Bible Study of Revelation
Chapter 5
Last week we covered chapter 4 where we got a glimpse of the throne room of God and the activities that the aged Apostle John was privileged to witness.
Here beginning in chapter 5 we find the opening of the seven sealed book that will show what will transpire on the earth during this time of Great Tribulation. We need to remember that these things “must be hereafter” [chapter 4:1].
In verses 1-2 we are introduced to a seven sealed scroll; “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. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? “
In verses 1-4 Notice how important this scroll is. It is written on both sides which is not the custom for those days. It also was sealed by seven seals arranged in such a way that to unroll it, would require removing each seal separately.
We also see the importance of it by the fact that no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth was able to open the book neither to look thereon [verse 3].
Further proof of the importance of this book or scroll, is that John wept much, meaning that he continued to weep and weep. Its contents must have been impressed on John’s mind as very important for him to have his heart broke because no one was found worthy to open it. But John was about to find consolation.
Here is a question for us; If this seven- sealed book or scroll was so important that it broke his heart because no man was worthy to open it, how important should it be to us that it took the Lamb of God to open it and reveal to us its contents? Should these things be ignored: Should we not read and study them because of their seemingly difficulty? After all God promised a blessing on those that read, hear and keep those things written in this book [1:3].
The question is: how can God’s vengeance on a rebellious world be a blessing on a people that will not even be among those that will be affected by these things? The answer can be that if we read, hear and keep the things written here in Revelation, it will inspire and motivate us to witness and warn people of these things and perhaps we can help them avoid these things by trusting Christ as Savior; that would be blessing enough.
Why should it be important to us today? Because of what is written in it. It is warning about judgment approaching. We are the watchmen on the tower in today’s world. If the church and Christians do not spread the word, who will?
Verses 5-6 “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 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.”
Though introduced as a “Lion” (verse 5), what John saw was a Lamb that appeared to have been slain or sacrificed. Yet the Lamb was standing in the center of the throne. About Him were the 24 elders and the four living creatures. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes. The Lion and the Lamb surely refer to Christ, with the Lamb referring to His first coming and His death and the Lion referring to His second coming and His sovereign judgment of the world. Jesus is portrayed as a Lamb here because He has not accomplished the “fullness of the Gentiles” [Romans 11:25]. Another reason is that it isn’t time for the judgment of Satan and his followers as yet. When Jesus returns to deal with them, He will come as conquering King, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Jesus is the only one who can lay claim to having the seven eyes or the totality of the Holy Spirit.
We do not have all the gifts of the Spirit, nor do we have all the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not possess the complete righteousness that possesses the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been given to each of us as born- again believers, and He is still perfecting us in the flesh. One day when we receive our new bodies, we will have all that God intended us to have. Meanwhile we are content to let the Holy Spirit convict us, nurture us, grow us into being conformable to the image of Christ.
We see and understand that the four beasts and the 24 elders are the same as found in chapter 4:6-11.
Verse 7. Before I begin the verses preceding the opening of these seven seals, (chapter 6) I feel the need to share with you something that was brought to my attention while reading in Habakkuk. I really believe it has direct bearing on what we will learn in this study for the rest of this book. It seems as Habakkuk had become concerned about the sinfulness of his people, the Jews and wondered why God had allowed such sinfulness to continue. God had given Habakkuk a prophetic word that He would use the even more sinful and vicious people, the Chaldeans to chastise His people. Then Habakkuk couldn’t understand how that a wholly righteous God could allow the depraved people of the Chaldeans to create such havoc and misery on Israel. When God assured Habakkuk that He then would punish the Chaldeans, Habakkuk began to see how this could be right.
Go with me to the book of Habakkuk chapter 3. In verse 2 we find him offering a prayer to God. Here he expresses his fear upon hearing what God was going to do. He not only stood in reverential awe but he was moved by terror. He had cried for justice, but when God revealed it, he was overwhelmed by its severity. The revelation affected his entire being.
Now skip down to verse 16 “When I heard, my belly [inner man] trembled, my lips [voice] quavered; rottenness (decay) entered into my bones (his legs became weak), and I trembled in myself.”
Other Bible figures, such as David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and John, were physically moved when hearing the Word of God or seeing the Lord’s holiness. Few people today are so affected by God’s prophetic truth.
My point in all of this is to point out that if all we are studying this book for is to get understanding of its meaning, we are missing out on what its message really is. If we are not going to be affected by this study at least a little of what Habakkuk experienced, then we have wasted our time. Upon receiving God’s word, Habakkuk prayed that His work would be revived: “O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years.” Once he fully understood what God had planned for His people, Habakkuk petitioned the Lord to bring it about. Acts 9:31tells us that “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified: and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
This fear, both reverential and terror of the Lord concerning these seven seals, and the other judgments to be shown in later chapters, should, like the apostles in Acts, comfort us to the point of greater soul winning.
Verses 7-8 “And He came took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne, And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four 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.”
We have already identified the twenty-four elders as the representative of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. This is more evident when we read in Revelation 21:12,14 concerning the New Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven. “And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: Verse 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”
The harps remind us that not only did the 24 elders fall down and worship the Lamb, but also played their harps which no doubt be used while singing the new song found in verses 9-10.
The golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints, remind us of the golden censers that were used in the Tabernacle worship to burn incense. The high priest would fill the golden censer with hot coals and then going behind the second veil into the Holy of Holies, would place incense in the censer to cause the smoke to be sweet smelling. This was done over the ark on the covenant. David had the same thought in Psalm141:2 “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.”
Verses 9-10 “and they sung a new song, saying, Thu art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred and tongue and people, and nation; An hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Here is a little bit of information that I was unaware of until this study. Warren Wiersbe says in his commentary of this verse: “The elders sing, but the angelic creatures “say with a loud voice.” There is no evidence in the Bible that angels sing. Job 38:7 states that, at Creation, the “sons of God (angels)] shouted for joy.” The “Christmas angels” of Luke 2:13–14 praised God by “saying,” not singing. The multitudes of angels in heaven joined their voices in a great shout of praise when the Lamb took the scroll, but they did not sing. Singing is a privilege reserved for the saints of God who have experienced the joy of salvation. There are many things angels can do that saints cannot; but an angel cannot experience salvation, nor can he sing with the saints the praises of the Lamb.” End of quote. This ought to give us a little more appreciation for the ability to sing. It doesn’t matter of what quality we are able to sing. I don’t recall anywhere in the Bible where it says that there will be “specials” sung in heaven by individuals. It will all be congregational singing.
There are three things that should be noted about the type of song that was sung:
1. It was a song of worshipful praise; this new song directed all praise and worship toward Jesus who alone is worthy of praise and glory.
2. It was a gospel song due to the redemptive work on the cross.
3. It is a song of thanksgiving and devotion; “thou hast made us kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
4.It was a missionary song: Thou has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation:
5. It was a prophetic song. “and we shall reign on the earth.”
It is proper to sing about our testimonies, our experiences, our trials and temptations, our relationship with the Lord and our love for God the Father and Jesus the Son, as long as we remember to whom all glory, honor and praise is due in our songs. They are ultimately to be about Him. They are not to glorify self.
Verses 11-13 “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 [angels] was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands: 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.
Here again we see that the angels of God are not singing but saying with a loud voice.
Myriads of angels were now stating in their own words of praise to Jesus. But they were joined in by entire creation of beings. This reminds us of Phillip 2:9-11 where we find this “Wherefore God also hat highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth , and things under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
There may be those that hate the name of Jesus now, and there are those that hate what He says in His word, and there are many who even doubt His existence that refuse to bow the knee to Him now, but one day it is appointed that all of God’s created beings will give honor and glory to His Son Jesus.
Verse 14 “And the four beasts said Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped Him that liveth forever and ever.
This is another indication that these four beasts are not in any way symbolic of anything evil.
They say “amen” to the songs of praise and honor.