Revelation 5
IBSChapter 5 THE LORD OF THE EARTH THE WORTHY ONE WHO IS BEFORE THE SEALS ARE OPENED
A. The Lamb is Worthy. 5:1-7 B. The Living One is Worshipped. 5:8-14
Revelation 5:1-7
I. The Observation. v.1 II. The Proclamation. v.2 III. The Investigation. v.3
I. The Place of the scroll. v.1 II. The Problem of the scroll. v.2-4 III. The Person who can open the scroll. v.5-7
A. The Lamb is Worthy. 5:1-7 V.1 a) The Seven Sealed Scroll - Jer.32:6-12; Ezek.2:9; Zech.5:1-4 I. The scroll in God’ s hand is perhaps the title deed to the earth.
II. The scroll had to be opened one at the time, it was sealed in such a way that the first seal should be opened before opening the second.
III. Roman law required that a will or contract should be sealed with 7 seals, the full contract was written inside and then rolled up and sealed with 7 seals, on the outside the content of the contract was briefly described.
IV. The Law of Redemption: Lev.25:23-25; Jer.32:6-27 A. In Israel the Israelites got a sealed scroll if they had sold or lost the family land - The law of forfeit.
B. If the one that lost the land couldn’ t buy it, then a kinsman could buy back the land with a certain price by delivering the sealed scroll. C. The redeemer would go to the elders at the city gate, break the sealed scroll with requirements and proof that he could fulfil them. D. The Jewish Law of Redemption also included slavery, if a man had been in slavery for 6 years then at the 7th year he was set free.
Man has been in slavery about 6000 years and is about to be set free by the Kinsman Redeemer.
V. Qualifications of a kinsman redeemer:
A. He had to be a near relative.
B. He had to be willing to redeem.
C. He had to be able to pay the price of redemption.
VI. If the land had not been bought within 7 years then it would remain under its ownership but it could always be bought back.
VII. Man lost the authority over the earth when they sinned and Satan gained power over man and the earth.
VIII. Jesus is the redeemer “Goel” of man and the earth: Matt.13:44 A. He alone has conquered over Satan and Sin. Col.1:13; 2:14-15 B. He was a kinsman, He alone was willing and He alone could pay the price of redemption with a sinless blood.
IX. If a man of the family were killed then a kinsman could avenge his blood,
Jesus in this chapter takes the right on Himself as the kinsman redeemer - The Avenger of blood. Num.35:9-32 X. In this chapter begins the Day of the Lord, the Day when He begins forcefully to take back what rightly belongs to Christ, the Day of wrath. Isaiah 61:1-2; Matt.3:7; 1.Thess.1:10; 5:9; Rev.6:16-17 A. The Day of the Lord’ s vengeance. Isaiah 34:8 B. The Day of the Lord’ s anger. Isaiah 13:13 C. The Day of the Lord’ s wrath. Ezek.7:19 XI. In this chapter begins the fulfilment of the Feast of the Day of Atonement - The cleansing of sin, in Revelation the Lamb of God begins to clean up the world, some will be judged and others will be saved. XII. Revelation is a book of books
A. The book Revelation. 1:10-11; 22:7, 9-10, 18
B. The 7 sealed book. 5:1-10
C. The little open book. 10:5-10
D. The book of life. 3:5; 138; 20:12
E. The book of works. 20:12
XIII. Other references to sealed books. Isaiah 29:11-12; Ezek.2:10; Zech.5:1-4; Dan.12:4-9 V.2 b) The Strong angel -
I. Extraordinary angels in Revelation.
A. Strong angel. 5:2
B. Mighty angel. 10:1-6, 18:21-23
C. Angel with great authority. 18:1-3
II. It was man that fell into sin and lost dominion over the earth and it’ s a man that needs to redeem the earth again, the opening of the seals will bring this redemption.
III. The redeemer has to be worthy, without sin and have conquered Satan.
V.3 c) The Situation and State of man -
The call is given to all mankind, all who has ever lived on earth, even in heaven there are not found one worthy, all has fallen short and all has sinned, no one completely conquered Satan.
V.4 d) The Sorrow of John -
As John sees the Depth and the Depravity of the sin of man, no one Made it, all missed the Mark and all Messed up their life; he has a big question: Who and Why and then Weeps. All sinned and no one can open and read it, not even look at it.
V.5 e) The Son of David has Prevailed -
I. One man can open it and its not Laotse, not Buddha, not Kung-futse, not yogis, not Mohammed, not holy men, not Shiva, not Vishnu and not world rulers - It’ s a Jew. II. The next two titles are references to the Messiah:
A. Lion - A conqueror of the tribe of Judah. Gen.49:9-10; Hosea 5:14 B. Line - A child (Root) of David. Matt.1:6-16; Isaiah 11:1, 10 III. He prevailed over Satan (Lion) and Sin (Lamb).
IV. In v.5 we see Christ as the Lion and in v.6 as the Lamb.
A. Lamb is a symbol of His first coming - Sacrifice
B. Lion is a symbol of His second coming - King
C. Lamb - Is Meek, symbolises a Saviour, Was judged as a Lamb, brings the Grace of God Lion - Is Majestic, symbolises Sovereignty, Will judge as a Lion, brings the Government of God.
V.6 f) The Saviours Sacrifice - I. The One who is worthy stands in the midst of the throne, seraphim and the elders. 1:13; 7:17; Matt.18:20 II. A sacrificed lamb - Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53:7; Ex.12:1-14; John 1:29-30, 36 III. The lamb has 7 horns, which is His complete strength. Deu.33:17; Psalms 92:10; 132:17 IV. The lamb has 7 eyes, which is His all-seeing ability. Zech.3:9; 4:10 V. These 7 eyes and horns is the Holy Spirit that is sent into all the world, the Spirit of Christ that is watching for seekers of God and which has the ability to deliver man. Rom.8:9; 2.Chron.16:9 VI. 7 Horns - He is all Powerful.
7 Eyes - He all Knowing. 7 Spirits - He is all Present. V.7 g) The Sitting One gives the Scroll Jesus as the kinsman redeemer takes the scroll because of His Sinless Sacrifice.
Revelation 5:8-14
B. The Living One is Worshipped. 5:8-14
V.8 a) Prayers of the saints -
I. Only God is to be worshipped. Ex.34:14; Deu.11:16-17 II. Worship (Gr. proskuneo) and (Heb. Shachah) means to prostate oneself.
III. The seraphim and the 24 elders worship the Lamb.
IV. The disciples worshipped Christ. Matt.28:17-18; Luke 24:50-52 V. In the Old Testament the priests had golden bowls with incense in it, these incense they burned on the altar of incense. Ex.30:34-38; 1.Kings 7:50; 1.Chr.28:17; 2.Chr.4:22; Jer.52:19; Zech.14:20 VI. Incense represents the prayers of the saints. Psalms 141:1-2; Luke 1:5-11 A. Perhaps the prayers for His Kingdom to come. Matt.6:10 B. Perhaps the prayers for His judgment. Luke 18:7-8; Rev.6:10 V.9-10 b) Praise of the elders -
I. The elders sang a new song of praise - The song of redemption.
II. The elders are representing the redeemed believers of all nations.
III. The song reveals why the Lamb is worthy to open the scroll: Pre-eminence.
A. Because of His death - Price
B. Because of His redemptive blood - Purchased People.
C. Because of making man a royal Priesthood.
D. Because of causing the Church to rule during the millennium - Position and Promise. IV. The blood of Christ has redeemed and bought man. Mark 10:45; Rom.3:24; 1.Cor.6:20; Eph.1:7; Heb.9:12; 1.Peter 1:18-19; Lev.17:11-14 A. Redeemed from death. Heb.2:14-15 B. Redeemed from Satan. Col.1:13-14 C. Redeemed from sin. Rom.6:18 D. Redeemed from the law. Gal.4:3-5:1 V. In the most holy place at the Day of Atonement the high priest entered once every year and sprinkled blood seven times on the mercy seat. Lev.Ch.16; 23:26-32; Num.29:7-11; Heb. Ch.8-10 VI. Made us a royal priesthood, a priesthood of a royal line of Melchizedek. Ex.19:6; Heb.7:1-3; 1.Peter 2:5, 9; Rev.1:6 VII. Believers will reign on the earth during the millennium. Luke 19:11-27; 1.Cor.6:2; 2.Tim.2:12; Rev.1:6; 2:26-27; 3:21; 20:4-6 V.11-12 c) Population of angels Praise -
I. The 2nd greatest choir in the universe begins to praise Jesus. Dan.7:10 II. 3 different groups praise Jesus: 100 million (Or innumerable) angels, 4 seraphim and 24 elders.
III. It’ s a 7-fold Message of the Multitude.
V.13 d) Population of heaven, earth and Hades Praise -
I. The greatest choir in the universe begins to praise God: All creatures.
II. All creatures in heaven, on earth and in Hades praise God. Phil.2:9-11 III. Jesus receives the same praise as the Father. John 5:23; 17:5 V.14 e) Presbytery worships -
At the end of Ch.4 the elders worship God and again at the end of Ch.5.