--Intro
Intro
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll [biblíon] written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 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 5:1-4
The Sealed Book.--The books in use at the time the Revelation was given were not in the form of books as now made. They did not consist of a series of leaves bound together, but were composed of strips of parchment or other material, rolled up. On this point, John Wesley remarks:
"The usual books of the ancients were not like ours, but were volumes, or long pieces of parchment, rolled upon a long stick, as we frequently roll silks. Such was this represented, which was sealed with seven seals. Not as if the apostle saw all the seals at once: for there were seven volumes wrapped up on within another, each of which was sealed: so that upon opening and and unrolling the first, the second appeared to be sealed up till that was opened, and so on to the seventh."
Note: The word “worthy” means qualified.
Note: The worthy person could open the book and read its contents until all seven seals had been broken. A crisis of universal proportions ensued because there was no one in heaven, on earth or under the earth who was qualified to break the seals, open the book and read its contents.
John was not so much concerned with the breaking of the seals as he was with the contents of the scroll. John’s tears were not tears of curiosity; they were tears of desperation and supreme agony.
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 [past, “has
overcome” John 16:33 refers to the overcoming of Jesus] to open [future tense] the scroll and to loose [future tense] its seven seals. 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 1:5,6
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 [past, “has
Revelation 1:5,6
The Lion of the tribe of Juda - Jesus Christ, who sprang from this tribe, as his genealogy proves.
The Root of David - Christ was the root of David as to his Divine nature; he was a branch out of the stem of Jesse as to his human nature.
The Root of David - Christ was the root of David as to his Divine nature; he was a branch out of the stem of Jesse as to his human nature.
“The Savior is presented before John under the symbols of the Lion of the tribe of Judah and of "a Lamb as it had been slain." (Revelation 5:5, 6) These symbols represent the union of omnipotent power and self-sacrificing love. The Lion of Judah, so terrible to the rejectors of His grace, will be the Lamb of God to the obedient and faithful. The pillar of fire that speaks terror and wrath to the transgressor of God's law is a token of light and mercy and deliverance to those who have kept His commandments. The arm strong to smite the rebellious will be strong to deliver the loyal. Everyone who is faithful will be saved.”
Acts of the Apostles, p. 589
Note: When John saw the Lamb, the wounds on His body were still fresh. He had just come from the battlefield and had the wounds to prove it. He was standing in the midst of the throne because kings and priests stood at their anointing.
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 [the cherubim and seraphim] and the twenty-four elders [the representatives of the sinless worlds of the universe] 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
Note: When John saw the Lamb, the wounds on His body were still fresh. He had just come from the battlefield and had the wounds to prove it. He was standing in the midst of the throne because kings and priests stood at their anointing.
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 [the cherubim and seraphim] and the twenty-four elders [the representatives of the sinless worlds of the universe] 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
Here observe, (1.) The object of their worship - the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ; it is the declared will of God that all men should honor the Son as they honor the Father; for He has the same nature.
(2.) Their posture: They fell down before Him, gave Him not an inferior sort of worship, but the most profound adoration.
(3.) The instruments used in their adorations - harps and vials; the harps were the instruments of praise, the vials were full of odours or incense, which signify the prayers of the saints: prayer and praise should always go together.
And they sang a new song, saying: You are worthy [qualified] to take the scroll and to open its seals; for You were [past] slain, and have redeemed [past] us [people] to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made [past] us [them] kings and priests to our God; and we [they] shall [future] reign on the earth.
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne [they stand on the outer circle of the throne, the creatures and the elders], the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: Worthy is the Lamb who was [past] slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing! And every creature that 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! Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Revelation 5:9-14
Revelation 5:9-14
The matter of their song: In this new song,
[1.] They acknowledge the infinite fitness and worthiness of the Lord Jesus for this great work of opening and executing the counsel and purposes of God:
[2.] They mention the grounds and reasons of this worthiness; and though they do not exclude the dignity of His person as God, without which He had not been sufficient for it, yet they chiefly insist upon the merit of His sufferings, which He had endured for them; these more sensibly struck their souls with thankfulness and joy.
Here, First, They mention His suffering: "Thou wast slain, slain as a sacrifice, thy blood was shed."
Secondly, The fruits of His sufferings.
1. Redemption to God; Christ has redeemed His people from the bondage of sin, guilt, and Satan, redeemed them to God, set them at liberty to serve Him.
2. High exaltation: Thou hast made us to our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.
Note: The mighty angel’s two-fold question will now receive an answer.
Q: Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll and why?
A: The Lamb can do it because he overcame and shed His blood to redeem or buy back the inheritance that Adam lost.
The word ‘redeem’ in Revelation 5:9 means ‘to buy something back by paying a price’. It translates the Greek word hagorazo.
This passage explains the reason why Jesus, and only Jesus,
was qualified to break the seals and open the scroll:
Because He shed His blood.
