Revelation 5

Revelation 5:1

B. The Lamb and the Seven-Sealed Scroll (Chap. 5) 5:1 God is seen holding a scroll which has seven seals binding it. The scroll contains a record of the judgments that must fall on the earth before the Lord Jesus can set up His kingdom. 5:2, 3 A strong angel sends forth an appeal for someone worthy to open the scroll and break the seals, one by one. No one, celestial, terrestrial, or subterranean, was found qualified to unroll it or to read it. No angel, man, or demon has the wisdom and knowledge to execute judgment. 5:4 John wept copiously when it seemed that no one was found worthy. Did that mean that the wrongs of earth would go unrighted, that the righteous would never be vindicated, that the wicked would go unpunished? Did it mean that the kingdom would not come because the necessary purging of the earth would be thwarted? 5:5 One of the elders comforted John with the glad news that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Creator and Progenitor) of David, was qualified to open the scroll, break the seals, and thus release the judgments. Jesus is qualified to be the Judge by His infinite wisdom, by divine decree (Joh_5:22, Joh_5:27), by personal excellence, and by His work at Calvary. In Revelation our Lord is presented both as Lamb and Lion. As the Lamb of God, He is the sacrificial One, bearing away the sins of the world. As the Lion, He is the Judge, punishing His enemies. At His First Coming, He was the Lamb. At His Second Coming, He will be the Lion. 5:6 When John looked, he saw the throne surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. In the middle stood a little Lamb which looked as if it had been freshly slain. The Lamb had seven horns (omnipotence) and seven eyes (omniscience). His possession of the seven Spirits of God reminds us that the Lord Jesus was endued with the full measure of the Holy Spirit (Joh_3:34 b). The seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth suggest omnipresence. 5:7, 8 As soon as the Lamb took the judgment roll out of the right hand of God the Father, the living creatures and elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, representing the prayers of the saints, probably the prayers of martyrs crying to God to avenge their blood (Rev_6:10). Though they handled the prayers, there is no suggestion that they presented them to God or had any part in answering them. 5:9, 10 In their new song, they acclaimed the Lamb as worthy to execute judgment because of His redemptive work on the cross. There is a question whether they include themselves among the redeemed (have redeemed us to God) or whether it should read, as in some versions, and did purchase for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Beyond redemption, the Lord has made believers kings and priests to worship Him, to witness for Him, and to reign with Him over the millennial earth. 5:11 The chorus widened as many angels joined the living creatures and the elders, a choir numbering millions, perhaps billions, all participating in perfect harmony. 5:12 Their tribute is one that believers will sing throughout eternity. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive:powerover my life, the church, the world, the universe; richesall my silver and my gold; wisdomthe finest of my intellectual powers; strengthmy physical strength for His service; honora single, pure desire to magnify Him in all my ways; glorymy entire life devoted to glorifying Him; blessingall my powers of praise for Him. 5:13 Now the music becomes a diapason, a full, deep burst of harmonious song. Every creature … in heaven and on the earth joins in heaping eternal blessing and honor and glory and power on God the Father and on the Lamb. This verse parallels Phi_2:10 and 11, which insists that every knee will bow at the name of Jesus and every tongue confess Him Lord. No single, specific time is mentioned, but it will obviously be after the saved are raised to everlasting life and then after the unsaved are raised to everlasting judgment. Believers will have already acknowledged Jesus as Lord; unbelievers will then be compelled to honor Him. Universal homage to the Father and the Son is an assured fact. 5:14 The finale! As the four living ones say Amen, the elders fall down and worship the enthroned Lord who lives forever and ever.