Revelation 5.8-14

Let’s begin our reading at Rev. 4-5

Revelation 4–5 ESV

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” 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. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 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.” 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. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 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. 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 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, 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!” 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!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Recap:

Mysterious Scroll - written on both sides, sealed 7x’s, and IX is worthy to open it?

Subversive Rhetoric - Who is worthy? Christ is worthy.

Lion of Judah, root of David - Jesus as messiah

Slain Lamb, with all the horns and eyes

Heavenly Worship Rev. 5.8-14

Taking of the Scroll Rev. 5.8

Revelation 5:8 NASB95

When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Worship erupts when the worthy lamb takes the scroll.

Four living creatures (Rev. 4.6-8) and Twenty four elders (probably reigning believers)

The elders have harps and bowls of incense, which John understands as the prayers of the saints.

This is temple worship and a counterpoint to pagan temple worship.

We also notice that these prayers are brought into the presence of God.

Where their prayers are despised on earth, God finds them precious.

But, who are the saints?

Saint or hagios - the Holy Ones.

Those made holy by the work of Christ and those who are expected to be holy as a part of God’s holy people.

Its a way the NT refers to believers.

Rom 1.7

Col 1.1-2

1 peter 2.9

Ex 19.6

You are one of the saints.

A Redeemed Chorus Rev. 5.9-10

Revelation 5:9–10 NASB95

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

A cosmic redemption Col 1.20

This is why the four living creatures join the chorus.

They sing a “new song.” They sing in praise of IX work on the cross as ushering in the new creation.

“the ‘new’ characterizing this song is God’s new creation in Christ through the cross and resurrection.

They offer worship to the slain Lamb that is worthy of divinity.

slain… by your blood… ransomed people for God.

This hymn was probably within contemporary liturgy.

Its a song of redemption.

In the death and blood of Jesus, the saints are atoned for.

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Atonement

Atonement. In Christian thought, the act by which God and man are brought together in personal relationship. The term is derived from Anglo-Saxon words meaning “making at one,” hence “at-one-ment.” It presupposes a separation or alienation that needs to be overcome if human beings are to know God and have fellowship with him. As a term expressing relationship, atonement is tied closely to such terms as reconciliation and forgiveness.

Theories of the Atonement (Systematic Theology by Grudem)

Penal substitution or vicarious atonement - Christ took our place as a sacrifice and propitiation therefore achieving for us reconciliation and redemption.

Ransom Theory - payment is due Satan for sinners. deficient in my opinion. There isn't really a scriptural basis.

Moral-Influence Theory - God shows his love by suffering for them. God’s love influences believers to a grateful and loving response. Payment of sin is not required. The Problem is: Yes, God shows his love, but Scripture says many times that IX died FOR sins.

Example Theory - IX death shows how one ought to live. Payment of sin is not needed. Deficient.

Governmental Theory - God is a moral law giver, his law has been broken, therefore there must be penalty for his broken law. The issue is that punishment for broken law is not payment for sin. God’s forgiveness is independent from the cross.

Christus Victor - is the element of the atoning work of Christ that emphasizes the triumph of Christ over the evil powers of the world, through which he rescues his people and establishes a new relationship between God and the world. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/christus-victor/

Every tribe, language, people and Nation

Jesus work on the cross impacts the whole of the human race.

Efficacious for those who will receive it.

All a part of God’s kingdom of priests - people for God’s service.

Remember Rev. 1.6?

They will reign, allusive to Ex. 19.6

The Angelic Chorus Rev. 5.11-12

Revelation 5:11–12 NASB95

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

The angelic chorus affirms the elder’s song.

Subversive rhetoric

John has fired another shot across the bow of imperial ideology: heaven is the best judge of praiseworthiness, not earth. The chorus of male choirs singing odes to the emperor in imperial temples sing in vain and offer a false worship to an unworthy subject who has usurped the sovereignty of God and the proper worship of the Lamb. (Stevens)

Power, riches, and wisdom were ascribed to the emperor on monuments, but here, heaven says other wise.

The Cosmic Chorus Rev. 5.13

Revelation 5:13 NASB95

And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

The hymn finishes with a song by all of creation.

every creature in heaven, on earth, under earth, in the sea ring out in christological affirmation.

Concluding Affirmation Rev. 5.14

Revelation 5:14 NASB95

And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

like typical liturgy the four living creatures affirm what has been pronounced in worship.

The elders continue to show their worship by falling face down.

Summary of Rev. 4-5

… in Rev. 5 we see a scroll, a savior, and a song. the truth is a salvation consummating all creation. In Rev. 4 we have the sovereign God. In Rev. 5 we have his saving Christ.