Part 14

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.

Middle Section of Revelation (Chapters 4-19)

Four Interpretive Views of Revelation

1) Preterist

Rev. 4-19 happened in the first century

2) Historicist

Revelation is referring to specific history events throughout church history.

The view suggests that the letters to the seven churches (in chapters 2 and 3) represent seven stages of church history.

Some who held to this position also saw the seals, trumpets, and bowls illustrating the successive stages throughout church history.

3) Futurist

Everything in Chapters 4-19 are about future events

That means that these chapters are only relevant to the last century church,

Rapture: These chapters don’t apply to the church at all.

4) Idealist

The idealist approach sees Revelation as espousing timeless principles that relate to every generation. This view suggests that, in its entirety, the book symbolically presents the ongoing battle of good and evil.

My Approach - An Eclectic View

• The approach that resonates most with me, is best described as an eclectic view. It affirms that three of the four approaches— namely, the preterist view, the idealist view, and the futurist view—each offer ideas that can help us interpret Revelation in the most natural way.

• All three of those view are helpful, until they become so rigid that Revelation is forced to say what it doesn’t actually say.

• Revelation was written to seven church in the first century, who were edified, encouraged, and challenged by the book’s message (the preterist view is helpful here).

• Revelation includes prophecies about patterns that relate to both the first century and future generations until Christ returns (the idealist perspective is helpful here).

• Finally, Revelation forecasts God’s ultimate judgment and justice coming to the earth and the future consummation of His Kingdom.

Holding rigidly to one of the four interpretive views, I think runs the risk of forcing certain passages into saying things that they were never mean to say. Consequently, I believe the eclectic view is most beneficial, because it helps us read the text naturally.

In chapters 4-19, I lean towards the “already, but not yet approach.”

The judgments described seemed to have been happening and yet, they will happen—likely to a Greater Degree— in the final tribulation.

There have been many antichrists throughout history, but their will be one final and ultimate antichrist.

Chapter 4

John receives that heavenly vision and is taken—in the Spirit—to God’s throne room.

We get a glimpse of the infinite majesty and beauty of God the Father.

God is seen as the Sovereign Creator of all things and thus, is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise.

_________________________________________________

Revelation 5:1–3 ESV

John sees God holding a scroll in his right hand that is sealed with seven seals.

I) What is the Scroll?

A) Some see it as the Lambs Book of Life

It seems though, according to Rev 20:12, that the Lamb’s book of life is “another book.”

Revelation 20:12 ESV

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

B) Many people see it as a sealed book of Judgments

(Daniel 7:9-10)

(Ezekiel 2:8-10)

Some scholars believe that it is just the seals themselves that represents God’s judgements upon the wicked, and that the scroll itself points to the believers inheritance.

C) Place of Agreement

It seems that the what is in agreement, is that the scroll contains God’s purposes for history. It is His sovereign plan to bring about new creation.

II. Who Can Open the Scroll?

The might angel asks a question, who can break the seals and open the scrolls.

That scene conjures up images of a sealed last will and testament that can only be appropriated by the executor.

The Important Question is “Who is Worthy?”

A) The Answer

No one is worthy. No one on the earth and no angelic beings are found to be worthy to open the scroll. No one under the earth—those in the realm of death—is worthy to open the scroll.

B) John’s Response

Revelation 5:4 ESV

and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

Why would John weep and wail?

If the scroll cannot be opened, God’s ultimate plans for humanity and all creation will not be realized.

John wants us to see how bleak and hopeless life would be, should no one be able to open the seals.

John is crushed, because without God’s the scroll being opened, the church is without hope! Justice will never come. Evil will never be banished.

III. What John Hears

Revelation 5:5 ESV

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.”

A) There is One Worthy to Open the Scroll

The 24 elders are beings who represent God’s people

One of the elders instructs John to “weep no more,” because there is one who has conquered, and can open the Scroll.

B.) Who is He that is Worthy to Open the Scrolls?

The elder describes Him as...

i.) The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

This image comes from Genesis 49, which the Jews applied to their coming Messiah.

Genesis 49:9–10 ESV

Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

ii.) The Root of David

The Lord had promised that an heir of David would rule forever (2 Samual 7:12-14). This figure became known as the Messiah.

The “Root of David” references the Messiah who would come from the truncated house of David, to establish His eternal kingdom.

This prophecy is found in Isaiah 11:1 and is repeated in Isaiah 11:11.

In between those two verses, is God’s promise of new creation that will be come through the root of David, who will judge God’s the wicked and shepherd God’s people.

So, what John hears is that the Messiah (this Strong Lion) is worthy to open the scroll, because He has CONQUERED

Remember, conquering was a common theme in the letters written to the churches.

Those who would receive eternal life would be those who conquered. (Rev. 2:7)

Revelation 2:7 ESV

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

Our conquering is based on Christ’s Conquering.

We don’t “conquer” by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.

We conquer by remaining faithful to Christ, even in the midst of persecution.

Our victory results from His victory.

No one, except Christ, could open the scroll (which included judgements) because no one had been tempted and conquered.

Human beings are unworthy to open the scroll because of our sin.

Angels are unworthy because they were not tempted as men, and thus, have not overcome.

Yet Christ, was tempted, but was victorious over temptation.

IV.) What John Sees

Revelation 5:6–7 ESV

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.

A) The Slain Lamb

What John would have expected to see was a roaring lion, lining up with what he “heard.”

Remember, Israel expected their Messiah to come as a warrior who would crush their enemies to bring God’s Kingdom upon the earth.

What John saw, instead, was a slain lamb.

The slain land, standing, represents the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus conquered, not by brute force, but by laying down His life for His enemies.

The crucifixion was not a loss, but it was a victory, through which Christ was enthroned as the eternal King.

B) Seven Horns

Seven = number of completion

Horns represent power and authority

Thus, Jesus has infinite and perfect power and authority.

C) Seven Eyes

Some scholars believe these seven eyes refer to Jesus’ omniscience.

What we do know from the text, is that they at least refer to the Holy Spirit.

John 7:39 ESV

Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Jesus said that the HS would not be poured out, until he was exalted.

Jesus then took the scroll from the Father. He has the authority to take the scroll because of His death and resurrection.

V. The Heavenly Response

A) The Elders and Four Living Creatures Worship the Lamb

Revelation 5:8 ESV

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.

The 24 Elders and the four living creatures fall down before the Lamb in worship. Sound familiar?

Revelation 4:10 ESV

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,

The Lamb is now worshipped, just as God was worshipped in chapter 4, showing that the Lamb is fully God.

Revelation 5:9 ESV

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,

The Heavenly beings sing “A new Song”

They sing a new song, because God has done a new work through Christ, sealing, once and for all His plan of salvation.

In chapter 4, God is praised for His work as Creator.

In Chapter 5, Jesus is praised for His work as Redeemer.

Jesus was slain to ransom a people from God

Rev. 1:5, tells us why Christ had to ransom us… (because we were enslaved to sin).

Revelation 1:5 ESV

and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

B) Jesus Ransomed Us for a Purpose

Revelation 5:10 ESV

and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Jesus didn’t ransom us, just so we could “go to heaven.” He redeemed us so that God’s original mandate for humans could be fulfilled.

Genesis 1:28 ESV

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Israel was supposed to be a Kingdom of priests, yet they failed. Now the church is able to take up that role through Christ.

God’s people—made up of both Jews and Gentiles—are able to fulfill God’s purpose as a Kingdom

There is an “already but not yet” aspect to this Kingdom.

The power of the Kingdom is already present with the church.

Ultimately, Jesus will consummate His Kingdom, and we will live as His vice-regents on the new earth.

C) Thousands upon Thousands of Angels Join in Worship

Revelation 5:11–12 ESV

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!”

Once again, the idea the Jesus is “worthy” of praise and worship is reinforced.

D) All of Creation Joins in to Worship the Lamb

Revelation 5:13 ESV

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!”

Again, this praise mimics what we see being offered to God in chapter 4

Revelation 4:11 ESV

“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.”

The Lamb is being worshipped on the same level as God.

E) The 24 Elders Approve the Worship of the Lamb

Revelation 5:14 ESV

And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Amen = “So be it”

The persecuted Christians in Asia minor are reminded that God is on the throne; they—along with us—are a kingdom of priests and have been ransomed by the blood of the Lamb. They are victorious in Christ, and they can look ahead to the promise of God’s ultimate promises being fulfilled when the Kingdom is consummated.

Application

God’s Promises to Us Hinge on the Resurrection

God’s plans for the world have not been frustrated

A reminder of how God’s Kingdom continues to expand: We are called to follow Jesus, in moving His Kingdom forward by laying down our lives for our enemies.

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