Harps, Golden Vials and Prayers Revelation 5:8

John the apostle “beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth, and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne”, and in chapter five and verse eight of Revelation John shared how the Lamb “had taken the book” and saw “the elders” with “harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints” where we read:

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.

The verse reads, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, ...” John began with the words, “and when he” which means “at the time when the Lamb” “had taken” which means “lay hold of, claimed and procured” “the book” which refers to “the written document or scroll”, “the four beasts” or “four living beings” “and four and twenty elders” which refers to “” “fell down” or “” “before the Lamb” or “in front of and in the presence of the Lamb of God or Jesus”. John referred how the “four living beasts” and the “twenty-four elders” prostrated themselves before Jesus at the moment He “laid hold of” the “scroll which was in God's right hand”.

The verse goes on to say, “... having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.” John continued with the words, “having” which means “holding, owning and possessing” “every one of them” which refers to “each, all and the whole of the twenty-four elders” “harps” or “lyres”, “and golden vials” which means “broad shallow bowls or deep saucers overlaid with gold” “full” or “filled and swollen” “of odors” which means “of aromatic burnt substances or incense”, “which are the prayers” or “that are the earnest orations addressed to God” “of saints” which refers to “those who are most holy, pure and morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated”. John saw the “twenty-four elders with “lyres and golden bowls” which were identified as the “prayers” of “saints”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we note what a marvelous scene this must have been for Him. When John began to convulsively sob because no one was found “worthy to open the book and loose the seals thereof”, things seemed hopeless for the salvation of earth and man. However, when Jesus, the “lion of the tribe of Judah”, “the root of David” who was seen as “a Lamb that was slain”, took the “scroll” in His hand, all of heaven who held “harps and golden vials” as prayer began to worship Him. God designed the “salvation” of man to be implemented through His Son Jesus, and anyone who receives Him as “Savior and Lord” shall be “saved” and inherit “everlasting life”.

Next time John shares what happened when the “elders” “sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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