Revelation 5 - The Song of the Redeemer and the Redeemed

Revelation 5:1-14

How many of you have seen or at least heard of the movie “The Sound of Music”? It was a movie placed at the beginning of the second World War in Austria. I’m not going to talk about the movie but I always liked the idea of a singing family. The Von Trapp family was known as a family that was very talented. In the movie they would be going through the struggles of life and just break out in song. To be honest our family did that as well. We would be driving down the road and something in the conversation or even on the roadside would spark someone to break out in song. Our kids were talented so it was always pleasant. Someone would be inspired and everyone would just join in a song. But there was one time something like that happened not with our family but in a bus load of teenagers on their way to Montana on a mission trip. We had driven for a couple of days and nights and one morning as the sun was coming up in the East shining on the Grand Tetons everyone was waking up and all of the sudden, almost as if a movement of the Holy Spirit the entire bus load of 45 teenagers and a few adults began to sing “How Great Thou Art”. The grandeur and majesty of the scene was overwhelming and all we could do was sing of the greatness of our God. Today we will be looking at Revelation 5 and we will see something similar to that happen in the throne room of God as the Lamb Slain takes His position as the Administrator of Justice. Let’s pray then we will get started in God’s Word.

Last time in chapter 4 we met or became aware of four creatures with six wings and 24 elders on 24 thrones surrounding the throne of God. If you will remember I gave you my view as to who or what the four beasts and the 24 elders represent. The four beasts represent, I believe, all of God’s creation, angels, animal, nature, everything that has breath so to speak. The 24 elders, again I believe, represent all the redeemed of God, the Old Testament saints and the New Testament saints. With that very short review instead of reading the entire passage as I usually do I think I will simply read a part of the passage and progress through the passage that way.

Revelation5:1-3 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

In chapter 4 the throne room vision began and in that vision John saw One seated on the throne and the best he could do to describe Him was colors. But now in this passage John does seem to see the One on the throne perhaps a little more clearly because He has in His right hand a scroll written on front and back or inside and outside and it is sealed with seven seals. Now let me say that I don’t think that this description is saying that the Triune God has hands like a man. Jesus made it clear that God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth. So what John is representing here is a closeness, a position of primacy with this scroll. This document contained much of great importance. There is debate as to the nature of the seven seals, were they all on the outside along the edge or were they spread out throughout the document as it is unrolled? In chapter 6 and 8 the seals are broken one by one and the content of the scroll is revealed so it seems to me that the seals are spread out in the document but it really does not matter; the document is sealed.

Now comes the debate as to what this document, this scroll is. I am not going to give you all the possibilities that have been posited instead I am just going to tell you what I believe it is. This scroll that no one can open, read or even look at is God’s plan of justice and judgment on His enemies and reward for those who obey HIm. This plan of justice has been sealed since before the beginning. No one has known His plan but we have seen glimpses of His justice throughout history. Adam and Eve locked out of the garden separated from God but redemption is promised. Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed for continued rebellion, but the righteous are saved. Egypt experiencing the plagues because they would not let the people of Israel go free but God saved His people through the plagues. The peoples of the land of Canaan being driven out and or destroyed because they opposed the people of God but God prepared a place for His people. Israel taken into captivity by the Assyrians and Judah fast behind them being taken to Babylon but God sending some back to rebuild the Temple. I could go on but I think you ha,ve the idea that though God has shown some of His justice, His judgment He has not revealed His full plan; just a few previews.

In the hand of the One on the throne was the scroll and a great angel cried out “who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals?” It is not as if the angel did not know but the question is revealing that there is no created being (no one in heaven, on the earth or under the earth) that is worthy to open the scroll or to look at it. This is God’s scroll of judgment and no created being can open it, only God can administer judgment. That is important for us to remember even in today’s world. We should strive for earthly justice, we should in fact long for justice. We are born with an innate desire for justice, that is why every kid knows those three words “that’s not fair” so well and use them regularly. But Godly justice, Godly judgment must be administered by God Himself.

Revelation 5:4 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

This is interesting to me. John breaks down and from the Greek it says that he wept continually, he just could not compose himself. But why did he weep, what was there to cry about. It appeared to John as if the judgment of God towards His enemies (and therefore the enemies of the church) would be delayed. The judgment of God could not proceed if there was no one worthy of administering that justice. John was forlorn by that possibility. One of the sure encouragements we have is that God’s judgment; both of us based on the work of Christ, and on the world based on their rejection of the work of Christ is known and because of what we know from this book we celebrate. But it looked to John like it was not going to happen; thus he wept.

Revelation 5:5-7 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

It is not as if there was really a contest or a quest to find someone who was worthy of opening the scroll. It was known by those who were before the throne Who was worthy and one of them let John know. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root or son of David was worthy because He prevailed (that word “prevailed” is important and we will come back to it). In these three verses the Lord has brought all of the Old Testament and all of the New Testament together. The Lion who is the conqueror is the King who reigns yet the Lion and the King is a Lamb slain who has the seven horns demonstrating complete power and authority who sends the seven Spirits (the Holy Spirit) to rule and reign in the heart of man. I don’t usually quote other preachers but this one has been dead a long time so I’ll just read to you how Charles Haddon Spurgeon described this: “He was a Lamb when first He became incarnate. When He submitted to His parents, suffered the despite of men, was pained, when He took little children to him, when He died, the just for the unjust. In His condescension, incarnation, life, death and atonement (He was a Lamb)... He was a Lion when in glory He reigned, when He conquered Satan in the wilderness, in His miracles and sometimes reproofs, in His resisting unto blood, victory on the tree and triumphant resurrection (He was a Lion)…He is Lamb now in intercession, pleading, continual offering, bearing with the sons of men…He is a Lion in protecting His people against Satan. An invincible Lion in never suffering their destruction. At last, when every Saint is saved, the mighty shall show Himself so to be in the judgment and damnation of His foes, and in that grandest scene: His triumphant entrance into heaven, “leading captivity captive.”” Folks the Lion (conqueror), the King (ruler) is the Lamb who is our sacrifice is God and He alone is worthy to loose the judgment of God.

Before we move on to the next part of this passage I have another passage I would like to read to you that will help us to understand what we are seeing in Revelation 5. Philippians 2:5-115 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.[1] Because Jesus humbled Himself and was obedient to redeem His people God highly exalted Him, gave Him a name above all others and every creature will bow before Him, worship Him and declare Him Lord, all to the glory of God. Now let’s read verses 8-14.

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 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, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and powerBe to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.[2] Do you see what is going on here? John is seeing what Paul described in Philippians 2. When He took the scroll He had a name above every other name. Every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the seas worshiped Him and bowed down to Him who gave Himself as a sacrifice. Every knee has bowed and every tongue has confessed that Jesus is Lord. I don’t know if this is what Paul saw in the vision he would not talk about in 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 or not but obviously Paul understood what John saw and what is being played out in the throne room of heaven right now.

Now let’s take a deeper look at this passage because it has so much deep truth about Jesus our Lord revealed in it. When the Lamb that appeared to be slain but was alive took the scroll of God’s judgment from the hand of the One who sat on the throne all of the created beings (4 living creatures) and all of the redeemed of God (twenty-four elders) fell down and worshiped the Lamb. If you ever wondered where the idea came from that we will have harps in heaven this is it. But don’t worry if you don’t know how to play a harp because the instrument was probably more like a guitar. If you want I can give you guitar lessons so you can have a head start on being in the presence of the Lamb. The musical instruments indicate that there will be abundant praise of the Lion/King/Lamb that was slain. We also see that every creature and every redeemed person had a bowl full of burning incense that were the prayers of the saints. Last time in chapter 4 we were introduced to the sight and sounds of the heavenly throne room and now we are introduced to the smells. The prayers of God’s people are a sweet aroma to the One on the throne and to the Lamb at His right hand. We cannot underestimate the power of our prayers before the Lamb who shed His blood to redeem us. We think we long for justice but His justice and His judgment is perfect and when we pray for justice, peace, relief from suffering, the ultimate answer to those prayers, perfect justice and judgment are stored up for the day of the Lord. Keep praying, keep crying out to the Lord for justice, keep longing for and fighting for justice because it is a sweet aroma to the Lamb and the One seated on the throne.

Last time in chapter 4:11 we heard the song of creation: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.” [3] and we read in Colossians 1:16-17 (speaking of Jesus) that all things were created through Him and for Him. Clearly we know that Jesus, the Lion/King/Lamb is the agent of creation but here in chapter 5:9-10 we hear a new song, the Song of Redemption, the Song of re-creation. “You are worthy to loose the judgment of God because You were slain and by Your blood that was shed you redeemed us back out of our sin back to God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Your redemption has made us kings and priests to our God and we will reign on the earth.” This is what was meant in verse 5 that He prevailed in redeeming His people therefore He is worthy to loose the seals. He prevailed over sin in His life, His death and His resurrection and with that He bought us back from slavery to sin, from fear of death and into eternal life. And just to make it clear this is the entire church, the redeemed of the Old Testament and the New Testament, the redeemed of Africa, South America, North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and if anyone is in Antarctica there too. It is the redeemed of those who speak Spanish, Hebrew, Swahili, English, Chinese or Klingon. This is the redeemed of the Black, White, Yellow, Red and all shades in between, it is the church consisting of the entire race of man. Anyone that speaks of the white church, the black church, the Hispanic church, or any other descriptor is dividing the church where God does not. We are the redeemed of God and He has made us to be kings and priests to reign on His earth together bringing God’s creation under our dominion just like God said back in Genesis. The work of the redeemed will be and is to complete the work God ordained back in the garden.

That is the Song of Redemption but in verse 11 there is either a second verse to the song or there is a song of the redeemed, I’ll let you decide which one it is. John says he heard the voices of all the angels, created beings and the redeemed all gathered around the throne. Now don’t start trying to do the math to determine how many are there; ‘ten thousands times ten thousands and thousands of thousands.’ John is making it clear that the number of those who praise the Redeemer are incalculable. It doesn’t matter how many it is ALL of His creation. They cry out with loud voices that the Lamb that was slain, the Lion that conquerors, the King that reigns is worthy. He is worthy to receive (better translated to have) power and riches and wisdom, and strength and glory and blessing. Then the final chorus of the song is sung by all the creatures of God’s creation who proclaim recognition of the Lambs blessings and honor and glory and power. First they proclaimed His worth to have the attributes mentioned then they proclaim that He has those attributes acknowledging that He reigns on the throne forever and ever! Then the four living creatures representing all of creation who started this worship service in chapter 4 says “Amen” as if an end to the services had arrived. Then the 24 elders representing all of the redeemed of God bow down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

What a scene! In chapters 4 and 5 John’s vision proclaims in vivid and confident terms that creation’s destiny is not under the control of some blind fate. We are all in the hands of a loving Father, and the conquering Lion of Judah, the reigning King, the Lamb slain. We the redeemed have a song to sing: “You O Lamb are worthy to administer judgment because You prevailed and were slain to redeem your people from slavery to sin and fear of death to life eternal. By Your blood You redeemed people to God out of every ethnic group, every language group, every people and every nation and have made us kings and priests to our God and we will reign on the earth that you will re-create. You, Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world by being slain are worthy of all power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! Every knee bows and every tongue confess that You, the Lamb that was slain, is Lord and we bow down and worship you. Amen! Let’s pray.

[1] The New King James Version. (1982). (Php 2:5–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 5:1–14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[3] Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer, J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English Bible (Re 4:11). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.