Verse 12:[1] Saying with a loud voice, (Rev. 4:11) Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
[Saying with a great voice] That is, with earnest and vehement affection (Durham, thus Forbes, Tirinus). They approve those things which the Apostles and Presbyters preach. Λέγοντες/saying is rightly referred to the μυριάδες/ myriads, namely, κατὰ τὸ σημαινόμενον, in accordance with the sense[2] (Grotius).
[Worthy…to receive virtue, etc., δύναμιν, etc.] Power, etc., that is, the praise of thy power (Piscator): or, rule, etc. (Beza, Forbes), or, authority (Forbes). That is, all in heaven and earth (Forbes, Cluverus). The sense: He is worthy to whom all praise is offered as to the One most powerful, most wealthy, etc. (Beza). It is an acknowledgement of the liberality of Christ. [Here are] seven titles of praises, corresponding to the seven Spirits. An equal number in Revelation 7:12 (Grotius).
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain; the Lamb mentioned Revelation 5:6, with seven horns and seven eyes, namely, Jesus Christ. To receive power, and riches; he is worthy of those horns he weareth, emblems of power and strength given unto him; for all power was given him in heaven and earth. And wisdom; and of those seven eyes he hath, that is, of the spirit of wisdom, Isaiah 11:2, the riches of grace and wisdom. And strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing; and of all the homage, glory, praise, blessing, and obedience, which people can give him. I know not whether there be any thing in the observation made by some, that the number of things here mentioned, of which the Lamb is worthy, answereth the number of the seven Spirits of God, before mentioned.
Octavius Winslow's Evening Thoughts: '"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads."—Revelation 14:1 Forget not, believer, that you are journeying to the mount of God, and will soon be there. See it in the distance! What wonders surround it! What glory bathes it! The exile on Patmos, lifting a corner of the veil, has presented it to our view in the words of our verse. Oh, what a spectacle of magnificence this is! There is Jesus the Lamb as it had been slain. To Him every face is turned, on Him every eye is fixed, before Him every kne…
Spurgeon's Morning and Evening: '"I will praise thee, O Lord."—Psalm 9:1 Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth's gratitude rises when the sun of heaven's love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then praise him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to him who hath answered thy prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God's mercies is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine lepers, who after they had bee…
J.C. Philpot's Through Baca's Veil: '"Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus."—Hebrews 6:20
How blessedly did the Lord comfort his sorrowing disciples when he said to them, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." He is gone to take possession beforehand of his and their everlasting home; for he is ascended to his Father and their Father, to his God and their God. He has, as it were, filled heaven with new beauty, new happiness, new glory. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. His glorious Person as Immanuel is become the object of heaven's praise and…
Jonathan Edwards' "The Excellency of Christ": 'He never was so dealt with, as unworthy, as in his last sufferings; and yet it is chiefly on account of them that he is accounted worthy. He was therein dealt with as if he had not been worthy to live: they cry out, "Away with him! away with him! Crucify him." John 19:15. And they prefer Barabbas before him. And he suffered from the Father, as one whose demerits were infinite, by reason of our demerits that were laid upon him. And yet it was especially by that act of his subjecting himself to those sufferings, that he merited, and on the account of which chiefly he was accounted worthy of the glor…
William Tong (for Matthew Henry): 'The doxology, thus begun by the church, is carried on by the angels; they take the second part, in conjunction with the church, Revelation 5:11. They are said to be innumerable, and to be the attendants on the throne of God and guardians to the church; though they did not need a Saviour themselves, yet they rejoice in the redemption and salvation of sinners, and they agree with the church in acknowledging the infinite merits of the Lord Jesus as dying for sinners, that he is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (1.) He is worthy of that office and that authority which require th…