Bible / Revelation (Apocalypse)
Revelation (Apocalypse) 5
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 And I saw, in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book, written within and without, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice: Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man was able, neither in heaven nor on earth nor under the earth, to open the book, nor to look on it.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open the book, nor to see it.
5 And one of the ancients said to me: Weep not: behold the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I saw: and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the ancients, a Lamb standing, as it were slain, having seven horns and seven eyes: which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. CCC · Fathers
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.
8 And when he had opened the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty ancients fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 1 Fathers
9 And they sung a new canticle, saying: Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book and to open the seals thereof: because thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God, in thy blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation: CCC · Fathers
10 And hast made us to our God a kingdom and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. CCC
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the ancients (and the number of them was thousands of thousands), CCC
12 Saying with a loud voice: The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power and divinity and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and benediction. CCC
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard all saying: To him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb, benediction and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever. CCC
14 And the four living creatures said: Amen. And the four and twenty ancients fell down on their faces and adored him that liveth for ever and ever. CCC
Where our lessons quote this chapter
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1137 “The book of Revelation of St. John, read in the Church's liturgy, first reveals to us, "A throne stood in heaven, with…”
“… the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing as it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Fathers
“… omnipotent God the Church makes offerings through Jesus Christ, He says well on both these grounds, "And in every place incense is offered to My name, and a pure sacrifice." Now John, in the Apocalypse, declares that the "incense" is "the prayers of the saints.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1546 “Christ, high priest and unique mediator, has made of the Church "a kingdom, priests for his God and Father." The whole community…”
- CCC 2642 “The Revelation of "what must soon take place," the Apocalypse, is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy 127 but…”
“… in those things which are desired by God, which the Serpent cannot reach, and to which deception does not approach; nor is Eve then corrupted, but is trusted as a virgin; and salvation is manifested, and the Apostles are filled with understanding, and the Passover”
Quoted in Letter to Diognetus, Unknown author (2nd century), Chapter XII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2642 “The Revelation of "what must soon take place," the Apocalypse, is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy 127 but…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2642 “The Revelation of "what must soon take place," the Apocalypse, is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy 127 but…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 449 “By attributing to Jesus the divine title "Lord", the first confessions of the Church's faith affirm from the beginning that the power,…”
- CCC 2642 “The Revelation of "what must soon take place," the Apocalypse, is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy 127 but…”
- CCC 2855 “The final doxology, "For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever," takes up again, by inclusion, the…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2642 “The Revelation of "what must soon take place," the Apocalypse, is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy 127 but…”
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.