Book of Revelation - Part 13 Revelation 5:1-6 Revelations 5:1-14, Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Vs 1, Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll Him is God the Father (as seen in Chapter 4 in the centre of the Throne) on the throne ; This is the 4 th mention in 2 chapters - Once again establishing His rule Almighty! The Right Hand Significance: - Blessing: Psalm 16:11, You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. From the Online Jewish Dictionary, Right and left play an important role in Jacob's final blessing to his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48: 12 20), whom Joseph places at the left and right sides of Jacob, respectively, expecting his father to place his right hand on Manasseh (the firstborn) and his left on Ephraim, and then bless them. But Jacob crosses his hands, placing his right hand on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh, despite Joseph's objections. Jacob explains his actions by stating that Ephraim will be greater than Manasseh. - This story indicates how crucial God s Blessing was (favour, contentment, position) - Also, how crucial the right hand was! - Strength: Psalm 20:6, Now this I know: the Lord gives victory to His anointed. He answers him from His heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of His right hand. - Salvation (The Messiah): Psalm 18:35, You make your saving help my shield, and Your right hand sustains me; Your help has made me great. Psalm 60:5, His right hand and His Holy arm have worked salvation for Him. Psalm 110:1, The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for You feet. - Favour/Relationship: Revelation 1:19, When I (John) saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He (Jesus) placed His right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last Revelation 1:19, The seven stars are the angels (messengers, leaders) of the seven churches. ** By having the scroll in His right hand, God is saying, The events described will be unleashed in Strength and Power. But, no matter what is in this scroll, remember that the motivation is Blessing, Salvation, Favour and Relationship for those Who choose Me! Vs. 1, with writings on both sides Full of Words: No more room for words. The story within the scroll is complete! Both sides indicates that some of the words could be seen - Usually a scroll is only written on 1 side so the contents are concealed - This scroll gives away a little bit of it s content, but the whole story isn t uncovered until the Seals are broken (Each seal is a future event that will take place) - Until those events occur, the entire picture (Revelation) will not be complete - No other book has had so many interpretations as the Book of Revelation. - The story is not complete.
- Context is crucial to understanding! Vs. 1, and sealed with seven seals. The seals are future events. Specifically, Judgments from God. - 6 Seals are opened in Revelation 6 - The 7 th seal is opened in Revelation 8:1-5 As soon as the seventh Seal is opened, 7 Trumpets are sounded by angels unleashing 7 more judgments. (Revelation 8 & 9 & 11) - Once the 7 Trumpets are sounded, 7 Plagues are poured out. (Revelation 15) - Once the 7 Plagues are poured out, 7 Bowls of wrath are poured out. (Revelation 16) Now, remember the Right Hand! - The events described will be unleashed in Strength and Power. But, no matter what is in this scroll, remember that the motivation is Salvation, Favour and Relationship for those Who choose Me! - Like a parent who has to deal harshly with the rebellious child to keep peace and relationship with the obedient child: torturous for the parent! In a passage relating to End Times: 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. God needs to unleash, judgment after judgment to complete the process of the Human Race s story on Earth. - These are to bring about repentance. Multiple judgments mean multiple opportunities. - The multiple Judgments therefore, are not out of anger/frustration but love * It is pain & trial that brings people to God Yet, through all of this, people will still turn their noses up at God! - Remember the Letters to the Churches: - Rebukes & Warnings of Judgment vs. Repentance & Promises - Jesus keeps saying, If you would just repent and turn your hearts towards Me! - Repentance unlocks Blessings! - Yet, even when judgment after judgment is unleashed, no repentance: Revelation 9:20-21, The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshipping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. Revelation 16:9, They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him. Revelation 16:11, and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. Vs. 2-3, And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? Who is worthy? - No one! No man, no angel, no creature, NO ONE! - To prove this point, God uses a Mighty Angel to ask the question. He is also saying, Not even me! - Does Righteousness make you worthy? (No: 24 elders = White Robes) - Does Authority make you worthy? (No: 24 elders = Crowns and Thrones) - Does Strength make you worthy? ( Break the seals ) (No: The Mighty Angel) The Story Creator is the only one who is Worthy - The seals or events nor the entire storyline (The scroll) could be opened, or read, or understood - or even look inside it. (not even a peak) Vs. 3, But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. In Heaven - As noted, not even the Perfectly Redeemed in the Perfect Realm is worthy - Not even the most powerful Spirit Creation is worthy On Earth - How intimidated we are about what s going on in the world today - But no power on Earth is Worthy to open the scroll (write the story of history)
(Not Russia, Not North Korea) - Listen to Jesus words through this filter of Who is Worthy : Matthew 24:7&6, Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places 6 You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. - Jesus is saying, Don t worry! It may look like the superpowers are writing the story. They may even think that they are writing the story. But they are just puppets I AM WRITING THE STORY! Under the Earth Philippians 2:9-10, Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, 10 that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Numbers 16:29-33, If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt. 31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. Matthew 12:40, For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Ephesians 4:8-9, When he ascended on high, He took many captives and gave gifts to His people. 9 (What does he ascended mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?) - By the time Revelations is written, Jesus has set the captives Under the Earth free - Satan is described as the god of this world John 12:31,, Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 2 Corinthians 4:4, The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers - If the Earth doesn t include Satan and his army of demons, then perhaps, under the Earth does since it s now empty of the redeemed. - Regardless, anything or anyone Under the Earth, is not Worthy to open the scroll or change the Story that God has written for Humanity. Vs. 4, I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. John didn t just cry he wept and wept - Indicates time passing as he wept Why did John weep? - Frustrated because End Times was unrevealed? - If you don t know the ending, the beginning is meaningless. Nobody would know the ultimate purpose for Creation - What is the ultimate purpose for Creation? - For the Created (Humans) to be in a Loving Relationship with the Creator - John knew the state of the Earth and Humanity don t leave us like this! - Even Redeemed and Saved wasn t as good as the New Heaven and New Earth! - Perhaps John just realized that Jesus was not there in the Throne Room - If Jesus wasn t Present in Heaven, Jesus was a liar John 14:2, My Father s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 1 Corinthians 15:17-18, And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. - If Jesus wasn t Present in Heaven, John was in trouble: A mortal amongst all this All-Powerful Immortality Vs. 5, Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. If the elders are 12 Tribes (OT redeemed) and 12 Apostles (NT redeemed), maybe it was John that calls out. - Regardless, the scene is rescued by Someone!
Do not weep : John was noticed, cared for, talked to, relationship in Heaven! Deliberate Descriptions: - The Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Lion = King - Judah = One of the tribes of Israel; the Kingly line of David - He is the King (Lion) of the tribe of kings! * He is the King of kings! * Similar to the descriptive Almighty ; Only 1 Almighty! - The Root of David - Roots are a Life Source. Without Roots, there is no Plant. - Jesus is being described as the Life Source of David - In the Old Testament, Jesus is also described as the Branch of David Jeremiah 23:5, The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. - The Branch (Jesus) is the fulfillment of the Promise God gave to David: 2 Samuel 7:11-13, The Lord declares to you that the Lord Himself will establish a house for you: 12 when your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish His kingdom. 13 He is the one Who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom for ever. * He is both the Source (Root) of David s Promise and the Fulfillment (Branch) of David s Promise - Jesus also introduces Himself to the church of Philadelphia as Holding David s Keys Revelation 3:7, To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. - And Saviour! So in describing Jesus this way, the Elder is reminding John that the Jesus is the Life Source, Fulfillment of the Promise, King of kings and Saviour! Remember, the Seals are about to unleash Judgment. It s Jesus and only Jesus who unlocks them: John 5:22-23, Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. - Jesus is the Life Source, Fulfillment of the Promise, King, Saviour, Redeemer and JUDGE! has triumphed - Add to all of these things the fact that He is Victorious - Interesting to Note that the seals will look like things are out of control; the preamble of has triumphed is another deliberate reminder see to it that you re not alarmed! Also, remember when Jesus introduces Himself in Revelation chapter 1. He makes it clear that His Motivation is Love! - Here again, the description of Jesus shows His ultimate motivation is Love! - It is out of His Love for those who Love Him back that motivates Him to Judge and cleanse Heaven and Earth from unrepentant sinners. - Make no mistake: His job is beautiful and torturous all at the same time. (Matthew 23) Vs. 6, He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. After all that, He is Worthy! - To Write the Story; To Read the Story; To Launch the Story; To Fulfill the Story Vs. 6, Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne He looked Slain, yet was Standing Acts 17:31, For he has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead. - It is His Resurrection, His Power over Death that is His credential to Judge the world. - And yet, it was His Death that paid the punishment for the Sins of the world
- Jesus says this to John when He reached down with His Right Hand: Revelation 1:17, When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. - It is His Death and His Resurrection together that make up His Ultimate Credential The deeper we go into Revelation, the more we see the Revelation of Jesus in earlier moments: - Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus! God the Father was in the Centre of the Throne (Rev 4:2) - The position of the Lamb in the centre symbolizes the Trinity - 3 Persons in 1 Vs. 6, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders The 4 Living Creatures seem to represent: - Worship Around the Throne - The Collective Worship of Believers (The 12 tribes) - Jesus, The Messiah (Who makes worship possible) - The Collective Attributes of God - Spirit filled Worship The Elders represent the fulfillment of all of the promises to Human Overcomers - Righteousness - Authority - Rewards - Relationship with God - How fitting for the 28 beings to surround the Lamb! - They are all their because of Him! Vs. 6, The Lamb had seven horns Horns represent strength, authority and power Daniel 7:24, The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. Revelation 13:1, And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns Vs. 6, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirit of God sent out into all the Earth Represents the Holy Spirit - This reinforces our interpretation of the eyes of the four living creatures were the spirits of the creatures: - When we see the eyes move from the wheels (O.T. Ezekiel 1:4-28) to all over the creatures (N.T. Revelation 4:8) representing the Spirit s ability to Come into a Believer and Fill them (thanks to the cleansing blood of Jesus) - The fact that there are 7 of them may also represent the 7-fold work of the Spirit (Isaiah 11:1) We see the Trinity at work in the Centre of the Throne! - That s where the Father sits - That s where the Lamb appears - The Spirit is incorporated into the Lamb Who seems to be One with the Father v So the Lamb enters the Throne Room and changes everything! - He has the credentials! - The Authority to Redeem, Purify, Judge and Rule! - He makes the Elders Worthy - He allows the 4 Living Creatures to Worship - He allows John safety in an intimidating and potentially unsafe place - He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit v 2 Chronicles 16:9, For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. - Will you be found by the Lord as He searches the earth? - He has done everything so that you can simply come and reap the rewards!