A Sunday school teacher was showing her class a painting of Jesus. Trying to explain that we don’t really know what Jesus looked like and said: “It’s not really Jesus. It’s just an artist’s conception of Him.” One child looked long and hard at the picture and said; “Well…, it sure looks like him,” (adapted from Readers Digest 2/71 p. 232)
Most people have a picture in their mind of what Jesus looks like, but how John describes Jesus in Revelation chapter 5 – might not be what they’d imagined.
Revelation chapter 4 started the scene in heaven, the center piece being the dazzling sight of God on His throne. Around the throne are the 4 living creatures and 24 elders. And now Revelation chapter 5, there is a vision full of detail, and every detail is full of significance.
A UNIQUE SCROLL
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Revelation 5:1
When the letter of Revelation was written there were no books – called codex, with binding and pages. There were scrolls. They could be up to 30 feet long and were written on velum or papyrus. Important scrolls were rolled up and sealed with wax or clay.
Notice the location of this Scroll in verse 1. It is held by the right hand of the Father. The right-hand is a symbol of authority.
As we review the information in chapter 4, John’s vision was a spectacular splendor of rays of color splashing from the throne and now a hand appears with a Scroll! This hand appearing is not a new concept.
Something like this has been seen in Daniel chapter 5, king Belshazzar of the Babylonian empire had a celebration and a hand appeared and wrote on the walls of the palace about God’s judgment.
What might this Scroll in Revelation chapter 5 contain?
A reference to a scroll is also found in Daniel 12:8-9. Daniel wanted to know what will happen at the end – and an angel tells him:
Daniel 12:8-9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.”
We know the content of this scroll from Revelation chapter 5. Based on the remaining chapters in Revelation, the scroll is written for two purposes: to avenge the persecution of the saints, and to judge those who reject Jesus Christ.
First, there are some unique characteristics of this Scroll.
- It had writing on the front and back. It is not a typical Scroll that is rolled and contains printing on only one side. This one has writing on the outside. In ancient times, important legal documents were written and sealed with a title or a summary of the contents written on the outside.
- Another characteristic is that this Scroll also has seven seals. In Jewish antiquity, important legal deeds often required three witnesses. Thus the three seals of each witness were used to validate the content and were placed on such a scroll. But more importantly, in the bible the number seven is an indication of perfection. It means that the contents are perfect and the one who breaks these seals must also be perfect to administer the words in the scroll.
Now in Revelation chapter 5 the time has come to open the scroll. But not just anyone can take possession of this scroll.
A UNIQUE SAVIOR
Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. – Revelation 5:2-4
John is weeping because he is patiently waiting for this day and now he thinks that he’ll be disappointed. John wanted justice to be done on earth. Remember his statement back in Revelation Chapter 1:9 “I John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.”
The apostle John became emotional much like Jonah did when God did not bring judgment.
“But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed (literally the victor) to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” – Revelation 5:5
Both of these titles listed “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” refer to a mighty conquering King of Israel. These are very prominent terms referring to the Messiah.
The Palm Sunday cheers on this historic day were similar. Remember the shouts of people that day! (John 12:13 “they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!”)
In the prophetic words of Isaiah 9:6, ”For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders. And He will be called ‘Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’”.
But perhaps the most unique name is announced by John the Baptist when he saw Jesus coming towards him at the Jordan River. He exclaimed, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
Recall in the book of Luke of how Simeon and Anna took in their first sight of the Savior? They both sang songs of redemption, salvation and glory for the people of God.
Next we read that John stops crying and then sees the Lamb with several key features!
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. – Revelation 5:6
Astonishingly, rather than the typical view of a slain Lamb lying limp,
The Lamb was standing among the elders, this is a symbolic gesture as a closing of a battle. The prevailing army positions itself in a victory stand! They triumphantly stand extending their arms in celebration!
The Lamb was slain, This Lamb was standing and yet looked like it was just slaughtered meaning that blood was covering this Lamb. This is a paradox of the descriptions in verses 5 and 6: The title of the might of a fierce lion and the imagery of a bleeding lamb. Later Jesus Christ is seen in Revelation with blood covered clothing.
This imagery is also not a new concept, as a slain Lamb’s blood was the salvation for God’s people in Egypt. (Exodus 12)
The Lamb had seven horns. As the number seven is the number of perfection, seven horns symbolize perfect authority. Horns are ancient near eastern symbols of strength and power. “When a ruler was defeated it was said of him, his horn was broken.” Horns were symbols of power since they functioned as weapons for many animals. Horns were also used by various rulers in Israel, like Jehoshaphat, Zedekiah, Samson, Saul, and David.
The Lamb is sovereign. The number seven symbolizes the complete and perfect power held by the Lamb. The seven eyes are the perfect knowledge for Judgment (all knowing). The same terminology is used this way in Zachariah 4:10 to judge the whole earth “These are the seven eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
Then there was worship.
UNIQUE SONGS HEARD
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. – Revelation 5:7-8
The Lamb takes the scroll in preparation for opening and releasing the judgement on earth. But notice what happens – In verse 8, all fall down “πίπτω (pipto). When I studied Greek I remembered this word because it sounds like to walk on tip toes and you will fall.
The people fell when Jesus revealed Himself to the soldiers in the garden in John 18:6. The demons fell when they recognized Jesus in Mark 3:11.
The representatives of angels each have a harp and the humans have bowls of incense. The harps prepare for the worship songs they are about to sing. The bowls of incense represent the prayers for justice to triumph.
The big picture is that God will not let evil continue in the world with people being hurt and destroyed. All those intercessions to God will be answered.
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” – Revelation 5:9-10
In verse 9 the pronoun “they” referring back to the “elders” as they sang the song of redemption. Note the key features of this song! You are worthy… You have redeemed us…out of every tribe and nation…You made us kings and priests and we shall reign on earth. This is a representation of every believer in Jesus Christ!
In the Hebrew culture there is generally a new song after a victory battle. For example when king David slew ten thousand Philistines in I Samuel 18:6-7
“Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistines, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
And we still sing contemporary hymns of victory: “There’s a new song in my heart since the savior set me free,” Victory in Jesus my savior forever!
Eventually every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and in the sea will sing along!
That is what people did on Palm Sunday in Luke 19:35-40. Remember Jesus said the rocks would shout out if the people didn’t!
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
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, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Worship breaks out in heaven:
There are three worship songs – sung by an ever-increasing number. The elders sang the story of the gospel. Jesus ransomed every believer – giving His blood as a sacrifice to cleanse all our sin. The result is that every believer gains the privilege to reign with Him and honor God.
Second, we see an uncountable number (that’s what the Greek word for myriad means) of angels sang proclaiming Christ’s worthiness
Third, all of creation sang a song of blessing, honor and glory.
Remember – this is a vision – and Jesus is showing the apostle John that at the culmination of these events it’s not only the angels and saved humans – but every created thing will also bow to Him.
The apostle Paul wrote about this in Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Today people might ignore honoring Jesus. However, no one will be able to do that forever. Jesus is Lord – people will either live with Him, or they will be eternally separated from Him in hell.
Jesus’ told the disciples in Matthew 10:26 “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus is that person!
Once a student at Cambridge university was given a New Testament to read. When he had done so, he commented, ‘It was a bit repetitious at the beginning, but I did enjoy the science-fiction at the end!’
Revelation is not science fiction. Most of the concepts were understood in the culture of the day. Today we might not understand as we should, but none the less the message of Revelation is real.
Because the message of Revelation is real:
- We can learn to appreciate the way worship was modeled in the throne room of heaven.
- We can focus our worship on Jesus Christ.
- We can thank Jesus Christ for all He has done and will do in the future.
- We can trust Christ to be the righteous Judge.
- We can be assured we are on the winning team.
- We can look forward to His return.