THE LAMB AND THE SCROLL
Revelation 5: 1-14
Have things happened to you that you cannot explain, even with your knowledge of God and the Bible?
The message of Revelation is that God will resolve the mess man has created.
Men without God dream of world peace, utopia on earth. Lots of people have thought man would bring in the golden age to this planet. It will never happen. In Revelation, man comes to the end of himself so that he can see the only hope is in God.
Many men have tried to bring utopia to earth. Nebuchadnezzer built the great city of Babylon, but his empire fell apart. Julius Caesar led the legions of Rome across Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa and parts of Asia to bring peace (Pax Romana). Hitler tried to institute the thousand year Reich, but it ended in disaster. You and I will weep just like John if we depend on men. No leader in the world has a clue as to how to solve the great problems of earth.
God’s solution to the problems of earth revolves around the lamb who submits himself to death, death on a cross. Redemption of creation takes place by Jesus’ death for man. Creation revolves around Him. We also need to be aware that the lamb is also the Lion Who will judge the earth.
In my vison at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7: 13-14
If you haven’t read C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia, it would be good to do so. They are built around the theme of Jesus’ redemption on this world.
What John saw in chapter 4 was the everlasting worship of God in his throne room. Now the scene shifts a bit. A new element involving time and human history enters the scene. The Lamb’s marks of slaughter are those remaining from his insertion into humanity. John himself becomes a participant in the dialog of heaven rather than a mere observer as he had been in the previous chapter.
The Scroll with Seven Seals
vs 1
John notices for the first time that God, who sat on the throne, now has something important in the right hand. To be near the right hand of a king was considered the most prestigious position.
The scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals is unusual in the details John noted. The outside was very difficult to write on, so normally only the inside was written on. The fact that it is written on both sides suggests that many details are contained.
Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.
Exodus 32: 15-16
Roman paintings show emperors holding such scrolls as a symbol of their power and authority. In handing the scroll to the Lamb, God shows that he has transferred his power and authority to the Lamb.
To seal an ancient letter or scroll with wax on the outside edge was customary. This guarded the privacy of the contents until the authorized person broke the seal and opened the scroll. i.e. Our letters today.
The scroll that John saw was sealed with seven seals. Meaning that it had been completely and totally shut by God himself.
vs 2-3
The might angel is not one of the living creatures or one of the elders. It is probably the same figure described in detail in 10:1 and mentioned again in 18:21. It may even be Gabriel, but we don’t know for sure. John is more interested in the question being asked in a loud voice. The words loud voice occur twenty times in Revelation.
The key to the entire vision of the scroll is finding someone who is worthy. Quite a search takes place in heaven and on earth. No person in either place is qualified to open the scroll.
vs 4
For the first time in this vision we know something of John’s personal reaction, I wept and wept. John felt a sense of hopelessness that no one was able to open the scroll. No one would know the purpose of creation and why all the suffering would come upon the earth.
The scroll answers the questions of war and crime and why human beings cannot solve these problems. There are things in our lives that we cannot explain.
vs 5
One of the twenty four elders now answers the question originally asked by the mighty angel in vs 2. First he tells John, do not weep or more exactly, stop crying! Second, someone has been found who is able to open the scroll.
Then John hears two unique titles for Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. Neither of these two phrases are found anywhere else in the Bible, although there are similar ones. In Genesis 49:9 Jacob is blessing his sons and calls Judah, you are a lion’s cub... Scholars have taken this as a prophecy that Judah’s line would provide kings for the nation of Israel, and ultimately fulfilled by the Messiah.
Isaiah 11:1 speaks of the Messiah being of the lineage of David, Jesse being David’s father.
The Lamb that was Slaughtered
vs 6
John heard about the lion, but what he sees is a lamb ... standing, very much alive. Only under divine inspiration would the conquering, powerful victor of the universe be portrayed as a Lamb.
The Lamb was in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders, that is, at the focal point of the throne room. The three descriptions that follow are symbolic and point to Jesus.
First, it looked as if it had been slain. People in John’s day were certainly familiar with seeing slaughtered animals in the meat markets. No where had they seen one alive. The meaning of the marks he bore is explained in vs 9, Jesus the Lamb of God purchased people for God by his death. So the appearance of being slain is a reminder in heaven of the Lamb’s death in human history.
Second, the Lamb had seven horns. A two horned lamb was possible, but a seven horned Lamb had never been seen. Through out the Old Testament horns often symbolized power, so seven horns suggests the fullness of divine power.
Third, the Lamb has seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God. The symbolism is explained for us in a surprising way. In 4:5 the seven fold Spirit of God, or the Holy Spirit appeared as blazing lamps in close connection to the Lord God Almighty on his throne. Now the same Holy Spirit appears in equally close connection to the slaughtered Lamb.
Once again we see the three persons of the God head together.
vs 7-8
The Lamb came and took the scroll from God without objection or delay. Jesus comes and takes the scroll out of the hand of the Father and will now execute judgment on the world. He has the authority to do so!
The immediate response of the twenty four elders was to worship the Lamb with the same devotion they were continually offering God on the Throne. They fell down before the Lamb. The Lamb is praised equally along with the Creator. The four living creatures also join in falling down and worshiping.
Two items of worship introduced here. Each participant has a musical instrument, a harp. Harps were hand held stringed instruments, very much like our guitar. The purpose of these instruments is to accompany the song in vs 9.
John also saw, and possibly smelled, the golden bowls full on incense. The point is that when saints on earth praise and pray to the Lord, their worship is received by God in heaven. Scripture constantly teaches that the prayers of God’s people impact the throne of heaven. Here is a vivid visual representation of this truth.
Worship Songs in Honor of the Lamb
vs 9
All join in singing a new song. The first line of the song answers the question from vs 2 as to who is worthy.
The verb purchased describes the effect of Jesus’ death. His blood was the price of admission to the kingdom of God.
How far reaching was the Lamb’s purchase? Persons of every tribe and language and people and nation were included. Jesus’ redemptive work was not for the Jews alone, but for people from every ethnic group and society around the world.
The result of this purchase is that the people are a kingdom and priests to serve our God. Peter understood this when he wrote...you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
vs 11-12
John’s perspective widens as he looked and heard something new. An overwhelming view of thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand of the host of heaven. 100 million plus!
Ten thousand was the largest number that the Greek language could express, so this is an incalculable multitude. i.e. The coliseum filled 1,000 times.
These angels surround the throne and join in the singing mentioning seven attributes, power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise.
vs 13-14
Once more John’s perspective pulls back. This time he does not claim to see, but only to hear every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that is in them singing. Just try to imagine that!
The song from the universe is a two line stanza. The first line includes both him who sits on the throne and the Lamb. They are equally to be worshiped for ever and ever.
The second line includes four adjectives of this everlasting worship.
Verse 14 finishes with the four living creatures having the final word amen! So be it.
