And [priests] PRIESTHOOD.—“The Divine provision for a ‘Royal Priesthood’ implies weakness, imperfection, on the part of some whom the priests are to help, and instruct, and from whom they are to accept sacrifice and offerings for sin, and to whom they are to extend mercy and forgiveness.”—E. 486, 476; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6; 20:6.
And [we] THEY shall reign.—“But before the Royal Priesthood begin their reign, they must ‘suffer with Him,’ sharing in the antitypical sacrifices. (2 Tim. 2:12.)”—T. 26.
On.—Epi, over.—Rev. 6:16.
The earth.—“The Kingdom and dominion, even the majesty of the Kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and all rulers shall serve and obey Him. (Dan 7:27.)”—D. 618.
5:11. And I beheld.—John beheld this in vision and will behold it in reality.
And I heard.—John heard in the vision, and will hear in the reality.
As it were the voice of many angels.—Besides the angels, the Great Company are in this happy throng. The events to the end of the chapter have their fulfilment in the future.
Round about the Throne.—“In the circuit of Heaven” (Job 22:14), the circle of the Universe.
And the beasts.—Justice, Power, Love and Wisdom.—Rev. 4:6, 7.
And the elders.—The prophecies.—Rev. 4:10.