Rev 5:6  "And I 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." 

In this verse the Lord is said to be in the midst of three things.  He is said to be in the midst of the throne, and in the midst of the four beasts and in the midst of the elders.  While there are a lot of other things the Lord is said to be in the midst of we will confine our current remarks to these three things. 

First, he is said to be in the midst of the throne.  Since this is God's throne, we see the Lord in the midst as 1 John 5:7 shows us: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."  Also, water baptism shows the Lord in the midst: Matt. 28:18 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."  While the above does not teach us that there are three Gods, for there is but one, it does teach us that the Lord is in the midst of the Godhead and therefore in the midst of the throne of God. 

Second, the Lord is in the midst of the four beasts as we have previously shown are the four gospels.  The theme of all four gospels centers on the Lord.  He is the one about which the gospels were written.  It is also true that he is the center of all the scriptures as He told some unbelieving Jews: John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." 

Third, he is in the midst of the four and twenty elders as we have previously shown represent the elect family of God.  He is in the midst of true worship as we read in Matt. 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."  Furthermore we see him in the midst of the disciples: Lk. 24:36 "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit." 

"Stood a Lamb as it had been slain."  Rev. 13:8 speaks of the Lord as a lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  This language indicates that the slaying of the Lamb was based on a covenant arrangement. This was consistent with what the angel said unto Joseph concerning Mary's conception of Jesus:  "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."  In covenant before the foundation of the world a people was given unto Jesus for him to come at the appointed time and to be the Lamb of God to save from their sins.  John the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."  Jesus is not only the Lamb of God who was to come, but he was the Lamb slain according to God's eternal purpose of saving his people from their sins.  The covenant of redemption shows the elect justified: Rom. 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." 

The Lord is depicted many times as a lamb in the types and shadows of the Old Testament, but also he is described as a lamb in the prophesies of the Old Testament:

          1.  Is. 16:1 "Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion."

          2.  Is. 53:7 "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." 

The fact that the Lord stood as a lamb "slain" indicates that God's justice has been satisfied.  This is a part of his worthiness to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.  If salvation from sin weren't accomplished, then the book of salvation couldn't be opened and revealed (loose the seven seals).   

"Having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth."  Horns are used in the scriptures as a sign of authority or power: 

          1.  1 Sam. 2:1 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation."

          2.  1 Sam. 2:10 "The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed."

          3.  2 Sam. 22:3 "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence."

          4.  1 Kings 22:11 "And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them."

          5.  Jer. 48:25 "The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD." 

The eyes are for sight.  The Lord seeth all things: Heb. 4:13 "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."   

The Lord has all authority as he said in Matt. 28:18 "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."  The Lord also is omniscient or has all knowledge.  Thus the seven Spirits of God are spoken of as the complete manifestation of the Spirit of the Lord in his power or strength and His knowledge of all things.  This authority and knowledge is sent forth into all the world.  Thus when the gospel is proclaimed in power and demonstration of Spirit, the power is of the Holy Spirit.  Furthermore, it is directed by the eyes of the Holy Spirit to those to whom the Lord intends to hear it.  Thus the Lord gives the authority and he gives the direction for the preaching of the gospel and for the work of the church.           

Rev 5:7-10  "And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 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 odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." 

The Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.  The worthy One, the one who had wrought salvation for his people, came to take the book of salvation and to loose the seven seals thereof and thus make known the eternal salvation and the timely salvation of God's elect.  

"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb."  Worship should be given to Him that is worthy of worship.  Some religious groups proclaim that Jesus is not God, but this certainly proves that he is.  The commandments tell us that we are to worship no other gods besides God.  If Jesus were not God then it would be wrong to worship him.  The truth is that he is God and worthy of all our worship.  The four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, thus indicating their belief that He is God and worthy of all their worship.  To worship God we must humble ourselves and recognize that we are but sinful creatures saved by the blood of the Lamb. 

"Having every one of them harps…" The harp is an instrument of ten strings and is associated with praise in the scriptures: 

          1.  Ps. 33:2 "Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings."

          2.  Ps. 43:4 "Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God."

          3.  Ps. 71:22 "I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel."

          4.  Ps. 92:3 "Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound."

          5.  Ps. 147:7 "Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:" 

A part of worship is singing praise unto the Holy name of our God.  The "harp" we praise him with is our heart.  When we were born of the Spirit according to the scriptures God wrote his laws in our heart and mind: Heb. 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people."  The bible number 10 is associated with the bible subject of law or commandment.  Thus when God wrote his laws in our heart, we were endowed with a harp, i.e., an instrument of ten strings (God's laws).  We are told in Eph. 5:19 "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."  Thus true praise comes from the hearts of God's born again children who have a harp ((instrument of ten strings (law) written in their heart)) to praise God with.           

"And golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints…"  In the Old Testament the priests, the sons of the High Priest, had censers in which they offered sweet incense.  This was in contrast to the censer of the High Priest by which he offered incense upon the golden altar.  The golden vials seem to indicate a vessel similar to the censers of the priests by which incense (odours) were offered.  This is consistent with what we read in Rev. Chapter 8.  We are not left to guess what the odours represented but are told that they are the prayers of the saints.  The golden vials are the hearts of the saints as illustrated below: 

          1.  Gen. 24:45 "And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee."

          2.  1 Sam. 1:13 "Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken."

          3.  2 Sam. 7:27 "For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee."

          4.  1 Chr. 17:25 "For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee."

          5.  Lam. 3:41 "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens."

          6.  2 Tim. 2:22 "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

          7.  Heb. 10:22 "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."  Nine times in the scriptures there is mention made of a "new song."  In each instance praise unto God is associated with the new song: 

          1.  Ps. 33:3 "Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise."

          2.  Ps. 40:3 "And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."

          3.  Ps. 96:1 "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth."

          4.  Ps. 98:1 "A Psalm. O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory."

          5.  Ps. 144:9 "I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee."

          6.  Ps. 149:1 "Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints."

          7.  Is. 42:10 "Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof."

          8.  Rev. 14:3 "And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." 

The words of the new song are recorded for us in the subject verse: "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."  The "new song" is the "song of redemption."  They were praising God for their redemption from sin.  The four and twenty elders were praising the Lamb for his sacrificial atonement through his shed blood and death and their redemption from their sins. 

That the four and twenty elders represent the whole elect redeemed family of God is apparent with the phrase "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."  Thus the twenty four is representative and according to Rev. 7:9 is described as a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."  

Furthermore the elect's praise to the Lamb isn't just for their eternal redemption but also for what God has made them as they live on earth: "and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."  This is an extension of what we read in Rev. 1:5, 6, "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father."  This dual theme that as the elect children of God we have eternal redemption through the blood of the Lamb and that we have the kingdom of God in which we can live and reign here in time is present throughout the scriptures.