Za 141:2Alipokwisha kukitwaa kile kitabu, wale viumbe wenye uhai wanne pamoja na wale wazee ishirini na wanne wakaanguka mbele ya yule Mwana-Kondoo. Kila mmoja wao alikuwa na kinubi, nao walikuwa wameshika mabakuli ya dhahabu yaliyojaa uvumba, ambayo ni maombi ya watakatifu. 95:9 Za 149:1; Ufu 14:3-4; 4:11; Ebr 9:12; 1Kor 6:20Nao wakaimba wimbo mpya, wakisema:
“Wewe unastahili kukitwaa kitabu
na kuzivunja lakiri zake,
kwa sababu ulichinjwa
na kwa damu yako ukamnunulia Mungu watu
kutoka kila kabila, kila lugha,
kila jamaa na kila taifa.
105:10 1Pet 5:5Wewe umewafanya hawa wawe ufalme na makuhani
wa kumtumikia Mungu wetu,
nao watatawala duniani.”
115:11 Dan 7:10; Yud 14Kisha nikatazama, nikasikia sauti za malaika wengi wakiwa wamekizunguka kile kiti cha enzi, pamoja na wale viumbe wenye uhai wanne na wale wazee ishirini na wanne. Idadi yao ilikuwa kumi elfu mara kumi elfu na maelfu ya maelfu. 125:12 Ufu 4:11Nao waliimba kwa sauti kuu, wakisema:
“Anastahili Mwana-Kondoo, yeye aliyechinjwa,
kupokea uweza na utajiri na hekima na nguvu
na heshima na utukufu na sifa!”
135:13 Flp 2:10; Mal 1:6; Rum 11:36Kisha nikasikia kila kiumbe mbinguni na duniani, chini ya nchi na baharini na vyote vilivyomo ndani yake vikiimba:
“Sifa na heshima na utukufu na uweza
ni vyake yeye aketiye juu ya hicho kiti cha enzi
na kwa Mwana-Kondoo,
milele na milele!”
145:14 Ufu 4:9-10; 19:4Wale viumbe wenye uhai wanne wakasema, “Amen!” Nao wale wazee ishirini na wanne wakaanguka kifudifudi wakaabudu.
