Revelation, Part 8 Series

Revelation, Part VIII

Revelation Chapter 5:8-14

Last week, we reviewed the one sitting on the throne – and I mentioned that I really wanted you to understand the importance of WHO we are talking about. This is not only the Savior promised to humanity, but the ONE given authority to judge the world!

Revelation 20 – when the living and the dead are judged – is very important, and we need to understand that without our understanding of who Jesus is – we cannot show others the importance of salvation on their lives.

So, we have to understand WHO Jesus is, and from there we can THEN share Him with others in a bold and merciful manner.

Read Revelation 5:8-14

Pray

I. Who takes the scroll? (v 8-10)

Jesus takes the scroll out of the right hand of the Father and is worshiped by the heavenly host. I believe this shows Jesus’ deity – his holiness – his authority.

Please note, that only God is worshiped. Jesus is therefore God.

The text in this passage indicates that the elders have vials that contain fragrances and that the fragrances in them are the prayers of the saints. The prayers of the saints are being stored. All unanswered prayer will be answered. The passage goes on and tells us that by the blood of the Lamb men have been redeemed. They are redeemed from every tribe, tongue, people and nation to become kings and priests that will reign on the earth.

This passage speaks of those that Jesus purchased with His own blood. Notice that these kings and priests will reign on earth. Jesus is not coming back to take everyone up into heaven for eternity as some teach.

The Worthy One is praised. The Here, the harp is mentioned. "This is a zithern or kind of guitar, played either with the hand, or with a pick" Worship in heaven is accompanied by music. And, of course, this is where the idea of we all having harps in heaven comes from.

With their golden bowls full of incense, the elders symbolically present the prayers of the saints, but they are not interceding for the saints, they are not functioning as mediators for God’s people.

I want to remind you that there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (as 1 Timothy 2:5 says). These elders are not praying for the souls of those on Earth, and this very verse ought to show proof that there are not people in heaven praying for us which the Roman Catholic Church would suggest.

These men – these elders – are in the presence of the Lord, they are not given any authority, and they are simply worshipping at the Throne of Grace. They are exalting the King of Glory, because He is worthy.

They are signing a new song!!

Why is He worthy? Hebrews 9:25-26 says “Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Jesus Christ is the only intercessor between man and God, and without His interceding on your behalf because you have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior – you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.

Now, let’s look at the angels around the Throne.

II. The angels around the throne (v11-12)

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.

John saw and heard the voice of many angels. Some say the book of Revelation is all symbols but John tells us what He heard in this book many times. What is heard cannot be made into symbols reflecting some spiritual meaning.

The number of these beings around the throne was over 100 million. We see the same reference to this number of beings around the throne and to the timing of these events in Daniel Chapter 7.

Daniel 7:9-10 says “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”