The Throne Room Scene (cont.)
Revelation 5:1
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Chapter 5 continues the same vision. Here we see imagery of an antiquated scroll, in the hand of Yahweh, on His throne. We know in Daniel 12:4 that Daniel was told to “seal up the book until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased.” Sounds like the day we are living in, huh? So… Daniel was told to “seal up the book until the time of the end.” But now, given a vision, looking prophetically into the future, into the throne room of God, the time has now come to release the seals. Now, John is, in essence, told, “Don’t seal it up…but loose it!!”
What is this symbolic book? This book is a depicted divine living will to reclaim Earth back to Yahweh. This is a book of inheritance for Christ and His faithful ones. It’s a book that when Christ opens it, and the judgments come forth from this book, He ultimately returns at the end, and once and for all the earth is fully redeemed and reconciled to God and man. Jesus, as redeemed man is ruling on earth, just as Yahweh had intended for Adam and all of humanity, to rule before the fall. It is a book of inheritance to reclaim the earth back to man: One man- Jesus Christ…..and all who have been faithful to Him will rule with Him on the earth.
Church people with really bad theology have focused on going to heaven. But even if we die and do go to heaven before this day, we are not staying there. The plan of God is, and has always been, for man to be on this earth. Otherwise, why would He create a new earth if He wasn’t going to put the overcomers back on it? Earth is where we will remain for eternity under the original intended purpose for Adam. We are once again at this point redeemed to immortal status.
Okay, seven seals………..
Revelation 5:2
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
As always, an angel with “loud voice” is synonymous with, and often signifies symbolism of a “trumpet.” This sets up the rhetorical question of: “Who has been proven worthy to open the seals of this Redemption Will?”
Revelation 5:3
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And no “man” in Heaven, in Earth, nor in Hell was worthy to open the scroll. Again, this denotes that the book is about mankind and the earth. A written will to redeem the earth by ridding it of the fall and all things fallen, including the Satan. Scripture tells us that one man, Adam, lost it all. So there had to be a Man to regain and restore it, and we know that to be Jesus Christ. John declares no man in the vision was worthy to open the seals of the scroll, nor worthy to even look upon it.
Revelation 5:4
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
John weeps at his vision, knowing the purpose of the Book and what it would bring about, that there was no one qualified to open, read, or even look upon it. This statement gives us insight into the difference in the views on the content of the Book of Revelation between a redeemed person and a lost person. A saint sees the promise of the Kingdom to come, the riddance of sin and death, and looking upon the face of Him who saves us. The un-redeemed lost person sees the judgments, the destruction, and the fear of looking after the things coming upon the earth. But to the faithful, this is a time of anticipation because He is coming.
Revelation 5:5
And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
The Lion of Judah language is seen in Genesis 49:9-10
Judah is a lion’s whelp:
from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
The Root of David language is seen in Isaiah 11:1 “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:”
Notice in Revelation 5:5 how the elder speaks to John of the worthy Man that we know as Jesus Christ, thru these once concealed names, revealing the identity to Whom these names prophesied of. He says, “Who is worthy.” Who is Worthy? Who is able to redeem mankind and earth? Who has earned these titles as Savior and Redeemer? Just One!
Next, he goes on to say “Who has prevailed to open the book and the seals?”
Revelation 5:6
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
This statement would have been monumental and would have meant so much to these first century saints….. “a Lamb having been slain.”
But a moment before, He was signified as a Lion, a symbol of authority and power. How did he become the lion? By first becoming the Lamb that was slain. The powers of this world thought they defeated God when they nailed Jesus to the cross. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
What they thought was their victory was actually own their defeat. LOL! God mocked them by using them to whip themselves. What John is articulating to the seven churches is that they may have to give their life in the persecution that they are suffering. But what looks like their defeat, is in reality, their victory also! This is salvation to those who endure until the end, faithfully serving God to please Him, and denying the world through separation from worldly lusts and appetites, just like Jesus demonstrated. There is no greater reward given by God in Heaven than a martyr’s crown, because earning that crown takes true faith.
He has seven horns= “imagery of power”
He has seven eyes= symbols of the seven attributes of God.
The terminology used denotes Zechariah 3, speaking of a stone with seven eyes.
Zechariah 3:8-9
Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch. (remember Isaiah 11:1 above) For behold the Stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon One Stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the engraving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Notice that Zechariah 3:9 declares that in one day, He, Jesus is going to remove all iniquity from the land. This is the eschaton; the return of Jesus Christ; the Great and notable day of the Lord. All mortality is destroyed on this day. The resurrection occurs, and the New Covenant believers are transformed into immortality. All others, the enemies of Christ, those who refused to serve Him and receive His salvation, are destroyed by the sword of His mouth and the brightness of His coming.
Revelation 5:7
And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.
This is the moment where vindication begins. This is where redemption of the earth starts to unfold: The taking back of earth by the King of all kings.
Revelation 5:8
And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
In the twenty-four orders of the priesthood, they were to lead the people in singing praises to God with the harp, the lyre, and the loud cymbals.
These elders had harps in this vision, which is priestly language, and golden bowls of incense. Incense is another item used in the tabernacle and temple, symbolic of functions of the temple in the use of ontology.
The incense depicted here is the prayers of the saints? What prayers of the saints? In Revelation 6:9-10…
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”
Why is that incense to God? Because they are crying for God to be Judge and to reconcile the wrong and evil that has taken place throughout all of human history, and to deal with the one who started it, and those who followed him, or later did other rebellions. (The Watchers) And the time has come, because the Lion and the Lamb has His hand on the Book, and is opening the seals, releasing God’s judgments upon the wicked.
Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
They sing a new song declaring Jesus worthy to take the book and open the seals. Why was He worthy? Because He was slain and His sinless, pure sacrificial Blood redeemed people of every kind back to Yahweh. All people can be the people of God. Race, country, gender, etc has no bearing. We are all equally created with our unique attributes by Him.
Anytime you see a title given to Jesus, He is not worthy of that title simply because he is God’s Son. The only title that confirms is that He is God’s Son. He is worthy of a given title because He has done something to earn it.
Revelation 5:10
And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Simply put, we, the Redeemed, are kings and priests on the earth. We rule and reign with Christ, spiritually now, and literally in the Kingdom come.
Revelation 5:11
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
See Daniel 7:9-10, which says this as well. John uses this allusion in illustrating the massive numbers present.
Revelation 5:12
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.
Power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, and glory….. everything the people of this world want, Jesus has at that very moment. Men waste their lives to seek all of this in the fallen world, and to what avail? Sheer vanity. But those who lose their life, now, for His sake, will gain it for eternity with Him and receive all of the very best things forever. Everything this world is trying to get us to chase after and pursue comes automatically with Christ in the new Kingdom.
Revelation 5:13
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
The return of Christ is depicted here. Every eye beholds Him coming.
If you get nothing else out of this Revelation series, get this: Live for that day!! People are going to fail you, mother and father will fail you, your preacher will fail you, your spouse will fail you,…..because we are all broken and human, with issues and hang-ups. We all need Jesus. We are in bodies predisposed to want to sin, and we will. But Jesus will never leave nor forsake us. He will never fail you. He is the goal. His Word is the instruction. Whatever His Word doesn’t uphold, I don’t care who says it, obey Christ!
Revelation 5:14
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the twenty four elders fell down and worshipped Him that lives for ever and ever.
