Revelation 5 #5 9/14/14 PM

 Revelation 5:12- “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and  strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” 

 Review Chapter 1- “The things which thou hast seen” (vs. 19). John had met the Lord and been given the letters of Revelation. Chapters 2 and 3- “The things which are” (1:19). The letters had been given to the churches. Chapters 4 and 5 are an interpretation of the third section of the book. “The things which shall be hereafter.” (1:19).  Chapter 4 introduced us to the Lord on the throne in heaven. The church has been raptured and judged and is seen here worshipping and praising God the Father.  Chapter 5 will continue to describe the continuing events of the heavenly throne room by introducing us to the Book and the Lamb.

 “in the right hand”- an important book, prominent.  “a book”- a scroll containing the prophecy of the impending events of Revelation. An official title deed to the earth.  “written within and on the backside”- thorough prophecy.  “sealed with seven seals”- clips which separated events of prophecy (namely the seven judgments). If the entire scroll was to be unrolled, these seals would have to be successively broken.

 “strong”-mighty and powerful, seen also in Rev. 10:1 and 18:21.  “angel”- Who is he? Gabriel, the one who ordered the closing and sealing of the book of Daniel.  “who”- an honest question. Who is worthy to take back the title deed to creation? God had given it to Adam (Gen. 1:26-28). Satan had control of the earth and now the one who could open it would through the seven seals (judgments) reclaim creation.

 “no man”- none was found able to open the book.  “I wept”- an important matter. Weeping in heaven? Yes, until Rev. 21:4. We will weep over sin and unsaved relatives, etc.

 The Admonishment (vs. 5) “Weep not”- don’t fill your eyes with tears. “Behold”- but look! At what? “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah”- Gen. 49:9,10 is a prophecy of the future ruler of the earth coming from the tribe of Judah, the Lion tribe. “The Root of David”- a fulfillment of Isaiah 11:1.

 The Astonishment (vs. 6) “And I beheld, and, lo…”- a look of astonishment, wonder, awe. “In the midst of the throne and the four beasts”-out of God’s throne and the beasts of the attributes of God- Deity of this Lamb. “A lamb as it had been slain”- Though John might have expected a sovereign lion, he saw instead a slain Lamb. Why not a lion? Why a lamb? Because it was as a lamb, a slain lamb, that Christ did the greatest redemption work this world has ever known.  He paid for our sins (I Pet. 1:18, 19)  He rose victoriously three days later (I Cor. 15)  He will eternally bear the marks of His sacrifice. “seven horns”- strength and kingship (Dan. 7:24) “seven eyes… the seven spirits”- again, the Holy Spirit. Christ had himself sent the Holy Spirit to minister.

 The Accomplishment (vs. 7) “came and took”- though Satan was defeated at the cross (Rom. 6), Christ has permitted Satan to exercise power. But at this event, the Lamb firmly grasps the title deed and opens its seals (judgments) to reclaim the earth (Ps. 2:8). Note: Dan. 7:13, 14 is a parallel passage.

 The Saints (vs. 8-10) (along with the four beasts) “24 elders”- who are the church, “crowns”, “white raiment”, “thrones”, “prayers”. “fell down”- worshipped Him- the Lamb was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a member of the Trinity, He was worshipped. “harps”- symbols and instruments of divine worship, used in the “song” of verse 9. “golden vials full of odors”- explained as the prayers of the saints. Here in heaven the past prayers of saints are still a part of worship. Are prayers important? Yes, they are now and will be, immediate and lasting effects (Ps. 141:2) “new song”- the song of redemption, a song of redeemed men!! “new” means “fresh” “kings and priests”- present and future work of the church. “reign”- future, millennium

 The Angels (vs. 11 and 12) “10,000 times 10,000 and 1,000’s of 1,000’s”- can you total that number? A seven-fold doxology or song of glory- all ascribed to the Lamb.  The Creation (vs. 13) A fulfillment of a New Testament passage, Rom. 8:18-23, the “creature” of Romans 8 is the “creature” of Revelation 5.

 The church, bearing witness in the world today, will be tomorrow in the very presence of God praising the God of the Throne and the Lamb of the Book. With the introduction provided in Chapters 4 and 5 in the 3 rd heaven, John’s vision will turn to the earth in Chapter 6. Our Lord of Praise will be seen as a Righteous Judge.