In Chapter 4, we saw John caught up to the throne room of God, where He is preparing to unleash his wrath upon the earth.

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2 In Chapter 4, we saw John caught up to the throne room of God, where He is preparing to unleash his wrath upon the earth. This chapter ends with God receiving the praise of His created ones and of His redeemed ones in a beautiful worship scene. Heaven throbs with the voices of those caught up in their love for Almighty God and His creative power.

3 In Chapter 5, John once again continues describing the heavenly scene in the courtroom of heaven where the stage for God s wrath and judgment to come upon the earth during the tribulation period are being set.

4 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

5 This book is not one to be read, but actually a scroll of either papyrus or lamb s skin. A portion would be written, and it would be rolled up and sealed. This process was repeated until the book was completed. This scroll had seven seals on it similar to a Roman will that contained seven seals also. The will could only be opened by the heir.

6 This scroll is about redemption! In the New Testament, ye were saved from your sins and bought with a price! For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

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8 In the Old Testament, three things could be redeemed or saved! All could be restored or bought back for a price! 1. Slave lost servant returned to master 2. Wife - husband s inheritance restored by kinsman if a woman was left as a widow with no male children 3. Land if a man lost his inheritance, he could get his property back.

9 In Jeremiah 32, Jeremiah s uncle had lost a piece of property. Jeremiah s cousin comes to him when he is in prison and he asks Jeremiah to buy back the property, (v. 8). Jeremiah does this and records the transaction on a scroll and seals it up. (v. 10) Two copies of this transaction were kept; one was open to the public for all to read and another copy was kept sealed up. ( v ) These scrolls were laid up in the Temple, in earthen jars for safekeeping. (v. 14) Information relating to the redemption would be recorded on both sides of a scroll. On the inside they would write the reason the land was forfeited. On the outside they would write the terms of the redemption.

10 What we are witnessing in Revelation 5 is the heavenly version of what men did in Old Testament times. This scroll in the hand of God is written within and without. On the inside is the tragic story of sin, tragedy, death, failure and defeat. On the outside are the terms of redemption. If we could read these terms, we would find that the redeemer must be one who is willing to redeem and one who is worthy to redeem.

11 When God made man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, God gave man dominion over all of creation, Gen. 1: When man sinned in Eden, he gave away his dominion and Satan became the god of this world, 2 Cor. 4:4. God s creation came under a tragic curse as sin entered this universe.

12 When God sent Jesus to redeem mankind on the cross, the blood of Jesus redeemed fallen sinners. But, it was and is also sufficient to break the bondage of sin over creation. The Second man or Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, bought back everything the first man, Adam gave away.

13 This book contains the title deed to the earth. It also contains the sealed judgments that God will outpour upon Satan s domain until his Second Coming to defeat Satan in battle.

14 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? The loud voice of the angel announces this challenge to the whole universe. The book could not be opened until the seals were broken.

15 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

16 Heaven above, Hell beneath and earth in between was meticulously searched. There was no saint in Heaven, no angelic host, no one living on the earth, no one in Hell found worthy to take the book.

17 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. John knew what the contents of the scroll represented. He wept for all mankind with uncontrollable sobbing because he knew if the book were not opened all creation would be doomed to feel the effects of sin for eternity.

18 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

19 The elder points John to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.

20 In Old Testament times, the noblest son of the tribe was called the Lion of the tribe, thus the title, The Lion of the tribe of Judah.

21 When John hears the title, The Lion of the tribe of Judah, he knew the elder was referring to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, because in Genesis 49: 8-10, the Jews are promised a great ruler who would arise out of Judah, conquering their enemies and giving them freedom. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has conquered!

22 Root of David means that the Messiah would come from the line of David. Jesus Christ came of the line of David of the tribe of Judah. (Matthew 1: 1-17; Luke 3:23-38)

23 Mary was descendent of David through Nathan. Jesus s earthy father, Joseph, was a descendent of David through Solomon.

24 Jesus won the victory that gives Him the right to open the seven seals through His redemptive work by the shedding of blood on the Cross, that saved all mankind of sin!

25 Hebrew 1:2 says that Christ is heir to all things.

26 6a 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. A Crucified Lamb When John turns around to see this mighty, conquering Lion, he sees a lamb as it had been slain. The Lion is the Lamb.

27 6b having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth..

28 The seven horns represent Omnipotence, power and strength. The seven eyes represent Omniscience, all knowing. The seven Spirits represent Omnipresent, complete fullness of the Spirit everywhere.

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30 The Lamb is worthy to take the book and open the seals. If this scroll really is the title deed to the planet earth, what right does He have to open it? There are at least three reasons why He has this right. The world is His by right of Creation He made it! The world is His by right of Calvary He redeemed it! The world is His by right of Lineage He is from the Root of David and the Tribe of Judah. The world is His by right of Conquest He will retake it!

31 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

32 Notice that this Lamb was standing When Jesus ascended back to Heaven, we are told that He sat down at the right hand of God, Heb. 1:3. He sat down because His work of redeeming sinners was complete. He is no longer acting as our Intercessor, but will be standing ready to begin His work of restoration and renewal of the earth!

33 8a And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb,

34 8b having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

35 9a And they sung a new song, saying.

36 9b Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:

37 9c for thou wast slain,

38 9d and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

39 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

40 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

41 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

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43 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

44 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

45 Jesus Himself has taken His rightful place; glorified and exalted in Heaven for His redemptive power. Christ is now ready to break the seals that will begin the seven year tribulation period on earth.

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