Jeanie C. Crain http://crain.english.missouriwestern.edu

Revelation 4–7.

Seven seals on a heavenly scroll, opened by the Lamb

Chapter five continues the vision begun in four of the glory of God and the Lamb.  The reader recalls that four ended with the sea of glass distancing God and His creatures; He is being given glory and honor by four living creatures having the likeness of a lion, an ox, a human face, and an eagle.  These symbols are said sometimes to represent the Lion of Judah, beast of burden, the human being, and the Divine; the symbols have, also, been linked to the Gospels: Matthew (Lion of Judah), Mark (Jesus as Servant), Luke (Jesus as human being), and John (Jesus as Divine or heavenly. J. Sidlowe Baxter in Explore the Book sees the creatures as symbolizing strength, service, intelligence, and heavenliness. They live nearest the throne of God and most accurately express His life. The symbols have also been tied to the standards carried by the Twelve Tribes into battle. 

Probably what is most intriguing about chapter five is the sealed scroll containing the fixed purposes of God for the future. The future is always upon the horizon and distant so that human beings see into blindly or only with  premonition.  In the Old Testament, prophets or spokespeople for God spoke concerning the historical future. Ezekiel's vision, in fact, is the prototype for John's:  2. 9-10 "I looked, and a hand  was stretched out to me, and a written scross was in it.  He spread it before me; it had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were words of lamentation and mourning and woe." Ezekiel is instructed to eat the scroll; he found it sweet as honey, then he says, "the spirit lifted me up, and as the glory of the Lord rose from its place, I heard behind me the sound of loud rumbling; it was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against one another..." The future containing God's fixed purposes transcends time and thus human understanding.  Apocalypse can envision only a day of darkness ablessing and calamity as history ends and eternity begins. It is no exaggeration to point out that the Scroll, the Living Word of God, contains a vision of all of time and eternity in symbol.

The theme of chapter five is really a question and answer.  :Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" 2. Of course, "no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it" 3.   John begins to weep but is told, "Do not weep.  See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its sven seals" (5). This is clearly the message of Christianity: Jesus as Messiah.  John now sees a vision of the sacrificial Lamb and hears the twenty-four elders praying and singing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth" 9-10.  The outreach is universal, and the message is the Church of Christ reigns on earth.   John looks again and sees myriad angels, the living creatures, the elders, and myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands surrounding the throne and singing.  The song is again that the slaughtered Lamb is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing (a seven-fold fullness) 12.  Every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, join in the singing to the one seated on the throne  that He receive blessing and honor and glory and might. The creatures say "Amen," and the elders fall down and worship God.

The vision of the Lamb is vivid: it stands between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders.  It stands as though slaughtered and has seven horns and seven eyes, John explaining that these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the world (6).  The Lamb takes the scroll from the one seated on the throne.   At this point the twenty-four elders fall before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls of incense, which John tells us "are the prayers of the saints" (8).  They begin singing a new song: the song is new because in Christianity, Christ has initiated a new era (14.3).  The144,000 thousand redeemed sing the new song, which no one else could learn, for they are blameless (3-4).

Outline of H.A. Dobbs

e. The sea of glass and the four living creatures (4:6-8; see 
also Ezekiel 1:4-28).
f. The cherubim and elders worship the triune God (4:9-11).
g. Jehovah holds a book sealed with 7 seals (5:1).
h. No one in all the universe was worthy to break the seals 
and open the book (5:2-3).
i. John wept because the book was unopened (5:4).
j. The Lamb of God advances to open the book (5:5-8).
k. The heavenly host worships the triune God (5:9-14).

Chapter 5 D. Nelson Darby http://ccel.wheaton.edu/d.darby/synopsis/Revelation.html

In the next chapter we find the Lamb. A book was in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. It was counsels, wielded by His power. Who could open them and bring them forth to execution? Who had the title to do so? None in heaven or earth but One. The elders explained to the prophet who mourned that the ways of God should be shut up, that the mighty One of Judah, the true source of all promises to David, had prevailed to open it and loose the seals. This was the Lamb, the rejected Messiah. He was more than this, as the chapter goes on to shew; but He is this. The rejected Messiah was in the midst of the divine throne; and within all the displays of providence and grace-the living creatures and elders-stood a Lamb as it had been slain. He had the fullness of power over the earth-seven horns-as of God, and the seven Spirits of God for government, according to God's perfection, of all the earth. When He has taken the book, the living creatures and elders fall down before Him with golden censers full of the prayers of the saints. They are priests here.

Now a new song is sung to celebrate the Lamb. What seemed His dishonour and rejection on earth was the ground of His worthiness to take the book. He who at all suffering and cost to Himself had glorified all that God was, was able and worthy to unfold what made it good in the way of government. It was not the government of Israel, but of all the earth; not merely earthly chastisements according to God's revelation of Himself in Israel, but the display in power of all God was in the whole earth. He who had glorified all He was, and redeemed, by the gospel of what He was through His death, out of all the earth, was the fit One to bring it forth in power. He does not yet come forth; but His work is the worthy instrument, the divine motive, for the display of it all. He can unlock the seals of God's ways and mysteries. I read the passage thus:-" Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed to God, by thy blood, out of every kindred, &c., and hast made them unto our God kings and priests, and they shall reign over the earth." Thus it is not any particular class, but the value of the act which is the motive of praise, and all being confided to Him.

Here the angels come in to praise, not in the fourth chapter. I can hardly doubt that a change in administrative order takes place here. Until the Lamb took the book, they were the administrative power; they were the instruments through which what the four living creatures symbolized was exercised in the earth. "But unto the angels hath he not put into subjection the world to come, whereof we speak." Hence, as soon as the Lamb appears and takes the book, as soon as the idea of redemption is brought in, the living creatures and elders are brought together, and the angels take their own place apart. Like the living creatures before, they give no reason for their praise. As the heads of creation as to their nature, they celebrate with all creatures the title to glory of the Lamb and His own worthiness, ascribing praise to Him that sits on the throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever. The four living creatures, that is, all the exercise of God's power in creation and providence, join their Amen, and the elders worship God in the excellency of His being. But the living creatures and elders are joined (verse 8) in falling down before the Lamb. I do not think they are meant to be distinguished in the latter part of the verse, [11] but merge in the elders, symbolizing different service but not now two classes. Verse 9 is the general fact; not "they sung," but " they sing." This takes place in heaven; but those named are in the mind in a general way. Thus the source of what follows, the throne, and the persons engaged in heaven before God in all that passes, are displayed: whence the judgment flows, who surround the throne of God above, and who is in it, have been brought before us; the heavenly scene, and choir, and assistants.

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Last modified: October 27, 2005