Revelation 5:1–14 - BibleStudy.ph

These are the original teaching notes from this passage.

Review…

The Outline – Revelation 1:19
- PAST – John wrote the things he HAD seen – vison of Jesus – Revelation 1
- PRESENT – the things which ARE – the SEVEN churches – Revelation 2-3
- FUTURE – AFTER these things – Revelation 4-22
  - The RAPTURE – Revelation 4-5
  - The WRATH – Revelation 6-18
  - The RETURN of Jesus Christ – Revelation 19-22
  - Vision of Heaven
- AFTER these things – with the sound of a TRUMPET – John was in the spirit…
- Called up to Heaven – where he would see what happens AFTER the church is RAPTURED!
- John saw the THRONE of God – TWENTY four elders – the Spirit of God – and FOUR angels…
- The FOCUS of ALL was worshiping God – HOLY – HOLY – HOLY…
- Because He is the one who made ALL things – and He holds ALL things together!

The scroll in heaven…

1^st – The Scroll… vs. 1–5
- Still in Heaven…
  - Continuing the REVELATION of what John saw…
  - Chapter 4 was focused on the THRONE – and what was AROUND it…
  - Chapter 5 will focus on the SCROLL – and who was allowed to OPEN it!
- 1^st – Seven seals… vs. 1
  - I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll – written inside and on the back!
    - In the RIGHT hand of God [the One sitting on the THRONE]
    - There was a SCROLL [βιβλίον] – literally a BOOK – also Revelation 20:12
    - BOOKS like we think of today – with a binding and pages – did not come about until 450 A.D.
    - The BOOKS in the day of John – would have been SCROLLS…
    - This SCROLL in the hand of God – had writing all over it – on the inside and outside…
    - Meaning it had a LOT of information – more than one side could contain!
    - The writing on scrolls would be in COLUMNS about EIGHT centimeters wide…
    - The way you would read a scroll would be to hold it with your left hand…
    - And unroll it with you right hand – rerolling up the scroll on parts already read…
    - A SCROLL the size of the book of Revelation – would be around FIVE meters long!
  - Sealed with seven seals!
    - The SCROLL was sealed [perfect] – so not just anyone could OPEN it…
    - SEALS [σφραγίς] – were WAX impressions used to mark OWNERSHIP!
    - In ancient times – a ruler would have a RING with a unique MARK…
    - He would press that into hot WAX – to mark a letter as GENUINE…
    - Roman LAW required official documents to be SEALED with SEVEN seals!
    - As we will see – there is only ONE who was WORTHY to open this SCROLL…
    - And He will break the SEVEN seals – opening them one by one – Revelation 6-8
  - The CONTENT…
    - We do NOT know for certain what was WRITTEN on the SCROLL…
    - There have been a LOT of ideas presented over the years by various scholars…
    - TWO seem to best fit the CONTEXT of Revelation – and the Bible as a whole!
  - FIRST – the DEED to the earth…
    - God told Jeremiah to BUY a field – and SEAL up the title to the land – Jeremiah 32:6-12
    - When he asked the LORD why – God told him because of the SIN of Israel…
    - They would lose the DEED to the LAND – and it would be given to Babylon…
    - But God would bring Israel BACK – to RECLAIM the land that had been SEALED!
    - Jeremiah 32:37 – “Behold I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven… [and] will bring them back to this place.”
    - When God created the world He gave the DEED of the earth to Adam – Genesis 1:28-30
    - But when Adam and Eve choose to SIN in the garden – Genesis 3
    - The DEED of the world was given to satan – II Corinthians 4:4 – John 14:30
    - And the question is – who is WORTHY – to RECLAIM what had been LOST!
  - SECOND – the PLAN of God…
    - The writing on SCROLL could also contain the PLAN of God – all the way to the END…
    - His purpose and plan for REDEMPTION – JUDGEMENT – and RESTORATION…
    - A plan that was SEALED – so that not just anyone could READ it!
    - When Daniel had finished his prophecy – he was told to SEAL the book – Daniel 12:9
    - Because the PLAN was meant to be a MYSTERY – until God was READY!
    - I Corinthians 2:7-8 – “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery – hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory – which none of the rulers of this age [satan] knew. For had they known – they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
    - When Jesus was put on the cross – satan rejoiced – he thought he had won…
    - What he did not understand – but would learn THREE days later – it was part of the PLAN…
    - Because ALL things work according to the WILL of God – Ephesians 1:11
    - A plan that is REVEALED as the SCROLL is opened in the book of REVELATION…
    - Which – unlike Daniel – God told John to NOT seal!
    - Revelation 22:10 – “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book – the time is at hand!”
- 2^nd – None are Worthy… vs. 2-4
  - Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice…
    - Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals!
    - John saw a STRONG unnamed angel – who shouted with a LOUD [μέγας] voice…
    - Who is WORTHY – to BREAK the SEALS on the scroll…
    - That a STRONG angel was not WORTHY – sets the standard…
    - If He could not BREAK the SEALS – then who could!
  - No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll – or to look at it!
    - In ANSWER to the challenge – NO one had the POWER [δύναμαι] to open it…
    - NOT in HEAVEN – which would include ANGELS and the REDEEMED [Israel and the church]
    - NOT on EARTH – which would include ALL those who are LIVING…
    - Including fallen ANGLES – whose dwell ON the earth – Revelation 12:9
    - NOT under the EARTH – which would include all those who have DIED!
  - I wept much because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll – or to look at it!
    - As a RESULT – John cried – a LOT [πολύς] – because…
    - No one was WORTHY to UNDERSTAND [γινώσκω] what was written on the SCROLL!
    - John thought NO one could REDEEM the DEED to a world that had been LOST…
    - He thought NO one could UNDERSTAND the PLAN of God for His creation!
- 3^rd – Look to Jesus… vs. 5
  - One of the elders said to me – do not weep – Behold!
    - One of the TWENTY FOUR elders told John NOT to weep – instead LOOK [imperative]
    - He needed to get his eyes off of what MAN could NOT do – and look at what God could do!
  - The Lion of the tribe of Judah!
    - LOOK to the LION – who comes out of the tribe of JUDAH…
    - A title given by Jacob in his final words to his son JUDAH – Genesis 49:9
    - Who prophesied God would raise up KINGS [scepter] out of JUDAH…
    - Who would RULE up until the time when the MESSIAH [שִׁילֹה] comes!
  - The Root of David!
    - Look to the ROOT [of Jesse] – who will come out of the line of DAVID…
    - A title given by Isaiah – who prophesied all NATIONS would seek Jesus – Isaiah 11:10
    - Because God promised David – one of his descendants would rule forever – II Samuel 7:13
  - [He] has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals!
    - Jesus – who was from the tribe of JUDAH – a descendant of DAVID – Matthew 1:1-3
    - Is the promised MESSIAH [שִׁילֹה] – the KING who will reign FOREVER…
    - He had [aorist] the VICTORY [νικάω] – He conquered SIN and DEATH…
    - And now He is able to OPEN the SCROLL and BREAK the SEVEN seals!
    - Too often we get overwhelmed – and cry A LOT – because we are looking the WRONG way…
    - If we are FOCUSED on what we can do – what others are capable of – it seems IMPOSSIBLE…
    - We need to get our eyes off of MEN – and put them on JESUS…
    - When we look Him – we will have VICTORY [νικάω] – NOTHING is impossible for Him!
2^nd – The Lamb of God… vs. 6
- 1^st – Looking to the Lamb… vs. 6
  - I looked – and behold!
  - In the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders!
  - Once John stopped LOOKING to MEN – he saw the LAMB…
  - He was in the MIDDLE of the THRONE – FOUR cherubim – TWENTY four elders…
  - Because Jesus is the FOCUS of everything in Heaven…
  - All it took was one LOOK – and John commands [imperative] us to also behold the LAMB!
  - Once we SEE Jesus – we KNOW nothing else in this world compares!
- 2^nd – Describing the Lamb… vs. 6
  - Stood a Lamb as though it had been slain!
    - The LAMB [ἀρνίον] – a little lamb – 30x in NT – 29x in the book of Revelation…
    - When God sent Moses to deliver Israel from the Pharaoh – bring them out of bondage…
    - God sent TEN plagues on the Egyptians – ending with the Death Angel…
    - The Jews were spared – IF – they put the BLOOD of the LAMB on their doors…
    - Then the Death Angel would PASSOVER them and they would be saved!
    - John 1:29 – “Behold – The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
    - The contrast is POWERFUL – John was looking for someone WORTHY…
    - But rather than a strong LION – he saw an innocent little LAMB…
    - He was STANDING [alive] – but looked LIKE He had been [perfect] SACRIFICED [σφάζω]!
    - When a SPORTS team picks an ANIMAL to represent them…
    - They chose something POWERFUL – like a LION or a TIGER!
    - But the SYMBOL of our LORD – is an innocent LAMB who has DIED…
    - Because we were condemned as a result of our sin – and no STRENGTH could save us…
    - The ONLY solution – was for someone to DIE for us!
    - I Peter 1:19 – “[We were redeemed] with the precious blood of Christ – as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
  - Seven horns!
    - SEVEN – used 54x in REVELATION – is a number we see a LOT in this book…
    - In the Bible the number SEVEN – is used to represent COMPLETION or PERFECTION…
    - HORNS [κέρας] – used in the Bible to speak of STRENGTH…
    - Used specifically to describe the STRENGTH to SAVE us!
    - Luke 1:69 – “A horn of SALVATION for us [from] the house of His servant David.”
  - Seven eyes – which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth!
    - Seven EYES – which we are told represent THE [ὁ] seven SPIRIT of God…
    - Speaking of THE Holy Spirit – the THIRD person of the TRINITY…
    - Who has SEVEN eyes – so He can see everyone and everything!
    - Zechariah 3:9 / 4:10 – “They are the eyes of the LORD – which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
    - Although Jesus is the LAMB who was SLAIN – He is NOT weak…
    - He has the POWER to save us – and He SEES all who come to Him for salvation…
    - He was SENT [ἀποστέλλω] out into ALL [πᾶς] the world to share the message of HOPE!
    - Romans 10:13 – “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
- 3^rd – Taking the scroll… vs. 7
  - Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne!
  - This is where the vision of John builds up to the most amazing crescendo…
  - HOPE is restored – the DEED of the earth can be redeemed…
  - The PLAN of God can be REVEALED – because of the sacrifice of the LAMB…
  - TEARS are turned to JOY – as the Jesus is WORTHY to take the SCROLL…
  - And all of HEAVEN erupts into spontaneous PRAISE!
3^rd – Song of Heaven… vs. 7-14
- 1^st – How to Worship… vs. 8
  - Now when He had taken the scroll!
    - WHY we worship – because we DESERVE death and hell!
    - This is NOT a popular subject – and many churches no longer talk about it…
    - But there is a very real – eternal – consequence to SIN – Romans 6:23
    - And when we UNDERSTAND what we have bene SAVED from…
    - And that the LAMB of God DIED for our SINS – so He could TAKE the SCROLL…
    - The immediate response should be everlasting WORSHIP!
  - The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb!
    - WHO will worship – everyone who is in HEAVEN…
    - ANGELS [cherubim] and MEN [elders] alike BOW to WORSHIP the LAMB!
  - Each having a harp!
    - WHAT we worship with – everyone has a HARP [stringed instrument]!
    - This is where we get the stereotype of people having HARPS in heaven!
    - I find it interesting there are some groups who do NOT allow instruments in worship…
    - They argue we never see any musical instruments in the NT…
    - But the scene here in HEAVEN – makes it VERY clear – we have HARPS…
    - Now – if we are concerned about ABILITY – we will have an ETERNITY to prefect our skills!
  - Golden bowls full of incense – which are the prayers of the saints!
    - HOW we worship – with the INCENSE of PRAYER!
    - Inside the Tabernacle – next to the veil – was an Altar of INCENSE – Exodus 30:1-10
    - The Lord told Moses that He would meet with him there at the Alter…
    - Because even Moses could not go inside into the presence of God…
    - But as the INCENSE was burned – it would carry through the veil – into the HOLIEST of all!
    - We do have access to the Lord anytime – anywhere – we can come to the Lord in prayer…
    - WORSHIP the LAMB – and find grace during the hard times in our lives – Hebrews 4:16
- 2^nd – Song of the Church… vs. 9-10
  - And they sang a new song:
    - You are worthy to take the scroll – and to open its seals – for You were slain!
    - There are THREE groups that WORSHIP of the LAMB…
    - The FIRST was the ELDERS and cherubim – who were always singing [present]
    - Because the LAMB is WORTHY – for He was CRUCIFIED [slain]
    - It was a NEW song – perhaps because as we will see – the SONG is about the CHURCH…
    - And the CHURCH has just been RAPTURED – and NEWLY arrived in heaven!
  - Have redeemed US to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation!
    - REDEEMED [ἀγοράζω] – to PURCHASE for God – with His BLOOD…
    - Out of ALL [πᾶς] TRIBES – referring to specific families – the HINCHEY tribe…
    - ALL [πᾶς] LANGUAGES [γλῶσσα] – every language will be presented before the THRONE…
    - ALL [πᾶς] PEOPLE [λαός] – referring to national boundaries – different countries…
    - ALL [πᾶς] NATIONS [ἔθνος] – referring to ethnic groups!
    - There is NOT one ethnic group [Jews] – or one language spoken in heaven…
    - In the greatest display of the beauty of Gods creation…
    - There is an amazing DIVERSITY in those who WORSHIP the LAMB…
    - A DIVERSITY – that can only be describing ONE group – the CHURCH…
    - Whom the Lord calls from every corner of the globe – from ALL [πᾶς] families!
  - Have made US kings and priests to our God – and WE shall reign on the earth!
    - Because the CHURCH has been redeemed – THREE things happen…
    - FIRST – Kings [βασιλεῖς] – we BELONG to the King – part of His KINGDOM [MGNT]!
    - SECOND – Priests – there are THREE priestly lines defined in the Bible…
    - Levitical – which represents the Jewish priesthood…
    - Melchizedek – which is the Priesthood of Jesus – Hebrews 7:1
    - Royal – to belong to the KING – which is for you and me – I Peter 2:9
    - The purpose of the priest was to be a mediator – a go between God and man…
    - God has called us to be His PRIESTS – represent Him to a lost world!
    - THIRD – Reign [βασιλεύω] – we will RULE on earth beside Jesus when He returns…
    - Revelation 2:16-17 – “He who overcome… to him I will give power over the nations.”
  - Where is the CHURCH…
    - There is a TEXTUAL [Greek manuscript] problem with this verse – who is singing…
    - Depending on your translation – it will either read US – or THEM…
    - If it is THEM – then ANGELS and ELDERS singing ABOUT the church…
    - If it is US – then it is the CHURCH in heaven – before the TRIBULATION…
    - It is easy to see how someone could misinterpret this verse!
    - What is the best bible version – the answer is ALL of them…
    - If we have a favorite – that is OK – but we should not limit ourselves to just ONE…
    - We will have the best understanding of the Bible – by studying multiple translations!
- 3^rd – All of the Angels… vs. 11-12
  - Then I looked – and I heard the voice:
    - Many angels around the throne – the living creatures – and the elders.
    - The number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand – and thousands of thousands!
    - Along with the FOUR cherubim – and ELDERS – were a LOT [πολύς] of other ANGELS…
    - How many – [μυριάς] meaning TEN thousand x TEN thousand – or 100 MILLION…
    - But the word is repeated TWICE [μυριάς 2x] – which is the number 100 TRILLION…
    - To emphasize this – John simply says THOUSAND [χιλιάς] of THOUSANDS [χιλιάς]!
  - Saying with a loud voice – worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive:
    - With that many TALKING – it is no wonder John says they had a LOUD [μέγας] voice…
    - These ANGELS are always [present] saying – WORTHY is the LAMB…
    - Because He was CRUCIFIED – once and for all time [perfect] – for our SINS…
    - But the ANGELS are NOT redeemed – the CROSS was not for them…
    - Therefore WE are the ones who should give back to the LAMB – SEVEN things:
    - Power [δύναμις] – we should give Him our abilities – our talents…
    - Riches [πλοῦτος] – we should give Him our resources – our finances…
    - Wisdom [σοφία] – we should give Him our mind – our thoughts…
    - Strength [ἰσχύς] – we should give Him our life – our time…
    - Honor [τιμή] – we should give Him our heart – our love…
    - Glory [δόξα] – we should give Him our praise – our devotion…
    - Blessing [εὐλογία] – we should give Him our words – give Him EVERYTHING we are!
- 4^th – All of Creation… vs. 13
  - Every creature which in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea!
    - Along with the FOUR cherubim – and ELDERS – and LOTS of other ANGELS…
    - Everything in HEAVEN – everything on earth – everything under the earth [hell]
    - Even all of the ANIMALS in the sea – ALL [πᾶς] of CREATION [κτίσμα] joins the WORSHIP!
    - When Adam sinned – ALL of creation was CURSED…
    - And ALL of creation – looks forward to the day when the CURSE will be removed!
    - Romans 8:21 – “The creation looks forward to the day when it will join Gods children in glorious freedom.”
  - I heard [them] saying: Blessing – honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne!
    - Do miss who is now TALKING – it is no longer just the ANGELS and CHURCH…
    - It is all of CREATION – even those who are in HELL [under the earth]
    - They do NOT sing about being REDEEMED – there is NO mention of the CROSS…
    - But they still give to God – BLESSING – HONOR – GLORY – and POWER!
    - Because we do NOT get to choose whether or not to WORSHIP God…
    - We only Get to choose WHEN – either now in salvation – or later in condemnation!
    - Romans 14:11 – “As I live – says the LORD – every knee shall bow to Me.”
  - And to the Lamb – forever and ever!
    - They will NOT just give HONOR the one on the THRONE…
    - They will also HONOR the LAMB – Jesus Christ – forever and ever!
    - When John tried to bow down and worship and ANGEL – Revelation 22:8-9
    - He was immediately rebuked – the ONLY one worthy to be worshiped is GOD!
    - There are those who say Jesus is NOT God – but note who is WORSHIPED by all creation…
    - He is WORTHY to receive all GLORY – because He is GOD!
- 5^th – Response to Worship… vs. 14
  - Then the four living creatures said – Amen!
    - In RESPONSE to the SONG – the FOUR Cherubim simply said – AMEN…
    - AMEN [ἀμήν] – what has just been sung and said is TRUE!
  - And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever!
    - In RESPONSE to the SONG – the ELDERS fell down and WORSHIPED…
    - WORSHIPED [προσκυνέω] – 60x in NT – almost half of them in Revelation [27x]
    - Because if we ever wonder what heaven will be like…
    - It will be LOUD worship – of the LAMB of God – because He is WORTHY to be praised!