Text
: Revelation 5
Title
: A
Door standing open in Heaven #2
Date: 10/11/2013
Summary : Revelation Ch. 4:
·
A
vision of the One worshipped ( 4:1-6a)
·
A
vision of the worshippers gathered around the throne in heaven ( 4:6b-11)
Heaven is a world of worship. Everything that has breath gathers to give glory to God.
Sunday worship reflects a little of
heaven on earth. True worship focuses, gathers, reveals, sings and glorifies the One on the throne in heaven. Heavenly
worship is God centered. This ought to be reflected also in our worship on
earth.
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Revelation Ch. 5 is a continuation of Chapter 4. These 2 chapters
provide the background against the rest
of the book of Revelation. In reading
this book we may
get fearful as we see the forces
of evil at work in this world. These two chapters give us great courage because they show
us that God is on
the throne of the universe. He is in the
process of bringing all things in heaven
and on earth together. This will
involve a battle between
Satan’s demonic forces and
the army of God, but the final outcome of the book of Revelation
is that Satan and his chronies
will be cast into the lake of fire (20:10). Paul reminds the Roman Christians: “The God of peace will soon crush
Satan under your feet” (Rom. 16:20)
The 5th chapter introduces
a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lamb that was slain (5:6,12). He is the main figure of this chapter. He receives power from God to do what no one in all
creation was worthy and able to do, namely, to bring the kingdom of God to its completion.
EXPOSITION:
[5:1] Then I saw in the right hand of him who
was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with
seven seals. What did John see? He sees
the LORD God on the throne, but his focus
is upon a scroll (Gr. biblion
lit. ‘book’), sealed with 7 seals which is in God’s
right hand. This book which was
written within and on the back is sealed. The fact that it is sealed means
that its contents are as yet
secret. It also means that nothing
can be added to this book, and nothing may be subtracted from it. In this sense
the book of Revelation is also sealed (see Rev. 22:18,19). The truth contained in it is unalterable. “It is written…”!
What is the significance of this scroll? Whatever we do not yet
understand, we may be certain that it contains
the information concerning the things which must soon take place (1:1à
4:1) [2] And
I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice…”. The strong (mighty) angel
is asking a weighty question: “Who
is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” A challenge is presented
to every creature in the world: "Who is worthy to open the scroll
and break its seals?” Listen to the dramatic invitation that Herman Hoeksema imagines to hear : [1]
“…the creature receives the
opportunity first. Before the Lamb…steps forward and takes the book out of
the hand of Him Who sat on the throne, every creature must receive the
invitation. Hence, the message goes forth. It goes forth to the angels in heaven: "Can you open that book, you myriads
of holy spirits, who day and night surround the throne of God? Can you save the
world? Can you bring peace and bliss to a world of sin?"
The challenge also comes to the
earth, particularly, of course, to man.
"Man, here is your opportunity. If you are worthy, take the book, and
bring the kingdom. Send righteousness and bliss to all the world. You wise men
of the world, you giants of thought, hear the message resound. Do you know how
to open the book? Can you suggest the way of salvation for the world? You
rulers and mighty ones, can you open the book? Can you by your laws and
institutions, by your armies and power, inaugurate the kingdom of peace? All
you that speak so highly of the regeneration of society, of a better world to
live in, of social righteousness, here is the challenge! Are you important enough
to take the book, and are you able to break the seals? Come on, now, human
wisdom and power, riches and wealth, science and invention, come and take now
the book, and open its seals."
You can hear a pin drop! All creation is silent [3] “And no one in heaven or on earth or under the
earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,…”. All of creation confesses by their silence that no one is able to break the seals and
therefore no one is able to usher in the
kingdom of God. All the political
systems of men, whether monarchy,
democracy, capitalism , socialism, communism,
the United Nations, the African Union and the
European Union cannot bring in a lasting kingdom. No amount of education, the making of better laws, nor the working for better
living conditions will bring in the kingdom of God. No one is able to redeem this world!
The thought of this frightens
John, and we read… "[4] and
I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to
look into it.” John senses what is at stake. If that book remains sealed, the
kingdom will not come. The breaking of
those seals does not only mean the revelation of God’s plan , but also the
execution of God’s plan Hence, John weeps
loudly because he cannot see how the
prayers of the saints for justice will
be answered (5:8) . He cannot yet see how the kingdom will be established. BUT, remember
that John has not yet seen the Lamb!
Thankfully
it does not take long for John to be
comforted : [5] And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion
of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open
the scroll and its seven seals.” An
elder (one of the 24 elders representing the church of the OT and NT)
steps forward and points John to Christ
- the Lion of Judah,[2]
the Root of David[3] . These two OT
pictures connect the Lord of Glory with the
OT Messiah who was anticipated by all the prophets. He is
the seed of the woman that will crush Satan’s head (Gen 3:16). He is the
ark of our salvation (Gen.
6&7). He is Abraham and Isaac’s substitutionary lamb (Gen. 22). He is the Lion of Judah, the Root of David. He alone can open the scroll. He alone can usher in the kingdom of God.
Having drawn his attention to Christ, John sees Him ! [6] And between the throne and the four living creatures and among
the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as
though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the
seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [7] And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him
who was seated on the throne. To our surprise, the
Lion of the tribe of Judah
is now presented as a Lamb.
The picture now corresponds with Isaiah 53:7 : "Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and
like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth."
Our Lord Jesus, the Lion of Judah also is the Lamb of God. He is bold as a Lion and
strong in His conquest and yet He is
also meek and humble as a Lamb as He conquers
the world through presenting Himself as the Lamb of God that
takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29,36). Here He bears
the marks of a slain lamb. The miracle
is this: though He was killed, He now lives ! He is
the Lamb crucified and now glorified!
Furthermore, note that the
Lamb has seven
horns. The horn is the symbol of
power and dominion in Scripture. Seven is the number of completeness
with a view to the completion of the kingdom of God. He also has seven eyes, which we are told are “ the seven Spirits of God”
. The Lamb has the Spirit of God in all
His fullness, and He sends
that Spirit into the whole world. His presence is in all the earth,
ransoming people for God (Rev.5:9).
Note also that the Lamb stands between the throne and the four living creatures and the 24 elders. He is approaching the throne to receive the scroll. You may perhaps be wondering, When did
Christ receive the scroll from the
Father on the throne? We must not be
tempted to bring the time element into
the vision. He received the scroll not
at this time (when John saw it in 95 AD) but after He had been crucified, risen and
ascended to the Father in heaven, where He is now also exalted to the highest place to the right hand of the Father in heaven. From here He now directs all of history
and all of the future – what must soon
take place. He is no absent landlord
. He is fully aware and fully engaged in the world. He directs every gospel effort, and He watches,
allows and overrules world events,
working out His decrees. He breaks seal after seal, as we
shall see, and He brings to pass all that must still happen. When His purposes will have been
accomplished, and when Satan’s power is finally
broken the kingdom will be the Lord’s.
RESPONSE : Worship (vv. 8-14)
[8] And when he had taken
the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down
before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which
are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy
are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by
your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people
and nation, [10] and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and
they shall reign on the earth.” [11] Then I looked, and I heard around the
throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels,
numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with
a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” [13] And I heard
every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and
all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be
blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [14] And the
four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
What a contrast! A moment ago all creation was silent, and
John wept because no one could open the scroll.
But now the problem is solved. The Lamb
is able and worthy to break the seals.
He is able to execute what needs to take
place, and therefore He is praised and glorified. The new song (5:9) celebrates
His victory over every evil and sin by which
He ransomed His people for God
from every tribe, language and people
and nation. The saints are a kingdom and
priests to our God and they shall reign
on the earth – this is true NOW as well as in the new creation, when the heavens and the earth shall be renewed.
The cross, the resurrection and the ascension have made all the difference and the closing verses affirm
how this fact is celebrated in the entire universe when myriads of angels join in the song of
the creatures and of the elders, singing: "Worthy is
the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom, and strength,
and honour, and glory, and blessing" - a 7-fold adoration. No creature can keep
silence at this glorious occasion, now that the victory is assured and the
coming of the kingdom safely rests in the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lamb which was slain!
Amen!
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