Scroll and The Lamb
Notes
Transcript
We’re in the midst of a journey through the book of Revelation, a book that is shrouded in mystery and conflicting expectations. People approach this book with a sense of anticipation and anxiety. Anticipation of the hope of heaven and anxiety when it comes to the final judgment.
There are going to be a lot of “weird” images that we see in the book of Revelation, some of which we’ve already seen in the four living creatures each with six wings and full of eyes. One was like a lion, the second like an ox, the third like a man, and the fourth like an eagle.
We need to remember that this is a VISION John is having. As we continue reading we need to remember that this all began back in chapter 1:10, Rev 1:10
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet
Since this verse we’ve been reading the vision that John saw as the picture builds. We’ve read through seven the Risen Lord telling him what to write to seven churches in chapters 2 & 3, and then we were in the throne room in Heaven in chapter 4. As we begin chapter 5 we are still in that throne room as he continues to remind us this is a vision as he begins, Rev 5:1
Then I saw…
The vision continues. Rev 5:1
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.
As we read the book of Revelation we have to be aware of the audience that first read it. These were people that were very familiar with the Hebrew Bible or what we refer to as the Old Testament. So often we need to be treasure hunters and look in the Old Testament for where we see similar images. We found the four creatures in Ezekiel, and we find the scroll there as well: Ezek 2:9-10
And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back,…
And it’s sealed, again referred to in the Old Testament: Isaiah 29:11
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.”
They search for someone worthy to open the scroll and break its seals, and no one could be found. And we’re told there is one by one of the elders. Rev 5:5
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.”
Lion - this is the blessing of Jacob upon his sons in Genesis 49:9-10.
Root of David - David was forerunner of the Messiah as referred to throughout Isaiah. Isaiah 11:1, 10.
Lamb - again Isaiah 53:7
And then we see it start to get what I would call weird. The lamb is standing as thought it had been slain - in other words it has been sacrificed and yet it’s alive, which is exactly what Jesus had said when he first appeared to John in the vision, Rev 1:17-18
“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore…
Seven is the number of completeness based on the Creation narrative.
The lamb has seven horns? Horns were symbols of power as we see in Deuteronomy 33:17, and Daniel 7:7, 20, and Daniel 8:3, 5.
The lamb has seven eyes? Eyes see. they are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. The seven spirits have been seen to represent the Holy Spirit.
Seven horns - complete power —> Omnipotence.
Seven eyes - complete vision —> Omniscience.
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.
Okay, middle school mind again - they’re already falling down before the throne, casting their crowns before the throne, now they’re holding harps and golden bowls full of incense?
Which brings us to an important point when we’re reading the book of Revelation. IT’S A VISION!
Most of us have had dreams that in our minds make total sense, until we start to share them with someone else. Then we realize that time is fluid, and that multiple things can all be happening at the same time and it all makes sense. That is Revelation.
And we’re told who exactly this slain lamb is: Rev 5:9-10
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, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Then you have the vision of many angels speaking altogether, Rev 5:11
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,
When you read numbers like this remember Jesus talking to Peter about how many times he should forgive. Mt 18:21-22
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
To Peter this was an infinite number. Imagine then how many myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, or as the NIV translates it, Rev 5:11
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
Basically its saying the number was incalculable. As we continue to read these heavenly beings proclaim that this One is worthy
…to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
And then from every creature in heaven, on the earth and under the earth, and in the sea, and they say,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
so ends the chapter. What should we take from this?
We have been given a glimpse into the throne room of heaven through this vision of John. It’s a profound vision reminding us all once again of what Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
How do you think of Jesus when you pray? When you worship? Let’s take a moment to reflect upon the scene that we’ve read about here in Revelation 4 & 5, John is invited up into heaven to get this view of the throne room of God. To see heavenly worship, and to see the Lamb upon the throne. He is worthy, He is the only one worthy to open the seals on the scroll.
The God of all creation loves you, the Lamb of God willingly was slain for you, ransoming you and I for God and making us a kingdom and priests to God.
How are you living as a kingdom to God?
How are you living as a priest to God?
You and I are called. As Peter wrote in his first letter to the church, 1Pe 1:13
Preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
This is where I’m going to pop some bubbles. Apocalypse doesn’t mean to the biblical writers what it does in our pop culture vernacular. It literally means “revealing” or “unveiling.” So when you see the word “revelation” here in Peter’s letter, the word he used was “apocalypse”.
The book we’re in is titled, Rev 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ
Or the “Apocalypse of Jesus Christ.” What is being revealed throughout Revelation is who Jesus is.
Do you worship Jesus as LORD?
Scroll and The Lamb
Scroll and The Lamb
