New Defender's Study Bible Notes
5:1 book. The “book” (Greek biblion) was not a book in the modern sense, but rather a “scroll” or “writing.” The same word is used in Matthew 19:7, “a writing of divorcement.” The word was derived originally from the name for the leaf of the papyrus plant, from which the paper used in antiquity was made. In this case, the writing was the scroll containing the title deed, not just to a parcel of land, but to the entire earth and all its inhabitants. In accordance with ancient legal custom, the deed was inscribed in full on the inside of the scroll, with enough information on its backside to indicate the land involved and the rightful owner who had purchased it. It was then sealed and deposited somewhere for preservation and record, and could only be opened by the owner when he arrived to take possession (see Jeremiah 25:11; 32:10-15 for an illustration of this principle).
Since the ultimate owner of the earth is its Creator (Psalm 24:1), only He has the right to deed it to anyone, and He did give Adam dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). Satan, however, usurped that dominion when Adam sinned and died, and now, “the whole world lieth in [the wicked one]” (I John 5:19). Nevertheless, the Creator is still the owner, and has retained the record of ownership in His own possession.
The Creator did deed a portion of the earth to each family of the children of Israel, commanding that: “The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine” (Leviticus 25:23). If any portion of the land was sold, however, it could always be purchased back—that is, “redeemed”—by any kinsman of the owner (Leviticus 25:25). The same principle of redemption by a kinsman applied also to individuals who had become bondservants (Leviticus 25:47-55). All such arrangements and transactions were actually types of the great transaction by which the Creator of the world would also become its Redeemer, paying the necessary price to purge it not only of sin but also of the evil usurper who has been “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) ever since Adam sinned.
5:2 worthy. The Redeemer of the lost world must be a kinsman, that is, a man, not an angel or demon; but He must also be God, who is its true owner. He cannot be an ordinary man, for the world is lost precisely because of man’s sinful condition, and “there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12). He must be both God and sinless man, to “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) and to reclaim it for Himself.
5:7 right hand of him. This is the same scene, from a different perspective, that Daniel saw in his vision (Daniel 7:13-14), in which the Son of Man comes before the Ancient of Days to receive dominion over the earth.
5:8 prayers of saints. Finally, all the Christ-honoring prayers of believers for ultimate victory and God’s kingdom to come will be answered.
5:9 redeemed. The redemption price (Ephesians 1:7) was paid long ago on the cross, but the work of redemption will only be complete when Satan is cast out and Christ takes full possession of His inheritance. See Luke 21:28; Romans 8:22-23; Ephesians 1:13-14; Psalm 2:5-9.
5:9 nation. Christ said that “the gospel must first be published among all nations” (Mark 13:10), for He does have His elect in every ethnic and linguistic group. They will all be gathered before His throne following the rapture, singing the great song of redemption, as well as that of creation (Revelation 4:11).
5:10 kings and priests. Three times in Revelation (1:6; 5:10; 20:6), it is said that believers of this age will reign and minister with Christ as “kings and priests” in the coming age.
5:10 on the earth. “On the earth” is probably better rendered “over the earth.” The New Jerusalem will not descend to the earth until after the millennial age (Revelation 20:6; 21:2).
5:11 number of them. “Thousands” is myriads in Greek. This number is not given for quantitative calculation, but simply to stress that the angelic host, while finite (a third of them followed Satan—Revelation 12:4) is still so great as to be “innumerable” (Hebrews 12:22).
5:13 all that are in them. This incredible chorus of praise may well be heard throughout the universe, even by those still on earth. The last five Psalms (146–150) all begin and end with “Praise ye the LORD” [i.e., “Hallelujah”], and they reflect the spirit of the four praise choruses here at the throne (Revelation 4:11; 5:9, 12-13). Perhaps these psalms will actually be sung there.