Revelation 5:1-5, 11-14
God has revealed through the prophecies in His scriptures that He knows that which is future. John was shown “things which must be hereafter” beginning with Revelation 4:1.
The things which are recorded in Revelation 5 occur after the dispensation of the church age has passed (See Revelation 2 and 3). The redeemed (see verse 9) fixes the timing of the scene before us to be after Jesus has redeemed sinners out of “every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” This event can only occur after the gospel has been preached in every nation and in every tongue and after the gospel’s work of redemption is completed.
Matthew 24:14 links Revelation 5 to the time of the end: “And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then the end shall come.” We are viewing a time which surely is not far future.
In the opening verses of Revelation 5, God the Father is pictured sitting upon the throne holding a sealed book in His right hand. The contents of the book are sealed with seven seals, signifying that it is sealed by God and cannot be opened without His authority. An angel asks who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals. The singular purpose of this question is to inform all who read these words that there is no man in heaven, nor in the earth, nor under the earth who is worthy to open the book or to look upon it. The men in heaven include the 24 elders who occupy seats of honor around the throne of God. The elders have been redeemed. There is no man in heaven, even among the redeemed, who is qualified to open the book and look upon it.
John witnessed “a Lamb as it had been slain” step forward and take the book out of the hand of God the Father. John knew the Lamb’s identity and, likewise, all who are second-born know the Lamb’s identity. The Lamb is Christ Jesus. The Lamb is He who was slain upon the cross of Calvary to satisfy the sin debt of all who would believe.
The Lamb is identified in verse 5 as the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David. This description of Jesus is unlike any that was given in addressing the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2 and 3). The Lion of the tribe of Judah refers to the prophecy of Israel (Jacob) who declared that the tribe of Judah would lead all tribes of Israel and that Shiloh (the Messiah) would be of it [Gen. 49]. This description is not directed to the church; it is directed to believers who lived before Moses and before the giving of the law. The description, Root of David, is directed at a people who lived under the law and were recipients of the Davidic covenant. These two groups, together, consist of Old Testament believers who looked to the coming of the Promised One who would rule over them. The Promised One is fully revealed to Old Testament believers at this time as the Lamb who was slain yet possesses the full power of God. The Lamb, alone, is worthy to open the book.
In verse 6, the Lamb is described as having seven horns. A horn signifies power. Seven horns signifies the power of God. God alone has the power to open the book. The Lamb is further described as having seven eyes which are identified as the seven Spirits of God. The Lamb manifests the full power and Spirit of God.
John reports that there is great rejoicing about the throne of God when the Lamb takes the sealed book. The four beasts and the twenty-four elders fall down before the Lamb and sing, “Thou art worthy to take the book” (v. 9). The beasts are living beings created by God; their number, four, is that of the four corners of the earth. The twenty-four elders can be divided into two sets of twelve, one set representing the twelve tribes of Israel (the promised seed of Abraham according to the flesh) and the second set of twelve representing New Testament believers whose belief is counted for righteousness and are blessed through Abraham.
John reports that every one of the twenty-four had vials filled with the prayers of saints. And what might these prayers be? All who are sanctified pray as Jesus instructed: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” When the Lamb takes the sealed book from the hand of the Father, that prayer shall be answered. The Lamb shall open the book and God shall rule on earth as He rules in heaven. The Redeemer shall rule!
There is great rejoicing because the wait is over; God’s will shall be done: Christ shall rule! All who are redeemed shall participate in His reign as kings and priests (v. 10). Joining the elders and the four beasts in singing praise are countless angels —ten thousand times ten thousand plus millions more. All creatures join in singing praise — those in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, and those in the sea.
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing” (v. 12). This is the praise of all who are about the throne. This praise is joined by another praise — the praise of 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. It is the cry of all creation. All creation calls out: “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (v. 13).
All creation cries out with praise because all creation has been redeemed. The fall of Adam has been completely remedied by the Lamb who was slain. The seed of woman has bruised the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15). The curse upon the ground of the earth is no more (Gen. 3:17). All creation has cause to praise God because the Lamb is worthy to open the book.
God lifted John up in the Spirit and showed him these things because the Lord God wants us to know that His kingdom is worthy of our wait. Let us fill the vials of the elders to overflowing in preparation of that day.
