Revelation Chapter Five
Notes
Transcript
Rev 5:1-7
Rev 5:1-7
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
The Father’s Scroll
The Father’s Scroll
The Significance of the scroll
The Significance of the scroll
Let’s focus on verse 1, the scroll is in the father’s right hand. What does that tell us? The scroll has seven seals which is unusual. What does that indicate? Literal and symbolic?
OT REFERENCES:
Ezekiel 2:9–10 “9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.”
Writing on the front and back was unusual. It a clue as to the type of document John is describing.
10 For the Lord has poured out upon you
a spirit of deep sleep,
and has closed your eyes (the prophets),
and covered your heads (the seers).
11 And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” 12 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.”
Sealed physical- but also sealed symbolically from those whose eyes are closed.
14 And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”
16 Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. 17 I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.
God’s testimony is sealed up. Only His disciples, those close to Him can understand. Israel is blind to this truth, this revelation. This is the state of things today!
23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand. 26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”
1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”
7 Mysteries in the NT revealed in Revelation
The Incarnation (I Tim 3:16)
Christ in you (Col 1:27)
The Bride / Chruch (Eph 5:30-32)
Israel (Rom 11:25)
Babylon (rebellion) (Rev 17:5)
The Anti-Christ (II Thes 2:3-8)
The Rapture ( I Cor 15:51-55)
What is the Purpose of the scroll
What is the Purpose of the scroll
Jeremiah 32:6–15 (ESV)
6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ 8 Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
9 “And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. 11 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. 12 And I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my cousin, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. 13 I charged Baruch in their presence, saying, 14 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’
Let’s reflect on the specifics of the document - Roman law required a will and testament be sealed with 7 seals, check. A title deed had instructions on the outside to clarify who and when the seals could be broken, check. The OT scriptures have confirmed this scroll to contain Gods’ will and the transfer of his creation back to His possession. Actually I think He is returning to us, because Jesus represents us perfectly.
The angel’s question: “Who is Worthy?” v2
The angel’s question: “Who is Worthy?” v2
Goel, Kinsman Redeemer - 4 Qualifications
You had to be a kinsman, a relative, a descendent of Adam
You had to be able to pay the full price
You had to be willing to pay the full price
You had to assume all the obligations of the beneficiary.
Where can find such a man?
2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.”
Where do you find \ look for this person? v3
Where do you find \ look for this person? v3
3 localities are searched, Why 3?
Before and in time there have been 3 rebellions
Satan (Kerub) - rebellion in heaven - tempted Eve
Fallen Angels - rebellion on earth with women (Gen 6:1-4)
Man, Nimrod - Babel, Babylon (Gen 11:3-5; 10:8-10) The great whore (Rev 17:5-6)
YHVH is setting the stage in heaven - due process before passing judgement on all 3
Sin was judged with His 1st Coming
Rebellion will be judged during His 2nd Coming
Very important point of emphasis: Our sin, and all sin, is dealt with. I can’t make this point strongly enough. The full price has been paid, once and for all. It is Finished! The only choice is Jesus is who he says He is and I trust him, or rebellion.
What if no one is Worthy? v3
What if no one is Worthy? v3
If there is no Goel, no kinsman redeemer, all is lost.
John understands this and he demonstrates a sense of urgency with his reaction
If no one is worthy, then the scroll can’t be opened and God’s will can not come to pass
God forbid!
Job 19:25–27 “25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Double Grace 5/5
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb
The Symbolism of the names - What is being described?
Notice the elders called Him Lion, Root of David (Jewish)
John saw a Lamb, not a Lion - a standing lamb, yet slain
Lion is his title, He is King, and is descriptive of what’s coming
Lamb is descriptive of what he became for our redemption
You must know the Lamb to reign with the Lion
John knew the Lamb - John 1:29–30 “29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’”
Description of the Lamb
Revelation 5:6 “6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
Description of the Lamb
Omnipotent (7 horns)
Omniscient (7 eyes)
Omnipresent (7 fold Spirit) 777 Father, Son & Spirit
Only the Lamb is worthy
Revelation 5:7 “7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.”
All authority given the Lamb; Now the Lion is set act.
Upon the transfer of the scroll there is an explosion of Worship
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Upon the transfer of the scroll there is an explosion of Worship
Before the will / title deed can be read we must have worship
The worship begins with all present falling down before the Lamb
The worship alludes to all present holding harps (10 strings)
The worship includes all the prayers of the saints being poured out
We have 3 verses or stanzas in this explosion of worship:
Song of the redeemed (v9) the bride is singing about their redeemer, what He did and their future post - ruling with the Lion
Song of Jesus’ 7 divine attributes, what he earned (v12) where the angels join in: power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing
Song of all creation acknowledging to both Father and Son blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever
A crescendo of worship and then in v14 the 4 living creatures end the singing and the elders fall down and worship - the imagery of never ending praise
Harps are instruments of praise throughout the Psalms. Just as the strings of a harp vibrate in harmony, so the whole of creation will vibrate in harmonious worship. It is interesting that the Scriptures always allude to “ten strings.” This is particularly provocative in view of current physics, which views all of creation on the basis of ten- dimensional strings!
Now the order is established in heaven. This is the answer to the 3 rebellions. Jesus has rightly been shown worthy and given the authority to complete the Father’s will and inherit the earth and all creation. Only now can the scroll be opened.
The order is first demonstrated in heaven then on earth.
The truth has been presented before witnesses and a just God - the verdict is about to be given.
Take note of the “us” and “we” phrases: “he hath redeemed us;” “made us kings and priests;” and “we shall reign on the earth.” This is important to note because:
The twenty-four elders are there (in heaven) before He gets the book!
They celebrate when He receives the book
When He starts opening the seals, that begins the wrath of
God on the earth and a time called the Great Tribulation
The Tribulation can not start until the seals are broken!
The seals cannot be broken until the Lamb receives the book
The Lamb cannot receive the book until the twenty-four
elders have already cast their crowns on the glassy sea! (There are many reasons why I believe we will watch the Great Tribulation from heaven and this is one of the many great examples.)