I posted: The phrase translated in English “as it had been slain” is confusing because it doesn’t adequately reflect the morphological analysis of the greek. The proper translation should reflect a continual state of being. The same verb (sphazo) “slain” is used 3 verses later in verse 9. The morphological analysis of the Aorist tense in the greek in Rev 5:9 properly shows an event that has occured in the past (thou wast slain). So the more proper translation (of the perfect tense) in verse 6 would use “being” instead of “been”."
aMorePerfectUnion replied: Again, I will disagree. What is being said is that John in his vision saw Christ as a Lamb that bore the marks of having been slain in the past with continuing result.
Ok, "having been slain in the past with continuing result" would be written differently (with different tense) in the greek. It certainly would not be written in the perfect tense, as is the case in Rev 5:6. So we have a dilemma. Either the tense of the verb "slain" is incorrectly written in the original manuscript, or your opinion of the event is incorrect.
I'll side with the original manuscript.
The sole dilemma here is the interpretation you are ascribing to the greek tense.
I checked with good ol' Dr. Ken Wuest's Expanded translation after reviewing greek commentaries. His Expanded Greek NT capture the sense of each verse when viewed through the lens of Greek language, tenses, sentence structure, etc.
Here is Revelation 5:6
"And one of the Elders says to me, Stop weeping. Consider this. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Scion of David, gained the victory [and thus is able] to open the scroll and its seven seals. And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living beings and in the midst of that has been slain [in appearance] like a lamb that has been slain [bearing the wounds of the cross in His glorified body], having seven horns and seven eyes which [eyes] are the seven Spirits of God that have been sent forth on a commission into all the earth."
Based on my knowledge of greek from seminary, my review of more than 15 exegetical commentaries, and dear Dr. Ken Wuest's translation of the greek, the Apostle John is not portraying the Lamb as currently crucified. He portrays the Lamb as bearing the marks of crucifixion, but also the marks of glorification. This is consistent with the history of Christ on both accounts.
best.