Where, Oh Where?

Most of us are familiar with the children’s song, Where, oh where has my little dog gone? If you listen to all the words, there is almost a plaintive sense that this little pet has disappeared and until the owner finds this pet dog, their heart may just break.

We probably have all experienced losing something, wondering if we’d ever find it again. I recall just four years after being married, playing in a softball game, in Chicago with the MBI married students. After the game was over, my wife and I walked hand in hand to go to the drinking fountains. After getting our drink, we headed back to the playing field, on the way back to our vehicle, still hand in hand. This time, we switched our handholding from my right hand to my left hand. Immediately, Jannita noticed something different. She noticed that my wedding ring was missing. My heart seemed to stop beating. We scurried about the bleachers and the playing field, along with several other Moody students and families. We searched in a panic-stricken manner for that golden band which carried so much emotional impact.

We never did find the ring. I hurt deeply; not only for the loss of the ring, but for my bride, who had worked so hard and had specifically chosen that particular ring to show her commitment and love to me.

I did replace the ring with an inexpensive department store band several months later. In 2004, I replaced that with an official wedding band that looks somewhat similar to the original. Nevertheless, my heart aches every now and then when I think of the hopeless feeling of that situation many years ago.

Here, in Revelation 5, there is also a sense of hopelessness and despair. However, John nor we are left there, as it turned around just a few verses into the chapter. How can that be?

Jesus is the only one qualified to make the final call.

The Sealed Scroll

Revelation 5:1 (NASB95)

I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.

As we read verse one, we find ourselves asking all kinds of questions. One question is, what is the book or scroll? Is it a big document, with big print, or is it just a summary? We might also wonder, what is the significance of the seals?

It seems, in the context, this book or scroll, is actually a book which contains the impending judgment and the unveiling of the end of history. That could be a very scary thought, or an extremely exciting thought. If one does not know Christ as Savior, then it most certainly would be a scary proposition. All kinds of fears about the intensity of judgment, the lack of knowledge regarding their destiny, whether or not they would have long or short term suffering would most likely plague their minds. Plus, this is absolutely final.

Yet, for the individual who knows Christ as Lord and Savior, there is almost a sense of anticipation. What will it be like being in the presence of Christ? When I receive a glorified body, will I look like this? Plus many more questions we might have.

Now, as to the location of this book, we find in this verse that it is found in God’s right hand. The right hand is the place of authority and power. Only God has the right to this information. Nobody else has access to this, for nobody else has ultimate power and authority. Satan will never get hold of this scroll to rewrite it to suit his evil purposes. No earthly power or authority supersedes God; therefore, nobody can change the script to suit their whims or desires.

However, notice that John describes the writing as on the inside and on the back. Normally, on a scroll, the writing was on the inside only. Once in a while, if it were a copy, a person might write the copy on front and back. Never would it be that way on an original. Yet, this document was full, with writing on both sides. This seems to show that God's judgment was indeed full. The end of the ages has ended. There will be no more delay. Here we see that God is ready for the end to begin.

Not only was it full, it was sealed with seven seals. The seals were normally a wax like substance that the scribe(s) stuck between the pages of the scroll. Then a signet ring was placed around the scroll which could be opened only by the one vested with the authority to do so.

The Sounds of Silence

Revelation 5:2–3 (NASB95)

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.

With this sense of anticipation and expectancy, mixed with a healthy dose of fear, John hears the angel ask the big question: who is worthy to open the book and to break it seals?

He waits and waits and waits. Nobody steps forward. The angels themselves do not step forward. John does not step forward, for he knows himself too well. Not even the elders nor the four living creatures step forward. No one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into it.

John must have thought, What do we do? It is time for the end. God's judgment and the fulfillment of the ages are nearby. Yet, if nobody is worthy, will God's justice and righteousness be denied? Will salvation in Christ be proved to be worthless?

Who, exactly, is worthy to open the book? It can only be one individual, One who is perfect. For if someone is themselves under judgment, then that person would be unable to pronounce judgment upon others, whether it be nations or individuals. Only an individual who is perfectly blameless, could be considered worthy.

Yet, the sounds of heaven echo a deafening silence. Nobody is worthy. Certainly not any of humanity. When one contemplates the unworthiness of humanity to open up the scroll; to delve into the deep things of God; to discover what the end will be like; we must go a step further in our thinking. How can anybody think they can get into heaven on their own merits or conditions? How could anyone have the audacity to think they could do as they please and make it to heaven? If humanity is unworthy to open the scroll, then humanity is certainly unworthy to get to heaven, apart from Christ. All our righteousness is as filthy rags.

The Sinless Savior

Revelation 5:4–7 (NASB95)

Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

This whole scenario of hopelessness and emptiness seems to envelop John. The Bible says that John began to weep greatly… John's sorrow at this predicament led him to heart wrenching sobs.

Then an elder intervenes and tells John to stop weeping. Let me interject here, that with all of the pop psychology out in the medical world and counseling fields, it all falls dangerously short of helping anybody in a genuine manner with long-term results. All the consolation and compassion and therapies and treatments mean nothing, unless there is a hope provided for the individual that is real. Unless the One Who can provide true comfort and joy is brought into the picture, all the saccharine sweet platitudes in the world will provide only temporary relief and comfort. Jesus is the answer!

That is what we find here when the elder directs John’s attention to the One who is indeed worthy. Let's take a brief look at how John describes this individual whom we know as Jesus Christ.

First, John notes Him as the lion that is from the tribe of Judah… This individual is sovereign and Almighty. He is an absolute charge. There is nothing or nobody with more power than He. The fact He is seen as a lion, also describes the reality of His powerful judgment. This individual is not someone to be overlooked. In fact, if we look at John 5.22-27, we see that the Father has given this authority to Jesus Christ. John 5.22-27 ““For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.”

In addition, John sees a lamb. Now, when you and I think of conquering, victorious animals, we usually don't think of lambs. Can you imagine a Super Bowl team being called the Chicago lambs? Or how about that basketball franchise, the Boston lambs? I wonder how that name would excite the fans. No team would care for a mascot being a lamb, if they hope to be an awesome, terrifying, commanding presence on the courts or fields. Yet that is how John has described Jesus; as a lamb. However, He is not any ordinary lamb. The Greek word is equal to calling Him a pet lamb. A lamb Who is loved and cared for deeply. That provides a bit of a picture of the incredible depths of love the Father has for the Son. In the Old Testament, the sacrificial lambs were required to be kept in the home as a pet for four days before actually sacrificing it.

In addition, we see this lamb as standing. Quite often we refer to Jesus as sitting at the right hand of the Father, and rightly so. We see the reason for this in Hebrews 1.3 “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” This shows that his cross work has been completed. Jesus had made purification for sins, so He could sit, as it were.

Yet, here we find Christ standing. The reason seems obvious in the fact that His judgment is yet to come. He has yet to judge the world. It is not completed yet.

Next, we see Christ as the lamb who was slain. The verb is in the aorist tense; it is a past, completed act, needing no further work or action.

Then we’re told that this lamb has seven horns. If you remember from studies you may have done in the book of Daniel, or other places in scripture, the horn stands as a symbol of power. Seven is often a number used to show attributes relating to any member of the Godhead, as well as divine perfection. Here we recognize that Christ has absolute power. We would coin the theological word for this as omnipotence.

Next, we see the number seven being used again. This time, it is in relation to His eyes. He can discern and see clearly all that He must see for His perfect judgment and fulfilling His plan for the ages. The theological term here would be omniscience.

Finally, we see that He has sent the seven spirits of God… Into all the earth. This judgment will not be a localized judgment; this judgment will be universal. Nobody will escape the reach of our Lord. For all time and all locations, Christ will enact judgment upon those who have rejected Jesus Christ. As well, we must realize that for all time and all ages, Christ will grant reward to those who have walked by faith in God. Here, we see the theological term of omnipresence being described.

Then we see in verse 7, the signal that the end is about to take place. Rev. 5.7 “And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”

Summary

There is only One Who is worthy. There is only One capable of making the final call. We may think we have some ideas, some pretty fancy charts, some unique rationale. The reality is that we are unworthy. Only Jesus Christ is worthy. As we continue in our study of Revelation, I remind us that our study should not cause us to become caught up in the fascination of what will be happening next in our world. It is too easy to get spellbound by world events and preoccupied by what it may mean regarding the coming of our Lord and end times prophecy. Even as we’ve heard of activity in our nation that is reminiscent of communist regimes, we cannot be distracted.

Instead, our focus should be upon reaching people who are lost without Christ. End times prophecy and study should make a difference on how we live our lives today. We should fall down in worship and praise for the fact that our Lord was willing to pay the price for our salvation. We should lift our hearts and hands in praise for the privilege of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. We should kneel in humble adoration of the fact that one day, Christ will come to take us home to be with him forever.

If you get nothing else from the study we will be doing in Revelation, please grasp the fact that we need to worship Jesus Christ and serve Him only.

Jesus is the only one qualified to make the final call.